LSAT Scores, etc.

[strawberryfanta]

<p>Hi, I'm new here, and I have a bazillion questions.</p>

<p>First a little introduction. I'm a second-semester freshman at Southeastern Louisiana University, a small-medium state school here in LA. I started as a Bio major in the fall, hated it and jumped to what I thought was interesting, which was Psychology. I had taken both Bio and Psy classes in the fall and decided I didn't like either, so this spring I decided to try out a typical PoliSci semester: PoliSci, History, Sociology, English, French, and Mythology (random elective). I really really love my semester so far, and am planning on changing my major to Political Science with minors in French and International Relations. I looked up careers for PoliSci majors, and saw that most go to law school. I researched law school, and I really am interested in it.</p>

<p>I've been reading, and I seem to be hearing that law schools almost look down on PoliSci majors since there are so many... this worries me. I was considering a double major in PoliSci and French to offset this a bit but don't want to overload myself. Does having a PoliSci major actually hurt your chances?</p>

<p>Also, this is kinda not related to law school, but while I'm at it... in case I can't get into law school, could I go to graduate school for French with a minor in it? That may depend on whether I double major or not.</p>

<p>Finally, I keep hearing LSAT LSAT LSAT, but I'm only a freshman so I won't be taking it for a while. So, before I get to hardcore studying and practice tests for it, I was just curious about what you guys and gals got on the ACT and SAT and then your LSAT scores? I know the correlation may not be perfect or close to it but I'd just like an idea. I got a 32 composite on the ACT, but a 35 in English and Reading. Additionally, is there a website that lists correlation trends between ACT/SAT and LSAT? I've been looking but can't find one yet.</p>

<p>Thanks, and sorry it's so much.</p>

[nickthecoolest]

<p>I don't have the list but getting a high score on your standardized tests is definitely not a disadvantage. If and when someone does link the list remember the difference between correlation and causation. Good luck!</p>

[Spanks]

<p>
[quote]

Finally, I keep hearing LSAT LSAT LSAT, but I'm only a freshman so I won't be taking it for a while. So, before I get to hardcore studying and practice tests for it, I was just curious about what you guys and gals got on the ACT and SAT and then your LSAT scores? I know the correlation may not be perfect or close to it but I'd just like an idea. I got a 32 composite on the ACT, but a 35 in English and Reading. Additionally, is there a website that lists correlation trends between ACT/SAT and LSAT? I've been looking but can't find one yet.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>1450 SAT (730 V; 720 M)/175 LSAT</p>

<p>The LSAT is a lot more learnable than the SAT/ACT.</p>

[strawberryfanta]

<p>Ok, thanks guys. I’ve also finally been able to find more info about LSAT-ACT ‘conversions’ etc, just to give me an idea.</p>

<p>Still though:</p>

<p>Does having a PoliSci major actually hurt your chances?</p>

[nickthecoolest]

<p>It’s my understanding polisci, econ and history are among the most popular majors for those who are now in law school.</p>

[nickthecoolest]

<p>Oh, and welcome to CC. :)</p>

[sybbie719]

<p>Again, welcome to CC.</p>

<p>I would suggest purchasing 2 books:</p>

<p>Anna Ivey - THe Ivey guide to law school admissions
Richard Montauk- How to get in a top law school</p>

<p>The Montauk book the book is approximately 500 pages and gives a very comprehensive overview of the college process and discusses applications, essays, LSATs, majors, etc.</p>

<p>Chapter 8 of his book discusses Making the Most of Your Credentials, Montauk states:</p>

<p>

Your specific major matters less than the type of major you choose. What matters is that you choose a serious major. Schools are leery of pre-professional subjects such as business, and those that reward performance talents such as acting. There are some majors that admissions counselors cringe at seeing; communications, criminology and pre-law (even though theoretically pre-law is not a major)
Any subject that requires serious analytical work and dedication attract at least a reasonable % of the best and brightest will meet with approval.</p>

