Worried about double majoring!!!

Graduate School Law School
1

<p>For the past couple months I have been toying with the idea of double majoring in economics (I am currently a bioengineering major). However, the more I look at the requirements for both majors, the more skeptical I am about pursuing the economics degree. Forgive me in advance for the long post, but if any of you could offer some advice that’d be more than helpful!</p>

<li><p>I am currently enrolled in two summer school classes as well as a Testmasters prep class. One of the two summer school classes is VERY difficult, but is a class that could be used to satisfy both majors. However, if I stay in the hard class I feel that I risk jeopardizing my grade in the other class, risk minimizing the effectiveness of my LSAT class, and (probably more importantly) risk losing my sanity.</p></li>
<li><p>As of now I am enrolled in 5 courses (17 units) next semester. Obviously 17 units is a lot, but when you add in the fact that I am taking the October 4 LSAT it becomes absurd. Granted none of these classes will be too difficult, I wouldn’t want to lower my grades in any of the classes due to the sheer amount of coursework I would have.</p></li>
<li><p>For my final three semesters (I am a rising junior) I will be taking 4 classes a semester - 3 engineering classes and one economics class. While senior grades probably won’t matter to me (I plan on applying fall of my senior year), why burden myself my last year in college? Also, double majoring won’t allow me any time to research, something that both seems interesting to me and would be a great soft factor in admissions (as well as a good recommendation letter).</p></li>
<li><p>Finally, if I double major I will have to take classes next summer instead of gaining valuable work experience.</p></li>
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<p>All in all, how favorably do law school admissions boards view double majors (especially when one is engineering)? Also, if I’m aiming for a T14 (hopefully Stanford, which I know loves soft factors), how important would research and work experience be? Finally, do you think double majoring would be a benefit or a hindrance on the whole?</p>

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<p>There probably aren't enough benefits of double majoring to do it unless it would cause 0 extra stress. I would say take econ classes where you can and it might turn into a minor. Work experience and research would probably look better to a law school anyway over a second major. Also, if your plan doesn't work out and you have to work for a few years after college you'll be in a better position to get a job if you have work experience and research experience instead of a second major.</p>

3

<p>Law schools are impressed by high GPA's and LSAT scores. Double majors don't add anything to getting admitted. Some give extra consideration for a difficult major such as engineering -- such as a 3.4 GPA might be considered a 3.5 or 3.6. Real work experience, particularly that after college, can help at many law schools -- it is the combination work experience and additional maturity level that they like. For any engineering student double majoring (particularly in an unrelated subject) often means at least one extra year of college or suicidal semester class schedules to finish in four. It can also mean lower grades as a result.</p>