Did Barack Obama actually graduate from Harvard, and what did he study there?
I've seen a lot of people online talking about President Obama's education and some even say he didn't really graduate from Harvard. I'm trying to get the facts straight because I'm currently looking at colleges and Harvard is definitely a dream school for me.
If anyone knows the details about what he studied (was it law?) and if he graduated, could you explain? Also, how hard is it to get into a place like Harvard, especially for law school? Would be interested to know if his background had anything special that helped him get in, too.
If anyone knows the details about what he studied (was it law?) and if he graduated, could you explain? Also, how hard is it to get into a place like Harvard, especially for law school? Would be interested to know if his background had anything special that helped him get in, too.
2 weeks ago
•
40 views
Luis Nario-Malberg
• 2 weeks ago
Advisor
Barack Obama attended Harvard Law School, which is the graduate school for law at Harvard University. He earned his Juris Doctor (JD) degree there in 1991.
His principal area of study at Harvard was law, not any particular undergraduate major, since he already had completed his undergraduate degree (from Columbia University, majoring in political science) before applying to law school. At Harvard Law, students don't have "majors" the way undergraduates do, but they can focus their coursework and work on special academic projects or journals.
Getting into Harvard Law is extremely competitive. Applicants typically have very high undergraduate grades and strong LSAT scores. Most successful applicants have something additional, whether it's unique life experiences, leadership skills, substantial extracurriculars, or a compelling personal story. Obama, for example, worked as a community organizer in Chicago before law school, which gave him a distinct background and experience that stood out in his application.
If you’re an undergraduate now and thinking ahead, focus on keeping your grades high, getting involved in activities you care about, and developing a strong narrative about why law school interests you. Also start practicing for the LSAT early, as it's a unique test that has a lot of bearing on Law School admissions. Some undergraduate programs offer a pre-law major, while others (such as Harvard) do not. Classes/majors/subjects that lend themselves well to preparation for Law School as an undergraduate include History, Philosophy (particularly logic and ethics) and Government.
To sum up: President Obama absolutely graduated from Harvard Law School, with a JD degree, and his leadership at Harvard Law Review is one of the many things that made his time there notable. If Harvard Law is your dream law school, it helps to focus on academic achievements and building experiences that showcase your interests and potential to make a difference.
His principal area of study at Harvard was law, not any particular undergraduate major, since he already had completed his undergraduate degree (from Columbia University, majoring in political science) before applying to law school. At Harvard Law, students don't have "majors" the way undergraduates do, but they can focus their coursework and work on special academic projects or journals.
Getting into Harvard Law is extremely competitive. Applicants typically have very high undergraduate grades and strong LSAT scores. Most successful applicants have something additional, whether it's unique life experiences, leadership skills, substantial extracurriculars, or a compelling personal story. Obama, for example, worked as a community organizer in Chicago before law school, which gave him a distinct background and experience that stood out in his application.
If you’re an undergraduate now and thinking ahead, focus on keeping your grades high, getting involved in activities you care about, and developing a strong narrative about why law school interests you. Also start practicing for the LSAT early, as it's a unique test that has a lot of bearing on Law School admissions. Some undergraduate programs offer a pre-law major, while others (such as Harvard) do not. Classes/majors/subjects that lend themselves well to preparation for Law School as an undergraduate include History, Philosophy (particularly logic and ethics) and Government.
To sum up: President Obama absolutely graduated from Harvard Law School, with a JD degree, and his leadership at Harvard Law Review is one of the many things that made his time there notable. If Harvard Law is your dream law school, it helps to focus on academic achievements and building experiences that showcase your interests and potential to make a difference.
Luis Nario-Malberg
Mooresville, North Carolina
Harvard College, Class of 2018, A.B. in Philosophy
Experience
5 years