Anonymous wrote:If your student is on a pre-law track or recently entered law school were they happy w advising and outcomes at their undergraduate institution? What stood out?
Starting to build list of colleges to visit w high school junior who is interested in Econ , Political Science, Quantitative Social Science type major …they are an accomplished debater so possibly interested in law school down the road

Do NOT go into law!

DS entering senior year at a SLAC. Pre law advising has been super helpful — from course selection, to LSAT prep, to internship opportunities. He plans to apply this cycle and his advisor has already been working with him on rec letters and essays. We’ll see if it translates into admissions.

People always say it's about GPA and lsat but I don't think think that's fully the case. There are too many people with very high scores on both. Law schools also want to see engagement-- extracurriculars, summer work experiences and, increasingly, interesting jobs in the gap between college and law school. Unlike a decade or two ago, it's really, really common for students to work a couple of years before law school. Some is to make money to pay tuition, but a lot of it is to demonstrate to the school that you're likely to be successful upon graduation.

How common is a full ride to an Ivy law school? I have heard that with a certain gpa and lsat that it is a possibility. Is this true?

Anonymous wrote:My alma mater (a SLAC) has a pre-law advisor, so I was assuming that’s what OP was asking about—the advisor shares resources and advice, but there’s no official pre-law major or track.

Yes - this is what I meant .

My alma mater (a SLAC) has a pre-law advisor, so I was assuming that’s what OP was asking about—the advisor shares resources and advice, but there’s no official pre-law major or track.

Its all about GPA and LSAT score. Any major works but traditionally philosophy, history, poli sci, english are all good majors.

LSAT is all about reading comprehension, logic and understanding the laid traps.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Admission is almost entirely based on college GPA and LSAT. Post-college work experience can be a nice addition. "Pre law" isn't necessary.

Seriously. I have never heard of such a thing. I went to HLS.

-Biglaw partner

I think a "pre law" major was a thing several generations of lawyers ago. It was gone by my day (I'm gen X).

Anonymous wrote:Pre-law is a total waste of time!

-law prof

I'm a STEM major who went to law school and I've met a lot of fellow STEM major lawyers. I actually think it's a great prep for law school.

If admission to a solid law school is the goal, going to the cheapest school possible, majoring in a field that will lead to a high GPA, and preferably a back-up middle-class job in between college and law school or as a back-up option is a good path. That is how I did it years ago: majored in special education at a regional public, paid 0 in tuition, got close to a 4.0 gpa in classes that were absurdly easy, taught for a few years, got a high LSAT score, got in to T-14 law schools, federal appellate clerkship and then Biglaw. Eventually I got burned out in Biglaw, but I had saved enough money to "retire" early and return to teaching and live a comfortable life with summers off. It isn't the path for everyone, but it worked. I guess the only downside with the undergrad major was that I didn't have the background in business or economics that would have helped in Biglaw. I had to learn that stuff on the fly.

Pre-law is a total waste of time!

-law prof

Anonymous wrote:Admission is almost entirely based on college GPA and LSAT. Post-college work experience can be a nice addition. "Pre law" isn't necessary.

Seriously. I have never heard of such a thing. I went to HLS.

-Biglaw partner

Anonymous wrote:Admission is almost entirely based on college GPA and LSAT. Post-college work experience can be a nice addition. "Pre law" isn't necessary.

This!

Admission is almost entirely based on college GPA and LSAT. Post-college work experience can be a nice addition. "Pre law" isn't necessary.

If your student is on a pre-law track or recently entered law school were they happy w advising and outcomes at their undergraduate institution? What stood out?
Starting to build list of colleges to visit w high school junior who is interested in Econ , Political Science, Quantitative Social Science type major …they are an accomplished debater so possibly interested in law school down the road