Is a Criminal Justice undergrad degree counterproductive? Forum

[Bartlebee06]

I am a crim J major and I like it but have heard that law schools would rather accept english or philosophy majors. Is this true?

[FeelTheHeat]

I am a crim J major and I like it but have heard that law schools would rather accept english or philosophy majors. Is this true?

No. Get good grades.

[CanadianWolf]

Criminal justice majors tend to do poorly on the LSAT exam while other majors, such as philosophy & English, tend to do well on the LSAT.

[kwais]

I am a crim J major and I like it but have heard that law schools would rather accept english or philosophy majors. Is this true?

No. Get good grades.

This is correct. For law school apps, just get the 4.0. However, two other things. 1) If you look at the Wiki page on LSATs, crim majors score the lowest. 2) I have friends who take crim and their texts read like brochures. If you want to stimulate yourself in UG, take something of substance

[CanadianWolf]

Hopefully you meant "stimulate your mind" instead of "stimulate yourself" (although that explains the substance comment).

[kwais]

Hopefully you meant "stimulate your mind" instead of "stimulate yourself" (although that explains the substance comment).

I believe that critical thinking and masturbation are important so both are credited

[Bartlebee06]

1) If you look at the Wiki page on LSATs, crim majors score the lowest.

Why do you think this is? Do you think that many people who take Crim J are just less intelligent or do other majors just prepare you better for critical thinking. Should I minor in something to help.

[kwais]

1) If you look at the Wiki page on LSATs, crim majors score the lowest.

Why do you think this is?

My guess goes back to my second point. The level of critical thought in (most) crim classes is abysmal. It's more process and structure than theory.

[mpj_3050]

But the caveat is what if you don't decide on law school? I have a criminology/international studies double major that isn't worth the paper it is printed on.

[Alex-Trof]

1) If you look at the Wiki page on LSATs, crim majors score the lowest.

Why do you think this is? Do you think that many people who take Crim J are just less intelligent or do other majors just prepare you better for critical thinking. Should I minor in something to help.

My guess its self-selection. Many people who enjoy challenges would pick a more difficult major (engineering/hard science). Although criminal justice could be interesting, it doesn't require understanding calculus or biochemistry to even start its core classes. People who "suck at math/sciences" will be more drawn to those majors.

[rebexness]

[kehoema2]

But the caveat is what if you don't decide on law school? I have a criminology/international studies double major that isn't worth the paper it is printed on.

I'm fairly certain most Bachelor degrees aren't worth their paper, except in the case of Engineering or Nursing.

Regardless I'd still try to get a degree that can be used if you decide not to go to law school down the road.

[rebexness]

[09042014]

1) If you look at the Wiki page on LSATs, crim majors score the lowest.

Why do you think this is? Do you think that many people who take Crim J are just less intelligent or do other majors just prepare you better for critical thinking. Should I minor in something to help.

Respectable schools don't offer Criminal Justice. And since undergrad is a function of a standardized test score, it's probably the biggest factor.

Engineering is one the best majors for LSAT and yet engineering courses don't teach LSAT skills at all.

How far are you in college. If you can change get a useful degree. Criminal justice is for creating cops, not lawyers.

[FeelTheHeat]

I vouch for philosophy!

[Bartlebee06]

Crim J is interesting to me. Dont you think a defense atorney could benefit from seeing things from the police perspective. Also, I did 4 yrs in the Marines, will have 5 yrs in security services at time of graduation, extensive marshal arts and weapons training and good networking skills. My back up plan, if law school doesnt work out, is private security/executive protection or security consulting. I know that most of you dont see crim j as being that benificial for yourselves but for me it can open some doors that I would be interested in walking through. I have always wanted to be a lawyer but it wasnt until i started crim j classes and began looking deeper into the philosophy behind law that I knew to what extent I wanted to be one. There are so many crim j electives that you can pick from outside of policing and corrections that are good sources of knowledge for other areas. I do appreciate everyones time for replying to my post and Im really leaning on a minor in phil now. Thanks to all who have replied and I welcome all future constuctive criticism.

