Physics Major Forum

Josh363663 · Post by **Josh363663** » Fri Dec 02, 2011 1:56 am

I'm a Sophomore biological Physics Major at Purdue University and I am looking into patent law. Will the fact that my major and course load is significantly more difficult than the average psych major make my current 3.5 GPA look better? I figure that law schools must be screaming for science majors. Any input? I'm also a Poli Sci minor.

Richie Tenenbaum · Post by **Richie Tenenbaum** » Fri Dec 02, 2011 2:00 am

It may help, but only a small amount when it comes to admissions. Where it will help the most is when it comes to OCI and getting a job for after law school.

Josh363663 · Post by **Josh363663** » Fri Dec 02, 2011 2:02 am

If it helps I have also been debating for 6 years competitively.

rinkrat19 · Post by **rinkrat19** » Fri Dec 02, 2011 2:12 am

Difficulty of major doesn't count for much in terms of admission. It could act as a tiebreaker between you and someone who has similar numbers and soft factors but majored in philosophy of basketweaving. But the schools report the GPAs of their incoming classes to USNWR for the rankings calculation, and they don't get to put an asterisk next to it that says "but we had a lot of engineering/science majors."

It would help when looking for an IP job, obviously. Hard science/engineering work experience between UG and LS would help even more.

soccerfreak · Post by **soccerfreak** » Fri Dec 02, 2011 3:35 am

Fellow physics major here currently in law school, and I had the same questions last year when I was looking around. Sorry bud, bad news. As much as it should matter, it just doesn't. Your friends who were poli sci majors who've never even heard of a derivative or a test where the average is a 50% have their GPA looked at in exactly the same way. Don't be afraid to talk about your difficult background and in your personal statement or resume, but any help will be completely marginal. And your poli sci minor...well mention that to them and see if they can respond with a straight face.

The unfortunate reality is that law schools care almost exclusively about your LSAT score and your GPA. If you want to increase your chances at good schools, retake the LSAT.

Ernert · Post by **Ernert** » Fri Dec 02, 2011 3:42 am

Josh363663 wrote:If it helps I have also been debating for 6 years competitively.

Doesn't.

cutecarmel · Post by **cutecarmel** » Sun Dec 04, 2011 9:26 pm

I think if it came between you another candidate with the same numbers, then it might make a difference, but it seems that law schools are really only concerned with numbers.

Penguin515 · Post by **Penguin515** » Mon Dec 05, 2011 12:14 am

Does not matter. Also why should it?

emkay625 · Post by **emkay625** » Mon Dec 05, 2011 12:16 am

Josh363663 wrote:If it helps I have also been debating for 6 years competitively.

I am national finalist in both high school and college. I do not think this will help me at all. (Speech and Debate is no better than any other run-of-the-mill soft). Sorry OP.

expelliarmus · Post by **expelliarmus** » Mon Dec 05, 2011 2:35 am

I am sad about the fact that they don't care, because I am a physics major too.
But I love science, and it does open doors for patent.

So no regrets.

JamMasterJ · Post by **JamMasterJ** » Mon Dec 05, 2011 2:37 am

expelliarmus wrote:I am sad about the fact that they don't care, because I am a physics major too.
But I love science, and it does open doors for patent.

So no regrets.

you guys will be in great shape for OCI, but there's not really a bump in admissions for hard majors.

MormonChristian · Post by **MormonChristian** » Fri Dec 09, 2011 1:29 am

Josh363663 wrote: I figure that law schools must be screaming for science majors.

They are, don't let anyone tell you differently. With the new emphasis put on getting jobs when law students graduate and transparency in that department, Law Schools need students who can get jobs when they graduate.

IP secure.

cutecarmel · Post by **cutecarmel** » Sat Dec 10, 2011 2:20 pm

That was rude. It should matter because it would mean law admissions were concerned with more than numbers. It would show that a student is able to handle a rigourous course load. Law schools look more at objective measures than subjective ones, but that doesn't' mean other factors shouldn't matter.

Penguin515 wrote:Does not matter. Also why should it?

