<p>Hi everyone, this post is somewhat related to another post, but I have a few different questions . 1) Isn't your major supposed to help you succeed as a lawyer and do well on the LSAT ? I know they talk about "diverse" majors and all that, but isn't your major supposed to prepare for the future ahead ? For example, say you major in Math, wouldn't you succeed more if you major in English, for example ? That way you'd have more advanced reading/writing skills ? Or, does it really NOT matter what your major is ? 2) How do these majors sound like: A. Foreign languages, B. something science-related (Biology), C. Business Economics ?</p>
<p>1) no
2) again, any major is fine. study something you are interested in. (some top schools frown upon vocational majors, ie business or accounting)</p>
<p>Funny thing you compare math majors to english majors. There was actually a study done by Harvard a few years ago that said classics majors and math majors outperformed every other major in law school. Why? the study concluded that it was the rigor of these two majors (reading the Odyssey in Attic Greek is no small task!)</p>
<p>Now, repeat after me..."It does not matter what my major is"</p>
<p>the best major is the one that you are interested in and that you will do well in.</p>
<p>regarding the lsat, </p>
<p>The Law School Admissions Council publishes data ranking how well undergraduate majors perform on the LSAT, the entrance examination for law school. In its 1996 study, philosophy majors had the second highest national average on the LSAT, just behind physics/math majors. </p>
<p><a href="http://www.jmu.edu/philrel/gradtests.shtml%5B/url%5D">http://www.jmu.edu/philrel/gradtests.shtml</a></p>
<p>Data from the Law Schools Admissions Test (LSAT) shows that philosophy majors outperformed all of the other most popular pre-law and humanities majors. On the average, philosophy students scored 157.0. Which humanities majors were second to philosophy? Religion majors, with an average score of 156.6. After that came economics majors scoring 156.2, and history majors scoring 154.5. English majors scored 153.5, on the average, while political science majors scored 151.5. The only majors that scored higher on the LSAT were from Mathematics and Physics. For a complete list and exact figures for average LSAT score among different majors see </p>
<p>but this does not mean that you should run out and become a math/ physic/ philisophy major especially if these topics do not interest you.</p>
<p>the purpose of your college major is NOT to prepare you for the lsat and a legal career. the purpose of your college major is to give you a chance to study an area that you want to devote a signicant portion of your college career exploring in more depth than othe areas.</p>
<p>most colleges do not make you declare a major until the end of your sophmore year or beginning of junior year -- they recognize that students need time to explore different areas before they commit to a major. (if you plan to apply to colleges that do in fact require you to apply to a given major as part of their application process -- just be careful before you lock yourself into something at this early stage of your academic career.)</p>
<p>since a person does not have to decide whether they want to apply to law school until their senior --or possibly junior year if you want to get an early start on the process -- (and many decide even after they have graduated college), there is no need to focus one's college career around the ultimate goal of law school. if you are interested in the three fields you've listed, take courses in them during your freshman year to help you decide if one of them is really what you want to major in. then take more advanced courses in that field to confirm whether that is the right decision.</p>
<p>Wildflower, what if the business school is the best (Or one of the best schools within your school)? Would HYS still think it would be better to major in something like Government?</p>
<p>Rolen, it is my understanding that unless you are talking about a Wharton, Haas, Stern or Ross, it'll still be frowned upon. The difference with those schools, Wharton for instance, is that their coursework is also theorical and extremely math-oriented (ppl correct me if I am wrong). For example, Wharton doesn't accept statistics classes from transfer students, unless they have a calculus prerequisite; so transfer students better be hitting higher level math before they attempt to transfer. Most average business schools would be happy with business statistics 101 (not even intro to statistics and probability in the arts and sciences department/college, presumably "tougher"). </p>
<p>So, yeah. They'd probably prefer the Govt major, a 4.0 and a 175. Rolen, you have to realize that only pretty amazing people go to HYS; not trying to discourage you, just a fact. These people have 4.0, have published, have prestigious fellowships, have won at regional and national level type competitions, etc. On top of that, it's pretty much a crapshoot--especially YS. You could probably get into Harvard with a near perfect LSAT and a near perfect GPA--or Columbia.</p>
<p>Thanks Wildflower for the detailed response.
