<p>Hello,
I'm a rising college sophomore at a Top 50, Tier 1, Liberal Arts school, and law school has always been my goal (specifically UVA LS). I have a 3.79 for my freshman year and I intend to continue to improve it over the next three years. Obviously, the LSAT is important as well, and I am planning on going for a Business/Finance major with either a double or a minor in Environmental Studies and maybe Chinese (I'm not asian.) </p>
<p>However, I was wondering what else law schools were looking for in an application. For getting into under-grad you were supposed to have volunteer hours, and clubs, and extra curricular activities etc etc etc. What type of things do law schools want to see? Specific internships or jobs? Volunteering? Sports teams?</p>
<p>As stated to every thrid poster to this board, it’s your GPA and LSAT. Do work in undergrad that’s impressive enough to your professors to get some LoR’s, and maybe do something meaningful over a summer so that you can write a personal staement without sounding like a self-serving jackass. That’s it. Really. It’s a numbers game, get the numbers.</p>
<p>Jim is correct in saying that the question has been asked and answered many times on this board. Do a search and you should find some threads. </p>
<p>ECs are much less important in LS admissions than in college admissions. However, if you have absolutely NONE it can hurt. If you have outstanding ECs, it can help if you’re in the 25%-60% zone of admits in terms of gpa and LSAT. One of the lowest gpa’s I’ve ever heard of for someone who got into one of the YHS schools was the quaterback of a Pac10 football team the year that team won the conference. He still had a LSAT that was above the median for his classmates. But I think the LS cut him a little slack because Division 1 football at that level takes a LOT of time. But 80% of LS admissions is about two numbers: LSAT and GPA. 10% is about things you have little control over: URM status, developmental case (your family has already donated one building and is willing to fund a chair for a prof), geography (I think UVa gives preference to Va residents),and, at some law schools, legacy. Everying else–ECs, work experience, Personal statement, LORs–all combined counts for about 10%. Of course, it can be the crucial 10% if you’re in the 25-60% zone at a particular law school.</p>
<p>what about the classes you took as an undergrad? Do they care if you were a poli sci major or a Chemistry major? Would they care if you had a 4.0 but took mostly intro-level and social studies classes, or would they prefer someone who majored in Chem, took a ton of advanced econ classes, minored in Computer Science, and had a 3.6?
What about foreign language? Do they care if you studied a foreign language in college?</p>
<p>You are Dartmouth 2013 and thus clearly have the ability to research. These questions are answered almost every day. Spend the time and you’ll learn more by looking at the existing many, many threads. Don’t assume that you’ll somehow get better answers because people are directly responding to your particular post. Search and ye shall find.</p>