Admission to law school is difficult and highly competitive, so most applicants want to claim any advantage they can get. One such advantage is the type of major you pursue as an undergraduate. A few undergraduate majors help develop skills that are useful in law school. Many students choose these majors to help them prepare for success in law school.
Political Science
A bachelor's degree in political science can help prepare a student for success in law school. Political science deals with conflicts in societies, between governments and between people. In addition, a political science major requires coursework that teaches students about current, and historical, political ideas. This helps students learn about the intricacies of current political issues and helps them learn the art of arguing controversial topics.
Philosophy
Philosophy majors also develop skills valuable in law school. A bachelor's degree in philosophy helps students sharpen their critical thinking and analysis skills, with courses that examine society, our existence and theories of knowledge. In addition, students learn the history and foundations of philosophy and critical thinking by studying the works of Plato and Socrates. All of these skills train future law students to use logic to argue and debate complex ideas, which is essential for lawyers to succeed.
History
History undergraduate majors develop skills in research and interpretation. A history major also includes courses that involve a lot of reading, writing and class participation. These skills teach students to create high-quality work under time constraints. In addition, history students learn critique and verify sources based on their reliability.
English
English degrees involve a lot of writing and critical thinking. Law schools place great value on standardized test scores in writing and reading. English majors develop the skills necessary to score well in these exams. In addition, students in an English degree program learn to formulate and articulate complex ideas through the written word.
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