Boston University vs George Washington for pre-law: which is better for preparing for law school?

The biggest practical tradeoff is Boston University gives you a more traditional, academically broad undergraduate environment, while George Washington puts you much closer to day-to-day law, politics, policy, and internship access in Washington, DC. For pre-law preparation, that matters because law school applications are built not just on grades and LSAT prep, but also on writing-heavy coursework, faculty relationships, and meaningful experience. GW has a clear edge for direct exposure to government, courts, advocacy groups, and policy organizations, while BU tends to be stronger if you want a wider range of undergraduate academic options without your experience revolving so heavily around politics.

For building a law school application, both can work very well. BU is a large research university with strong departments in political science, economics, philosophy, history, and international relations, all solid paths for future law applicants. It also has the advantage of being in Boston, where there are legal, nonprofit, and government-related opportunities, plus a strong overall academic reputation that can help if you thrive in a rigorous classroom setting.

GW’s biggest strength is location. Being in DC makes internships during the semester much more realistic, and that can translate into stronger resumes, clearer legal interests, and recommendation letters from supervisors in policy or legal-adjacent work. GW also has an undergraduate culture where public affairs, policy, and government-related work are especially visible, which can make it easier to find peers, clubs, and events connected to law and public service.

If the question is specifically which school is better for preparing for law school, I’d lean toward George Washington because the access to internships, legal institutions, and public-policy networks is unusually valuable for a pre-law student. I’d put Boston University very close behind it, though, especially if you think you will do better academically there. Since law school admissions care heavily about GPA and LSAT, the better choice is not the school with the most “pre-law” branding, but the one where you can earn excellent grades while still building strong writing, research, and internship experience.