frumnotyeshivish: So a major in “film history” or a student who has mastered the history of medieval Ruritania sexual preferences is better qualified than a BTL for Law school? That’s why law schools look at transcripts, and they like to some courses relevant to becoming a lawyer (e.g. know enough American history so you understand how it is that the New York Court of Appeals, and the Court of Appeals sitting in New York City, are entirely different courts). Regular college degrees can be total junk – which is probably why a BTL is often accepted
popa_bar_abba: In an ideal world, academic merit would be the primary thing that gets one a job. But unless you hold that graduates of elite prep schools have excessive academic merit, its hard to explain their overrepresentation other than that social connections and family background still count. And while a young lawyer from a very “chasuv” rabbinical family, a good yeshiva, a beard and pe’os, and amazing grades and other legal activities might still get hired – the reality remains that “what you are” is still a big factor.