<p>After having graduated from a JC this past Spring, I'm transferring to Berkeley as a junior and was set on philosophy as my major of choice up until I attended orientation last week. Although statistics indicate that phil majors tend to perform well on the LSAT, a number of cal students told me how difficult it is to receive A's in phil courses here, esp. upper divs. One in particular, who is currently working on getting his PhD in rhetoric advised me to major in Rhetoric, as Berkeley "doesn't give A's" in phil. and getting into law school is a "numbers game." I find phil. interesting and am planning on taking some courses in the field regardless, but would the practical choice be to switch my major to rhetoric? I am confident in my abilities to excel in rhetoric at cal, but would a phil major compensate for slightly worse grades by substantially improving my projected LSAT score? Any and all feedback appreciated, thanks.</p>
<p>Your major does very little to help you on the LSAT (some students say that Philo helps with the logical reasoning section but i honestly do not see how) I personally would go talk to a general academic adviser and tell them that I wanted to major in whatever gave the highest GPA traditionally, I did this and ended up majoring in Police and Forensic Sciences (because it is interesting and you get to work in a lab and shoot guns) and Minoring in Home Ec. (I got a 3.91 official LSAT GPA) I originally majored in Leisure and Recreation because that is what my dumb athlete roommate had majored in… its a good option too.</p>
<p>Whatever you do check the powerscore bibles out from your college library and start working on them… timed! Anyone can get a 180 on the LSAT untimed. The average LSAT score is of course 150 (no matter what you read on the nets) and most people can bump through studying at least 10 points if they originally score in the 145-155 range. That puts you into at least a 2nd tier law school with a good GPA.</p>
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<p>Philosophy is a string of long, complex arguments. Contemporary philosophy can be very formal, which definitely prepares you for simple logic games. </p>
<p>If it’s hard to get A’s at Berkely, and all you care about is getting into a good law school, then I would advise against the philosophy major. However, if you’re really interested in philosophy, and you want to get something out of your education that will stick with you for the rest of your life (and help big time with the law classes) then go for the philosophy major.</p>
<p>Also… Rhetoric? .</p>
<p>I wouldn’t take a major based on how high you can get your GPA. LOL</p>
<p>First, colleges is supposed to develop critical thinking and reading and/or give you vocational job skills. Certainly, I would major in something that I would like. If you like it, you will do better in it.</p>
<p>Secondly, philosophy does hone good reading and critical reasoning skils, both of which are large segmens on the LSAT.</p>
<p>Third, the LSAT is much more important than your GPA. A 4.0 GPA with a medicore LSAT such as 150-155,won’t get you in anywhere good. A mediocre GPA such as 3.1-3.3 with a fabulous LSAT 174 or more, would probably get you into a T14 school. LSAT is really the winner for law school admissions with the GPA being a distant second place.</p>
<p>If I were you, I would major in what you want and slowly over the next two years take a few LSAT questions per day. You can use the Testmaster bibles for training or past exams.</p>
<p>Okay. The philosopher in me (as someone with a BA and MSc) says follow your heart and truly take advantage of all that Berkeley’s philosophy department has to offer.</p>
<p>The future law school student and having gone through the application process says major in underwater basket weaving.</p>
<p>Which wins out?</p>
<p>Major in underwater basket weaving and don’t look back. Contrary to the 2nd poster, I will say philosophy will prepare you provided it’s a good program (emphasis on analytic philosophy will give the edge).</p>
<p>You have to take a class with John Searle if you are interested in philosophy and going to Berkeley!</p>
<p>Thanks for the input guys.</p>
<p>Having already gone through the application process, would any of you say that a 3.75 and 170-173 LSAT would give me a shot at S? I’d like to stay in California, but I’m also looking heavily into Georgetown as a good foundation to practice law in DC in the future.</p>
<p>I can’t really answer the first. As for you second question, it is good to look at Georgetown. However, if you really want to work in D.C., UVA and Duke will give you a better shot. Georgetown is the 2nd largest law school in the T14 after Harvard and is known for its competitive student population. Not only that, everybody and their grandmother is trying to get into D.C.'s already tight legal market.</p>