Law Students
Physics, Math Majors Get Top LSAT Scores; Poli Sci Majors Are Average
Posted Sep 1, 2009 11:43 AM CST
By Debra Cassens Weiss
Physics and math majors do the best on the Law School Admissions Test, according to a study by an economics professor.
Physics and math majors have an average LSAT score of 160, well above prelaw and criminal justice majors, who have average LSATs of 148.3 and 146 respectively, according to the study by Michael Nieswiadomy of the University of North Texas.
Prelaw and criminal justice majors ranked second to last and last among 29 educational disciplines studied. Political science students, whose major is most popular among aspiring 1Ls, are ranked 16th, with an average LSAT score of 153.1. The score is near the average score for all students of 152.8.
Nieswiadomy looked at 2007-2008 data for students entering law school in 2008-2009. TaxProf Blog posted a chart of the findings. Here are the top five:
1) Physics/math majors, with an average LSAT of 160.
2 and 3) Tied for second place, economics majors and philosophy/theology majors, with an average LSAT of 157.4.
4) International relations majors, with an average LSAT of 156.5.
5) Engineering majors, with an average LSAT of 156.2.
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Comments
Matt
Sep 1, 2009 12:05 PM CST
This doesn’t seem to have any real statistical worth without balancing out the sample sizes; I’m guessing this is one of those stories that you’re supposed to wave in the face of your prelaw coworker.
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anonymous
Sep 1, 2009 12:11 PM CST
Does this site exist to report the legal news, or is it merely designed to put out unanalyzed sound bites to sell law degrees?
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Maryland grad
Sep 1, 2009 12:17 PM CST
How did I scrape a 157 on the LSAT and finish 50/270 students at Maryland law?
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Mathmajor
Sep 2, 2009 11:53 AM CST
Interesting, but it confirms something I’ve always suspected. My undergrad was engineering & math and I did extremely well on the LSAT without studying whatsoever. Too bad that same method didn’t apply in law school! In any event, I’ve always believed that the LSAT tests logical thinking skills, i.e. those that come naturally to most math-oriented people.
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