062914123 · Post by **062914123** » Mon Dec 12, 2011 4:23 pm

Perdevise · Post by **Perdevise** » Tue Dec 13, 2011 5:55 pm

If you can rock a 175 or better, you still have a decent chance at CCN, money at NU, etc.

20130312 · Post by **20130312** » Tue Dec 13, 2011 5:57 pm

bee wrote:
cutecarmel wrote:That was rude. It should matter because it would mean law admissions were concerned with more than numbers. It would show that a student is able to handle a rigourous course load. Law schools look more at objective measures than subjective ones, but that doesn't' mean other factors shouldn't matter.

Penguin515 wrote:Does not matter. Also why should it?
...or Penguin515 could be referring to the fact that people with good debate experience are a dime a dozen in the pool of law school applicants. For the record, I have extensive debate exp too, and I don't expect it to help me out.

That makes 3 people in this one random thread

But I thought being the treasurer of the pre-law society made me a special snowflake?

AmandaPB · Post by **AmandaPB** » Tue Dec 20, 2011 12:14 am

I’m a biology major and I think it helped me. A lot of admissions deans mentioned that my grades in hard science courses were impressive, but I have a 4.0, not a 3.5. I think it stood out that my GPA was the same or better than other applicants but my courses were perceived as more difficult. I don’t think they will be impressed with a lower GPA due to hard science courses.

AreJay711 · Post by **AreJay711** » Tue Dec 20, 2011 12:31 am

Physics isn't harder that most majors it is just most people interested in law are bad at it, though I agree it is harder than Psych.

expelliarmus · Post by **expelliarmus** » Wed Dec 21, 2011 11:17 am

AreJay711 wrote:Physics isn't harder that most majors it is just most people interested in law are bad at it, though I agree it is harder than Psych.

I agree. But I think in physics, there are fewer courses that allows you to get an A with "gut feeling" - sometimes, in humanities, that happens.

expelliarmus · Post by **expelliarmus** » Wed Dec 21, 2011 11:18 am

AmandaPB wrote:I’m a biology major and I think it helped me. A lot of admissions deans mentioned that my grades in hard science courses were impressive, but I have a 4.0, not a 3.5. I think it stood out that my GPA was the same or better than other applicants but my courses were perceived as more difficult. I don’t think they will be impressed with a lower GPA due to hard science courses.

This. I think a lot of law schools will be more impressed if you get a 3.9+; however, if you get below their GPA floor, I don't think "a particularly hard major" will help.

pre-med person · Post by **pre-med person** » Wed Dec 21, 2011 11:23 am

MormonChristian wrote:
Josh363663 wrote: I figure that law schools must be screaming for science majors.
They are, don't let anyone tell you differently. With the new emphasis put on getting jobs when law students graduate and transparency in that department, Law Schools need students who can get jobs when they graduate.

IP secure.

This. If they are going to accept 3.5 GPA, might as well be a physics major that's IP secure.

pre-med person · Post by **pre-med person** » Wed Dec 21, 2011 11:26 am

Josh363663 wrote:If it helps I have also been debating for 6 years competitively.

And this. People saying this doesn't matter are ridiculous. You are after all going to law school to go into a career where you will be debating in a court room, public speaking, etc... It makes perfectly good sense to me that this would help you.

20130312 · Post by **20130312** » Wed Dec 21, 2011 11:29 am

Josh363663 wrote:I'm a Sophomore biological Physics Major at Purdue University and I am looking into patent law. Will the fact that my major and course load is significantly more difficult than the average psych major make my current 3.5 GPA look better? I figure that law schools must be screaming for science majors. Any input? I'm also a Poli Sci minor.

I can see it now...

Adcomm: "No excuses, play like a champion."

062914123 · Post by **062914123** » Wed Dec 21, 2011 4:12 pm

pre-med person · Post by **pre-med person** » Wed Dec 21, 2011 5:21 pm

I understand what you mean by 'it doesn't help' i.e. if your numbers are not there your softs are not going to get you in.

A lot of legal disputes involve trials. Debate experience is not irrelevant, nor will it hurt your law school application. However, how much it helps to get you in is debatable I agree.

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