On your resume, do you put your GPA according to... Forum

[Helicio]

...your undergrad. institution, or according to LSAC?

This could advantage some people and disadvantage others, so just wondering.

[MrKappus]

If you put an LSAC GPA on your resume that's higher than your actual GPA, you sure as hell better label it "LSAC GPA." Otherwise, you are lying on an app. Not good.

[Hannibal]

If you put an LSAC GPA on your resume that's higher than your actual GPA, you sure as hell better label it "LSAC GPA." Otherwise, you are lying on an app. Not good.

How would it be lying? LSAC GPA is a legitimate cumulative GPA.

[GettingReady2010]

I always thought that you were supposed to put your LSAC GPA.

[kazu]

If it's for law schools apps, I'd think LSAC GPA would be right.

[vanwinkle]

If you put an LSAC GPA on your resume that's higher than your actual GPA, you sure as hell better label it "LSAC GPA." Otherwise, you are lying on an app. Not good.

How would it be lying? LSAC GPA is a legitimate cumulative GPA.

Yes, but usually when you put a GPA on a resume it's placed near the degree granted, and without noting that you were putting a GPA that was cumulative across all attended institutions, it would create the false appearance that you had earned that GPA at your degree-granting school.

[MrKappus]

If you put an LSAC GPA on your resume that's higher than your actual GPA, you sure as hell better label it "LSAC GPA." Otherwise, you are lying on an app. Not good.

How would it be lying? LSAC GPA is a legitimate cumulative GPA.

Yes, but usually when you put a GPA on a resume it's placed near the degree granted, and without noting that you were putting a GPA that was cumulative across all attended institutions, it would create the false appearance that you had earned that GPA at your degree-granting school.

As per usual, vw's answer is quite correct. That said, basic common sense should tell you that it would be both deceptive and inappropriate to place an LSAC GPA, which was not calculated by your UG, next to a UG on your resume. Whether it's deceptive isn't even vaguely open to debate.

[GettingReady2010]

If you put an LSAC GPA on your resume that's higher than your actual GPA, you sure as hell better label it "LSAC GPA." Otherwise, you are lying on an app. Not good.

How would it be lying? LSAC GPA is a legitimate cumulative GPA.

Yes, but usually when you put a GPA on a resume it's placed near the degree granted, and without noting that you were putting a GPA that was cumulative across all attended institutions, it would create the false appearance that you had earned that GPA at your degree-granting school.

As per usual, vw's answer is quite correct. That said, basic common sense should tell you that it would be both deceptive and inappropriate to place an LSAC GPA, which was not calculated by your UG, next to a UG on your resume. Whether it's deceptive isn't even vaguely open to debate.

Depends if it's higher or not.

[Hannibal]

If you put it next to a UG institution, yes it would be deceptive. But if you used it as a general GPA for your academic career (say if you attended two or more institutions), it would be legit IMO.

[GettingReady2010]

If you put it next to a UG institution, yes it would be deceptive. But if you used it as a general GPA for your academic career (say if you attended two or more institutions), it would be legit IMO.

But you wouldn't put both schools on your resume in the first place, right? It's unnecessary.

It seems like this is a lose/lose situation - If you put your LSAC GPA, it's deceptive, but if you put your graduating college GPA it's deceptive if it's higher than the GPA from your former college.

[Hannibal]

If you put it next to a UG institution, yes it would be deceptive. But if you used it as a general GPA for your academic career (say if you attended two or more institutions), it would be legit IMO.

But you wouldn't put both schools on your resume in the first place, right? It's unnecessary.

It seems like this is a lose/lose situation - If you put your LSAC GPA, it's deceptive, but if you put your graduating college GPA it's deceptive if it's higher than the GPA from your former college.

Eh, I plan on putting both schools.

[GettingReady2010]

If you put it next to a UG institution, yes it would be deceptive. But if you used it as a general GPA for your academic career (say if you attended two or more institutions), it would be legit IMO.

But you wouldn't put both schools on your resume in the first place, right? It's unnecessary.

It seems like this is a lose/lose situation - If you put your LSAC GPA, it's deceptive, but if you put your graduating college GPA it's deceptive if it's higher than the GPA from your former college.

Eh, I plan on putting both schools.

Was your GPA at your first school significantly worse? If it is, I think that this might give the impression that the school you transferred to is significantly easier (which may or may not be true). I realize this is already in your transcripts, but it might draw a lot of unwanted attention.

[Hannibal]

It was .12 worse. Even if it was significantly worse, I think it would read as an upward trend in grades rather than a downgrade in institution.

