<p>So, I'm getting college letters back and am starting the process of narrowing down so hopefully I soon will have an idea of where I am going to start attending college next year.</p>
<p>I am very interested in the field of law. I know that law school is a ways away, and life circumstances may change, etc., but considering the major commitment law school is (financially and otherwise), it seems foolish if I don't start planning a little bit now.</p>
<p>Basically, out of the schools that I have been accepted to (or hope that I will), which do you think would best prepare me for law school (both in terms of academically preparing me and in terms of looking favorable to a law admissions officer)? Here they are (assume all things are level financially, though they aren't):</p>
<p>Tulane U.
Fordham U.
University of Maryland, CP
McGill U.
U. of Toronto</p>
<p>I know that majors are largely irrelevant (and that "prelaw" degrees are frowned upon), but I still am curious as to any insight that you guys can provide.</p>
<p>All the U.S. universities you have listed seem in about the same ballpark insofar as national reputations are concerned. Neither of the Canadian ones seems much out of phase with the U.S. ones.</p>
<p>From your list of majors, I’d stay away from journalism and criminology unless you want to be a journalist or a cop. Even if you wanted to be a journalist, I would advise a liberal arts degree program that includes several hands-on journalism courses from the J-school rather than pursuing a journalism degree.</p>
<p>The most useful undergraduate program preparatory for law school is that which most requires students to take and defend positions using clear thinking and clear written expression. That kind of training can be obtained in political science, English, and public policy courses, as well as in many other offerings among liberal arts courses. Whatever you major in, though, you will have to seek out courses that require you to think and express yourself.</p>
<p>If you go to law school accustomed to taking and defending positions in undergraduate school, you’ll be well prepared for training to “think like a lawyer.”</p>
<p>To me, there isn’t a huge difference between those schools (though Fordham and UMD would probably be slightly below the rest), but McGill probably stands out at the top a little bit in terms of reputation, at least from my experience. Also, Montreal is awesome. Also, depending on different variables, I think the Canadian schools can often be cheaper.</p>
<p>Get good grades and LSATs and that’s all that matters. There’s a huge range of majors for law school students. Philosophy and math majors have the highest LSAT scores but that’s partly because of the sorts of students who choose those majors and partly because of the way that those majors train the mind.</p>
<p>Study what you care about and do well - the major doesn’t matter.</p>
<p>Not necessarily directed to the OP, but for those looking at colleges now with a notion that ultimately they may want to go to law school: Pick your college and major based on what will give you the most rewarding and fulfilling undergraduate experience, not as a calculated formula for admission to law school. You are going to spend 4 of the most important years of your life at college. Pick one that is a good match for you, that will give you the UNDERGRADUATE opportunities you want, that will provide you with the collegiate experience you desire. Pick a major that interests you, that will excite you and motivate you to devote the time and energy necessary to get good grades. Sometimes this board is filled with such hyper-anxiety that borders on, no is, neurotic and obsessive/compulsive. momfromme is right; when the time comes to apply to law school, your grades and LSAT scores will be exponentially more important than what college you went to or major you took. I was a psych major, my wife an Elizabethan History major, my sister a poli-sci major and we all got into good law schools. My son is graduating this spring as a criminal justice major (oh, lordy, Henny Penny was right Chicken Little, the sky is falling - NOT) and he has been admitted to 4 very well regarded law schools with 2/3 to 3/4 merit scholarships (his “secret”- he loved his major, worked hard, got excellent grades in it, studied hard for the LSATs and had a very strong score). I even know BFA Theatre majors (you know, where 70% of your classes are acting and theatre related with only about 8 liberal arts classes) who have gotten into very well regarded law schools. Simply put, go live your life with passion and commitment to an area of study that moves you, at a college that will provide you with an educational experience, social and cultural opportunities and a living environment that are a good match for you and shift your focus to law school in 3 years when the time line requires that you start identifying law schools of interest and start thinking about preparing for the LSATs. You will be a much happier, less stressed out college student.</p>