Basic Frequently Asked Questions

1. Do I need to be a prelaw student if I want to go to law school?
2. Can I declare prelaw as my major?
3. What should I major in if I am contemplating attending law school?
4. Are there any undergraduate courses that will help me get into law school?
5. How do I know if law is for me?
6. Should I try to do a double major (or a major and a minor)?
7. Do I have to take any prerequisite courses before applying to law school?
8. How important are extra-curricular activities for law school admission?
9. What is required for admission to law school?
10. Will taking time off between undergraduate and law school negatively affect my chances of admission to law school?
11. What kinds of things should I be doing in that gap time?
12. What law schools do McDaniel College prelaw students attend after graduation?
13. How else can I stay informed with prelaw activities and information?

1. Do I need to be a prelaw student if I want to go to law school?
No. I did not decide to go to law school until after I saw my LSAT scores and started my senior year. Being prelaw may give you the opportunity to talk with an advisor who knows something about going to law school (like me) and give you a chance to meet other like-minded people, but it is certainly not necessary. Declaring yourself prelaw may also get your name on mailing lists for events and information that may be of interest to potential law students. You may or may not find these materials and events worthwhile. There is a prelaw group at McDaniel (now part of the Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity). There is also a newly formed Pre-law Association (for which I am the Faculty Advisor). The two groups recently merged and expect to be more active on campus this year.

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2. Can I declare prelaw as my major?
No. At McDaniel College you can indicate a preference for prelaw when you start school, but you must eventually declare a major as well.

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3. What should I major in if I am contemplating attending law school?
The American Bar Association, in its publication, "Preparation for Legal Education," does not recommend any particular major for law school.  In addition, there are no specific majors which law schools tend to prefer.  Law students can major in anything from engineering to history to vocal performance.  It is also important to note that about 76% of the students admitted to law school last year were social science majors. The important thing is to major in something you enjoy. In fact, the only academic necessity for PreLaw students is to demonstrate rigorous coursework, strong performance, and a diverse array of subjects. So, choose something you find intellectually challenging and do well in it Chances are, if you enjoy the subjects you are studying, you will do better than if you choose something just because you think it will get you into law school. 

It is important to note that last year political science majors accounted for about one-fourth students entering law school.

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4. Are there any undergraduate courses that will help me get into Law School?
There is no evidence that particular majors or coursework significantly enhance your chances of acceptance into the law school of your choice. The first, crucial qualifications you need to get into law school are strong grades and a strong LSAT score. That said, there are courses which might help you determine if legal studies is interesting to you, and might also provide a helpful background once you get to law school. A course in Logic has been known to be very helpful, both with the LSAT and in law school (Forms of Reasoning is the basic course taught in our Philosophy Dept). Also, any English, History, or Politics class involving extensive research, reading, and writing will simulate the work you'll be doing in a JD program, and can prove beneficial. As for History, a U.S. History class might assist you in understanding how many historical events center around the making and breaking of laws--(and many of our U.S. Presidents have been lawyers!). Some law school officials recommend Economics 201-202 as well – certainly an understanding of our economy and how it works is a good thing to have. And lastly, those classes at UVa with "Law" in the title. International Law, Law and Society, Commercial Law, and others . . . these are all excellent choices, and some are taught by professors with law degrees, which can't hurt if you want some contact with experienced faculty. Whatever courses you select for this coming semester, however, the most important thing to remember is to choose classes that interest you, and put in the hours in the library necessary for doing well. Your performance is what matters in the admissions process, and academic success will come in the classes you are excited about, not the ones you think you "have to" take.

Take courses that interest you, and;

1. Avoid easy or "gut" courses, because the quality of the courses you take will be taken into account by the law schools;
2. Choose courses that stress writing and give you practice in it, because writing is perhaps the most important skill you will need as a lawyer;
3. Choose courses that require you to think for yourself, rather than simply memorize material.

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5. How do I know if law is for me?
One way to find out if you would enjoy being a lawyer is to get an internship or co-op where you spend time around lawyers. This will enable you to see what lawyers do in the course of a day and determine if the tasks they perform are ones you would enjoy doing. Working in a law office or government agency may help you clarify your goals and give you an added incentive to work hard preparing for the LSAT and applying to law school.

