Switching to Political Science at 22 to Pursue Law School — What Should I Know?
I’m moving to upstate New York and I’ve officially decided to switch my major to political science because I want to pursue law school.
I’m 22, and honestly, part of me feels like I started late. At the same time, I know I’m still young and have plenty of time to figure things out. I originally went into a completely different major/career path because it was something my mom really pushed me toward after high school. I tried to make it work, but I eventually realized that it just isn’t the career I want.
I’ve decided I don’t want to finish a degree just for the sake of having the degree when I already know I don’t want to work in that field. I’d rather put that energy into something I actually see myself doing.
So now I’m switching to political science, with the goal of going to law school. I’m considering minoring in legal studies, although I’m not completely sure about the minor yet.
I know that if I want to get into a really good law school, I’ll need to take my grades seriously and eventually do well on the LSAT. I’m actually really excited about the classes I’ll be taking because I feel like the material is much more suited to me and something I can genuinely work hard at.
I already have some college credits completed from my previous school/major, so I’m not starting completely from zero. I’m still figuring out exactly which credits will transfer and what my new degree plan will look like.
I’m also moving to New York to live with my grandparents, and my family is fully supporting me through this. My grandma has even been looking into law school information with me, which means a lot because I finally feel like I’m pursuing something that I chose for myself.
For people who are currently majoring in political science, pre-law, or a related field — or people who have already graduated and gone to law school:
What advice would you give someone in my position?
What should I be looking forward to in a political science major if my ultimate goal is law school? Are there specific classes, extracurriculars, internships, clubs, research opportunities, or skills that you wish you had focused on more during undergrad?
And for anyone who switched majors or career paths around my age: did you feel like you were behind, and how did things turn out?
I’m not expecting political science to automatically get me into law school. I know I’ll have to build a strong academic record, prepare seriously for the LSAT, and make myself a competitive applicant. I’m just looking for advice from people who have actually gone through the process.
I’d especially love to hear from people who didn’t come from wealthy families or have everything figured out at 18. I’m trying to build this path from where I am now, and I’d really appreciate hearing what worked for other people.