TLSers, how do you feel about a Math/Philosophy Double Major Forum

[theyoungintellectual]

I really want to study Mathematics along with my current Philosophy major. My current GPA is 3.74 and if I were to do a Mathematics/Philosophy, I would have to stay in college for an extra year, which I wouldn't mind. It definitely would help to improve my LSAT scores, as it would improve with my studying of Logic. I am an African American male and I scored a 167 on my LSAT.

Your thoughts?

[Geetar Man]

I really want to study Mathematics along with my current Philosophy major. My current GPA is 3.74 and if I were to do a Mathematics/Philosophy, I would have to stay in college for an extra year, which I wouldn't mind. It definitely would help to improve my LSAT scores, as it would improve with my studying of Logic. I am an African American male and I scored a 167 on my LSAT.

Your thoughts?

If adding a mathematics will entail the risk of lowering your gpa (which in most cases its likely), then you should just stick to the one major (PHIL) and keep the best GPA possible. The closer you can get to a 4.0, the better.
And with a 167, if you can keep a 3.7, you will have a VERY good shot at any school in the T14, with the exception of YLS. HTH.

[theyoungintellectual]

That's one thing that I am concerned about. I have taken a substantial amount of economics classes, and would you find it feasible if I completed an Economics/Philosophy double major and just add a minor in Math by taking a few extra classes and not have to sacrifice having a lower grade-point average?

[bobbyh1919]

That's one thing that I am concerned about. I have taken a substantial amount of economics classes, and would you find it feasible if I completed an Economics/Philosophy double major and just add a minor in Math by taking a few extra classes and not have to sacrifice having a lower grade-point average?

Take the math classes if you want to, but schools won't care and I'm not sure it's going to have any effect whatsoever on your logic skills (as far as them helping you in law school).

I would graduate on time and enjoy a nice scholarship at a T14 school if I were you.

[AreJay711]

That's one thing that I am concerned about. I have taken a substantial amount of economics classes, and would you find it feasible if I completed an Economics/Philosophy double major and just add a minor in Math by taking a few extra classes and not have to sacrifice having a lower grade-point average?

Take the math classes if you want to, but schools won't care and I'm not sure it's going to have any effect whatsoever on your logic skills (as far as them helping you in law school).

I would graduate on time and enjoy a nice scholarship at a T14 school if I were you.

You should definitely take another year in undergrad. Whether you should major in Math or just dick around for a year is up for debate. Personally, I thought math classes were easier than my other classes because the instant feedback you could get from a course pack.

[Geetar Man]

That's one thing that I am concerned about. I have taken a substantial amount of economics classes, and would you find it feasible if I completed an Economics/Philosophy double major and just add a minor in Math by taking a few extra classes and not have to sacrifice having a lower grade-point average?

Honestly, if I were you, I would just major in philosophy and minor in economics (assuming that what you're implying is that you don't want to "waste" the economics courses you have already taken).

Adding another major would put more stress on your back and risk getting a lower GPA than what you risk with having just one major.
A lot of people think that having a double major is a lot better (and don't get me wrong, it's better), but it's really not THAT much better, especially at the risk of doing so.

Since you scored a 167 on the LSAT and you're AA, I feel that right now your main concern should be solely your GPA. And you should do anything you can to keep it at 3.7 or get it higher. Most AA's with a 3.7 and a 167 LSAT have no problem getting into a Top 14 law school. (assuming that there isn't anything else that would kill your chances, such as trouble with the law etc...)

What I'm basically trying to say is, do what you need to do to keep your GPA up. If you think you can do it with a double major and a math minor, then so be it. But I promise you that a 3.8 GPA with 1 major/ 1 minor will look 10 times better than a 3.5 GPA with 2 majors/1 minor. The former will keep doors open while the latter will shut a few doors for you.

As anyone else on this board will tell you, over 90% of getting into law school reflects your GPA and LSAT combined.

You've already secured a very good LSAT. So don't stress yourself out with adding majors and what not, just try to finish out with the best GPA you can.

[goldenflash19]

^ agreed. URM, 167, 3.74- you're in great shape for an awesome cycle. Don't risk lowering the GPA. Apply now and enjoy a T14. Best of luck!

[ato308]

One problem you may face however:

If law school doesn't work out for you, your job prospects with a philosophy degree consists of waiting tables and asking "medium or large?". Besides thinking about the existence of life and why blue is the color blue, Philosophy just doesn't bring anything to the table for business or health.

Unless you want to be a teacher, but you know what they say: People who can't do, teach.

Lastly if I was an admission officer for law school I would look at the individuals major. It makes no sense that a history major gets into law school before a chemical engineering major just because their gpa is higher.

