What should I major in? Pre-law, unlike political science or history, is not an actual major at Pitt. Rather, it is a designation which indicates you are interested in entering a graduate school of law upon completion of your undergraduate degree. Therefore, you can choose from a wide variety of majors, anything from anthropology to theatre arts, and still acquire the skills necessary for entrance into law school. Most students select one of the more than 50 majors in the School of Arts and Sciences. However, it is possible to major in engineering, for example, and still apply to law school, as most law schools do not require a particular major. Instead, law schools want to see that you have achieved a good grade point average in college, taken a challenging curriculum, and performed well on the LSAT (the Law School Admission Test). Pre-Law Advising Center Our Pre-Law Advising Office, located in room 224 of the William Pitt Union, is just one resource you can use to prepare for entrance into law school. Although we mentioned earlier that law schools do not require a particular major, there are certain types of courses which will help you succeed in law school. The Pre-Law Advising Office recommends that you take courses which will help you to develop the ability to: write well and comprehensively speak clearly and persuasively read critically think logically Advantages to Attending Pitt's Pre-Law Program In addition to specialized academic counseling in our Pre-Law Advising office, you will have the advantage of having Pitt's School of Law right on campus. This affords you some benefits. For a select group of freshman applicants, the law school offers guaranteed admission right out of high school. Outstanding freshman applicants who indicate an interest in pre-law on their undergraduate admissions application will be considered for this opportunity. Furthermore, Pitt's law school offers joint and cooperative programs with other graduate schools that allow you to tailor your law degree to your own special interests. Students can combine law with public and international affairs; business; public health; and the History and Philosophy of Science's medical ethics track, to name a few. The University Honors College (UHC) Law schools are not just interested in grades and test scores--they also want to see that you can perform well taking a challenging curriculum. Taking courses through the University Honors College (UHC) is one way to do this. The Honors College can also assist with finding research opportunities and advising, and provides an academic community for talented and motivated students. Many law schools encourage involvement in activities outside the classroom, like debate. Debate is a highly recommended activity for pre-law students because it helps students learn to argue a certain point of view (similar to what you will do in law school). In addition to getting hands-on-experience, some members of our Debate Team are rewarded with undergraduate scholarships for their participation. Our activities do not end with the Debate Team. Here at Pitt, we have over 300 student organizations, from the Pre-Law Society to The Pitt News (our student-run newspaper). When you join one of our organizations, you'll not only meet people with similar interests, you'll also have a great time doing so!