So I’m considering majoring in philosophy for law school or business school. What are the career prospects? Any current philosophy students or already graduated students?
What’s your opinion on Law School? What’s the best major to be successful in getting into Law School? I heard Political Science is a bad choice…but I really don’t understand why? What makes something a “bad major” to get into a certain school?
What seems to be the most appealing and the most unappealing factors about this major? Any other better majors?
My son was a Russian major and Poli Sci major (double major) and did well on the LSAT (166), which is what you are really asking about. Because your major itself matters nada to the law schools*, except in the sense of they like to see high GPAs. High GPA and high LSAT score is all it really comes down to. So a really tough major (for most people) like Biomedical Engineering or Quantum Physics that results in more B’s than another major might could be an issue in that sense, but you get my point. If a person is really talented in those areas and can get a high GPA, then great. Law schools might compensate a bit for majors that they know are harder for getting high GPAs, but that only goes so far. If you are a decent writer and a disciplined worker (and if not law school is a bad idea anyway), it is true that majors such as Philosophy, English, History, Poli Sci, etc. produce higher average GPAs.
However, there are various factors that go into doing well on the LSAT. Obviously native intelligence is a factor, but reading comprehension, logical reasoning and conversion of theory to reality are skills that can be strongly improved through practice and exposure. That is why people think that philosophy is such good preparation for the LSAT and law school, and I think they are right. Studying philosophy requires the student to get very good at really understanding what they are reading and being able to apply it in various ways, not to mention being able to expand on what they read and explain it in writing to others. But any major that has a lot of reading where you have to distill down to important points that support an argument will help in this area. Philosophy has the advantage of having a specific approach to studying logic which translates well to some aspects of the LSAT and law, but obviously those courses can be taken even if you are a poli sci or other major.
*One exception I know of is that for certain language/regional studies majors there are joint programs with law schools wherein certain scholarships may be available, and admittance chances might be slightly enhanced. My son was able to get through law school with 85% of it being paid for through a grant, including a stipend for his apartment and food. Not having debt coming out of law school is a huge advantage, to say the least. But this is a very narrow situation, and in general wouldn’t affect most people and I am assuming would not affect you.
I have a couple degrees in philosophy, also 1 in English & 1 in business. No doubt in my mind that philosophy was by far the field that helped me learn to think better.
On one hand, you can’t "do"anything with a philosophy B.A.; on the other hand, you can do just about anything, because you will be able to read, write, think, & organize things as well as anybody…skills that will help in business or law school.
With a master’s you can do some teaching, mostly at the community college level.
@fallenchemist It’s great that Philosophy is excellent for law school… but is there really anything you can do with the degree besides graduate school other than teaching or small positions? If not, do most hardworking Philosophy majors get into law school? Where has your son gone for law? Thanks!
Most people get a BA in philosophy, but if you take enough math/science courses you might fulfill the requirements for a BS. It depends on the undergrad school and no, law schools don’t care.
I think what @moooop was trying to say is that if you are willing to start in a lower level position, there are thousands of non-specialist jobs you could look at doing. The point is that studies have shown that people with humanities degrees often have superior reasoning and communication skills and move into management at a greater rate than the average bachelors degree holder. It is all up to you and what path you want to take, but it is a good example of college not being a trade school where you have to go into a field based on your major, but instead a place where you become a superior thinker and communicator. Those that can successfully apply the latter skills are often quite successful.
I don’t want to say where my son went to law school for privacy reasons, but it was a top 40 school and he is now practicing, specializing in adoption and immigration cases, especially the former. He was accepted to one top 20 school, but the scholarship at the other was too good to pass up.
For major-agnostic college graduate jobs (which a large percentage of college graduates, including those in majors like English, political science, biology, etc. seek), philosophy majors may do well, due to practice in reading, writing, and logical thinking that their majors require, while those in other majors may get less practice in some of those skills.
I was a government major with a concentration in political theory and then went on for an MA in philosophy. A good friend of mine got her BA in philosophy and then was in my MA program. I went to law school. She got involved in the not-for-profit arena and built a career working for foundations and agencies. There were a couple of people in my small grad school program who had been to law school and several people in my law school with philosophy backgrounds. Oh, and while we’re at it, another friend of mine was a religious studies major and then went to law school.
Based on this admittedly small sample plus my general life experience, I’d tell you two things.
First, there are real similarities between how you think about philosophical problems and how you think about legal problems. Both areas require logic, rigorous analysis and close attention to the precise meanings of words. A philosophy major is excellent preparation for law school.
Second, philosophy, like any liberal arts major, including all the ones that people think are pointless or will never get you a decent job, will teach you analytic rigor, careful thinking, intellectual adaptability and how to read and write well. These will be valuable throughout your career(s). You can always be taught a skill. An excellent liberal arts education, regardless of major, will teach you to think.
Major in what you love, in the area that excites you intellectually, in the thing you really want to learn more about. Go get an education. Leave it to graduate or professional school to be the really expensive trade school with the big library. And even if you don’t end up in grad or professional school, I promise, you can still major in philosophy or French literature or sociology or ethnomusicology and end up with an interesting and well-paying career in fields that have nothing to do with your major.
My brother did (analytic, of course) philo at an Ivy and is a lawyer now. He is very pleased with his undergrad education and its role in his life and career today.
My SIL studied philo at a top LAC and is a lawyer today. She is also very pleased with both her undergrad education and her current career. Philosophy is a great pre-law degree.
When you talk to someone with a significant philosophy background, chances are they will be able to grasp any concept you mention, no matter how complex. They are also usually better than most about quickly identifying bad logic.