<p>I'm planning on attending law school for my JD but I'm still unsure as to what I should major in for undergrad. I've been split between law and medicine for literally years now (I have a strong aptitude for both fields), and I was thinking of doing life sciences for undergrad and then from there, deciding on whether I should go to law or med school. But then I read that med schools don't like to see life science majors, so now I'm back to the drawing board. </p>
<p>I considered political science or english - but I really don't know what I would do with either degrees if law/med school doesn't work out. And like for life sciences, I also read that law schools don't want to see poli sci majors. </p>
<p>I was thinking of a business major - if I'm getting my JD, it will most likely be in a JD/MBA joint program, if I can get in. But then I read that majoring in anything business-related will just be learning how to use Excel and Powerpoint. </p>
<p>I was also considering a psychology major - it does open a few doors, my pyschology teacher did strongly recommend the field for me, and it can lead to both law or medicine. </p>
<p>I was thinking about double majoring too - I initially planned on someting like economics and chemistry, but the work load would be absolutely insane. </p>
<p>Basically, I'm trying to find a major that will open plenty of doors while allowing me to make plenty of connections and network with important people, all at the same time. I am still a high school junior, trying to decide on which programs I should apply to next year. Thank you!</p>
<p>Hi! Wanting to do something in Law and Medicine can be confusing when trying to pick a major for undergrad school. After reading what you wrote, I recommend majoring in business while taking all the required classes for Law School as well. My brother just gradated from university with a Business degree in Finance and Supply Chain Management and I know for a fact he learned way more than how to use Excel and PowerPoint, so don’t let that come in your way. After your 4 years in undergrad, maybe you decide that Law or Medicine isn’t right for you and the business degree will help you get a job and earn the money you need. Hope I helped, I’m not too knowledgeable in this issue but if I was in your situation, this is what I would do. Also, I’m a newbie and have no idea how to post a thread on CC, could you help me out with that please?</p>
<p>Or do some sort of premed track because you can major in anything and go to law school. A science major will stand out.</p>
<p>If you are committed to either law or medicine you have to go in thinking you will make it happen. A third option leads to complicated double majors.</p>
<p>@ AHSseniort2014, I’m for sure not an expert on CC. But if you click on the Forum Home button on the top left corner, it’ll give you a list of topics, ex. College Life, SAT Prep, International Aid, etc. If you click on any of the topics, there should be a button somewhere down the middle of the page that says “CC New Thread” and the “CC” part is in blue and red. Clicking on that will let you post a thread!</p>
<p>There is no best major for law school. However, certain jobs favor certain degrees. For example, tax likes to see accounting, and intellectual property likes to see hard science (especially CS/EE). Law schools only care about GPA, so whatever you pick you should keep that in mind.</p>
<p>I have quite a few friends going into law school from a Poly Sci and Economics majors. It really seems that the popular opinion around it is a lot like demosthenes said though - all about GPA (and ECs/Mock Trial and Debate, may I add)</p>
<p>No. No law school cares about such things. ANY EC is ok. Some ECs are better than others (Rhodes Scholar, TFA, D1/Olympic Athlete), but mock trial is not better than working retail to pay your tuition – the latter will be more highly favored at top publics like Michigan, UVa and Cal.</p>
<p>I’m majoring in political science for law school with a likely minor in foreign language. Ultimately, it comes down to what can get you a high GPA plus will help you on the LSAT. I would recommend looking up which majors perform well on the LSAT as well as which ones law schools tend to accept. Compare those with your interests. Aside from your major, take classes like philosophy, English, government, social sciences, etc to help with law school performance. (Random note, I’ve been stuck between law and Med for a long time too and just recently decided on law)</p>
<p>To follow up on bluebayou’s post, GPA matters, EC’s don’t. There’s some disagreement about whether or not ECs matter (bluebayou thinks yes, I think no), but even if they do they amount to an extremely small portion of your application. GPA/LSAT are worth at least 95% of your admission.</p>
<p>Unless I’m reading things incorrectly, you’re a junior in high school. I recommend a focus on your SAT so you have many choices among colleges. And regarding medicine v. law-as already pointed out, these are two very different fields. Of even more significance is that for most medical school applicants, getting into any school is practically a full-time job, with no time for the distraction of taking the LSATs, getting law school apps in, etc.</p>
<p>Just to clarify my position: ECs and undergrad pedigree matter at Yale and Stanford; their classes are so small, they can pick and choose among high stat applicants. And EC’s/pedigree can help splitters at the other top schools but, yes, only on the margin in comparison to other splitters. </p>
<p>If one is above both 75th’s at the larger schools, the rest of the app doesn’t much matter.</p>
<p>yes, I also considered Cal-Boalt. But Cal’s focus on GPA (and ECs) is a way to meet its diversity goals (since AA is outlawed in California). With 3,000+ 4-year colleges, high GPA’s are much easier to come by than high LSAT scores, particularly since the other T14 can practice AA and some will lavish big $ on URMs with high scores.</p>
<p>My understanding is that ECs matter when you already have a strong application, IF those extracurriculars are extremely impressive. Think DI varsity athlete, debate national champion, founding a very successful charity, etc. Most law school applications do not ask you to list extracurriculars, but ask you to list awards. </p>
<p>Part of the reason that ECs matter to colleges is that they need to fill up their sports teams, student newspaper board, dance troupes, a cappella groups, and orchestra. Otherwise, the college would be a really boring place to go to school. But law schools don’t care if the only activities on campus are Law Review and Moot Court, so they don’t care whether or not you will write for the student paper or help revive the yearbook.</p>
<p>Do a Google search for average LSAT scores by major. You’ll be surprised. The best majors for LSAT and law school prepare those that teach you to think logically and analyze text. Top majors include Philosophy, Physics, Math, Economics, and Religion. And then, way down on the list, is Political Science.</p>
<p>From what I’ve heard, (and I should note that I’m considering either PT or law down the line, so I’m also juggling whether I want to do science or humanities as a major…or double major), philosophy, sociology and economics are great preparation for the LSAT. And many firms like people with CS degrees nowadays. Frankly, I think a double major, if you can keep your GPA up (THAT IS ESSENTIAL), is probably your best bet. You’ll be well-rounded and have lots of options open</p>
<p>Obviously, I am not saying that majoring in one of the listed majors will automatically give someone a 175. I am saying that the tendency is for those majors to have to highest LSAT scores. Since the OP wants to know the “best” major, I think it is a fair statistic to consider.</p>