How much of a boost do philosophy majors get on the LSAT? Forum

[eli88]

From what I know, philosophy majors have historically done better than others on the LSAT exam. Being an Econ major, Poli Sci minor, I feel like I may be at a disadvantage. How much of a boost, if any, has the philosophy major given you on the LSAT. Please share your stories.

Also, if anyone has any recommendations as to must-read philosophy books, that'd be great. Thanks all.

[LeDique]

It's an automatic 5 points if you write that you're a philosophy major in the writing section. No one ever checks though, so just claim you are and make sure you also include a reference to Foucault. You'll be fine.

[Flips88]

It's an automatic 5 points if you write that you're a philosophy major in the writing section. No one ever checks though, so just claim you are and make sure you also include a reference to Foucault. You'll be fine.

TITCR

[homestyle28]

From what I know, philosophy majors have historically done better than others on the LSAT exam. Being an Econ major, Poli Sci minor, I feel like I may be at a disadvantage. How much of a boost, if any, has the philosophy major given you on the LSAT. Please share your stories.

Also, if anyone has any recommendations as to must-read philosophy books, that'd be great. Thanks all.

I have a BA and an MA in phil, both done as a non-trad student. In general phil majors tend to do very well on standardized tests, being one of the top performing majors on both the LSAT and the GRE...but, at least in my opinion the benefit depends heavily on the kind of department/classes one takes. We all know the phil majors who write every paper while high just through around some big words and convoluted, drug-induced stuff, those guys probably aren't rocking the tests...But if you take enough formal logic to get through predicate logic that's a huge plus (presuming you understand it) it's helpful on both the games and LR sections. Taking rigorous classes in the mainstream analytical faves is useful: metaphysics, ethics, epistemology b/c the skill one should learn is about recognizing and analyzing arguments, the same thing the LSAT tests for...that and there's always a chance an RC passage is taken from phil, so that helps...in my experience most upper level polisci classes aren't as rigorous as upper level phil classes, at least not in the way that benefits you on the LSAT.

[homestyle28]

It's an automatic 5 points if you write that you're a philosophy major in the writing section. No one ever checks though, so just claim you are and make sure you also include a reference to Foucault. You'll be fine.

TITCR

very helpful.

[booboo]

Philosophy majors are just more likely to perform better on the LSAT because the major teaches reasoning which is useful on the exam and helps eliminate some of the learning curve for it. However, how you ultimately perform on the exam is up to you.

FWIW, I think Physics majors do best on the exam, so don't think majors really have anything to do with a substantiative correlation.

[bmore]

Take a logic course. It's fun. Study for LSAT.

[Flips88]

It's an automatic 5 points if you write that you're a philosophy major in the writing section. No one ever checks though, so just claim you are and make sure you also include a reference to Foucault. You'll be fine.

TITCR

very helpful.

Fine want a helpful answer? http://www.phil.ufl.edu/ugrad/whatis/LSATtable.html Note that the difference between a philosophy major and econ major is .8 pts. I honestly don't think majoring in philosophy would boost your ability to perform much. You'd be fine taking just a few formal logic courses to help you prepare for the tricky LR questions and for simplifying LG rules quickly.

[DubPoker]

I assume you guys are talking about that University of North Texas study (http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm? ... id=1430654)

one problem with it is the bottom scoring majors (e.g. prelaw, criminal justice, ect) are not offered at most of the top schools, so the major itself is skewed by the people at "lower tier" schools.

btw I'm a Philosophy so i'm trying to pull it down or anything.

[polevaulter]

I personally think that Math majors do the best--especially with the Games section--their mind is wired that way and they think the games are "fun."

[09042014]

Also the best people in other majors get real jobs. Only failure engineering and science majors take the LSAT.

[incompetentia]

Also the best people in other majors get real jobs. Only failure engineering and science majors take the LSAT.

We'd rather think about logic than do something profitable all day.

[tomwatts]

Being a Classics/Astro double-major rocked for the LSAT. Late heavy bombardment? No problem. Philosophers of science liking physics more than bio? Piece of cake. Careful, precise reading? Also not a problem.

[classix]

Also the best people in other majors get real jobs. Only failure engineering and science majors take the LSAT.

I was wondering about all the sub-par engineering degrees lurking around....

[MrPapagiorgio]

Also the best people in other majors get real jobs. Only failure engineering and science majors take the LSAT, score 172 or above and ED to Northwestern.

FTFY

[09042014]

Also the best people in other majors get real jobs. Only failure engineering and science majors take the LSAT.

I was wondering about all the sub-par engineering degrees lurking around....

3.2 from my major can get you Microsoft. So you see the kinda fail that we are.

[shortporch]

Here is a chart of LSAT scores by major from 2007-2008. But seriously, don't think that reading a philosophy treatise will suddenly improve your chances on the LSAT. That's already a profound failure in logic.

