What matters when applying to a law school.

Currently I go to UTSA, not a very prestigious college but I have a decent GPA at 3.53. What exactly to law schools look at in applicants, beside LSAT scores. Is there a specific major I should be taking, currently my major is BBA Econ but I can switch to BA Econ, with a minor in statistics. Do law schools also look at the college I go to and will some of my admission be based on that?

Generally speaking, they will care far less about where you went to undergrad and what you majored in than they will GPA and test scores, which is the first thing they’ll look at. After that, if it’s between you and another applicant with the same GPA and test scores, they will probably consider whether one majored in basket weaving vs. a more rigorous major that better prepares one for law school, and the profession (writing ability, analytical skills, etc.).

Choose the major that most interests you, as that is the one you are likely to do best in and get the best GPA.

By the way, there have been some studies on the majors of applicants with the highest LSAT scores and discussion of whether these majors (perhaps) better prepare someone for the LSAT. Econ is right up at the top of the list. The only one higher was physics/math, but if I’d have chosen any science/math related major, my GPA would have been so low that the door would have been shut for me - if I didn’t flunk out of undergrad first. ha!

Here’s a good article.

Good luck!

Law schools want to know how smart you are and how prepared you are to do the work in law school. Thus they will look at more than your LSAT score and GPA: they will look at your college and major for clues about what your GPA really means. A 3.8 in basketweaving from Joke University will not be given the same weight as a 3.8 in economics from a more rigorous school. An economics major is a plus, I’d think, but just because it shows brains.