GPA

[san2012]

I have a degree granting gpa of 3.87, but a cumulative LSAC of 3.65. My degree is from TX A&M, Magna Cum Laude, but my cumulative is much lower because I struggled first semester of my freshman year before I transferred to A&M. I haven't had a semester below 3.8 or 4.0 since. Will law schools take my improvement and degree average into account or focus solely on the lower cumulative?

[rinkrat19]

They'll look at the upward trend, but it won't count for much. It might be a tiebreaker between you and another person with identical numbers/softs who didn't have an upward trend, but that's about it.

If you have a really compelling reason for the first year of lower grades (i.e. had become diabetic but didn't know it yet, driving home 3x week to take care of your dying mother, etc.), it might count a little more. Freshman year immaturity counts for almost nothing.

[Grizz]

Upward trends are a dime a dozen.

[20130312]

Upward trends are a dime a dozen.

This. They only care about your cumulative GPA.