Need to explain absurdly deflated GPA curve? Forum

[ryukpark]

Hi there, I am an international JD applicant.


It's been a while since I graduated from college, and back then the GPA curves were insanely deflated.

I got a "mediocre" GPA of 3.3 and yet this puts me at the top 11% of the class. (Engineering major)

The median, as far as I know was somewhere between 2.5~2.7, which is like almost a whole point lower than the norm these days.


While I have sort of mentioned this fact in my resume (i.e. GPA: 3.3 (class rank: 89%)) and already completed all application materials,

would it help to send additional letters to explicitly explain the circumstances?

Is there any way to persuade the AdComs to take the circumstances into consideration, especially for the upper T14 schools?


BTW. My LSAT is 174, and have 6 yrs. of work experience. (i.e. out of school for 6 yrs)

Would really appreciate any advice.

[Nom Sawyer]

Is your school a US college or International? If its international they won't actually count your GPA against others... but definitely still include the stuff about how you were ranked in the top 11% of your class of course.

[pwyoung]

Your LSAT and work experience are definitely going to bail you out.

[DreamShake]

Is your school a US college or International? If its international they won't actually count your GPA against others... but definitely still include the stuff about how you were ranked in the top 11% of your class of course.

TITCR.

[ryukpark]

Thanks a lot.

I attended college in South Korea.

[whymeohgodno]

I attended college in South Korea.

I'm lol also! Which college? Seoul? Yonsei?

Also I wouldn't worry about it much. International students GPA's don't matter much and they will see your class rank etc.

[Nom Sawyer]

I attended college in South Korea.

Then you're fine... Law schools will only look at your LSAT as the main factor. They will look at your GPA in terms of quality of institution, which seems like you should have a strong application.

Congrats, especially with Seoul Univ. you should have no problem getting T14 schools

[ryukpark]

I attended college in South Korea.

I'm Korean also! Which college? Seoul? Yonsei?

Also I wouldn't worry about it much. International students GPA's don't matter much and they will see your class rank etc.

Seoul National University.

[$1.99]

how did you cheat on the lsat?

[whymeohgodno]

how did you cheat on the lsat?

Lol - but I'm not surprised by his LSAT score. Seoul is the #1 University in Korea and the competition to get in is insane.

[Saltqjibo]

whoah, what do you mean they don't count your gpa against others? 2 questions:

1. does this mean gpa is not weighed against school medians (i.e. doesn't count to their lsac median)?

2. is canada a foreign school?

c'mon, blow my mind with some good news that my sweet LSAT might make up for my harsh grading curve.

[lalalawya]

I attended college in South Korea.

Then you're fine... Law schools will only look at your LSAT as the main factor. They will look at your GPA in terms of quality of institution, which seems like you should have a strong application.

Congrats, especially with Seoul Univ. you should have no problem getting T14 schools

Yeah, and your LSAT is awesome. Congrats!

[DreamShake]

whoah, what do you mean they don't count your gpa against others? 2 questions:

1. does this mean gpa is not weighed against school medians (i.e. doesn't count to their lsac median)?

2. is canada a foreign school?

c'mon, blow my mind with some good news that my sweet LSAT might make up for my harsh grading curve.

Yeah. IIRC, instead of an LSDAS GPA, international transcripts get qualitative summaries, like "exemplary." OP, I'd be sure to mention that your university is the tops in your country (although in a discreet, non-braggart fashion).

[whymeohgodno]

whoah, what do you mean they don't count your gpa against others? 2 questions:

1. does this mean gpa is not weighed against school medians (i.e. doesn't count to their lsac median)?

2. is canada a foreign school?

c'mon, blow my mind with some good news that my sweet LSAT might make up for my harsh grading curve.

Not for Canadian GPA's I believe. Sucks.

[Nom Sawyer]

whoah, what do you mean they don't count your gpa against others? 2 questions:

1. does this mean gpa is not weighed against school medians (i.e. doesn't count to their lsac median)?

2. is canada a foreign school?

c'mon, blow my mind with some good news that my sweet LSAT might make up for my harsh grading curve.

Yeah. IIRC, instead of an LSDAS GPA, international transcripts get qualitative summaries, like "exemplary." OP, I'd be sure to mention that your university is the tops in your country (although in a discreet, non-braggart fashion).

1. True

EXCEPT FOR

2. Canada GPA's are always viewed exactly like American University GPA's... its the one exception so sadly, you'll have the exact same treatment as US Students.

I have heard that CA Law Schools will count only your 3 best years towards your GPA so you might want to look into that.

[DreamShake]

whoah, what do you mean they don't count your gpa against others? 2 questions:

1. does this mean gpa is not weighed against school medians (i.e. doesn't count to their lsac median)?

2. is canada a foreign school?

c'mon, blow my mind with some good news that my sweet LSAT might make up for my harsh grading curve.

Yeah. IIRC, instead of an LSDAS GPA, international transcripts get qualitative summaries, like "exemplary." OP, I'd be sure to mention that your university is the tops in your country (although in a discreet, non-braggart fashion).

1. True

EXCEPT FOR

2. Canada GPA's are always viewed exactly like American University GPA's... its the one exception so sadly, you'll have the exact same treatment as US Students.

I have heard that CA Law Schools will count only your 3 best years towards your GPA so you might want to look into that.

Whoops, I totally didn't even read part 2, haha. As others have stated, Canadian GPA's do transfer.

[ryukpark]

how did you cheat on the lsat?

That's classified information!