The prelaw advisor and the career office can helps coordinate several ways to address this important question. Law school representatives from across the country are invited to attend the George Washington University law day held each Fall in Washington D.C. Students have the chance to discuss their qualifications as well ask about the school’s climate directly with admissions personnel. The college suplies transportation to the law day. The college also hosts panel discussions, addressing topics such as law school life, legal specialties, and the career alternatives open to a J.D. 

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6. Should I try to do a double major (or a major and a minor)? 
Yes. Law school admissions committees will scrutinize your transcript closely to see how rigorous your undergraduate classes were. If you complete a double major, you will have upper level courses in at least two disciplines. Doing well in both fields is an excellent indication of your intellectual strength. If you are majoring in a field that is not a liberal arts discipline it is particularly important for you to have a double major to demonstrate your capability in traditional liberal arts courses. 

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7. Do I have to take any pre-requisite courses before applying to law school? 
No, there is no set of prescribed courses for law school. However, you should meet regularly with the Pre-Law Advisor and your departmental advisor to discuss appropriate course selection. 

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8. How important are extra-curricular activities for law school admission?
Law schools are looking for 'well-rounded' applicants and involvement in campus and community activities can be beneficial. Choose organizations that interest you because those are the ones that will make your collegiate experience more meaningful.  However, you need to keep in mind your grades are important, so never sacrifice your academic performance by becoming over committed. It is best to choose a couple of organizations that interest you because those are the ones that will make your college experience more meaningful. 

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9. What is required for admission to law school?
Your undergraduate grade point average (GPA) and your Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) score are the two primary factors used to determine law school admission.  Secondary factors include; part-time work, extra curricular activities, and diversity issues. These areas are given slight weight, but they are not as important as the numbers.
A bachelors degree
A good G.P.A. (Grade Point Average)
A good score on the LSAT exam (which you should take in June, October, or December in the year before you plan to enter law school)
Good recommendations from faculty who know you well

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10. Will taking time off between undergraduate school and law school negatively affect my chances of admission to law school?
Absolutely not! In fact, the average age of students attending law school is 26. Some schools even prefer you to take time off and get real world experience.

This is an important decision, and a personal one. No one can tell you what to do. Here are a few good reasons to take time off between college and law school:

1. The competition for admission is really tough this year;
2. You will gain experience (work/volunteer, preferably legal);
3. You will save some money to pay for law school;
4. You will be a more mature, competitive applicant;
5. You will have the benefit of all of your senior year grades on your transcript;
6. You will have more time to prepare for the LSAT;
7. You will have the time to determine whether law school is right for you;
8. You will be more mature, a quality that law schools place a premium on.,

The average age of incoming first year law students last year was 27. This indicates that law schools do not view taking a year or two off negatively. The consensus among law school admissions directors seems to be that it doesn't matter so much what you do with that year or two (or more) off, but rather what you learned from it. The time off is supposed to mature you, and to make you more prepared to attend law school. Hopefully you can make a better case for why you want to go, and how the interim period has contributed to your decision to attend law school.

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11. What kinds of things should I be doing with that gap time?
The worst thing you can do is to drag your feet and do nothing (being a life guard probably won’t cut it). But, at the same time, there is no “right thing” to be doing, either. The best plan is to spend your time bettering yourself as a candidate – which can mean anything from working in a law firm to traveling abroad (especially if you are interested in international law and have never been outside of US borders). If you are planning on traveling after graduation, there are some components of the application process that you should complete before you leave. Request your letters of recommendation from your instructors. Set up your LSAC account and have your recommendations collected to this account. Most other aspects of the application process can be completed online. If you are abroad during your gap year, make sure that you have Internet access and a permanent address (either in the U.S. or abroad) where you can receive correspondence from schools. Most law schools do not offer deferments; the few schools that do generally only accept enrollment deferrals for students involved in a nationally recognized service organization, such as Americorps or the Peace Corps. So, do not apply until you are ready to enroll the following fall! 

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12. What Law schools do McDaniel College prelaw students attend after graduation? 
In recent years our graduates have attended or were accepted by the following: law schools;:

Georgetown University
University of Maryland
Widener University
University of Baltimore
The Catholic University
The American University
Wake Forest
University of Virgina
Hofstra University
University of Richmond
Widener University
Penn State Dickenson

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13. How else can I stay informed about prelaw activities and information? 
The Prelaw International Fraternity, The Mocktrail Team and prelaw student groups advertise their meetings, the prelaw advisor answers questions, professors make course announcements, and prelaw issues are discussed. 

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