Potential transcript fail? Forum

[gobuffs10]

I was a stupid punk at 18 and went to college unprepared and with poor study skills. I partied, skipped class, and did as little as humanly possible. My grades definitely suffered. After two years of failing, I dropped out, took a year off, and decided to enroll at another school.

I went from Cs, Ds and Fs to straight As and Bs at my new school. Any classes that had equivalents transferred, and so they are represented on my degree-granting institution's transcript. According to LSAC's CAS, I need a transcript from my degree-granting institution. It doesn't say anything about transfer schools or reenrolling, but it does mention needing transcripts from places where I have only incomplete or withdrawn grades. Do I need to send my abysmal transcript from my first school even though all of the relevant courses are on my graduating transcript? I'm hoping beyond hope that it's not necessary, as it would destroy my GPA.

Can I just send the one transcript or am I screwed? If I am screwed, how can I semi-unscrew myself? Addendum? Hemlock? Who knows?

[whymeohgodno]

You're fucked. LSAC counts all those fails/d's.

[calilaw]

Send all transcripts.. I took a single pass/no pass class at a local state university while in high school and still sent in a transcript.

[BlueDiamond]

Can't really unscrew yourself. Try an addendum, but it is mostly numbers based and they only help to a certain extent. Best advice is probably a 175-plus LSAT. Good luck though.

[gobuffs10]

I hate my life.

EDIT: Haven't found my old transcripts yet but it's looking like my 3.3, which would have been a 3.5 by the end of this semester, is now going to be a solid 2.8.

Pass the hemlock.

[lalalawya]

I feel your pain. Took a couple of college classes in HS that I was totally unprepared for. Did nothing but hurt my GPA.
I would write an addendum emphasizing your dramatic turnaround, including an explanation for the poor grades (if it is a reasonable one) and then reassurance that you will not "relapse."

[lalalawya]

do you have a LSAT score yet?

[whymeohgodno]

The LSAC is unforgiving.

[gobuffs10]

156 with ~10 hours study time. Took a course and more PTs, currently low 160s. Taking next weekend but thinking of skipping until June and applying next cycle when I have more grades to balance this crap out.

Don't really have a reason for the poor performance. Had a 3.2 in high school with a 30 ACT, which is what got me into school. I do have major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder which obviously have an effect on my mood, which in turn affects my desire to do anything at all. Other than that I can't really explain it away.

Er, now that I've disclosed that, I guess I should point out that the hemlock thing is a joke. Oops. I will not an hero on cam.

[gobuffs10]

The LSAC is unforgiving.

Yeah really. Oh well. I can't change what's done but I can take steps to strengthen what I can control. Great PS, better LSAT and maybe (probably) waiting until next cycle.

[lalalawya]

156 with ~10 hours study time. Took a course and more PTs, currently low 160s. Taking next weekend but thinking of skipping until June and applying next cycle when I have more grades to balance this crap out.

Don't really have a reason for the poor performance. Had a 3.2 in high school with a 30 ACT, which is what got me into school. I do have major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder which obviously have an effect on my mood, which in turn affects my desire to do anything at all. Other than that I can't really explain it away.

Er, now that I've disclosed that, I guess I should point out that the hemlock thing is a joke. Oops. I will not an hero on cam.

Have you only taken it once? If so, you should still take it next weekend (if you feel prepared, of course) just to see where you are at. Plus, what is you end up getting a great score and can still apply this cycle?

If not, taking it in June is always a good option. Waiting another cycle will allow you to pad your GPA with a whole other semester.

As bad as it sounds, from what I have gathered here on this site, you probably do not want to explain away poor academic performance with different disorders. Law schools may question your abilitity to perform (I have GAD too, and I was told not to mention it even though it is mild and is well treated). But then again, you can use your poor performance a few years ago as the starting gate and be like "after I received treatment for my various disorders, I was able to begin to perform to my fullest potential, as evident in my most recent six semester...etc. etc."

Good luck!

[gobuffs10]

Found my old transcript.

It's even better than I thought. LSDAS is going to be a 2.59. Didn't realize they counted repeated courses even though the school does not.

Should I forget this whole law school thing? Honestly? I have no T14 aspirations, but wanted T50. I think I'm fucked.

EDIT: Law School Predictor has me in a few of the places I want to go...if I get a 170.

[im_blue]

After two years of failing, I dropped out, took a year off, and decided to enroll at another school.

I went from Cs, Ds and Fs to straight As and Bs at my new school. Any classes that had equivalents transferred, and so they are represented on my degree-granting institution's transcript.

Haven't found my old transcripts yet but it's looking like my 3.3, which would have been a 3.5 by the end of this semester, is now going to be a solid 2.8.