[bobbyh1919]

One problem you may face however:

If law school doesn't work out for you, your job prospects with a philosophy degree consists of waiting tables and asking "medium or large?". Besides thinking about the existence of life and why blue is the color blue, Philosophy just doesn't bring anything to the table for business or health.

Unless you want to be a teacher, but you know what they say: People who can't do, teach.

Lastly if I was an admission officer for law school I would look at the individuals major. It makes no sense that a history major gets into law school before a chemical engineering major just because their gpa is higher.

I like to think this is the case, but "difficult of major" doesn't go into the rankings, GPA does. Harder majors get some sort of boost, but I don't believe it's a big one.

[kaiser]

How do I feel about it? Feels goodman

[Geetar Man]

One problem you may face however:

If law school doesn't work out for you, your job prospects with a philosophy degree consists of waiting tables and asking "medium or large?". Besides thinking about the existence of life and why blue is the color blue, Philosophy just doesn't bring anything to the table for business or health.

Unless you want to be a teacher, but you know what they say: People who can't do, teach.

Lastly if I was an admission officer for law school I would look at the individuals major. It makes no sense that a history major gets into law school before a chemical engineering major just because their gpa is higher.

I like to think this is the case, but "difficult of major" doesn't go into the rankings, GPA does. Harder majors get some sort of boost, but I don't believe it's a big one.

True. Harder majors don't really benefit the law school since all they report are the numbers. They'd accept a communication major with a 4.0 majority of the time faster than they would accept a chemical engineering major with a 3.0. Numbers talk.

[AreJay711]

One problem you may face however:

If law school doesn't work out for you, your job prospects with a philosophy degree consists of waiting tables and asking "medium or large?". Besides thinking about the existence of life and why blue is the color blue, Philosophy just doesn't bring anything to the table for business or health.

Unless you want to be a teacher, but you know what they say: People who can't do, teach.

Lastly if I was an admission officer for law school I would look at the individuals major. It makes no sense that a history major gets into law school before a chemical engineering major just because their gpa is higher.

I like to think this is the case, but "difficult of major" doesn't go into the rankings, GPA does. Harder majors get some sort of boost, but I don't believe it's a big one.

True. Harder majors don't really benefit the law school since all they report are the numbers. They'd accept a communication major with a 4.0 majority of the time faster than they would accept a chemical engineering major with a 3.0. Numbers talk.

You know, I really think this series of posts misses the point. Chemical engineering isn't hard for everyone -- and it's really just a bunch or rote memorization. Same deal with most undergrad math (I was a math minor). I know there is this idea that hard sciences are super hard and what not but that just isn't true. What is different is that they take more work and you can't skate by with intelligence as much (unless you are a natural but whatever).

[bobbyh1919]

One problem you may face however:

If law school doesn't work out for you, your job prospects with a philosophy degree consists of waiting tables and asking "medium or large?". Besides thinking about the existence of life and why blue is the color blue, Philosophy just doesn't bring anything to the table for business or health.

Unless you want to be a teacher, but you know what they say: People who can't do, teach.

Lastly if I was an admission officer for law school I would look at the individuals major. It makes no sense that a history major gets into law school before a chemical engineering major just because their gpa is higher.

I like to think this is the case, but "difficult of major" doesn't go into the rankings, GPA does. Harder majors get some sort of boost, but I don't believe it's a big one.

True. Harder majors don't really benefit the law school since all they report are the numbers. They'd accept a communication major with a 4.0 majority of the time faster than they would accept a chemical engineering major with a 3.0. Numbers talk.

You know, I really think this series of posts misses the point. Chemical engineering isn't hard for everyone -- and it's really just a bunch or rote memorization. Same deal with most undergrad math (I was a math minor). I know there is this idea that hard sciences are super hard and what not but that just isn't true. What is different is that they take more work and you can't skate by with intelligence as much (unless you are a natural but whatever).

That might be the case for some people, but the numbers don't lie. The average communication GPA is going to be much higher than the average "hard science" GPA at any given school, and virtually any given student will be doing themselves a disservice (law school wise) if they major in chemical engineering instead of history/communications/etc.

[Campagnolo]

Absolutely take the extra year. What everyone seems to be forgetting is that if you graduate with a degree in math you are marketable for very decent jobs right out of school. The freedom not to go to law school if you decide against it is very worth it.

[zanda]

I found that match classes were far easier to get As in than Philosophy classes because of the lack of subjectivity in grading.

[theyoungintellectual]

Thank you everyone! I'm a few days late replying to this post, but I'm really thinking that I will stay an extra year. If I graduate with a GPA of 3.5 or higher, I feel that I will be in pretty good shape when applying to law schools, especially if I can better my LSAT score, although it is already a 167 and my URM status (Afr. Am.).