<p>I’m going to be a freshman at the University of Chicago next year. I’m pretty sure I want to be a political science major. When I did the overnight though, one student mentioned how they double majored in law/letters/society and what a great opportunity it was. This interested me and I learned that a lot of the courses double count. Could anyone clarify for me if there is a specific number of courses only that can double count for both majors and how that is determined?</p>
<p>Runner, it is great that you are thinking about your academic career in advance, and I know how exciting it is to look over the course catalog and to think about all the great possibilities that await you. But the question you are asking is one that you can’t possibly need an answer to until you register for courses for the first quarter of your second year, and in all probability it won’t be relevant until your third year, or maybe when you are deciding whether/how to take a quarter abroad. You have lots and lots of time to learn the answer definitively, from the people in those departments and from your advisor. What’s more, you have lots and lots of time to figure out which questions you really want to ask, based on what you are learning at Chicago and what you hear about various programs and professors from multiple people there. So give questions like this a rest for the time being.</p>
<p>I understand what you are saying, but law letters and society is a unique major. They only accept 25 people a year and for consideration a student has to submit an application to the program by the spring quarter of their first year, and immediately begin the introductory course the fall quarter of their second year.</p>
<p>OK, fair enough. Here are two previous threads that will tell you something:</p>
<p> <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-chicago/1072811-law-letters-society.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-chicago/1072811-law-letters-society.html</a>
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-chicago/485989-law-letters-society-major.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-chicago/485989-law-letters-society-major.html</a></p>
<p>As is indicated therein, I have met a bunch of students who are interested in the LLSO program, but many fewer who actually apply, and fewer still (none, to be precise, although I know they exist) who actually complete the program. I’ll bet far fewer than 25 people per year graduate with an LLSO major, although I think admission to it is competitive (i.e., well more than 25 people/year apply).</p>
<p>It does look like it ought to be easy to double-major from, since there is really only one required course, and there are enormous overlaps with almost any other social science or humanities major. There may be limits on how many courses you can double-count, and saying you intend to double-major may reduce the chances your application to the major will be accepted. (But maybe not; maybe that would help. If anyone knows, he or she should correct this.) </p>
<p>It’s a really interesting, unique, very UChicago program, but it’s not something that will make your law school application any more attractive than it would be otherwise.</p>