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Hey guys,

I'm a AA male at Southern Cal and right now I have a 3.65 gpa. I was wondering if you thought it would be better or look better to law schools if I did study abroad and applied to law schools with my 3.65 gpa or if I should stay in school that semester and get my gpa up to a 3.7 and then apply?

I really need scholarship money as well and I was wondering what you think the best decision to take would be? Does studying abroad look better or does a 3.7 gpa look better?

Thanks

Get the higher GPA.

im not inclined to believe .05 affects ones chances. but i don't think that studying abroad is worth much either.

I think it depends on the study abroad program. If you "study abroad" in Australia or England, slack off and get a 2.0, law schools probably won't be too impressed. However, if you do a program that involves complete cultural and linguistic immersion, I think that's a pretty good experience to have even if you don't get as good of grades as you're used to. Plus, if it's a semester or less and your home institution doesn't count the credits in your GPA, I don't believe LSAC does either.

If study abroad is something you really want to do, do it. A .05 bump in your GPA definitely won't be worth it if you regret missing out on that opportunity.

go abroad

Going abroad is worth more than a trade-off in GPA... i.e. something you will remember for the rest of your life.

Go abroad. Those who don't are missing out! Probably the best experience of my life.

My institution counted the abroad grades and I believe it helped my GPA.

Go abroad. I had the best contiguous time of my life when I went abroad. Not to mention, the classes I took abroad did help my GPA out.