Decoding the LSAT: How Your Undergraduate Major Impacts Your Score, With a Focus on English

The Law School Admission Test (LSAT) plays a pivotal role in law school admissions, often outweighing undergraduate GPA. Many students wonder if their choice of undergraduate major can influence their LSAT performance and, consequently, their chances of acceptance into law school. While law schools don't mandate any specific major, certain fields of study may equip students with skills that translate to LSAT success. This article explores the relationship between undergraduate majors and LSAT scores, with a particular focus on English majors.

The LSAT Landscape

According to the LSAT Center, the average LSAT score hovers around 150, with scores ranging from 120 to 180. A strong LSAT score can significantly boost an applicant's prospects, sometimes even more than their undergraduate GPA. This makes understanding the factors that contribute to LSAT success crucial for aspiring law students.

What the American Bar Association Recommends

To adequately prepare for the exam and for law school, the American Bar Association suggests students should take courses that will strengthen their writing and research skills, as well as pursue majors that develop skills in problem solving, analytical reading, editing, and oral communication.

The English Major Advantage

English is one of the majors that has been historically associated with law school due to the reading, writing, and critical thinking required in an English degree. The average LSAT score for English majors was a 162. Many students talk about pursuing a pre-law track as an undergrad. However, it’s generally not possible to major in pre-law. While doing pre-law, you’ll have to major in an academic subject, such as Political Science, Math, Philosophy, and so on. While there’s no pre-law major or set of required classes, you can still prepare for law school while in college.

Ella Dunbar, a JD graduate from UK in 2015, emphasized how the close reading skills she honed as an English major aided her on the LSAT and in identifying fact patterns in law school. “You’re building writing and analyzing skills when you work with a piece of literature. Those skills are transferred when you’re dealing with the logic and reasoning part of the law school admission test and you’re asked to find the strength in the argument,” she explained.

Read also: Understanding the LSAT for AU WCL

For Eggerly, majoring in English also reinforced the variety of legal careers she could pursue. Matt Wheatley, currently in his third year at UK Law, decided to pursue law school because he enjoyed studying English. “I have now experienced that law school is about reading, thinking critically about that reading, and being able to express these thoughts orally and through writing,” he explained.

Wheatley also points out a similarity in work patterns between his English studies and work in law school: in both cases, students are expected to read material closely, take notes and discuss their findings. “The routine of reading, preparing for class, discussion during class and a healthy load of writing papers definitely helped prepare me for law school,” said Pickett. Like the other recent graduates, Pickett highlights unique experiences in UK’s English Department that facilitated law school success. He specifically points out a literary theory course with professor Matt Giancarlo, which highlighted the history and different methods of textual interpretation. Eggerly’s English interests involved African-American, early 20th-century and British literatures, and like Ella Dunbar, she wants to leave the door open for possible graduate study. Dunbar recalls being particularly motivated by courses in women’s literature.

Critical Thinking and Analytical Skills

Lawyers need to be able to think critically and pick out details in arguments. Additionally, these are skills widely tested on the LSAT. Certain fields, such as Classics, Linguistics, and Mathematics, demand more critical reasoning and attention to detail than others. Additionally, all liberal arts curricula are designed to foster these traits.

Writing Proficiency

Law students have many papers to write, as well as exams that include long written responses to questions.

Cultivating Relationships with Professors

Receiving strong letters of recommendation from professors will go a long way in setting you apart in your law school application. To receive great letters, it’s important to cultivate strong relationships with your instructors. Small class sizes make it easier for your professor to get to know you.

Read also: Understanding the LSAT

Other Majors and LSAT Performance

While English majors often perform well on the LSAT, other fields of study also correlate with high scores. A study conducted by Michael Nieswiadomy, an economist from the University of North Texas, analyzed LSAT scores across 28 different majors. Derek T. Muller, Associate Professor of Law at Pepperdine University School of Law, requested data from the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) for all 2013 applicants to law school. Muller collected data for the 2013 applicants and matriculants to law school. He said applicants self-identified in one of 142 majors. Classics majors had an average LSAT score of 159.8 and GPA of 3.477.

Muller also identified a correlation between LSAT and GPA, though there were some exceptions. Science majors, for example, typically reported high LSAT scores but low GPAs.

High LSAT Performers

Economics and Philosophy: These majors often demonstrate higher LSAT scores and GPAs overall. Philosophy majors, in particular, scored sixth best in terms of LSAT and GPA scores and had a higher law school admission rate (75%) than any other major.
STEM Majors: Research suggests that STEM majors also attain high scores on the LSAT.