[rebexness]

[AreJay711]

With this background you can show your interest in DA type practice (and use this in your PS).

True. I also agree with thinking about what you want to do. My cousin is a criminal justice major of some sort but it makes sense because he wants to be a cop / detective. If you are really interested in the criminal justice system then you should stick with it and just supplement some more rigorous classes as electives (especially formal logic) for the LSAT.

[Bartlebee06]

To Desert Fox - Can you realy claim that no respectable school offers crim j? That like saying that 90% of all state universities are not respectable. Like most degrees, its a basis and you have electives that you can narrow a path with from their. I know its not rocket science and Im sure the best and brightest dont choose it but I find it interesting. Only 25% of my class wants to be cops. You are intitled to your opinion but its a bit of a blanket statement dont you think? Otherwise thanks for your input.

[bartleby]

nice name. i sense some competition.

[09042014]

To Desert Fox - Can you realy claim that no respectable school offers crim j? That like saying that 90% of all state universities are not respectable. Like most degrees, its a basis and you have electives that you can narrow a path with from their. I know its not rocket science and Im sure the best and brightest dont choose it but I find it interesting. Only 25% of my class wants to be cops. You are intitled to your opinion but its a bit of a blanket statement dont you think? Otherwise thanks for your input.

Maybe respectable was a little too insulting but what I should say is top schools, including most top state don't have them. CJ is usually at secondary state schools and a lot of them are from really shitty private schools. Missing all those people who did well on the SAT and ACT makes it so their average LSAT is a lot lower. I really doubt studying CJ makes you do worse.

CJ shouldn't a be a college major it should be an associates. My Brother is at Western Illinois studying CJ, it's a cake walk according to him.

[Borhas]

I am a crim J major and I like it but have heard that law schools would rather accept english or philosophy majors. Is this true?

philosophy probably actually helps, but I don't think anything hurts

regardless of major, take symbolic logic, it's like a mini LSAT logical reasoning prep class. With that said, CJ definitely won't help you. Only take it if it seems interesting to you, and you think you'll get great grades.

With this background you can show your interest in DA type practice (and use this in your PS).

excellent point, demonstrating interest in cover letters is crucial to landing 1L summer internship jobs for 1L's straight from college

[Borhas]

To Desert Fox - Can you realy claim that no respectable school offers crim j? That like saying that 90% of all state universities are not respectable. Like most degrees, its a basis and you have electives that you can narrow a path with from their. I know its not rocket science and Im sure the best and brightest dont choose it but I find it interesting. Only 25% of my class wants to be cops. You are intitled to your opinion but its a bit of a blanket statement dont you think? Otherwise thanks for your input.

Maybe respectable was a little too insulting but what I should say is top schools, including most top state don't have them. CJ is usually at secondary state schools and a lot of them are from really shitty private schools. Missing all those people who did well on the SAT and ACT makes it so their average LSAT is a lot lower. I really doubt studying CJ makes you do worse.

CJ shouldn't a be a college major it should be an associates. My Brother is at Western Illinois studying CJ, it's a cake walk according to him.

interestingly enough, Northwestern has a CJ major in UG

--LinkRemoved--

[09042014]

To Desert Fox - Can you realy claim that no respectable school offers crim j? That like saying that 90% of all state universities are not respectable. Like most degrees, its a basis and you have electives that you can narrow a path with from their. I know its not rocket science and Im sure the best and brightest dont choose it but I find it interesting. Only 25% of my class wants to be cops. You are intitled to your opinion but its a bit of a blanket statement dont you think? Otherwise thanks for your input.

Maybe respectable was a little too insulting but what I should say is top schools, including most top state don't have them. CJ is usually at secondary state schools and a lot of them are from really shitty private schools. Missing all those people who did well on the SAT and ACT makes it so their average LSAT is a lot lower. I really doubt studying CJ makes you do worse.

CJ shouldn't a be a college major it should be an associates. My Brother is at Western Illinois studying CJ, it's a cake walk according to him.

interestingly enough, Northwestern has a CJ major in UG

--LinkRemoved--

LOL NorthwesTTTern.

[rebexness]