<p>I'm a rising 3rd year at UVA with a 3.1 GPA currently (admittedly i partied too much last year and anyone can say this but i really am ready to work a lot harder now-reality is slapping me across the face). I originally came into college trying to get into McIntyre Business School undergrad program, but I struggled with calc and Accounting and was rejected last semester. I applied to the Policy, Philosophy, and Law major after that, and was accepted into the program (its a interdisciplinary thing with a 20 page senior thesis type paper due at the end of senior year that accepts 30 students). I'm currently signed up for those classes, but even if i raise my gpa to a 3.3 or a 3.4 by graduation and get a semi-decent lsat, will i even get in to a mediocre law school? Part of me wants to change my major to Econ and try to get a job in the business field as an analyst or something of that nature, but what are the odds i will find a job in the business field after school is done? I feel like I give good interviews and was picked to be an Intramural Supervisor for next year, but I've heard horror stories of econ majors that struggle to find jobs. Also, my family doesn't have a lot of disposable income and I will have substantial loans if i go to law school. Finally, I was arrested at a horse race for underage alcohol possession and possession of a false id, which i am in the process of completing probation for. Will law schools knock me down even further because of this? This may sound avaricious, but I just want the opportunity for a 40-50K plus starting salary after I'm done, but I don't know if the best route for that is law school or an economics degree and trying to find a business field job. Will my good school and major make up for my shortcomings or am i better off cutting my losses and trying the econ route? Any advice is much appreciated, I'm pretty lost right now.</p>
<p>You're fine. Law schools care mostly about LSAT. It's far better to apply with a 3.1/173 than a 3.9/163. You will not get into Harvard/Yale/Stanford, but if you do reasonably well on the LSAT, you should be able to get into a good school.</p>
<p>It would be prudent to major in economics (if you like econ), but not necessary. PPL is pretty soft overall but isn't a dealbreaker if you're trying to get a decent job. For the most part though, your GPA will only keep you from getting interviews at the very best firms.</p>