<p>The ideal undergraduate record would thus include all of the following:</p>

<p>Top quality school</p>

<p>Demanding course load (no path of least resistance) advanced work in a second unrelated (to your major) filed is particularly helpful</p>

<p>Top grades throughout (with few courses taken pass/fail) but especially in junior & senior years</p>

<p>Courses requiring substantial reading, strong writing ability good research skills and analytical prowess</p>

<p>Courses developing useful substantial knowledge for your future legal field.</p>

<p>When posed with the question: What factors do you consider when evaluating an undergraduate record admissions officers at various law schools state :</p>

<p>What ever the major, there should be variety including some clearly demanding analytical courses. There is not set preparation for law school, but some majors may be of less value than others (for ex. Pre-law) I examine the undergraduate transcript very closely. I look at what the applicant has done both in and outside of their major- Faye Deal, Stanford</p>

<p>What we are looking for is both breadth and depth. We favor applicants who come to us from broad liberal arts education. They learn about human vision from the arts, how the world works from math and the sciences and the human condition from philosophy and history. We don’t want academic dilettantes however; we want applicants to have taken the most analytically rigorous courses in their field- Jim Mulligan, Columbia</p>

<p>Not all UGPAs are created =. Swat and William and Mary, for instance have refrained from inflating grades; their averages are between 2.8 & 2.9. At the other end of the spectrum, Stanford and Yeshiva have mean GPAs over 3.4- Mulligan, Columbia</p>

<p>The GPA number is just a starting point. Our first concern is how rigorous the course load has been. We look at academic letters of recommendation, which are particularly helpful if they address the difficulty of the course load ex: the grading policies of professors from whom the applicant took multiple courses. Other factors we c examine is whether there were substantial barriers to performance such as the need to work many hours per week- USC</p>

<p>I know what the strongest and weakest programs are at some 50 to 60 schools. At some smaller commonly seen schools (and programs) it can be helpful for the student to provide detailed information. –GWU</p>

<p>We see a # of pre-med students who did poorly as pre-meds but then did well in their next field. The key for them is to make sure they get out of pre-med early so they can fully demonstrate their talents.- UCLA

</p>

<p>Anna Ivey, former dean of admissions at U of chicago law school says this:</p>

<p>

Question: **I am a freshman in college who is interested in going to law school after college. My question is, is there a particular major that impresses law school admissions officers? Some people have told me that Political Science is the best. I am particularly interested in an English major but will choose whichever major is most appealing to law schools. Thank you! **</p>

<p>Anna’s Answer: Good for you for starting to plan ahead so early! Make sure to keep an open mind, though, because you don’t want to lock yourself into a particular career goal too early. It’s tough trying to make career-related decisions as a freshman. You wouldn’t start law school for another four years at the earliest, and who know what you’ll want out of life at that time? Think back to four years ago, when you were about fourteen, and think about how much you’ve changed since then, your priorities, your outlook, your maturity. Your personal development proceeds at lightening speed during your high school and college years. You’ll need those first couple of years in college to try out different subjects and disciplines and to think about different career paths. </p>

<p>Once you’re a junior and ready to pick a major, go with your heart. That will be the best outcome for you personally, and it will be the best outcome for you in terms of law school admissions (if that’s still what you want down the road) for two reasons: </p>

<p>First, while it’s true that the most popular majors for law school applicants are Political Science, History, and Economics, that phenomenon just reflects the popularity of those majors among people who end up applying to law school; it does not reflect a preference on the part of law school admissions officers. You absolutely do not have to pursue one of those majors to be a successful law school applicant; if anything, you might have a harder time distinguishing yourself from the pack as a Poli Sci major. </p>

<p><a href=“http://www.vault.com/nr/newsmain.jsp?nr_page=3&ch_id=351&article_id=19222221&cat_id=2711[/url]”>http://www.vault.com/nr/newsmain.jsp?nr_page=3&ch_id=351&article_id=19222221&cat_id=2711&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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[strawberryfanta]

<p>Thanks! So it seems indeed PoliSci can make me seem like just another student, but honestly it’s what I like and so that’s good enough for me. Thanks.</p>