Mid-college crisis - please help!!!

Graduate School Law School
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<p>Problem: I currently attend Northwestern, and am a journalism/econ double major. I am considering dropping my econ major, but cannot decide if I’m making the right choice. Please assume that dropping journalism is not an option.</p>

<p>So why am I posting in the law school forum…?</p>

<p>Background: When I declared my second major in Econ, I was planning on going into ibanking/consulting/biz-related after graduation. Things have changed, and now I want to attend law school. BUT. I am still very interested in Econ, and would like to eventually get my MBA and possibly be a corporate lawyer.</p>

<p>Reason I am freaking out
I recently learned that law schools do not care about double majors, and my GPA is too low. I need to raise my GPA, so logically, getting rid of one of my majors is the first step… but I’m having problems. Read on.</p>

<p>Things to consider

  1. My current GPA is abysmal. I’m not going to say why because no one cares (No one died and I didn’t lose a limb). REALISTICALLY SPEAKING, the highest GPA I can attain by GRADUATION is a 3.3/3.4. For this reason, I will be taking a year off before applying to law school, so that I can have the highest possible cumulative GPA on my transcript.</p>

<li>If I keep my Econ double major, this goal may NOT be attainable, as I have yet to take the hardest of Econ classes (Econometrics, Game theory).</li>
</ol>

<p>So what’s the problem? Why not just drop Econ?
I’m going to take a year off after college before law school, and would like a job during that time, preferably Econ-related, and definitely not journalism-related. Though I enjoy journlaism, I have no desire to make it into a career. </p>

<p>For my junior-summer internship I would really like an internship in a biz-related field. And I was thinking that if I eventually want an MBA, I should have experience in business anyway. My journalism degree may severely limit these opportunities.</p>

<p>Granted, Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern is arguably the best journalism school in the country. It is known to provide a very diverse and broad liberal arts education along with top-notch journalism. BUT my primary concern is that employers outside of journalism does not know this. Stereotypically, journalism is a VERY technical, career-oriented field. After all, I am getting a bachelor of SCIENCE in journalism.</p>

<p>And honestly, how many resumes do you think Goldman Sachs sees from a journalism major? I can almost see their HR being like, “lol, here’s a journalism major applying for our summer analyst position… i wonder if he knows math…”</p>

<p>Also, I’ve spent a lot of time and effort getting this far in my econ major. Many of my bad grades were in econ, and I feel like crap thinking I would have nothing to show for my effort (except bad grades) if I drop my econ major. Minoring is not a feasible option, as it only shaves 3 credits off the requirement and still includes the hardest Econ classes. I might as well major if I’m going to minor.</p>

<p>Anecdote that makes me happy
My friend’s sister attended UC Berkeley and majored in political science, worked in advertising for 2 years (where did that come from?), and now attends U Chicago Business School.</p>

<p>This example made me realize to an extent that undergrad majors do not matter as much as I (or my peers) think they do. I really hope this is the case, but I have to keep in mind that poli sci is not as technical as journalism.</p>

<p>I keep trying to convince myself that dropping Econ is the best choice for now, and that I will have plenty of opportunities to get jobs outside of journalism. But Econ is like the clingy girlfriend who is preventing me from doing things I want to do, and I should break up with her, BUT I STILL LOVE HER… What do I do?!</p>

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<p>It sounds to me like dropping journalism would be the better route. You can counterbalance the hard upper-level Econ classes with fluff electives, and an Econ major would be infinitely better for ALL your career choices (working before LS, getting into LS, getting into an MBA program). Have you looked into any JDMBA programs?? Seems like it could be a great option for you.</p>

<p>And by NO MEANS should you underestimate the power of a high LSAT score to counterbalance that weak gpa. I agree that waiting until after graduation to apply will be a boon for you, but if you can crack 170+ on the test, it will go a LONG way to getting you into a lower top-14 school, even with a 3.2-3.3</p>

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<p>Really?</p>

<p>Dropping out of journalism would be an even tougher choice for me. I am further along in my journalism major than in my econ major, and I really journalism. I also feel the writing intensive courses would prepare me for law.</p>

<p>But your opinion does make sense… UGHHRHGH</p>

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<p>For the summer analyst job…you will probably be asked your SAT score. (Yes, I know it’s ridiculous, but it’s very common.) It’s not necessary to be an econ major. A few courses (preferably with As) is enough. So don’t think you have to major in econ to get a job with Goldman Sachs.</p>

<p>Almost 10 years ago, one of the “kids” in my neighborhood got a summer job at Goldman with a French lit major. If you have the math aptitude, you really don’t have to major in econ.</p>

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<p>If you can see yourself in advertising/marketing (since you brought up that anecdote), how about dropping econ and adding IMC certificate? [Medill</a> - IMC Undergraduate Certificate](<a href=“http://www.medill.northwestern.edu/imc/undergraduatecertificate.aspx]Medill”>http://www.medill.northwestern.edu/imc/undergraduatecertificate.aspx)</p>

<p>You can also think about LOC major: [Undergraduate</a> :: Curriculum](<a href=“http://www.sesp.northwestern.edu/ugrad/academics/conc/loc/curriculum/]Undergraduate”>http://www.sesp.northwestern.edu/ugrad/academics/conc/loc/curriculum/)
I know some people who found econ too hard switch to this major. Technically, your second major should be in WCAS but you may be able to petition.</p>

<p>These two options would make it look like you are interested in business-related fields and that’s why you were taking the econ classes and people wouldn’t know you actually drop the econ major because it’s too hard (or at least less obvious).</p>

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<p>By the way, SESP departments tend to be more grade-inflated than those in WCAS, especially econ.</p>