So I am currently a Mechanical Engineering major, graduating this year. I hope to graduate with a 3.5 GPA. I haven’t taken the LSAT yet (or GRE because I’ve heard that a lot of law schools including a lot in T14 take that now), but I plan to do so next year and apply to enter law school in 2021 or 2022.
I want to go to a T14 law school and I was wondering if they take your major into consideration when looking at your GPA? And if so how much do they take it into consideration? I know mine is on the slightly lower side, and I partially attribute it to the challenging nature of my major.
I also want to know if you do take a few years in between undergrad and law school and work, is there a certain job that law schools prefer or would look good on my application? I am currently in the job searching process now so I would want to take that into account.
Also is it better to take the LSAT or the GRE? I know a lot of schools are starting to take the GRE now but is it really better to take that since this is a new policy change?
Overall if anyone has any other advice for me I’m willing to hear it!
A 3.5 in engineering is a good GPA. Unfortunately, law schools won’t care too much about your major. It will definitely help when looking for jobs though. A 3.5 won’t preclude you from many schools. You probably won’t get into Yale, Stanford or Harvard though.
The LSAT or GRE score will pretty much determine which school you get into. Math related majors tend to do well on both tests. Take a practice test for each and see which you prefer.
Taking a year or two and working will help in admissions and in getting that first job. An engineering job would be good.
The GRE is the more flexible exam in that it is accepted by graduate schools in many disciplines other than law.
Discussion about your undergraduate GPA is somewhat premature before you have an actual LSAT or GRE score. Nonetheless, sometimes consideration will be given to an engineering GPA in the admissions process. Adcoms know that it is a rigous area of majors & many law firms want young lawyers with technical backgrounds for patent law & for technology clients.
P.S. One advantage to taking the LSAT is that many law schools buy high LSAT scores by offering merit scholarship money. Not sure if this is done with GRE scores as US News only considers LSAT scores in its rating & ranking system.