Factors Influencing Major Choice and LSAT Scores

Muller noted that "more rigorous majors like economics, philosophy and math do better." He also acknowledged a "self-selection issue," suggesting that high-achievers in fields like business or biology might pursue careers in those areas rather than law, potentially lowering the average LSAT scores for those majors among law school applicants. He observed things mostly of anecdotal interest. “Science majors tended to have lower GPAs than other majors. Economics and philosophy majors had higher LSAT scores and GPAs overall.

Muller also suggested that students at more elite undergraduate institutions might gravitate towards majors like classics, policy studies, and art history.

Popular Pre-Law Majors

Political Science: This is the most popular major among law school applicants, comprising 21.3% of all applicants and 23.6% of matriculants. The study of political behavior, government systems, and how the judicial system works are all very useful in law school.
Psychology: As one of the top five most popular undergraduate majors, psychology is also a common choice for pre-law students.
Criminal Justice: This major is a natural fit for students interested in criminal law.
History: Studying history provides future law students with context for legislation and an understanding of how legal systems and precedents were created.
Communications: Communications majors develop reading, writing, research, public speaking, and negotiation skills, all valuable for law school.

Other Majors with High Matriculation Rates

Other majors with high matriculation rates include history, government/service, international studies and environmental sciences. Most of the majors with lower matriculation rates had lower LSAT and GPA scores, such as criminal justice.

Read also: Cardozo Law School LSAT

Choosing the Right Major: Passion and Skill Development

Instead of selecting what you think will impress the law schools, choose a major that you’re passionate about. “As admissions counselors, we always recommend students pursue a major that is of interest to them,” says Hailey Russell, Director of Law Admissions at ONU. “Students naturally do better in courses that pique their interest. In addition, finding opportunities to cultivate your research and writing skills will prepare you for law school and demonstrate your commitment to law school success.

The most popular majors all have some commonalities, the majors with the largest percentage of applicants admitted vary greatly. These range from American Civilization and Inter-American Relations to Biophysics and Marine Engineering.

Double Majors and Course Rigor

“If you are serious about law school, a few clients suggested you go one more step and take a double major. If you enjoy history, for example, why not add a second major such as economics? Economics requires a strong quantitative component while history will require a lot of writing. Both skills are highly valued in the job market and by potential law schools. Even if you decide to work after graduation and attend law school at a later date, what you gain by taking harder classes will pay off when you take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT),” says Bradshaw, an international college admissions consultant with Bradshaw College Consulting. “A double major, or even a single major with a strong concentration in a secondary subject, will make you that much more competitive.

Your courses are an important part of your law school admissions package. Make sure you dedicate enough time to do well in each class so that your overall GPA remains high. GPA and LSAT score remain the two key factors in your application.

Pre-Law Curriculum

A pre-law curriculum may include a range of classes in the humanities and social sciences, such as history, philosophy and political science.

Beyond the Classroom

There are a lot of other ways you can prepare yourself for law school success, whether you’re in college or a working professional.

Take classes on law and legal history: The more you know about how legislation is approached in the United States and abroad, the better prepared you’ll be for your first day of law school.
Join debate, newspaper, and writing clubs: Lawyers must have a strong command of logic and the written word.
Seek out internships with law firms, courts, and legal organizations: There are thousands of ways to practice law, from supporting large companies as a corporate lawyer to defending asylum-seekers with a non-profit organization.
For industry-related law, take classes on your industry: Patent lawyers require a firm grasp of the natural sciences in order to practice. Similarly, entertainment law and international law rely on an extensive understanding of media and current affairs, respectively.

The Importance of LSAT Preparation

Speaking of LSAT scores, make sure you have the time to study for the LSAT, including taking an LSAT class. Khan Academy, for example, offers an official LSAT prep course that provides a personalized study plan and instant feedback.

Catherine, an LSAT specialist at Magoosh, suggests that LSAT scores might reflect how well certain majors prepare students for the content on the LSAT or that students who select certain majors already have a set of academic strengths and weaknesses that affect performance on the LSAT.

Top Pre-Law Schools

Yale University: Yale University is commonly counted among the best law schools in the nation. For its entering class this cycle, the school offered admission to under 4% of students from a pool of 57,517 applicants, and it had a 70% yield rate. Yale’s Office of Career Strategy has a pre-law advisor who can help students navigate the law school application process.
Harvard University: Another benefit Harvard undergraduates enjoy is the school’s residential system, which places students into “houses” at the end of their first year.
University of Pennsylvania (UPenn): Thanks to its abundance of resources and a stellar record of placing students in top law schools, UPenn is often thought of as one of the best pre-law schools in the nation.
Princeton University: Princeton University provides numerous opportunities for students looking to pursue a career in law. On campus, students are treated to information sessions from law school representatives along with pre-law workshops and panels.

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