[thomas85]

If you put an LSAC GPA on your resume that's higher than your actual GPA, you sure as hell better label it "LSAC GPA." Otherwise, you are lying on an app. Not good.

How would it be lying? LSAC GPA is a legitimate cumulative GPA.

Yes, but usually when you put a GPA on a resume it's placed near the degree granted, and without noting that you were putting a GPA that was cumulative across all attended institutions, it would create the false appearance that you had earned that GPA at your degree-granting school.

As per usual, vw's answer is quite correct. That said, basic common sense should tell you that it would be both deceptive and inappropriate to place an LSAC GPA, which was not calculated by your UG, next to a UG on your resume. Whether it's deceptive isn't even vaguely open to debate.

Don't get freaked out about it. Use an asterisk and a footnote. Be clear and make sure to disclose which ever GPA you decided not to use. Nobody is going to care anyways if there is a one or two point difference, just as long as it looks like you are being honest. Good Luck!

[2014]

My degree granting is .15 worse than my LSAC. I put LSAC on my resume but list both schools. I'll be sure to note that it is a cumulative GPA too. I've spoken with professional resume designers though who have specifically noted that as long as you properly weight your GPA for all schools attended, that it is perfectly legitimate to have a cumulative GPA for your college career.

[TommyK]

Voice of dissent here: Why even put it on your resume? I mean, they already have the LSAC GPA, which is the only one that matters, as a stat in their file?

Always of the opinion with resumes that if it doesn't add anything, take it off. And in this case, it may cause confusion.

Just my $.02

[lifestooquick]

Voice of dissent here: Why even put it on your resume? I mean, they already have the LSAC GPA, which is the only one that matters, as a stat in their file?

Always of the opinion with resumes that if it doesn't add anything, take it off. And in this case, it may cause confusion.

Just my $.02

This is what I was thinking too.

[vanwinkle]

Voice of dissent here: Why even put it on your resume? I mean, they already have the LSAC GPA, which is the only one that matters, as a stat in their file?

Always of the opinion with resumes that if it doesn't add anything, take it off. And in this case, it may cause confusion.

Just my $.02

I think I'd agree with this. The only time it'd make sense to put it on your resume is if your degree-granting GPA was far higher than your overall LSAC GPA, to kind of highlight that you ended on a high note... but we're not talking about that here at all.

Putting a GPA on your resume that'll 1) cause confusion and 2) not look stunningly good is not a great idea.

[czelede]

What about if you took summer classes at a community college? I only took two, but they provided a 0.05 point bump to my GPA. My degree granting institution actually calculates these classes into my university GPA. I've always listed my GPA with these classes inclusive, since according to undergraduate records that was my graduating GPA, but when I sent it to LSAC it calculated them separately.

[d34d9823]

What about if you took summer classes at a community college? I only took two, but they provided a 0.05 point bump to my GPA. My degree granting institution actually calculates these classes into my university GPA. I've always listed my GPA with these classes inclusive, since according to undergraduate records that was my graduating GPA, but when I sent it to LSAC it calculated them separately.

That's fine. Your school is responsible for how they choose to calculate GPA. Whatever the cumulative GPA on your transcript is - put that.

[firemed]

So.... what is the consensus here?

My graduating institution GPA was 4.0, and I was planning on including that. However my overall GPA is going to be something like 3.2 per LSAC. Should I include that, and if so where on my resume? I was planning to leave off my first two undergrad institutions and only include my graduating institution.

[d34d9823]

So.... what is the consensus here?

My graduating institution GPA was 4.0, and I was planning on including that. However my overall GPA is going to be something like 3.2 per LSAC. Should I include that, and if so where on my resume? I was planning to leave off my first two undergrad institutions and only include my graduating institution.

I would include your graduating GPA (assuming your school didn't count transfer credits - you need the official cumulative GPA from your transcript) directly adjacent to your degree so that it's clear that it refers to that school. Your LSAC GPA is not needed - they already have it. That highlights your upward GPA trend without being confusing.

[firemed]

I would include your graduating GPA (assuming your school didn't count transfer credits - you need the official cumulative GPA from your transcript) directly adjacent to your degree so that it's clear that it refers to that school. Your LSAC GPA is not needed - they already have it. That highlights your upward GPA trend without being confusing.

Thanks!

[Helicio]

Cool. I think I'm just going to leave my GPA off my resume and let LSAC take care of it.

[bk1]

Cool. I think I'm just going to leave my GPA off my resume and let LSAC take care of it.

This is what I did, especially because I'd rather not keep reminding them of something they already know that I would rather they not know (my GPA as a splitter).