<p>I’m going to apply to MSU next year (I am a junior), but I’m not sure if I should apply to JMC or RCAH. Let me explain: </p>
<p>I am very interested in World History and Ethics so I thought that going into RCAH would be a no-brainer, but I know that there is no real work for these majors after college and my bigger passion is law and children’s rights. So, after college I am probably going to law school to be a children’s rights attorney. On CC, everybody is telling me that if I want to do pre-law that JMC would be the best place for me. </p>
<p>Can somebody help shed some light on this for me, as to what I should do? </p>
<p>I hope I gave enough info, if not let me know. </p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>Oh and for grades and all: I have a 3.73 W, 29 ACT, 1340/1600 - 1930/2400 (630 CR, 710 M, 590 W) SAT. I have taken 3 AP classes (8 AP tests), a few honors courses (all highest level courses available to me), and have really good ECs. So if somebody wants to chance me, that’d be great too =]. (I am instate).</p>
<p>OFF TOPIC: One more question. If you start State as a sophomore (which I will hopefully if I pass all the AP tests <em>crosses fingers</em>) can you have a car as a first-year student. I will definitely have at least 20 credits when I start, and that is what they say is the requirement, but I’m just curious.</p>
<p>JMC certainly prepares a lot of quality students for top law schools; it has an established reputation for such schools and, b/c RCAH is new, it doesn’t have such a track record… That said, if you choose RCAH and do well, you’ll still get into a top law school. Remember, law schools don’t look for specialists; they want kids who THINK. Look at all the top LAC’s (Williams, Amherst, Oberlin, etc) who send boat loads of kids to top law schools… Enjoy the ride! If World History and Ethics is your passion, you may want to lean toward RCAH… Remember, RCAH requires a capstone or senior thesis in order to graduate so your intellectual skills will be tested… law schools love that.</p>
<p>From what I know, both res. colleges allow for double majors with any other major in the university (so it’s not unheard of to major in both James madison and RCAH if that’s truly what you’d like to do; there’d just be the trouble of all the extra requirements and the choice of which dorm you must live in freshman year). But it sounds like you’re leaning towards RCAH. Either I’m sure would be a great opportunity. You definitely don’t need a degree in politics/public policy/justice to get a law degree. It’s just a lot more likely that there will be more pre-law students in james madison than in RCAH, which may or may not be a good thing. </p>
<p>Yes, anyone with sophomore status can own a car (although parking is supposed to be atrocious).</p>
<p>From MSU website: “Once students reach sophomore status, or if a freshman reaches 20 credits, then they are permitted to have a registered vehicle on campus.”</p>
<p>Oh cool, i just realized this! Sophomore status here i come! No car for me though :(</p>
<p>“I didn’t realize that RCAH was newer, I thought it was just renovated or something haha.”</p>
<p>Actually, both are true. RCAH is only 1 year old, but the dorm where the program is housed was built in 1947 (it’s a classic res hall) but newly renovated and expanded last year for the opening of RCAH. Having visited over homecoming weekend, I have to say the facilities are awesome, esp the lecture areas, music room and little theatre. The old-style cafeteria has been expanded into what appears as a fancy full service restaurant (only self serve). There’s cafe lounge and, in generally, study lounges all over are extensive… Truly a college-within-a-college, RCAH really strives for the self-contained, LAC approach. You can’t go wrong there…</p>
<p>… obviously the same can be said for James Madison, too, which is older and larger (though the Case Hall dorm is much newer than the Snyder-Phillips hall home of RCAH)… I’d check them both out closely on a visit; it sounds like, though, RCAH may be a tad more to your liking based on your interest.</p>
<p>Dont know if this will help, but as an MSU alum, I was on this thread. (Son goes elsewhere although he applied and was accepted at State.)</p>
<p>Son is pre-law also. Thought he’d major in poli-sci. Now a history and philosophy major. My husband (the lawyer) says logic is the only course he really recommends undergrad. Son is taking 3 logic and ethics courses next semester. From my research on CC’s law section, it is noted that it does not matter at all what your undergrad major is. GPA and LSAT scores are most important. Personally, I thought poli-sci would be the major of choice but have learned that is not the case. If you plan to go into business law, I think a business undergrad would be looked upon favorably by employees (as would a physics or engineering undergrad/law degree and patent law.)</p>
<p>Good luck. I don’t think you can make a bad choice.
Enjoy MSU. It’s great!!!</p>
<p>Once you have been through moving in day you will realize why it is a good idea not to take a car. Plus a lot of streets on campus don’t have street lights so it is very hard to see people walking or riding bikes at night. The bus system is great.</p>
<p>Just to bump this in case anyone else has this question, I got my parking pass for this fall (it’s my first year). I only have 25 credits right now so any incoming freshman with 20 or more credits can get a parking pass.</p>