Low GPA Forum

[FuManChusco]

My GPA is pretty low. I'm probably looking at a 2.6x when I graduate. Been prepping for the LSAT and I'm expecting a 170+ so I think I have a decent chance at T30. I've been PTing in the low 170s and still have a lot of studying to do. My low GPA stems from freshman year when I was an engineer. That was a bad decision and after getting a 2.0, I kind of lost motivation. I just chose a major based on interest, but I didn't really have any direction of what I wanted to do with my life and my grades suffered. Slight upward trend I suppose, but that's not difficult after getting a 2.0. Fast forward to January of senior year. I did some soul searching for about a month, talked to people, and decided I wanted to become a lawyer. I know my GPA is bad, but is writing an addendum even worth it? It just seems like I'm making bad excuses for my undergrad work ethic. Would it be worth it to address this in an addendum or PS, or should I just send out 25 apps and hope someone in the T30 bites?

Edit: Also, although I don't think it matters at all, my school is known for grade deflation.

[kswiss]

My GPA is pretty low. I'm probably looking at a 2.6x when I graduate. Been prepping for the LSAT and I'm expecting a 170+ so I think I have a decent chance at T30. I've been PTing in the low 170s and still have a lot of studying to do. My low GPA stems from freshman year when I was an engineer. That was a bad decision and after getting a 2.0, I kind of lost motivation. I just chose a major based on interest, but I didn't really have any direction of what I wanted to do with my life and my grades suffered. Slight upward trend I suppose, but that's not difficult after getting a 2.0. Fast forward to January of senior year. I did some soul searching for about a month, talked to people, and decided I wanted to become a lawyer. I know my GPA is bad, but is writing an addendum even worth it? It just seems like I'm making bad excuses for my undergrad work ethic. Would it be worth it to address this in an addendum or PS, or should I just send out 25 apps and hope someone in the T30 bites?

Edit: Also, although I don't think it matters at all, my school is known for grade deflation.

I have a similar GPA and a 170 LSAT. I wrote an addendum because I had a pretty decent excuse for grades, but the addendum only pointed to my good grades as a better indicator of performance.

T30 is still iffy, I'm going to end up riding WL and see what comes of it.

I was WL @ Duke and Illinois, still UR at WUSTL and Iowa, and awaiting review at a few others. I'd imagine they will all be WL or Reject. Here's to a long summer.

Also, go take the LSAT and then come back. A lot of people plan on getting over 170. Hell, at least half of the people in my testing center mentioned that their PT average was like 172 while waiting in line.

Do it for real, then evaluate your chances.

[UF Gators]

My GPA is pretty low. I'm probably looking at a 2.6x when I graduate. Been prepping for the LSAT and I'm expecting a 170+ so I think I have a decent chance at T30. I've been PTing in the low 170s and still have a lot of studying to do. My low GPA stems from freshman year when I was an engineer. That was a bad decision and after getting a 2.0, I kind of lost motivation. I just chose a major based on interest, but I didn't really have any direction of what I wanted to do with my life and my grades suffered. Slight upward trend I suppose, but that's not difficult after getting a 2.0. Fast forward to January of senior year. I did some soul searching for about a month, talked to people, and decided I wanted to become a lawyer. I know my GPA is bad, but is writing an addendum even worth it? It just seems like I'm making bad excuses for my undergrad work ethic. Would it be worth it to address this in an addendum or PS, or should I just send out 25 apps and hope someone in the T30 bites?

Edit: Also, although I don't think it matters at all, my school is known for grade deflation.

This. If you do hit 170+ also consider sending out an ED contract somewhere.

[FuManChusco]

My GPA is pretty low. I'm probably looking at a 2.6x when I graduate. Been prepping for the LSAT and I'm expecting a 170+ so I think I have a decent chance at T30. I've been PTing in the low 170s and still have a lot of studying to do. My low GPA stems from freshman year when I was an engineer. That was a bad decision and after getting a 2.0, I kind of lost motivation. I just chose a major based on interest, but I didn't really have any direction of what I wanted to do with my life and my grades suffered. Slight upward trend I suppose, but that's not difficult after getting a 2.0. Fast forward to January of senior year. I did some soul searching for about a month, talked to people, and decided I wanted to become a lawyer. I know my GPA is bad, but is writing an addendum even worth it? It just seems like I'm making bad excuses for my undergrad work ethic. Would it be worth it to address this in an addendum or PS, or should I just send out 25 apps and hope someone in the T30 bites?

Edit: Also, although I don't think it matters at all, my school is known for grade deflation.

I have a similar GPA and a 170 LSAT. I wrote an addendum because I had a pretty decent excuse for grades, but the addendum only pointed to my good grades as a better indicator of performance.

T30 is still iffy, I'm going to end up riding WL and see what comes of it.

I was WL @ Duke and Illinois, still UR at WUSTL and Iowa, and awaiting review at a few others. I'd imagine they will all be WL or Reject. Here's to a long summer.

Also, go take the LSAT and then come back. A lot of people plan on getting over 170. Hell, at least half of the people in my testing center mentioned that their PT average was like 172 while waiting in line.

Do it for real, then evaluate your chances.

I'm utterly shocked that you got WLed at Duke and Illinois. Duke seems auto-ding and Illinois seems an accept with a 170. I think you end up getting UI or WUSTL, which is what I'm banking on. I agree I need to take the LSAT first but this will be a concern no matter what I get on the LSAT. When did you send your apps in?

[kswiss]

Duke gave me the priority track admissions option before they got my GPA from LSAC. I was also surprised it wasn't auto-ding. I'm thinking its because they gave me PT, i'm positive its a soft reject.

I would LOVE to go to Illinois. I'm really hoping they pull from the WL and need high LSATs. I'm in Utah, so I can't visit without substantial cost to any of the schools, so LOCIs are my only way of expressing interest.

I applied in January FWIW; was waiting on Dec. LSAT score (first and only). I'd imagine that it has affected my cycle adversely. I have scholarships to a few T2s and am still waiting, so we'll see what happens. I probably won't wait a year either way, so its one of those or the regional T2 (with $$$) in the market where I want to live.

[NayBoer]

I'm a 2.7 with a 170+ LSAT and I got straight into Illinois and WUSTL. I also received scholarships to both. That being said, I applied early in the cycle and have around 5 years of work experience, which gives me some nice distance from my atrocious GPA. There are some splitter-friendly schools in the Top 30 (hell, in the top 14, as well) and you shouldn't have too much trouble getting into at least one with an LSAT over 170 if you're willing to wait until this fall to apply.

[Grizz]

My GPA is pretty low. I'm probably looking at a 2.6x when I graduate. Been prepping for the LSAT and I'm expecting a 170+ so I think I have a decent chance at T30. I've been PTing in the low 170s and still have a lot of studying to do. My low GPA stems from freshman year when I was an engineer. That was a bad decision and after getting a 2.0, I kind of lost motivation. I just chose a major based on interest, but I didn't really have any direction of what I wanted to do with my life and my grades suffered. Slight upward trend I suppose, but that's not difficult after getting a 2.0. Fast forward to January of senior year. I did some soul searching for about a month, talked to people, and decided I wanted to become a lawyer. I know my GPA is bad, but is writing an addendum even worth it? It just seems like I'm making bad excuses for my undergrad work ethic. Would it be worth it to address this in an addendum or PS, or should I just send out 25 apps and hope someone in the T30 bites?

Edit: Also, although I don't think it matters at all, my school is known for grade deflation.

An addendum is not worth it. Get a high LSAT and let that speak for you.