Black Intelligentsia Libraries
The New Way Of Thinking
Post-Graduate Education Information
Law School is very broad-based as there are many types of law degree concentrations one can pursue to develop an area of expertise (criminal, patent, medical malpractice, etc.). There is a big misconception that one has to major in Pre-law, history, or political science to be accepted into law school which is not at all true. There are certain majors that better prepare graduates for the rigors of law school, but the chances of being accepted increase based on the graduate's total body of work. Said body of work includes but is not limited to: LSAT (Law School Admissions Test) score, overall GPA (Grade Point Average), and work history (co-ops, internships, volunteer, and community service).
Medical School is also broad-based and offers a multitude of concentrations. The notion that one has to major in Pre-med (Pre-medical) to be accepted into medical school is likewise a misconception. Medical school ranges from Surgery, Cancer Biology, and Medical Education to Bioengineering and Applied Bio-Mechanics which in itself shows the diversity in subject matters. Admission to medical school in the United States is based mainly on a GPA, MCAT (Medical College Admissions Test) score, admissions essay, interview, clinical work experience, and volunteering activities, along with research and leadership roles in an applicant's history. Despite there being roughly 160 Accredited Medical Schools and 400 major teaching hospitals in the United States, medical school remains highly competitive as thousands of graduates from a myriad of education backgrounds vie for a finite number of acceptances. A Bachelor's Degree in any science-related course of study would serve one well in understanding the processes of medical science and anatomy.
Business Schools (MBA) around the country offer seemingly boundless concentrations. Though many business practices and principles pervade all industries and fields, there are still countless principles that are industry and field-specific. A business is only as good as its diversity of thought. Diversity of backgrounds (ethnic and educational) strengthens any organization. It would be in error to believe that all managers and executives hold Bachelor's Degrees in Business Management or Administration. Business schools know this fact better than anyone. Relevant work experience in one's desired concentration of study, GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) score, resume, submitted essay, transcript/GPA, and professional/academic references all aid in one's consideration for admission. One's interview performance and school-specific test score weigh heavily as schools determine if that individual is a fit for their particular program. Whether your major is music, engineering, history, or fine art, there are business and marketing principles and corresponding Business School concentrations to match your desired field.
Veterinary Schools are literally very "few and far between." With only 65 veterinary medicine schools in the United States, it is even more competitive and the requirements are a bit more rigid. Therefore, only certain majors--Animal Science, Biology, Zoology, and other science-based majors--are looked upon for top candidates. When considering a candidate's body of work, vet schools go as far back as middle school (high school and college transcripts, volunteer and coop/internship work at local animal hospitals, farms, etc.). When one vet school can receive as many as 2000 serious candidates annually and only admit 75, a candidate's life-long resume has to be pretty impressive just to make it to the interview stage.
Essays and interviews are often the deal-breakers in the post-graduate school admissions process, and they both have to be "trump tight," so to speak. Law, Business, and Medical schools are constantly on the lookout for ingenuity, cutting-edge, innovative, and "outside-the-box" mindsets to broaden their own scopes and bases of expertise. Graduates from unique, atypical backgrounds can always offer and bring something new, different, and exciting to the table. So, show your brilliance in your essays; affirm and attest your brilliance in the interview that follows. Connect your education and work background to your interests in law, business, or medicine and make your school of choice an offer they cannot refuse.
