<p>Here are some majors/minors I’m considering. What do you know about them in terms of difficulty, recognition, job opportunities, etc.?</p>
<p>Economics
Statistics
Mathematics
Physics</p>
<p>Also, if it matters, I’m kind of considering getting a JD or PhD after graduation.</p>
<p>As far as difficult, math/physics/statistics are all going to be very hard. While Duke has great departments in these subjects, I wouldn’t consider them “world class.” They’ll still get you where you need to go, though.</p>
<p>Econ, on the other hand, is also a difficult major at Duke, but Duke has one of the best business schools in the country. An econ major from Duke is VERY well recognized and will get you internships from around the country.</p>
<p>So if I wanted to go to law school, you wouldn’t recommend any of these majors?</p>
<p>If law school is the ultimate goal math/econ/stats won’t really help. Physics may help with IP law? </p>
<p>If you’re dead set on law school, major in some that you love (and are <em>good</em> at) because having a 3.7+ GPA is absofreakinlutely important.</p>
<p>@Ketty</p>
<p>That’s not necessarily true. Math/econ/physics majors tend to score better on the LSAT. I know correlation != causation, but nevertheless, it’s something to consider.
[TaxProf</a> Blog: Physics/Math, Economics Majors Ace the LSAT; Criminal Justice, Prelaw Majors Bomb the Test](<a href=“http://taxprof.typepad.com/taxprof_blog/2009/09/physics-math.html]TaxProf”>http://taxprof.typepad.com/taxprof_blog/2009/09/physics-math.html)</p>
<p>Anyway, speaking as a math major at Duke, unless your goal is to get a Phd in pure mathematics, you really should double major. Economics, statistics, and physics all go along great with math. It’s really not too much extra work at all either. You’ll take somewhere around 34 courses at Duke. You can complete a double major in about 20. Computer science would be helpful as well especially if you’re interested in IP law. With a double major, you’ll be very competitive for sure.</p>
<p>Also, being a math major is not nearly as hard as people make it out to be as long as you have genuine interest in it. Contrary to popular belief, mathematics is just like any other field in that you need to work hard–it’s not as based on “innate ability” as people think it is. So as long as you are interested enough to work hard, you’ll be okay. I, personally, am no math genius and did not win the IMO. Despite that, I have been able to maintain a high GPA.</p>
<p>Feel free to ask me any more questions about math at Duke.</p>
<p>does it require high score on SAT I math or SAT II math to major mathemathics?</p>
<p>@PPham27</p>
<p>According to your link, Math majors score less than 3 points better than Philosophy majors. But I’d imagine that the average GPA of philosophy majors at Duke is at least a good 0.3 higher than the average math major. </p>
<p>A 174/3.8 will get you into Harvard, but a 177/3.5 all but shuts you out of consideration.</p>
<p>I was just emphasizing that GPA is most important variable at a school like Duke (where most undergraduates are probably smart enough to do well on the LSATs). If law school is the goal, choosing a difficult major (I stand by my belief that unless you actually have a knack at math, you will have a hard time with the math major - speaking from anecdotal evidence) will not really help.</p>
<p>I was thinking about picking an easy major, but I’m worried that if I end up not wanting to go to grad school, that I won’t be able to get a good job. Are there any majors that are easy, but will also get you a good job right out of college?</p>
<p>^ Why not just ask for a money tree or a goose that lays golden eggs? </p>
<p>If such a major exists, I’m sure half of Duke, not to mention college students everywhere, would be doing it. In which case, I can almost guarantee that the job market for that industry will crash in about 3 years</p>
<p>baconchedda: Actually, yes. It’s called Economics.</p>
<p>^ and we all know what happen to that job market</p>