Incomplete vs. 3 F's Forum

[kinseyjo]

Hey TLS'ers

I'm applying in Fall for law school, currently studying my ass off for my LSAT retake in September.

I just completed my junior year abroad in France (two semesters). I just received my grades for my second semester, and I failed 3 of my 8 2-credit classes (classes completed in French on the topic of international business - not easy). I have the option of either taking them as they are-F's. Or taking them as incompletes and resitting the exams in the end of October. Which would look better sent in on my transcript? I plan on talking about the experience in my personal statement- failed grades and all. The only problem with resitting is that it will be while I am completing my senior thesis, applying to law school, and studying for midterms, so I'm afraid I'll just fail them all over again.

Need advice!!!

thanks.

[bombaysippin]

uh ohs. I'd rather have incompletes rather than Fs. Fs will destroy your lsac gpa.

[A. Nony Mouse]

I mean, if you keep the Fs, you have 3 Fs calculated into your LSAC GPA, right? Versus 3 potentially not-Fs if you take the incompletes and retake. I would much rather explain incompletes than Fs.

[banjo]

Retake the exams, pass them, work for a year or two, and reapply with a PS about something better than failing study abroad classes.

[ymmv]

Retake the exams, pass them, work for a year or two, and reapply with a PS about something better than failing study abroad classes.

+1

[Ti Malice]

I plan on talking about the experience in my personal statement- failed grades and all.

Don't.

The only problem with resitting is that it will be while I am completing my senior thesis, applying to law school, and studying for midterms, so I'm afraid I'll just fail them all over again.

If this workload is not manageable, then taking a semester off to focus on fixing this problem would be much better than winding up with six credits of Fs on your transcript. That would annihilate your GPA and likely significantly affect your law school/scholarship, and thus career, options.