What is the most common major for pre-law?

Asked by: Prof. Karianne Lebsack V  |  Last update: October 23, 2023
Score: 5/5 (27 votes)

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.

Is pre-law a hard major?

Pre-Law Isn't Viewed as a Challenging Major

Law schools, like top colleges, want to admit students who have been able to excel in challenging courses and difficult subjects, and pre-law isn't considered a difficult major.

What is the best business major for pre-law?

Business. Majoring in corporate or business administration is a great pre-law choice. Law schools find applicants with this major appealing because of the difficult coursework involved and the courses' skills.

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 criminology a good pre-law major?

Criminal justice is among the top five majors for law school applicants, ahead of history, sociology, and business administration. If you choose to study criminal justice with the goal of becoming a lawyer, you'll be in good company.

Best Undergrad Major For Law School (and College Degree)

36 related questions found

What majors are easiest for pre-law?

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 is major in pre-law?

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, or you may focus your undergraduate studies in areas as diverse as art, music, science and mathematics, computer science, engineering, ...

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.

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.

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.

Should I major in business if I want to be a lawyer?

Business: A business major may be a great option for you if you have an entrepreneurial spirit. Business degree courses in communication, finance, management, marketing and the legal and ethical principles of business can give you a good foundation for your law school studies.

Is pre-law a BA or BS?

However, there are no specific "pre-law" degree or majors, and unlike pre-med, an undergraduate student seeking legal education in the United States is not required to take a set of prerequisites in order to apply.

Do you need calculus for pre-law?

Undergraduate Math Classes

The pre-calculus mathematics recommended by the ABA and anecdotal suggestions by math majors who became lawyers, imply that future lawyers should at a minimum take undergraduate courses in college algebra, trigonometry, geometry, logic and statistics.

Is pre med or pre-law harder?

It is considerably easier to get into law school then med school. Though the LSAT and the MCAT are both challenging exams, the MCAT requires more prior knowledge. The LSAT requires extensive study, however not on the same level as the MCAT. The same can be said for medical school.

How to be #1 in law school?

  1. Memorize the law, even if you have an open-book exam. Some students approach an open-book exam totally differently than a closed-book exam. ...
  2. Make your own outline (and start early) ...
  3. Avoid low-yield, time-consuming study habits. ...
  4. Be okay with being different.

What is the lowest LSAT score accepted at Harvard?

As you can see from these numbers, an LSAT score of 170 or higher and a GPA above 3.75 will give you a chance of gaining admission to Harvard Law School. If you have a GPA of 3.94 or higher and above a 175, you are pretty much a lock for admission, particularly given the class size of ~560.

How old is the average law school graduate?

The average age of law students is 25 or younger. Only 20% of law students are 30 or older. While only a small percentage of law students are above the age of 40, there have been several successful older graduates.

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 degrees 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.

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.

Should I go to law school right after undergrad?

In many cases, taking time between college and law school can give you time to strengthen your applications, which is in both your best interest and the law school's best interest. Law schools also prefer for applicants to take sufficient time to confirm that law school is the right career choice for them.

Does it matter where you go to law school?

If you do not graduate from a top-ranked law school, it can be tough to find clerkships and job opportunities outside of your state. You should study law near where you intend to build a career. You may be able to get a foot in the door through clinics, internships, and alumni networks at your law school.

Does your undergrad matter for law school?

If you want to attend law school, the prestige of your undergraduate program matters very little as compared to the importance of GPA and LSAT scores. Similarly, if you want to attend medical school, the prestige of your undergraduate institution is relatively unimportant, while your GPA and MCAT scores are critical.

What field of law is the easiest?

Real estate law, estate planning law, and intellectual property law are commonly cited as the least stressful types of law to practice.

What is the quickest law degree to get?

The fastest law degree you can earn is a Master of Legal Studies, as some of these programs allow you to graduate in 12 months. Master's programs require you to have a bachelor's degree beforehand, and some require you to take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) beforehand.