<p>So I am a rising senior double majoring in Biology and Political Science at a good Big Ten school. It'll take me 5 years total of school to graduate. </p>
<p>Stats:
3.42 cumulative GPA (3.96 GPA in Political Science, 2.80 Science GPA)
LSAT projected score (based on practice test) >162</p>
<p>I'm currently freaking out and bouncing back and forth between med school and law school. Upon graduation, I will have earned a B.S. in both Biology and Political Science, and graduate with ~3.3-3.4 cumulative GPA. I can't get into med school at the moment because of my low science gpa, so what do you guys think my odds of getting into a T14 Law School will be? Honestly, I think my stats set me apart from a ton of applicants and should be good enough, but I'm not entirely sure. I'm a double major, one of which is a STEM. Also, Im interested in either patent law or environmental law (i did research on preserving honey bees recently at my university). Although my science GPA is low, it will be higher now that I got my difficult pre-med courses out of the way (I project I'll have roughly a 3.1 science gpa upon graduation). My other major, Political Science, is very popular among undergrads applying for law school but my poly sci gpa is nearly perfect, plus I'll be earning a BS in poly sci from a school well known for its poly sci department, and the majority of applicants typically only have a BA. I wouldn't bother going to law school if I couldn't get into a T14, so what do you guys honestly think? If i can't, I'll probably pursue grad school in biology or dentistry school (p.s. I have no idea what i want to do with my life). </p>
<p>That aside, you absolutely should not go to law school unless you want to be a lawyer. Since you’re torn between medicine and law and biology and dentistry, this tells me you have no practical experience in these fields. That’s a dangerous position to try to make long-term plans from. You should immediately intern at law offices, hospitals, and so on to figure out what these various fields are actually like. Then you can figure out which is for you and plan accordingly.</p>
<p>Ok thanks! I’ve heard in the past that law schools are slightly more forgiving for harder majors though. Is this true? Even though they may not care about my major specific GPA’s, id imagine they’d value a double major 3.4 with a STEM degree over a 3.7 single major liberal arts degree if their LSAT scores are the same, but once again I’m just speculating. Also, I’ve noticed some top schools have bottom 25% GPA’s around a 3.4 (such as Georgetown) so I don’t see how I’m completely ruled out of T14 schools. I’m yet to take the LSAT so that 162 number is just a super-rough projection. I really made this post because it hurts that if I only did Political Science I could probably go to a T14 school no problem and my degree in Biology is dragging me down.<br>
I’m just looking to be in the business of helping people though, which is why choosing a field is so hard for me. I’m a people person who is a great reader/writer and arguer, but also has a passion for the biological sciences and medicinal field. I’ve spent time volunteering in hospitals (not law firms yet), but I can’t imagine I’d like any one career much more than the other in those fields. I care more about finding good job prospects (hence getting into a T14), in a field where I can work with people, and in a desirable location. </p>
<p>Yes, you are speculating as it does not matter if you are a stem major (by your own statement, your gpa is below 3.0). 162/3.4 will not break you into the t-14 even as a hooked applicant.</p>
<p>Since you seem unsure I agree with Demo, that you can benefit from a couple of years of work experience to figure out what it is that you really want vs. simply using law school as a fall back (as nothing you wrote seems to confirm that you really want to be a lawyer). Keep in mind it is not simply about going to a T-14 school as there are plenty of T-14 grads who do graduated unemployed.</p>
<p>and you would be incorrect. Law schools may give some latitude between a 3.9 lit major and a 3.8 STEM major, but a 3.4 is in the bottom quartile of all of the T14, and a 162 won’t even register.</p>
<p>Now, if you could pul a 17x and get a couple of years of work experience, you’d have a decent chance at the T14.</p>
<p>Law school as a back-up for med or dental school is a bad idea; only go to law school if you want to be a lawyer. Take the above advice and graduate and work for a couple of years. You may decide to do a post-bac for med school-or that law school is truly where you want to be.</p>
Have you considered both? There are a lot of T14 schools that offer a JD/MD program! You can get both degrees in just six years. I suggest strongly looking into it.
