<p>My interests are rather broad, Physics,Engineering and Law.
I am only a junior in HS, but this a important question.</p>
<p>I am confident, I could easily get a 3.8+ GPA with a traditional law undergrad major(History,Politics,Philosophy),and high LSAT scores.. This would mean I have a good shot at a T14.
Honestly, I think I would be a great lawyer, but that doesn't mean I will like it...Then I have a degree that I don't want.</p>
<p>Some people say well then major in Physics or Engineering and go into Patent Law...A good option, But there is problem. Both Physics and Engineering are some of the hardest undergrad degrees. Very few people can achieve a high GPA...So while you may have a 3.5 in a much harder major, I doubt t14 is going to look at that.</p>
<p>So in other word this a problem.....Basically I would like to have my mind made up before going to college....</p>
<p>No offense, but there are a lot of people in high school who think they can get a high GPA in college as well as high test scores for the MCAT, LSAT, whatever. </p>
<p>Things have an uncanny ability of not working out the way you expect them to.</p>
<p>Sorry to hijack this thread, but I would also like to know how someone who doesn't know what she's going to major in in college yet, let alone what career path to pursue after graduation, can figure out if she might possibly be cut out for law. (Oh and yeah I'm talking about myself, haha :D)</p>
<p>Like, are there any sort of classes I definitely have to take, any ECs or whatever activities I should consider taking part in?</p>
<p>There is nothing wrong with being in high school and thinking that perhaps a career in law is your goal. There is nothing wrong with feeling the same way while in college. </p>
<p>Before spending three years of your life and well over $100,000 on law school, I would recommend that during college you take courses with a legal bent, participate in internships that deal with some aspect of the law and speak with professors and alumni who are attorneys. Try to learn as much as you can about practicing law (as I would recommend you do with any possible career path, though particularly one, such as law, that requires such a time and financial commitment to get there) and then make a decision based upon what you have learned.</p>
<p>While Physics is harder for students who are average in both fields, many students find that they are disproportionately talented at Physics -- in other words, just because Physics is harder overall doesn't mean it'll be harder for you.</p>
<p>If you love American History and learning about the Constitution, you'll probably like law school. There are temporary and part time jobs at many law firms for college students with great office skills; like photocopying and running documents over to court, organizing documents, stuff like that. Definitely try to get a job in a law firm during college or the year after college. A lot of people work for a year after college in a law firm and decide they want nothing more to do with law, which is great; they save themselves all the $$$ of law school.</p>
<p>As others have said, you're making far too many assumptions and are away ahead of yourself. You may have an interest in the humanities and may perform well in history classes and the like in HS, but that really doesn't predict how well you'll do in college. The difficulty of your future major will depend largely upon what school you select, for one thing. At my alma mater, for example, certain specific fields of study within the history department were no joke. One professor in particular was legendary for assuming absurd amounts of reading (and expected you to do all of it), and his grading was far from easy. I've also known religion majors who it seemed suffered through all-nighters on a near weekly basis writing 10-15 papers every week.</p>
<p>Moreover, lest we forget, law schools care about your cumulative GPA, not the major GPA, so you also have to assume you'll perform equally well in other courses. Add on top of all of this the fact that college is very different from HS. There are lots of pressures and lots of commitments that come with the territory (assuming you're not a library-dwelling recluse). I knew lots of kids in college who were extremely bright and extremely hard-working but just piled on so many commitments that their grades suffered. Keep a sane balance and you can do just fine, but to assume you'll rock college at this early stage is presumptuous. </p>
<p>Likewise with the LSAT. Have you even seen one before? Do you know what it tests? Keep in mind that even students who have prepared for months and were practicing consistently within a certain score range have often found themselves with an actual score far below their expectations, whether that be due to test-day anxiety or other circumstances.</p>
<p>IA w/hotelmoscow and crnchycereal. You honestly have no idea how you'll perform in college. All high performing students think they're going to blow college courses out of the water until they get slapped with some humble pie. I know because I was one of those students. I was just like you. I thought "I'm going to major in history and poli sci and study my butt off and get into a great law school". Life though doesn't always conform to our desires. I ended up ok and just graduated from college but along the way I had major issues to deal with and I transferred colleges too. Not to mention that I took history courses in college and hated them. I didn't take too many poli sci courses for some reason. Anyway, I ended up loving Religion courses and that ended up being my major.</p>
<p>You honestly don't know how you'll do in college. I'm not saying this to scare you but to help you gain perspective. Everyone wants a 3.8/3.9/4.0 GPA but the reality is that life throws all types of curveballs in college. Really hard professors, personal drama with friends/significant others/family, time consuming ECs, etc.</p>
<p>So try to do the best you can but chill. If you can get a 3.8 that's great but know there's a possibility that it won't happen. Take life one day at a time.</p>
<p>I have seen the LSAT.....It test logic and reasoning skills.</p>
<p>I won't let commitments get in the way of my education,research, or life...They never have, they never will. I laugh at drama as well.</p>
<p>I won't let me fail myself as that is my only fear...My goal is to change the world for the better,that will never change. If it requires me to lock myself in my room 24/7, that is what it requires. I see the world and the human race failing, and failure isn't an option.</p>
<p>You have to understand that high school is nothing compared to university. Unless you went to a top 10 high school in the country it is a whole different story. </p>
<p>It also depends on your major. Engineering/Law/Medical are harder than something like communications.</p>
<p>It also depends on the school. Top schools are intense and hard. Even communications at a top school would be work. </p>
<p>Once you are in college and you take the harder level classes you will understand and take classes accordingly. </p>
<p>Remember whatever you do make sure you love it or else it is not worth the investment. </p>
<p>If you like law then research about it, talk to lawyers and do an internship at a law firm.</p>
<p>Good job, so you know that the LSAT tests logic and reasoning skills. That doesn't mean you know how to crack it, though. Take a couple of practice exams and get back to us.</p>
<p>And please, you "won't let commitments get in the way of...life"? Commitments ARE life. Having a goal is admirable, but to pursue that goal the exclusion of all else is naive, immature, and in the long-run, counter-productive.</p>
<p>Your messiah-complex tone is sillier than it is anything else. Get a grip, man. Changing the world is great, but don't let that blind you to all the world has to offer. And honestly, how many people out there who go out and effect real change in the world do you really think spend all their waking hours in their room/library? Getting a perfect GPA/LSAT in college through that route would leave you with admission to great law schools but almost nothing else to show for your college experience. College is the time to forge lasting friendships, to network with future leaders in their fields and to ::gasp:: maybe even meet a significant other.</p>
<p>I'm beginning to think this is a troll. On another board, his eventual goal is to get a Ph.D. in the sciences and end up at a specific research lab, one of the best in the world. </p>
<p>From another post of his:</p>
<p>
[quote]
Say 3.1-3.4 UW GPA, All AP/Honors and 2100 SATs
[/quote]
</p>
<p>This is his estimate of what his stats will be when he applies to college. So, methinks our poster should get to work this coming year and do a bit better in high school.</p>
<p>If the OP is "for real," it's fine to set long term goals, but you have to take the baby steps that will get you there.</p>
<p>Actually I don't think it is absurd to plan for life. I am in the same position as the OP and he is probably like me, wants to plan things. I know because I planned my life when I was in like 6th grade and now that i decided not to be a doctor I have spent months trying to figure out what to do with life.
I would tell you OP to just google "why be a lawyer", I did and there are several sites that talk about aspects of law as well as what it actually is like to be a lawyer, it involves a whole lot of research and little bit of court room.</p>