Rank, Major Field, Average Score, Number of Students
1 Physics/Math 160.0 577
2 Economics 157.4 3,047
3 Philosophy/Theology 157.4 2,581
4 International Relations 156.5 1,520
5 Engineering 156.2 2,197
6 Government /Service 156.1 578
7 Chemistry 156.1 632
8 History 155.9 4,169
9 Interdisciplinary Studies 155.5 652
10 Foreign Languages 155.3 1,084
11 English 155.2 5,899
12 Biology/Natural Sciences 154.8 2,201
13 Arts 154.2 1,438
14 Computer Science 154.0 682
15 Finance 153.4 2,267
16 Political Science 153.1 15,181
17 Psychology 152.5 4,355
18 Liberal Arts 152.4 3,892
19 Anthropology/Geography 152.2 808
20 Accounting 151.7 1,439
21 Journalism 151.5 3,408
22 Sociology/Social Work 151.2 3,123
23 Marketing 150.8 1,574
24 Business Management 149.7 4,629
25 Education 149.4 484
26 Business Administration 149.1 1,984
27 Health Professions 148.4 703
28 Prelaw 148.3 1,078
29 Criminal Justice 146.0 4,016
Note: Grouped by major field with at least 450 students taking exam.

[suspicious android]

Philosophy would so be #1 if we didn't have the theology folks dragging us down.

[classix]

Here is a chart of LSAT scores by major from 2007-2008. But seriously, don't think that reading a philosophy treatise will suddenly improve your chances on the LSAT. That's already a profound failure in logic.

Rank, Major Field, Average Score, Number of Students
1 Physics/Math 160.0 577
2 Economics 157.4 3,047
3 Philosophy/Theology 157.4 2,581
4 International Relations 156.5 1,520
5 Engineering 156.2 2,197
6 Government /Service 156.1 578
7 Chemistry 156.1 632
8 History 155.9 4,169
9 Interdisciplinary Studies 155.5 652
10 Foreign Languages 155.3 1,084
11 English 155.2 5,899
12 Biology/Natural Sciences 154.8 2,201
13 Arts 154.2 1,438
14 Computer Science 154.0 682
15 Finance 153.4 2,267
16 Political Science 153.1 15,181
17 Psychology 152.5 4,355
18 Liberal Arts 152.4 3,892
19 Anthropology/Geography 152.2 808
20 Accounting 151.7 1,439
21 Journalism 151.5 3,408
22 Sociology/Social Work 151.2 3,123
23 Marketing 150.8 1,574
24 Business Management 149.7 4,629
25 Education 149.4 484
26 Business Administration 149.1 1,984
27 Health Professions 148.4 703
28 Prelaw 148.3 1,078
29 Criminal Justice 146.0 4,016
Note: Grouped by major field with at least 450 students taking exam.

wow @ how low the scores are.

lol @ the 4,000+ 146 CJ majors who want to serve "justice"

[DubPoker]

wow @ how low the scores are.

lol @ the 4,000+ 146 CJ majors who want to serve "justice"

In regards to ur first statement, the average LSAT score is around a 151. The test is scored on a curve, without low scores there are not high scores.

and in regards to the CJ comment

one problem with it is the bottom scoring majors (e.g. prelaw, criminal justice, ect) are not offered at most of the top schools, so the major itself is skewed by the people at "lower tier" schools.

CJ seems to be for cop potentials, not law school

[classix]

CJ seems to be for cop potentials, not law school

Yes. A bit unsettling that it's so low in that case....

Though maybe there's an argument that CJ->police academy is more a of a "trade school" route than a normal UG track.

[UnamSanctam]

Philosophy would so be #1 if we didn't have the theology folks dragging us down.

Yes. Arguing with actual intelligent logical form with people in religion is just utterly terrible. But religion is where I get to write like an English major and argue like a philosophy major (and spice it up with my history major).

[polevaulter]

Here is a chart of LSAT scores by major from 2007-2008. But seriously, don't think that reading a philosophy treatise will suddenly improve your chances on the LSAT. That's already a profound failure in logic.

Rank, Major Field, Average Score, Number of Students
1 Physics/Math 160.0 577
2 Economics 157.4 3,047
3 Philosophy/Theology 157.4 2,581
4 International Relations 156.5 1,520
5 Engineering 156.2 2,197
6 Government /Service 156.1 578
7 Chemistry 156.1 632
8 History 155.9 4,169
9 Interdisciplinary Studies 155.5 652
10 Foreign Languages 155.3 1,084
11 English 155.2 5,899
12 Biology/Natural Sciences 154.8 2,201
13 Arts 154.2 1,438
14 Computer Science 154.0 682
15 Finance 153.4 2,267
16 Political Science 153.1 15,181
17 Psychology 152.5 4,355
18 Liberal Arts 152.4 3,892
19 Anthropology/Geography 152.2 808
20 Accounting 151.7 1,439
21 Journalism 151.5 3,408
22 Sociology/Social Work 151.2 3,123
23 Marketing 150.8 1,574
24 Business Management 149.7 4,629
25 Education 149.4 484
26 Business Administration 149.1 1,984
27 Health Professions 148.4 703
28 Prelaw 148.3 1,078
29 Criminal Justice 146.0 4,016
Note: Grouped by major field with at least 450 students taking exam.

So I was right about Math majors

[youknowryan]

It's an automatic 5 points if you write that you're a philosophy major in the writing section. No one ever checks though, so just claim you are and make sure you also include a reference to Foucault. You'll be fine.

Are you sure about this? I though you had to staple on a transcript showing that your claim was valid. I could be wrong here...

[classix]

Just another lol @ "prelaw"