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Hi. I have a GPA of 3.498. Yes that .002 is insignificant but having that GPA read 3.50 would have been awesome. LSAC reports it as a 3.49. How do law schools take that into account? Does it even matter? Is a 3.498 a 3.50 in their eyes? Better yet, is a 3.49 a 3.50 in their eyes?

arewhyaen wrote:Hi. I have a GPA of 3.498. Yes that .002 is insignificant but having that GPA read 3.50 would have been awesome. LSAC reports it as a 3.49. How do law schools take that into account? Does it even matter? Is a 3.498 a 3.50 in their eyes? Better yet, is a 3.49 a 3.50 in their eyes?

Law schools read whatever LSAC calculates. That's what they care about. But 3.50 isn't really a magical number. The 25/50/75th percentile marks and 3.00 are the spots where a marginal GPA difference will significantly affect your chance of admission.

Of the top 20, Cornell and Vandy have 25ths at 3.5 exactly according to Lawschoolpredictor, so if that is the case they would slightly prefer you to have that extra .002, but honestly I'm pretty certain it won't matter in the slightest.

LSAC says you have a 3.49, so that's what law schools will count. And no, that's not as good as a 3.50.

I may be absolutely wrong here (please don't flame me if I am, I too would like to know the correct answer) But I thought that GPA and LSAT are literally inserted into a formula and a index number given.

example: School ABC's index GPAx10 + LSATx1 so in this case 3.5x10 + 160 = 195 index vs 3.49x10 + 160= 194.9

I understand the variables are weighted MUCH differently school to school, but for purpose of preliminary consideration their are only 3 options...right???

option 1: School ABC admits anyone above say, a 190, therefore pending any irregularities in your app, you are admitted.

option 2: Your numbers are between auto admit, and auto deny. You go to "committee review" This would be the only time they really would look at 3.5 and 3.48 any differently right?

option 3: School ABC deny's anyone below say, 200, therefore pending any extraordinary PS, LOR, Work etc, you are denied.

Isn't this how the process works, or am I mistaken?

It really varies by school. Some schools use a formula and others don't. Some schools only send a small portion of applications through a subjective review process, whereas at others no applicants are auto-admit or -deny. In general, at any school you have to be at or above one of two medians - but beyond that the degree to which numbers matter and the process by which decisions are made can be like night and day when comparing one school to another.

Regarding your question about a 3.50 and a 3.48 (assuming the same LSAT) being under committee review simultaneously - even then, I wouldn't just assume right away that the 3.50 would prevail. Any subjective review is just that - subjective. Readers generally consider work experience, grade trends, pedigree, UG grade curve, and such factors when choosing between similar applicants, especially if choosing one over the other will not affect a 25/50/75 mark.

Thanks guys! I have a competitive 3.49 if such a thing exist By that I mean full course loads, double major, work throughout undergrad, and some really good softs. But what I'm taking away from this thread is that the 3.49 COULD play a role, but at the same time...it may not. If my GPA is at a 25th percentille, and my LSAT is above their 50th, do I, on average, stand a good chance?

Shoot for their 75th percentile on the LSAT.

arewhyaen wrote:Thanks guys! I have a competitive 3.49 if such a thing exist By that I mean full course loads, double major, work throughout undergrad, and some really good softs. But what I'm taking away from this thread is that the 3.49 COULD play a role, but at the same time...it may not. If my GPA is at a 25th percentille, and my LSAT is above their 50th, do I, on average, stand a good chance?

Such a thing does not exist.

bk187 wrote:

arewhyaen wrote:Thanks guys! I have a competitive 3.49 if such a thing exist By that I mean full course loads, double major, work throughout undergrad, and some really good softs. But what I'm taking away from this thread is that the 3.49 COULD play a role, but at the same time...it may not. If my GPA is at a 25th percentille, and my LSAT is above their 50th, do I, on average, stand a good chance?

Such a thing does not exist.

figured.

bk187 wrote:

arewhyaen wrote:Thanks guys! I have a competitive 3.49 if such a thing exist By that I mean full course loads, double major, work throughout undergrad, and some really good softs. But what I'm taking away from this thread is that the 3.49 COULD play a role, but at the same time...it may not. If my GPA is at a 25th percentille, and my LSAT is above their 50th, do I, on average, stand a good chance?

Such a thing does not exist.

+1

I think you misunderstood me. A 3.49 is a 3.49. Other factors may make you more competitive as an applicant, but your GPA is what it is. The factors you mention are not exceptional among law applicants, and while most applicants think they have good softs, few actually do.

2ofspades wrote:

bk187 wrote:

arewhyaen wrote:Thanks guys! I have a competitive 3.49 if such a thing exist By that I mean full course loads, double major, work throughout undergrad, and some really good softs. But what I'm taking away from this thread is that the 3.49 COULD play a role, but at the same time...it may not. If my GPA is at a 25th percentille, and my LSAT is above their 50th, do I, on average, stand a good chance?

Such a thing does not exist.

+1

I think you misunderstood me. A 3.49 is a 3.49. Other factors may make you more competitive as an applicant, but your GPA is what it is. The factors you mention are not exceptional among law applicants, and while most applicants think they have good softs, few actually do.

Yes, I actually understood that. Thank you for your attempt at clarifying though . However, does anyone have any comment on my other question from the same post?