Do law schools care about undergrad major?

Asked by: Jerad Gulgowski  |  Last update: November 6, 2023
Score: 4.1/5 (59 votes)

Unlike medical school, which requires certain prerequisite courses, law school doesn't require that you major in anything specific or take certain classes before applying. Your LSAT score and your GPA are the key determining factors in law school admissions.

Do law schools consider major when looking at GPA?

It is not as if law schools will then look only at your major GPA, but it still might help a little.

Do law schools take into account difficulty of major?

Above all, law schools want to see that you can handle the rigor of law school classes, and that you are ready for the academic intensity that they will entail. Yes, your major should be interesting and easy for you to be engaged in–but it should also speak to your academic potential.

Is a 3.75 GPA good for law school?

DO raise that GPA, if it's not too late. You'll need a 3.8 or better to be above the median for a top 14 law school, and a 3.6 or better to be above the median for the top 50.

Do law schools care how many majors you have?

Law schools typically consider all application materials holistically, taking into account all of your experiences and qualifications. However, no particular additional weight is given to a second major.

Best Undergrad Major For Law School (and College Degree)

23 related questions found

What major has the highest acceptance rate to law school?

Some of the most popular are chemistry, biology, ecology, animal sciences, natural sciences, and others. Applicants who've majored in these courses have a law school acceptance rate of around 80 percent (but it can vary anywhere from 76% – 90% depending on the science).

What major gets into law school the most?

Best Undergraduate Majors for Law School. According to the LSAC report mentioned above, the most common undergraduate major for law school applicants was political science. The applicants with the highest rate of admittance (77.5%) were history majors.

Is a 3.0 a bad law school GPA?

Typically, a low GPA for law school would be below 3.0.

Is a 163 a good LSAT score?

Anyone who successfully completes the LSAT receives a score between 120 and 180. "In general, scores in the high 160s and 170s are usually considered very competitive," she says.

Does GPA or LSAT matter more?

Just how important the LSAT relative to other elements of your overall application package varies a little from school to school. However, generally, your LSAT score alone is thought to be anywhere from twice as important as your GPA to four to five times as important!

What is the toughest year of law school?

Most students consider the first year of law school to be the most difficult. The material is more complex than they're used to and it must be learned rapidly. What's more, the way students are taught and tested is very different from high school or undergrad.

Will one C ruin my chances of Ivy League?

Just one bad grade in an advanced level course is not going to ruin your chances at an Ivy League. However, consistently underperforming in advanced classes in your area-of-interest classes will penalize you in the applications process.

What degrees look best for law?

As you select your undergraduate major with the intent to apply to law school in the future, these are some of the leading majors to consider.
  • History. ...
  • Business. ...
  • English. ...
  • Philosophy. ...
  • Political Science. ...
  • Economics. ...
  • Arts and Humanities. ...
  • Psychology.

Do US law schools look at all 4 years?

We consider all years of study and, as a general rule, applicants with strong cumulative averages will be preferred.

What is a good law school GPA 1L?

The list. No mandatory curve; 3.1 to 3.3 mean for 1L courses, except First-Year Rhetoric. 3.25 to 3.45 mean for most upper-level courses.

What GPA does Harvard Law look at?

These GPA percentiles suggest most Harvard Law students achieve a GPA of 3.82 to 3.98. To give yourself the best chance of admission, you should strive for an undergraduate GPA as close to 4.0 as possible.

What was Barack Obama's LSAT score?

Unraveling the secret behind Obama's LSAT Score

Hence it's very likely that Obama had an LSAT Score around the median of the class (43 on the then-used 48 point scale).

Is 148 a low LSAT score?

Low LSAT score: 147. Median LSAT score: 151. High LSAT score: 152. Acceptance rate: 42.2%

How is 120 the lowest LSAT score?

After arriving at the raw score, a unique Score Conversion Chart is used for each LSAT to convert the raw score into a scaled LSAT score. Since June 1991, the LSAT has utilized a 120 to 180 scoring scale, with 120 being the lowest possible score and 180 being the highest possible score.

Is a B bad in law school?

Bs are perfectly acceptable grades in law school. What does a B grade represent? That a student has adequate mastery of the subject. Not great mastery.

Is it worth going to a lower ranked law school?

Unless they have personal connections or career experience, graduates of lower-ranked schools face steep odds on the job market. Graduates of top-ranked law schools have a leg up on securing legal internships, clerkships, and job interviews—even with mediocre grades.

What is the easiest law school to get into with a low GPA?

15 Easiest Law Schools to Get Into Based on GPA
  • DePaul University College of Law – 3.20.
  • Howard University Law School – 3.24.
  • University of Baltimore – 3.25.
  • Vermont Law School – 3.25.
  • University of Idaho College of Law – 3.25.
  • Akron Law School – 3.28.
  • Creighton University Law School – 3.29.

Is a BA or BS better for law school?

The ABA does not recommend any undergraduate majors or group of courses to prepare for a legal education. Students are admitted to law school from almost every academic discipline.

What majors do better on the LSAT?

The Top 10 Most Popular Majors of Law School Applicants
  • Political Science. Average LSAT Score: 153.8. ...
  • Psychology. Average LSAT Score: 152.59. ...
  • Criminal Justice. Average LSAT Score: 145.90. ...
  • English. Average LSAT Score: 155.25. ...
  • History. Average LSAT Score: 156.22. ...
  • Economics. Average LSAT Score: 158.93. ...
  • Philosophy. ...
  • Sociology.

What majors score the highest on the LSAT?

Here are some of the results:
  • Mathematics/Physics: 160.0.
  • Economics/Philosophy/Theology: 157.4.
  • International Relations: 156.5.
  • Engineering: 156.2.
  • Government/Service/Chemistry: 156.1.
  • History: 155.9.
  • Interdisciplinary Studies: 155.5.
  • Foreign Languages: 155.3.