Is it good to double major for law school?

Asked by: Will Corkery  |  Last update: August 31, 2023
Score: 4.9/5 (26 votes)

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.

Can I double major in pre law?

You don't necessarily need to double major—you could simply do one major in electrical engineering. However, if you also have a strong interest in one of the more classic pre-law majors, it can be a great way to combine both interests.

Does it look better to double major?

In some fields, having a double major on your resume can give you a leg up on the competition and offer the potential to earn a higher salary. But this isn't true for all fields — some employers may not notice or care that you took the time to double major.

Is it worth it to double major in college?

Feb. 2, 2023, at 3:08 p.m. Taking on two college majors can mean much more work for students, but it may bring a greater reward. According to a 2021 paper in the Columbia Economic Review, pursuing a double major almost always predicts greater earnings than pursuing either major alone.

Do law schools care more about major GPA?

Some people do well in their major GPA but have a low overall GPA because they performed poorly in their required general education courses. Unfortunately, law schools largely care about your overall GPA.

9 Things I Wish I Knew Before Double Majoring In College

26 related questions found

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.

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.

Is it stressful to double major?

Cons of Double Majoring

If you decide to try to complete your double major within four years, you could experience added stress. To double major without increasing your costs, you need to load up on classes, which can reduce free time and be stressful.

Are double majors harder?

How hard is it to double major? Adding significantly more credit hours and studying to your course load means that you are going to have to carefully juggle your classes and study time. Time management will be critical. You may need to sacrifice time with friends or even holidays you might usually spend at home.

Is it better to double major or single major?

With a double major, you may have broader career options when you graduate, as well as a higher earning potential over time. A 2003 study using data from the National Survey of College Graduates found that double majors made 2.3 percent more than those who chose a single major.

Are employers impressed by double majors?

Advantages of a Double Major

When employers review your background, they are likely to be impressed by your strong work ethic. Tackling more than one subject at once will give you exposure to different industries and opportunities, making it easier to decide what you want to do down the line.

What percentage of people double major?

How Common Are Double Majors? Double major students may be more common than you thought! A study found that about 25% of students actually pursue double majors, and some schools may actually find that they have 40% of students going after two majors.

Do double majors take longer?

Double majoring could mean you won't graduate in exactly four years. You're completing two bachelor's degree programs, so it often takes longer to finish a double major. While some double majors may only need one or two extra semesters to graduate, others might need an extra year or more.

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.

Is pre-law major worth it?

Should You Major in Pre-Law? Overall, we don't recommend that anyone major in pre-law, even if you're certain you want to be a lawyer. While you may think you should definitely pick a legal major if you want to go to law school, there are significant drawbacks to majoring in pre-law.

Do law schools look at minors?

They do care that you took interesting courses and did well in them; they don't want to see a transcript overly full of intro level electives. But the actual completion of requirements for a minor makes no difference (nor does a double major.).

What are the easiest double majors?

Easiest Double Majors

These include combos like English and Communication, Education and Psychology, Political Science and Economics, or Accounting and Finance. Some schools offer special double major programs that make this process far more streamlined.

What is the second hardest major?

The second-hardest college major and hardest engineering major is chemical engineering; students in this field spend an average of 19 hours and 40 minutes a week preparing for class.

Do you get 2 degrees from a double major?

Double majors within a single college are reflected on a single diploma. If one of the majors normally results in a Bachelor of Science and the other in a Bachelor of Arts, the diploma reflects the degree of Bachelor of Arts and Science.

Does double major affect GPA?

The undergraduate GPAs are unaffected by multiple majors. The only difference is there are multiple GPAs that are calculated the same way as a single major. All the course grades are used in the calculation for an overall GPA, and only the major upper divisions courses are used in the calculation of the major GPA.

Can you major in 3 things at once?

It should come as no surprise that triple majoring requires exceptional focus and effort. However, the payoff can be an enriching experience — and it can help save money. When figuring out whether it will cost you more to complete two additional majors, it's important to consider how much your chosen programs overlap.

What majors and minors go together?

Some common major and minor combinations include:
  • Major in finance+minor in computer science.
  • Major in economics+minor in statistics.
  • Major in business+minor in psychology.
  • Major in marketing+minor in communication.
  • Major in political science+minor in international relations.

Is a 3.7 GPA too low for 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 a B+ a bad grade in law school?

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.

Is a 3.0 a bad law school GPA?

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