Does BA or BS matter for law school?

Asked by: Grant Baumbach DVM  |  Last update: September 3, 2023
Score: 4.7/5 (10 votes)

Your LSAT score and your GPA are the key determining factors in law school admissions. The American Bar Association (ABA) states that they do not recommend any specific major for undergraduates or coursework to prepare for law school.

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.

Is it OK to get BS in law school?

Maybe you've never made a grade other than an A and your first-semester grades are a shock to your system. If so, take a deep breath—I'm about to tell you something important: Bs are perfectly acceptable grades in law school.

Is a BA in law worth it?

Attending law school can be an excellent decision to further your education. A law degree can lead to a high earning potential, increased job opportunities and a broad professional network. This degree can also grow your critical thinking and communication skills.

Does getting a BA vs BS matter?

Neither degree ranks as better than the other, but one might better suit specific career goals. For example, if you're interested in technical careers, you may need a BS for graduate school applications. In some majors, you may choose between a BA and a BS. Many psychology programs, for instance, offer both options.

The BEST College Degrees For Law School (Spoiler: NOT Political Science)

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Do jobs prefer BS or BA?

Many companies are not particular if you possess a bachelor of arts or a bachelor of science degree. The main focus is knowing that you have completed the education to earn a bachelor degree. However, if you plan to work in a specialized field, certain technical courses may be needed.

Is a BA or BS more impressive?

Bachelor of Arts vs Science: Is One Degree Better Than the Other? In short, no. There's no type of bachelor degree that's seen as "better" or harder to earn by all employers and grad schools. Both BA and BS degrees require hard work and skills across multiple areas.

What BA is best for law school?

“You may choose to major in subjects that are considered to be traditional preparation for law school, such as history, English, philosophy, political science, economics or business,” their website says, “or you may focus your undergraduate studies in areas as diverse as art, music, science and mathematics, computer ...

What bachelor's degree do most lawyers get?

Bachelor's in Criminal Justice

Criminal justice is a best degree for lawyer work because law and criminal justice studies overlap. A bachelor's degree in this subject serves as good preparation for a law degree. Here's how. A good lawyer course focuses on case study and interpretation.

Which BA is best for law?

The BA LLB programme is a popular choice among students interested in law in India and worldwide. BA LLB students will have a strong foundation in fundamental topics such as Constitutional Law, Business Law, Election Law, Code of Civil Procedure, Drafting & Pleading, Political Science, and Economics.

Is a 3.6 GPA good in law school?

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.

Is law school the hardest degree?

You need to put in the necessary work throughout the program if you want to succeed. In summary, law school is hard. Harder than regular college or universities, in terms of stress, workload, and required commitment. But about 40,000 people graduate from law schools every year–so it is clearly attainable.

What is a bad GPA for law school?

So generally, if you're trying to get into the top schools, a GPA below 3.6 will be considered low. But to answer the question what GPA do you need to get into law school, any law school, then the answer is at least a 2.5. That is realistically the lowest GPA you can have to get into law school.

What's the difference between a BA and a BS?

BA/BS degrees are not the same degrees. The key differences between a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science are that a B.A. typically requires more courses in the humanities (writing, art, history, philosophy, or religion) while a B.S. usually has more science and mathematics courses.

Is economics BA good for law school?

Economics is a good choice for pre-law students for several reasons: According to law school admissions staff, students majoring in economics and other quantitative disciplines perform better in law school than other majors.

Is it harder to get into law or business school?

As far as I can tell, to get into a top 5 business school you need a 3.6+, ~700+ on the GMAT, solid work experience, the ability to sell yourself, strong writing skills, etc. A top 5 law school seems, for all intensive purposes, impossible to get into.

What degree do most law students have?

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.

What major scores highest on LSAT?

For an updated look at this analysis, here are the LSAT scores and GPAs by major for 2017-2018 law school applicants based on numbers reported by the LSAC. The general trends identified by Muller remain the same with one notable difference—Math majors' LSAT scores and GPAs are now the highest among all the majors!

What is the LSAT score range?

To make it easier to compare scores earned across different LSAT administrations, your “raw score” is converted to an LSAT scale. This is the score you receive in your score report. The LSAT scale ranges from 120 to 180, with 120 being the lowest possible score and 180 being the highest possible score.

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.

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.

Is a B+ good in law school?

Law School Grading

That means a B+ is the median grade at that school. However, in law school the number of people that must fall at or above that grade is not fully determined yet. Rather, the bulk of exam scores will fall exactly at the median, and the professor determines how many grades will deviate from that.

Does a BA or BS make more money?

Bachelor of science graduates earn more—at first

The technical skills often associated with a BS are in high demand. For the first 10 years of experience in the field, BS degrees have the edge. Over time, however, the gap closes—then goes the other way.

What is the hardest major for bachelor's degree?

Top 15 Hardest College Majors Table of Contents
  • Chemistry.
  • Environmental Economics and Policy.
  • Environmental Earth Science.
  • American Studies.
  • Nuclear Engineering.
  • Energy Engineering.
  • Astrophysics.
  • Applied Mathematics.

Are high BS good in college?

B - is still a pretty good grade! This is an above-average score, between 80% and 89% C - this is a grade that rests right in the middle. C is anywhere between 70% and 79%