3.81 GPA 169 LSAT Military Vet Forum

[sgt101st]

Well here's to rolling the dice....

Did two years of schooling before dropping out from low grades (had no discipline/motivation/etc) joined the Army in 2004. Deployed 2 (1 Iraq/1 Afghanistan) with the 101st Airborne as a Cavalry Scout. Original 4 year contract turned into a 5 1/2 year because of stop loss. Got out as an E-5 (Sergeant).

Currently, attending American University for political science. School has gone slightly differently this time around (GPA should bump another decimal this semester), did a Congressional internship last summer. Leader in a student-veterans organization and my university's undergraduate Senate.

Well, that's about all I can think of. Had a grandfather who attended HLS, so that's always been the dream, but I know my LSAT is a few points shy. Not sure if the 'softs' can make up for that. Any advice?

EDIT:
Forgot to mention. Prior to military service, I attended 3 different colleges (1 was early freshmen program, 1 was Ivy school, 1 was SUNY school after really bad grades first semester at Ivy). My GPA is great now, but back then it was horrendous and I know it looks bad to go to that many different colleges.

[Grizz]

Is 3.81 your LSAC GPA? If you withdrew from classes and whatnot, it may be lower...

[sgt101st]

Well, I'm not entirely sure. I'm going off what my current school's transcript says. The previous classes were taken before my 5 1/2 year time in the Army, so I'm no sure if that's why my current institution doesn't have them really affecting my GPA or not.

What's the best method of finding out?

[Grizz]

Well, I'm not entirely sure. I'm going off what my current school's transcript says. The previous classes were taken before my 5 1/2 year time in the Army, so I'm no sure if that's why my current institution doesn't have them really affecting my GPA or not.

What's the best method of finding out?

Yeah you're gonna have to send all transcripts in to the LSAC. The best way is to get all the transcripts and use a GPA calculator. There's one on lawschoolpredictor.com I think. Depending on the circumstances of your withdrawal, your GPA could drop a LOT. Which sucks.

[sgt101st]

What are the chances that because there was such a large break and the military service (Certainly changed me) will help explain that the grades I got back then are not indicative of what I'm capable of now? It's going to end up being about 1/3 of my credits from the previous schools and 2/3 from my current (much better GPA) school.

[sgt101st]

Degree (Summary) GPA: 3.81
Degree Semester Hours: 58.0
Cumulative GPA: 3.15
Cumulative Semester Hours: 110.0

[Grizz]

Degree (Summary) GPA: 3.81
Degree Semester Hours: 58.0
Cumulative GPA: 3.15
Cumulative Semester Hours: 110.0

Is that what LSAC says?

[Grizz]

What are the chances that because there was such a large break and the military service (Certainly changed me) will help explain that the grades I got back then are not indicative of what I'm capable of now? It's going to end up being about 1/3 of my credits from the previous schools and 2/3 from my current (much better GPA) school.

Unfortunately, it's still gonna count a lot.

[sgt101st]

Yeah, under the application section. Well, so much for the T14.

[Grizz]

Yeah, under the application section. Well, so much for the T14.

With military service I'd still apply to some lower T14. You probably won't get it, but it's one of the only softs worth anything. If you can retake for a couple more points, you could ED to UVA.

[lrslayer]

this sucks man. sorry. i have somewhat similar story. i joined usmc, served as helicopter gunner (2 tours iraq) came home and started dealing with ptsd first year in school. long story short, i left school for a year to get help and came back strong. now i have a 4.0 from my degree granting school and a 167 lsat but due to that rough start my cumulative is 3.2. It sucks to know that all my hopes are kind of crushed due to something outside my control at that time. i wrote a pretty good essay explaining the grades as well as a kick ass p.s. and d.s. (blah blah blah, threw everything i had at them) but even if an admissions officer wants to help out, they really can't due to rankings. so, just go to the best school you can in an area you wouldn't mind living and do the best you can do now. there is no changing the past so semper gumby.