Jaafar Sadeq, Staff Writer
Photo//Ebersole Photography LLC
When attending university with the intention of going to law school, many undergrads struggle with deciding a major. This is because for pre-law, there is no set major requirement, and you can choose any major you wish so long as you obtain a bachelor's degree. This leads many to feel lost due to the lack of clear direction, and many questions arise: What major will law schools prefer? Which major will best prepare me for law? Can I choose something completely unrelated to law? However, once you are informed of the facts, this decision becomes much simpler.
Firstly, your major will not significantly impact your law school application. Whether it is a degree in biology or a degree in political science, your degree will not play a large role in the eyes of admissions. The only circumstance where your major would come into play is if you are being compared to someone who has a different degree but all else is equal, in that case the more rigorous major will have a slight advantage. However, if you are set on law school, it is always better to choose the major that you feel you will have a higher GPA in, as GPA is a much larger factor than major choice.
Another factor to consider is law school preparation. Law school includes dense readings and analysis, so an English, Political Science, and Communications major would be more likely to get you accustomed to reading prior to law school than other majors. Philosophy in particular not only prepares you for dense readings, but also prepares you for formal logic, which is useful for the LSAT. It is important to note that philosophy may be a harder major than other reading-based majors, so keep that in mind and remember that your grade is still your main focus.
If you have even the slightest doubt about going to law school, it may be wise to consider taking a major that will serve as a good backup option should you not pursue law. If you feel you may go into STEM or Business, and think that you would do well in a major from these fields, making this choice would allow you to have an alternative path available without harming your law school goals. However, it would not be as worth it of a choice if your GPA would be decreased as a result.
Ultimately, for law school, your major should be primarily decided based on how you feel you will perform in it. Secondary factors such as law school preparation or backup options come into play if difficulty is equal. For pre-law students, the freedom of major choice is a chance for you to major in what you’ll enjoy. Having the opportunity to take it easy in undergrad will help your law school application by both bettering your transcript and by allowing you to place more focus on extracurriculars and work experience to improve your resume. Since law schools value GPA and skills over a specific major, selecting one that plays to your strengths is the smartest path forward.
Pick a major that works for you, stay focused, and enjoy the journey. Wishing you success on your path to law school!
Comments