Stanford Law School & Graduate Goals - Help

Graduate School Law School
1

<p>I’m just looking for different perspectives and guidance on a few questions I’ve been struggling with lately. I am currently a high school senior and will be going to a small liberal arts college next fall, and I know I might seem a little young to be snooping around in the Law School arena (and a little unrealistic with Stanford as the goal/dream) but I would still greatly appreciate any input. I have a brother who also wants to go to law school (he goes to the same college I’ll be going to) pursuing a BA in English, prepping for the LSAT right now. He has a 3.8 in his major but a 3.6 accumulative and is quite down on himself knowing that a 3.9/4.0 was not so far out of his realm if he’d just applied himself better in his freshman year…which is EXACTLY why I’ve started this thread. I am a bit unsure of myself still as far as the major goes, but I do know that I want to go on to Law School and hopefully even a joint degree program (J.D./M.B.A.), which Stanford is second to none in of course. Now I have always felt that I’m smarter than my brother is from both the natural and driven standpoints. I got a better GPA in HS and did pretty well on the SAT (1970…so close to the 2000 mark I can still smell it) and have always felt thatwhen I’ve had a vision of my goal (motivation really) and been dedicated to it that I can absolutely reach it. But a number of things set that back of course, namely my vision being blurred or things getting in the way or even just blatant procrastination. (I have a number of personal issues that have been significant setbacks in my life and everyone who knows about them tells me to use them as “hooks” but I don’t know). So anyway, he tells me that if it is possible for him to get grades like his, I can definitely pull of a 4.0 in college and put myself in a spot where the dream of Stanford Law School is not completely beyond reach. Of course I know that I will have to ace the LSAT, but again I’m still 3 years from taking that (I have already started going over practice questions and books though!) And I have always scored well so that is not of any urgent concern for the time being. Here are where my questions arise for anyone willing to offer their advice…

  1. What should I major in???
  • I currently want to double major in Economics (BA) and Politics with an emphasis on International Relations (BA).
  1. Is a double major at a liberal arts school too overbearing a task?
    *Everyone says it is easiest in complimentary subjects (like Econ & IR) at a liberal arts school.
  2. Will going to a small liberal arts school hurt my chances of getting in?
  3. I have also been considering, for a very long time, participating in the school’s ROTC program? How would this affect (1) my resume when law school’s review it & (2) my attending law school if I remain in the ROTC program?
  4. How much time will I have in college to participate in social activities in the following conditions…
    a) If I had a single major in either Econ or PoliSci…without ROTC
    b) If I had a single major in either Econ or PoliSci…with ROTC
    b) If I had a single major in one of those two with a minor in the other…without ROTC
    c) If I had a single major in one of those two with a minor in the other…with ROTC
    d) If I had a single major in one of those two with 2 minors in related fields…without ROTC
    e) If I had a double major in Econ & IR…without ROTC
    f) If I had a double major in Econ & IR…with ROTC</p>

<ul>
<li>Any input is appreciated and I do apologize for the lengthiness of this, as well as any obviousness of my tendency to be UNREALISTIC
Thanks a lot</li>
</ul>

2

<p>1.) Most things are fine, including economics, politics, and IR. All okay.
2.) Depends on the school and your own innate talents. For Stanford Law-caliber folks, usually not.
3.) No.
4.) Well, ROTC comes with a service commitment which (as I understand) is usually served before law school (at least it was for my friends). That’s an excellent background – a good soft factor. However, law schools are still very numbers oriented.
5.) See #2.</p>

<hr>

<p>A 1970 on the SAT seems to me to project out to roughly a 162 on the LSAT. Unless you’re an underrepresented minority, that’s not close to what you’d need to shoot for to get into Stanford Law, even with a 4.0 GPA.</p>

3

<p>

</p>

<p>Hahahahahhahaha… WOW.</p>

4

<p>SLS bro???</p>

<p>Read a book then maybe you’ll get into YLS…</p>

<p>Like these guys:</p>

<pre><code>* Samuel Alito (J.D. 1975), Associate Justice (2006–present)

  • David Davis (LL.B. 1835), Associate Justice (1862–1877)
  • Abe Fortas (LL.B. 1933), Associate Justice (1963–1969)
  • Sherman Minton (LL.M. 1916), Associate Justice (1949–1956)
  • George Shiras, Jr. (LL.B. 1853), Associate Justice (1892–1903)
  • Sonia Sotomayor (J.D. 1979), Associate Justice (2009–present)
  • Potter Stewart (LL.B. 1941), Associate Justice (1958–1981)
  • Clarence Thomas (J.D. 1974), Associate Justice (1991–present)
  • Byron White (LL.B. 1946), Associate Justice (1962–1993)
    </code></pre>
5

<p>U mad brah??</p>

6

<p>U mad??</p>

<p>[Top</a> Law Schools (usnews.com)](<a href=“http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-law-schools]Top”>http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-law-schools)</p>

7

<p>If you’re trying to get rich, don’t go to law school…if you’re trying to be SCOTUS, don’t go to SLS. Nuff said brah.</p>

8

<p>They don’t teach English at UPenn?</p>

9

<p>thanks a lot.just to calm that tension down there I was saying Stanford because I live about 15 minutes away from it. I know that’s a long shot I’m just trying to see if it’s even worth pursuing.the reason I have always wanted to do ROTC is because of service to country absolutely, I just wanted to know if it would hurt my chances of going to law shcool. but really thanks a lot I’m just young and am trying to size everything up here. all the best</p>

10

<p>one more question, about majoring in a hard science like you said, would it be better to pursue a BS in econ or would it be best to just drop that all together (if SLS is the goal/pipe dream of course)?</p>