Sally do you have an opinion on this as well?</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>Please, keep in mind that I am not an expert.</p>
<p>I'm not an admissions officer, and I doubt that there is any uniform rule about these kinds of things, but I strongly believe, as I've said before, that you should major in whatever it is that you can be passionate about. You're certainly likely to do better in school overall, be more enthusiastic, impress your professors and get to know them outside of class through all of the activities (not in the high school sense of ECs, but along the lines of research projects, becoming a TA, participating in student groups that focus on your areas of interest, etc.) you will inevitably take part in if you enjoy your studies. You might even really learn something along the way. Will law schools be impressed that you graduated cum laude with double majors in biochemical engineering and philosophy? Probably. I think that the cum laude part matters a lot, though. I also believe that college is an experience that takes up four of what can be the most fantastic years of your life, not to mention the incredible expense of tuition, so take advantage and study what you truly enjoy. If you really have a passion for finance, major in finance. That also doesn't mean that you can't take classes in literature, philosophy, chemistry, economics and french. In fact, I would highly recommend taking classes across the spectrum because I believe it will enhance your understanding of the world around you ... which may make you a better lawyer someday.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Now, repeat after me..."It does not matter what my major is"
[/quote]
It does not matter what your major is. </p>
<p>So long as your major is not as fluffy as a new down pillow, you'll be fine. I know that my school says that they like math majors, because they know that they are highly analytical, precise, and are used to working hard.</p>
<p>hmmm, ok. so what is it with philosophy majors scoring the best on the LSAT ? Is it becuase the philosph classes are very hard and prepare you well to think analytically, or is it because people majoring in philosophy, regardless of that major, are just smart already ?</p>
<p>"what is it with philosophy majors scoring the best on the LSAT" </p>
<p>Probably a bit of both. Most philosophy majors take formal logic, which is excellent prep for the LSAT. Even if you are not a phil major, you should take formal logic (AKA symbolic logic). It was a fun class:)</p>
<p>what exactly do you do in a philosophy class? Read great philosophic texts by ancient sages ?</p>
<p>"what is it with philosophy majors scoring the best on the LSAT" </p>
<p>once again....</p>
<p>
[quote]
this does not mean that you should run out and become a math/ physic/ philisophy major especially if these topics do not interest you.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Major: Philosophy </p>
<p>Basics </p>
<p>Philosophy majors like the big questions. Why are we here? How should one act? What is man's true nature? They like to read difficult books by writers like Plato, Kant, Nietzsche, Hegel, and Kierkegaard. </p>
<p>Seriously, Philosophy majors are critical thinkers who leave no stone unturned, no thought unexplored. They pick up where Socrates left off, trying to figure out what it means to be human by asking hard questions (e.g., Why believe in God? And for that matter, why not?) and doing their best to answer them clearly and logically. Everything, and we do mean everything, falls into their realm of inquiry.</p>
<p>Philosophy involves more than thinking in abstract terms, for underlying the major is a set of critical and analytical tools that will help you to intellectually engage the world around you. Philosophy majors learn how to construct nearly airtight rational and logical argument, present their thoughts convincingly, and think and respond to difficult questions and situations from various perspectives. As a major you will study Philosophy in all of its different forms, from logic, to ethics, metaphysics, epistemology, and the history of Philosophy. Oh, and by the time you graduate, you'll be able to argue circles around your friends.</p>
<p>PrincetonReview</p>
<p>Studying philosophy may incidentally enhance your appreciation of Monty Python:</p>
<p>First character: "They don't stamp animals 'property of the zoo'!! You can't stamp a huge lion 'property of the zoo'!!
Companion: (confidently) They stamp them when they're small.
FC: (snapping back) What happens when they moult?
Companion: Lions don't moult.
FC: No, but penguins do. THERE! I've run rings around you logically."</p>
<p>whew ! Wildflower, philosophy sure sounds tough and rigid ! I guess philosoph majors don't leave any question unanswered</p>
<p>lmao, Greybeard. I never thought I'd say this but, I wish that nspeds was around. lol.</p>
<p>"whew ! Wildflower, philosophy sure sounds tough and rigid ! I guess philosoph majors don't leave any question unanswered"</p>
<p>Yeah, philosophy at a good school can be pretty rigorous--but, at the same time, fascinating, IMO. I'd definitely recommend it as a major--but only if it truly interests you. Take a course or two (ie Logic and Ethics), and see if you like it.</p>
<p>You should also browse this website: <a href="http://www.philosophicalgourmet.com/undergrad.htm%5B/url%5D">http://www.philosophicalgourmet.com/undergrad.htm</a></p>
<p>Also, if you are truly interested, read these books (they'll help you decide by giving you a pretty good intro to the subject): </p>
<p> R Descartes, Meditations
D Hume, Enquiries
J S Mill, Utilitarianism
B Russell, Problems of Philosophy</p>
<p>thanks wildflower !</p>
<p>
[quote]
lmao, Greybeard. I never thought I'd say this but, I wish that nspeds was around. lol.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Danke schön.</p>
<p>
[quote]
B Russell, Problems of Philosophy
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Richtig.</p>
<p>
[quote]
R Descartes, Meditations
D Hume, Enquiries
J S Mill, Utilitarianism
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Falsch.</p>
<p>Brauchen Sie mehr Bücher?
Mind: A Brief Introduction von John Searle
Philosophy of Science: An Introduction von Peter Godfrey-Smith
Etwas Gedichtsammlungen
Morality: An Introduction to Ethics von Bernard Williams</p>