Do law schools prefer stem majors?

Asked by: Helen Jakubowski  |  Last update: November 18, 2023
Score: 4.5/5 (6 votes)

Law school admission committees tend to view Science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) majors quite favorably during the admissions process. Think biology, chemistry, electrical engineering, cybersecurity, and everything in between!

What percentage of law students have a STEM major?

Only 18 percent of those with law degrees had STEM majors. “Thus the majors that are disproportionately overrepresented among law graduates—humanities and social sciences—are also the majors for whom the expected benefits of law school are the greatest,” the study says.

Do law schools prefer certain majors?

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.

What is the best major for a law student?

Below we list the 13 most common undergraduate majors for students who applied to law schools approved by the ABA, according to LSAC data.
  • History. There were 3,366 history majors who applied, and 77.5% were admitted. ...
  • Economics. ...
  • English. ...
  • Philosophy. ...
  • Political Science. ...
  • Finance. ...
  • Arts and Humanities. ...
  • Communications.

Are STEM majors the hardest majors?

STEM, which stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math, are among the toughest majors offered in universities.

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What is the most fun STEM major?

10 Exciting STEM Careers for 2021… and Beyond
  • Underwater Archeologist. ...
  • Nanosystems Engineer. ...
  • Atmospheric Scientist/Storm Tracker. ...
  • LEGO Designer. ...
  • Mobile Application Developer. ...
  • Aerospace Engineer. ...
  • Photonics Engineer. ...
  • 3D Printing Engineer.

What are the least stressful STEM majors?

According to the annual National Survey of Student Engagement, software engineering, computer science and astronomy majors enjoy the least stressful college experience, and spend the most time relaxing and socializing, including hanging out with friends, playing video games and going online.

What do most lawyers major in college?

Here are a few of the best college majors for law school:
  • History. By studying history, you can develop an understanding of how certain laws and regulations were developed. ...
  • Political science. ...
  • Psychology. ...
  • Criminal justice. ...
  • English. ...
  • Economics. ...
  • Philosophy.

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 degrees do most lawyers get?

A Juris Doctor degree is the required legal degree for professionals who are pursuing a career as a practicing attorney.

Does it matter what I major in before 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.

Which subject is best for lawyer?

Having an undergraduate degree is a minimum requirement for admission into law school. Although most lawyers have degrees in subjects like English, economics, political science, philosophy, journalism, mathematics and business, there is no official recommendation regarding any preferred major for law students.

Do law schools prefer BA or BS?

While law schools prefer a bachelors degree, students can achieve law degrees without one. California law schools don't require a BA or BS to apply for admission, Glendale University College of Law says. The state accepts that not everyone can afford the time or money for a four-year undergraduate degree.

Do law schools value STEM majors?

Law schools appreciate applicants from science and technology fields.

Can a STEM major become a lawyer?

Not only are more and more STEM students applying to law school, but many of them have developed skills through their STEM careers that are well suited to studying law, including problem solving and analytical skills, research skills, and organization and management skills.

What is a good GPA for a STEM major?

The average cumulative GPA of all undergraduate students on campus as of Fall 2021 is 3.33. Students in the above-listed STEM departments have a mean GPA of 3.39; higher than the campus-wide average. First-year students campus-wide have lower average cumulative GPAs than seniors, almost without fail.

What is the easiest year of law school?

The second year (2L)

Most law students find their second year easier than their first. By the second year, you know what to expect and you know you're capable of rising to the various challenges.

What is a respectable law school GPA?

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.

Can I get into a top law school with a 3.7 GPA?

Among the 191 ranked law schools that submitted grade data to U.S. News in an annual survey, the average median GPA of entering law school students in 2021 was 3.55. But at the 20 highest-ranked law schools, the average median GPA is much higher – 3.86.

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.

Do law schools like double majors?

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. As a general rule, is more effective to have a higher GPA with one major, than to have a lower GPA with two majors.

Is psychology a good pre law major?

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, psychology is among the top five majors overall, in addition to being a popular choice for pre-law students. Psychology provides the research and writing skills, analytical competency, and fundamental education in human behavior needed for law school.

Why do STEM majors drop out?

There is approximately 15% STEM-wide dropout during the first year. mostly attributable to the change to a non- STEM major (STEM- wide dropout). On average, approximately 13% of initial STEM majors leave STEM because of changing to Non-STEM major. Descriptively, female and URM has higher STEM- Wide dropout Rate.

What is the dropout rate for STEM majors?

These preliminary results show that attrition from STEM majors is common: among all students who start college as STEM majors, after 4 years of college, 45 percent of women and 43 percent of the men have left the STEM majors.

What is the hardest STEM career?

Geological engineering is considered one of the hardest STEM majors because it combines elements of various disciplines, including geology, geophysics, geochemistry, hydrology, and engineering. It also requires a strong understanding of math and physics and the ability to analyze and interpret complex data sets.