What are the best STEM majors for law?

Asked by: Prof. Pearline Hayes Sr.  |  Last update: December 26, 2023
Score: 4.1/5 (17 votes)

Think biology, chemistry, electrical engineering, cybersecurity, and everything in between! The reason students with STEM majors succeed in law school is that STEM majors often require a rigorous course of clases. STEM students have to memorize formulas and rules and apply them to various problems.

Can a STEM major apply to law school?

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 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.

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.

Does law count as STEM?

STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. Law is not included in this. However, there are some areas of law where a STEM background is a benefit. Patent lawyers in particular will benefit from being able to understand how engineering and product design occur.

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

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Which GPA do law schools look at?

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.

Is JD a STEM degree?

PayScale's analysis finds the best graduate degrees are in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math). Statistics tops the list, followed by Computer Science, Human Computer Interaction and Physics. The J.D. degree is the only non-STEM degree in the top 10.

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 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).

Are STEM majors the hardest majors?

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

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.

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.

Which majors do best on LSAT?

The Top 10 Most Popular Majors of Law School Applicants
  • English. ...
  • History. ...
  • Economics. Average LSAT Score: 158.93. ...
  • Philosophy. Average LSAT Score: 157.53. ...
  • Sociology. Average LSAT Score: 150.71. ...
  • Communications. Average LSAT Score: 151.2. ...
  • Science. Average LSAT Score: 148.4. ...
  • Other Arts and Humanities. Average LSAT Score: 154.19.

Do law schools like finance majors?

Finance. Another undergraduate major that can prepare students for law school is finance. Similar to economics majors, finance majors often learn extensively about the policies that impact how people use money.

Do majors matter 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 LSAT score do I need for UCLA?

Required UCLA Law School LSAT Score

25th percentile LSAT: 166. Median LSAT: 170. 75th percentile LSAT: 171.

What GPA is required for most law schools?

Obtain High GPA & LSAT Scores

According to the Law School Admission Council (LSAC), students need a GPA of at least 3.59 and an LSAT of 162 or more to get into any top 10 law schools. However, that is the bare minimum, and you should aim higher if you want to increase your chances of getting into the top 3.

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.

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.

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 do colleges look for in STEM majors?

However, if applying into a STEM field, they will pay special attention to what math and science courses a student has pursued. It's important for STEM students to have a strong math and science background and show that they have challenged themselves in high school.

How rare is a 4.0 GPA in high school?

The national average GPA is 3.0 which means a 4.0 is far above average. At many schools, a 4.0 is the absolute highest GPA you can earn.

Can you combine science and law?

The Marriage of Law and Science Degrees

Individuals with this dual field knowledge can find work as environmental lawyers, in the forensic sciences, working with occupational health and safety, in urban planning, and even as public relations specialists.

Is law school or engineering harder?

The first semester of Law School is more difficult for many students because it involves an awful lot critical reading and beginning to think like a lawyer. Engineering, on the other hand, is tough for all 4 years.

How hard is it to get into law school?

The median acceptance rate across all 196 ranked law school programs was 41%, though some schools reported acceptance rates above 65%. The University of North Dakota Law School, ranked in the 180-196 range, reported the highest acceptance rate, admitting 73% of applicants.