Inquiries regarding LSAC credit hour cutoff? Forum

[ladyinred88]

I've wanted to go to law school since 2010. Here is some information regarding my academic and personal background before I type out the few inquiries I have regarding the LSAC procedures:

I am 28 years old and a non-traditional student. My undergraduate history began right out of high school in Fall 2005 and ended in December 2014 (9.5 years). I attribute the length to a serious illness I grappled with, which necessitated much hospitalization. I underwent a procedure in January 2012, and have been doing better health-wise in the ensuing time. 9.5 years in school means a drastic amount of hours and credits, even 30 non-punitive withdrawals. I am not concerned about the withdrawals since I happen to know another individual with 20, that broke the Top 5 with excellent numbers and another individual from my school stated LSAC treated theirs non-punitively which they are. Even when I withdrew, I received at least partial refunds those semesters due to inability to have attended classes. From January 2012-December 2014, I have a 145 credit hour upward trend from attending all 3 terms per year with a 4.0 gpa, making the president's list six times.

When I calculate every grade on my transcript, the absolute gpa comes to: 3.3 and have exhausted my three LSAT attempts - (177,175, and 178) in the following order. Since January 2015, my post graduate work experience has consisted of paralegal, and will have 2.5 years of post grad WE when I apply Fall 2017. I also need to craft a good PS about overcoming health obstacles to where I am today.

Onto the inquiries:

1. Given the three LSAT scores - 177,175,178, will schools average them or focus on the highest attempt?

2. Lastly, when you've attended college for 9.5 years attending/attempting to attend all 3 terms, year round you rack up a lot of credits before the degree date. When I graduated I had: 300 credit hours, 321 gpa hours, and 400 attempted hours (high # of Ws). LSAC explicitly states they calculate to the degree date, but I have heard others on here claim there is a 180 cut-off? Given my extreme amount, should they still calculate to the degree date or would they make a cut-off exception given the extremity of my case?

3. Has anyone on here had a very high number of credit hours/attempted up to your degree date and did LSAC still calculate to the end?

Thank you in advance for all the help. greatly appreciate it!!!

[ladyinred88]

Thanks in advance for any help. Would sure appreciate any help I can get.

[texasrangersjb]

I've wanted to go to law school since 2010. Here is some information regarding my academic and personal background before I type out the few inquiries I have regarding the LSAC procedures:

I am 28 years old and a non-traditional student. My undergraduate history began right out of high school in Fall 2005 and ended in December 2014 (9.5 years). I attribute the length to a serious illness I grappled with, which necessitated much hospitalization. I underwent a procedure in January 2012, and have been doing better health-wise in the ensuing time. 9.5 years in school means a drastic amount of hours and credits, even 30 non-punitive withdrawals. I am not concerned about the withdrawals since I happen to know another individual with 20, that broke the Top 5 with excellent numbers and another individual from my school stated LSAC treated theirs non-punitively which they are. Even when I withdrew, I received at least partial refunds those semesters due to inability to have attended classes. From January 2012-December 2014, I have a 145 credit hour upward trend from attending all 3 terms per year with a 4.0 gpa, making the president's list six times.

When I calculate every grade on my transcript, the absolute gpa comes to: 3.3 and have exhausted my three LSAT attempts - (177,175, and 178) in the following order. Since January 2015, my post graduate work experience has consisted of paralegal, and will have 2.5 years of post grad WE when I apply Fall 2017. I also need to craft a good PS about overcoming health obstacles to where I am today.

Onto the inquiries:

1. Given the three LSAT scores - 177,175,178, will schools average them or focus on the highest attempt?

2. Lastly, when you've attended college for 9.5 years attending/attempting to attend all 3 terms, year round you rack up a lot of credits before the degree date. When I graduated I had: 300 credit hours, 321 gpa hours, and 400 attempted hours (high # of Ws). LSAC explicitly states they calculate to the degree date, but I have heard others on here claim there is a 180 cut-off? Given my extreme amount, should they still calculate to the degree date or would they make a cut-off exception given the extremity of my case?

3. Has anyone on here had a very high number of credit hours/attempted up to your degree date and did LSAC still calculate to the end?

Thank you in advance for all the help. greatly appreciate it!!!

I had 160 hours and thought I was on the high end. Guess not. Wish I could answer your question, but don't have an answer.

[Nachoo2019]

Congrats on overcoming obstacles and scoring so high on the LSAT!!! As far as I know LSAC will count all units you take(including community college) up until you the date you earn your first bachelors degree.

Edit: also they will take your highest LSAT (because that is the one they report to US News)

Edit2: the best way to know for sure would be to call LSAC directly