Planning Your Undergraduate Program

There is no such thing as a “pre-law” at Mount Holyoke, nor do law schools require or expect any particular major. You should choose a major in an area that interests you and that challenges you to think analytically. 

People from all academic backgrounds apply and are accepted to law school. Admissions committees at law schools are looking for smart, well-rounded, interesting students; people who brings a variety of experiences and who have obviously made a deliberate, informed decision about their choice of further study. 

Qualifications
Major in a discipline where you will thrive.  Keep up your GPA. Have a strategy for preparing for the LSAT. Get an internship or volunteer in the summer. Get to know your professors and employees, and make yourself known to them. Get involved in extracurricular activities, athletics, community service, leadership, research; wherever your strengths and interests lead you. 

Timetable
There are many paths to law school. Some students want to go directly from Mount Holyoke. Others plan to take a year or more “off” to gain experience, seek personal insight, or pay off loans. Many alumnae make the decision to pursue a legal education only after leaving Mount Holyoke. Whatever your case may be, the CDC is here to assist and support you as you explore your options and make your plans.

Seeking Practical Experience
To further explore your interest and enhance your credentials:

• Consider an internship or job in the legal field
• Review the  internship notebooks in the career library, detailing the internship experiences of hundreds of students.

If you already have had an internship, reflect on what you learned about the field and about yourself. Think about ways to use this experience to either affirm your choices or change direction, and how to articulate the significance of this experience in your future applications.