It's very likely that your LSAC GPA will be even lower than a 2.8, because LSAC will count all those C/D/Fs from your "two years of failing" that didn't transfer to your UG transcript. You should really find those old transcripts and calculate it for sure.

EDIT: Yeah that 2.59 hurts. If you're still in UG, delay graduation until you can pull it up to a 3.0+. Otherwise, get a 170+ and apply to splitter-friendly schools like WUSTL, Illinois, and Minnesota. Or get 1-2 years of WE and ED to Northwestern.

[$1.99]

get in the 170's and you will be able to get in somewhere with a good PS and some decent softs. Maybe get work experience for a couple years before you apply

[Total Litigator]

Also, if you can get some solid work experience, or at least job that you actually enjoy (an employer might be more forgiving regarding your grades than will LSAC) you can put a buffer between you and your grades, and law schools will give you an easier time when you do apply. I think that's the best option here, unless you are able to get a 170+ on the LSAT. Even then however, work experience is always a good idea when applying to law school, especially if your undergraduate grades are not outstanding (the good kind of outstanding that is).

[calilaw]

Go for a high LSAT score. Devote yourself to it. And give yourself plenty of time to prepare. That's your only hope - but it is hope.

[gobuffs10]

Go for a high LSAT score. Devote yourself to it. And give yourself plenty of time to prepare. That's your only hope - but it is hope.

Yeah. It is better than nothing.

[calilaw]

Go for a high LSAT score. Devote yourself to it. And give yourself plenty of time to prepare. That's your only hope - but it is hope.

Yeah. It is better than nothing.

And as daunting as it may seem, the LSAT is something you can prepare for and improve on. I improved 14 points over 3 months of steady preparation.

[Total Litigator]

Go for a high LSAT score. Devote yourself to it. And give yourself plenty of time to prepare. That's your only hope - but it is hope.

High LSAT score + work experience is the correct answer here. Just a high LSAT score is the working plan if no one will hire you or you can only find jobs you would hate.

[whymeohgodno]

You can still get T14 with 170+ and WE ed to Northwestern.

I've heard Emory takes anyone with a 166.

[gobuffs10]

You can still get T14 with 170+ and WE ed to Northwestern.

I've heard Emory takes anyone with a 166.

Guess I need to kick the shit out of this test and wait 'til next cycle.

Thank you all for being so kind about this...from lurking these forums I thought I was going to get laughed at. Not going to lie, though, this does feel pretty shitty at the moment.

I have an internship at a firm with a family friend who has hinted at potentially hiring me on, but probably for very little money. Would a year there before I apply make any difference? I assume an internship is not considered WE.

[NayBoer]

You can still get T14 with 170+ and WE ed to Northwestern.

I've heard Emory takes anyone with a 166.

Guess I need to kick the shit out of this test and wait 'til next cycle.

Thank you all for being so kind about this...from lurking these forums I thought I was going to get laughed at. Not going to lie, though, this does feel pretty shitty at the moment.

I have an internship at a firm with a family friend who has hinted at potentially hiring me on, but probably for very little money. Would a year there before I apply make any difference? I assume an internship is not considered WE.

I'd put a year-long internship under "Experience" on my resume and list the position as "Blankety Blank Intern." Ideally, you would convince this family friend to hire you on as an employee rather than an intern, though.

One year of work experience probably won't make much of a difference at most of the law schools you'll be applying to, except Northwestern where it's essentially mandatory. If you can hit that 170-172+ range with 1-2 years of work experience, you would have a shot with Early Decision.

[im_blue]

You can still get T14 with 170+ and WE ed to Northwestern.

I've heard Emory takes anyone with a 166.

Guess I need to kick the shit out of this test and wait 'til next cycle.

Thank you all for being so kind about this...from lurking these forums I thought I was going to get laughed at. Not going to lie, though, this does feel pretty shitty at the moment.

I have an internship at a firm with a family friend who has hinted at potentially hiring me on, but probably for very little money. Would a year there before I apply make any difference? I assume an internship is not considered WE.

Northwestern considers only full-time post-college WE, so an internship probably counts even though it's unpaid or low-paid.

[gobuffs10]

Yeah I think I would be an $8.00/hr no benefits employee/bitch. I'll also have to move in with my girlfriend. We'll see what can be done. The dream is now that much further but still not impossible.

Good decision on my part to get a real marketable degree in History.

[gobuffs10]

On the plus side if I can even score 165+ I have shots at the schools I wanted to go to anyway.

Although trying for the 170+, waiting and hoping for ED at NW is semi-tempting.

Must...keep...head...up.

All my whining aside, thanks for the advice everyone.