I’m an undergraduate at Columbia College. I see people with liberal arts/foreign language majors with 3.9+ GPA’s applying to law school. I am doing an economics major with a history minor or double major. My average is hovering around 3.75 and is likely going to be around 3.8 by the time I apply in a year since I’ll be taking mostly electives. Columbia undergrad economics also has one of the harshest grading policies out of our undergrad programs (thank you Prof. Elmes). So the question is whether double majoring (especially in a very course-heavy major) has any positive effect on my chances. Or do I just give up right now and take 10 history courses between now and application season?
your major does not matter. Double majors and minors do not matter
The biggest factors will be LSAT & GPA
So someone studying the effect of right earlobes on the transatlantic feminist slave disco movement for four years with a 3.9 has a higher chance of getting in than I do?
^^with the same LSAT, yes, particularly if that 3.9 is above the law school’s median.
Yes, GPA and LSAT score are what matter. Your major is basically irrelevant for admissions. The only way it can come into play is in your essays. For example, I majored in journalism, and had published 75 articles before applying for law school, so I was able to say that my writing skills would be useful as an attorney, and that I would contribute to the law school’s publications. Aside from stating how what you’ve learned might help you succeed in law school or as an attorney, the major is not very important in law school admissions.
Where your major can make a difference is later on in your career and job prospects – e.g., if you were interested in patent law, you would need a science-related bachelor’s degree. Or if you wanted to go into construction law, then a construction or engineering degree could help. A nursing degree can help someone enter medical law. Etc. Generally speaking though, aside from patent law, all other areas of law can be practiced without any specific academic background.
Another thing that can make a difference is any experience you have with law, both to show your interest and possibly get an attorney to recommend you for law school – if the attorney is a graduate of the law school you are applying to, that is even better. I worked for over a year at a law firm before starting law school, and the partners wrote a 3-page recommendation letter for me to their alma mater, which just happened to be my top choice in law schools. It helped me secure a partial merit scholarship.
Having demonstrable communication skills is also worthwhile, such as experience speaking and writing. You can get that type of experience through your clubs and other extracurricular activities and leadership roles.
Thank you, very helpful!