<p>Hi, it's getting time to start picking my classes for my freshman year in college. I'm still a little undecided on my major...something along the lines of English or Biology. I know, they're vastly different subjects. Anyways, can you recommend some courses that are a "must" when preparing for the LSAT/ law school in general? I know most people will say, "any course that will develop your critical thinking, logic, writing, etc." but I was hoping for something a little more specific. (What type of logic course? Do I need accounting for corporate law? Is a science/engineering degree a must for patent law? etc.) Thanks!</p>
<p>Symbolic logic of the deductive variety. A good critical thinking class or book might help, although you may already have many or all of the skills. Amazon.com reviews seem useful to help determine quality and content.</p>
<p>Philosophy classes tend to be good. Math classes as well. History forces you to read and understand many different types of documents and research a lot. Economics helps develop a useful way of thinking, and can give much background on many types of law related to various fields such as business.</p>
<p>As a history graduate, pursuing a career in law, I strongly recomend you pick a major that will help you get a job right out of college (perhaps engineering, biology, business, accounting, education, mathematics, etc). The more demanding the better.</p>
<p>The problem with english, history, and philosophy is that they won't give you much flexability right out of school. your earning potential will be low. it'll be difficult to make money for law school. and difficult to change professions if you decide not to go into law school.</p>
<p>When it comes down to it, law schools care about two things: gpa and lsat. they don't care what major you had, or what school you attended.</p>
<p>i didn't really read drab's post. he makes some excelent points that you'd probably want to take into consideration.</p>
<p>I do think my history studies has helped prepare me for the lsat. but not for potential employers.</p>
<p>Thanks to both of you for your posts.</p>
<p>younghov1983: I was thinking of a possible humanities related major, while pursuing the required premed courses, not necessarily as a "back up" to law, but just as a way to keep my options open.</p>
<p>Study whatever interests you. :)</p>
<p>I don't think classes help but that's just me.</p>
<p>Things that helped me be good at logic:</p>
<p>Playing lots of Magic the Gathering as a kid.
Being a good hold 'em poker player.
Playing lots of minesweeper.
Doing lots of Sudoko.
Visiting Jstor a lot and reading up on articles I found interesting (lots of economics papers are in law journals).</p>
<p>You don't need a college degree to do well on the LSAT IMO.</p>
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You don't need a college degree to do well on the LSAT IMO.
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<p>I think you're most definitely correct here.</p>
<p>
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Playing lots of Magic the Gathering as a kid.
Playing lots of minesweeper.
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<p>These two did helped my brother as well. I played a bit of magic (because he did) but was sort of average and doubt it helped me much. Maybe chess did help me a bit (not that I was good, just average)? I never did much minesweeper, but have started sodoku recently. Hopefully symbolic logic will be fun when I take it next semester.</p>
<p>I brought this topic up because I took a practice LSAT just to see where I stood in terms of preparation. I took it untimed, which was quite frankly 2-3 times as long as allowed. I guess I'll pick up speed as time goes on.</p>
<p>Taking a cold LSAT timed will be far more helpful to estimate what you'd get if you took it for real, and now you are familiar with the test because of your previous practice test. Take one cold and see how you do.</p>
<p>Hah, probably like a 130...the untimed LSAT was just to see if I had the "knowledge" or rather the ability to complete the logic games, comprehension questions, etc.</p>
<p>D&G, I'm going through exactly the same thing.</p>
<p>"These two did helped my brother as well. I played a bit of magic (because he did) but was sort of average and doubt it helped me much. Maybe chess did help me a bit (not that I was good, just average)? I never did much minesweeper, but have started sodoku recently. Hopefully symbolic logic will be fun when I take it next semester."</p>
<p>Posting on CC is helping me study for the MCAT.</p>
<p>haha jk. In all seriousness, I would never think things like sodoku or minesweeper would help you study for the LSAT...You learn things everyday.</p>
<p>I think they sharpen and develop the tools necessary to do well.</p>
<p>if you have a sensitive ego, I wouldn't take an lsat timed, cold turkey.</p>
<p>you'll probably bomb it, due to the logic games (logical reasoning).</p>
<p>D&G, If I were looking at long term LSAT prep, like you are, one of the things I would do is look at the range of passage topics covered in the reading comp and the logical reasoning sections and force myself to become interested and familiar with those topics. It is much easier to engage with and understand a passage if you have even a vague familiarity with the topic. Just one example of this would be subscribing to and reading an art journal. A few other topics that seem to come up:
Astronomy
Agriculture
Biology
African/ African American/ Native American Culture/Art/History
Music
Psychology</p>
<p>It seems as if EVERY SAT exam has AT LEAST one passage that relates to African American/African history/art/culture. </p>
<p>Is this also a rule on the LSAT?</p>
<p>(btw, last June's LSAT had something on African Art)</p>
<p>Archaeology is also a biggy</p>
<p>The SAT has minority-oriented passages because nationally hispanics and african-americans fare worst on the test (on average) and make a big ruckus about how the test is "racist." THe same trend holds across virtually all standardized tests. The testmakers are probably responding to this criticism by making the test more relatable to minority students.</p>