communication major as pre-law

sallyawp
Wed, 20 Feb 2008 10:48:31 +0000

I don’t even think that a communication major would hold one back from admission to the very top law schools, so long as there is rigor in the coursework for the major. As is often mentioned on this board, you are much more likely to do well in a course of study that interests and excites you, so any major chosen because you believe it may be an easy way through college may ultimately disappoint you when it comes to your grades and your college experience. If you are truly interested in communications, go ahead and make that your focus.

Top law schools look to fill their classrooms with a diverse and engaged student body. Law schools need bio majors and business majors, communication majors and engineers. So, while I wouldn’t recommend a “pre-law” major, your choice of a college major, whether grounded in the humanities or in the sciences or with a pre-professional focus, is unlikely to be the reason why you may be one day rejected from one law school or another. Study engineering if that is your passion. Study finance or economics. Study communication or horticulture or history. In fact, you may want to major in one area and take coursework outside of your major that is completely unrelated, and which takes you out of your comfort zone. In any event, please don’t approach college as a four-year game where you merely try to “get through” it (college is way too expensive for that anyway).

Law school needs students who have shown themselves to be smart, hardworking and successful in school. You can demonstrate those skills in almost any major.