Explorations Newsletter

SPRING 2008

What's the Best Major to get into Law School?

MYTH: It’s best for me to major in political science or law and society if I want to go to law school.

Not necessarily.

There are two constants in the world of law school admissions. One, admission is competitive…. right now, very, very competitive. Two, law schools are very fond of saying that bright men and women capable of doing well in law school come from all academic walks of life. Put those two points together and perceptive students should come to the conclusion that their “personal best” major to take them to the doorstep of law school is simply one that they find challenging and usually fascinating. And, perhaps most importantly, one where they earn their best grades.

For a fair number of undergraduates, the major that meets the aforementioned goals actually is political science. The critical thing to remember is that you don’t have to be in this specific major. Each year, students from various science majors, engineering, and the humanities/fine arts successfully apply to the nation’s finest law schools.

So, find the major that you find enriching, engaging and relevant; work diligently and soon you will be on your way to professional school. Remember, you will never have another chance to be an undergraduate student at a liberal arts university, so make its benefits last a lifetime.

Britt Johnson, Pre-Law Advisor, College of Letters and Science