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Hi everyone,

Im a sophomore, planning to major in Economics, perhaps a double major in history but not too sure about that yet. Anyway, I was wondering what courses wwould look good/prove useful for a future law school student applying to school? Anything would be helpful.

In before "Political Economy of Beer Sampling."

Some people have recommended taking a symbolic/formal logic course (pass/fail if you are worried about your GPA) to help with the LSAT; I don't know how much it will help with law school.

EDIT: Also, I've heard anecdotes from people on TLS, at my school, and from other schools with a variety of backgrounds who found a way their past work helped them in some modest way. A science major told me he felt like he understood contracts better than torts because it was easier for him to think algorithmically with a series of interconnected rules; a philosophy major chalked up his success on the midterm to knowing how to clearly and logically think through arguments in a quick and concise manner. I was a poli sci major... I feel like it helped me in LRW and on some multiple choice questions. As for the rest... I need to get back to studying...

Any class that you'll do well in in order to get the highest GPA possible.

LSpleaseee wrote:Any class that you'll do well in in order to get the highest GPA possible.

Also, QFT.

Intro/Logic is helpful for the LSAT. Other than that, take classes you're reasonably sure you'll do well in and enjoy. Taking writing classes probably doesn't hurt, either (I'm hoping my creative nonfiction writing major can be put to good use ).

jback2 wrote:Hi everyone,

Im a sophomore, planning to major in Economics, perhaps a double major in history but not too sure about that yet. Anyway, I was wondering what courses wwould look good/prove useful for a future law school student applying to school? Anything would be helpful.

Take philosophy classes.

...

i was an econ major, i'm a 1L in law school, and i think the classes that helped me the most so far were game theory and microeconomics. micro helps a lot with deterrence in criminal law, and negligence (B < PL) in torts. game theory helps a lot with contracts. econometrics may be helpful if i ever have an opportunity to write a paper, but econometrics is a lot of work for not necessarily a lot of payoff (the plus side though, is that very few people know how to do it).

Intro to logic helps a bit for LSAT. You learn conditional reasoning etc...but nothing that can't be mastered through self prep.

.

Poli Sci/ Physics double major: BEST...UNDERGRAD...EVER.

MW

MysticalWheel wrote:Poli Sci/ Physics double major: BEST...UNDERGRAD...EVER.

MW

Yup. Its a surefire way to find yourself unemployed in the period between UG and law school.

also, it's surprising how often decent knowledge of probability, statistics, and math come in handy.* they're a bit harder than economics of labor in 19th century europe, but few other people in law school are good at it, and it's a decent way to distinguish yourself.

*by decent, i mean decent by the standards of a math person. by law school standards, that means great.

gdane5 wrote:

MysticalWheel wrote:Poli Sci/ Physics double major: BEST...UNDERGRAD...EVER.

MW

Yup. Its a surefire way to find yourself unemployed in the period between UG and law school.

I guess I should have added "speaking from an intellectually stimulating standpoint"?

MW

MysticalWheel wrote:

gdane5 wrote:

MysticalWheel wrote:Poli Sci/ Physics double major: BEST...UNDERGRAD...EVER.

MW

Yup. Its a surefire way to find yourself unemployed in the period between UG and law school.

I guess I should have added "speaking from an intellectually stimulating standpoint"?

MW

Assuming no friction, upon experiencing a scandal, a Senator's political clout diminishes at 9.8 meters per second per second.

HeavenWood wrote:Intro/Logic is helpful for the LSAT. Other than that, take classes you're reasonably sure you'll do well in and enjoy. Taking writing classes probably doesn't hurt, either (I'm hoping my creative nonfiction writing major can be put to good use ).

Perfect answer. All undergrads should find a course in the classics/philosophy department in which elementary logic is taught. Sometimes this can fulfill your math requirement if your school has one.

fastforward wrote:

HeavenWood wrote:Intro/Logic is helpful for the LSAT. Other than that, take classes you're reasonably sure you'll do well in and enjoy. Taking writing classes probably doesn't hurt, either (I'm hoping my creative nonfiction writing major can be put to good use ).

Perfect answer. All undergrads should find a course in the classics/philosophy department in which elementary logic is taught. Sometimes this can fulfill your math requirement if your school has one.

Shouldn't they have to take an advanced formal logic class?...too much?

Spinozist21 wrote:

fastforward wrote:

HeavenWood wrote:Intro/Logic is helpful for the LSAT. Other than that, take classes you're reasonably sure you'll do well in and enjoy. Taking writing classes probably doesn't hurt, either (I'm hoping my creative nonfiction writing major can be put to good use ).

Perfect answer. All undergrads should find a course in the classics/philosophy department in which elementary logic is taught. Sometimes this can fulfill your math requirement if your school has one.

Shouldn't they have to take an advanced formal logic class?...too much?

Have you seen advanced formal logic? You don't need that at all for the LSAT.

whymeohgodno wrote:

Spinozist21 wrote:

fastforward wrote:

HeavenWood wrote:Intro/Logic is helpful for the LSAT. Other than that, take classes you're reasonably sure you'll do well in and enjoy. Taking writing classes probably doesn't hurt, either (I'm hoping my creative nonfiction writing major can be put to good use ).

Perfect answer. All undergrads should find a course in the classics/philosophy department in which elementary logic is taught. Sometimes this can fulfill your math requirement if your school has one.

Shouldn't they have to take an advanced formal logic class?...too much?

Have you seen advanced formal logic? You don't need that at all for the LSAT.

Yes...I have taken two courses actually

Edit: And, yes, it didn't help LSAT at all

HeavenWood wrote:

MysticalWheel wrote:

gdane5 wrote:

MysticalWheel wrote:Poli Sci/ Physics double major: BEST...UNDERGRAD...EVER.

MW

Yup. Its a surefire way to find yourself unemployed in the period between UG and law school.

I guess I should have added "speaking from an intellectually stimulating standpoint"?

MW

Assuming no friction, upon experiencing a scandal, a Senator's political clout diminishes at 9.8 meters per second per second.

Awesome combo of the two, lol.

MW

fastforward wrote:

HeavenWood wrote:Intro/Logic is helpful for the LSAT. Other than that, take classes you're reasonably sure you'll do well in and enjoy. Taking writing classes probably doesn't hurt, either (I'm hoping my creative nonfiction writing major can be put to good use ).

Perfect answer. All undergrads should find a course in the classics/philosophy department in which elementary logic is taught. Sometimes this can fulfill your math requirement if your school has one.

not entirely true. as one of the above posters noted, it's possible to master the logic required for the lsat w/o a class in it. some people even think it's easy to do so. if you're the sort of person who's typically good at logic, save your credits for classes that will actually teach you something.

vamedic03 wrote:Take philosophy classes.

Indeed. I felt like the non-logic games sections of the LSAT are tremendously easier with 2-3 actual philosophy classes (where argumentation was the concern and not the history of philosophy) under my belt, and I can only imagine the dense, jargon-filled readings I'm doing for my degree will help once I make it to law school.