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madvillain wrote:Hey all. Long time lurker here, just wanted to say I've learned a tremendous amount from this site, it's been an absolute gold mine, not to mention a great source of unexpected entertainment. But yeah, basically my situation is quite unusual. I just finished my second year after transferring from a top state school (where I did pretty poorly) to a lesser-known school. I expect to graduate next summer, so I was aiming at applying this fall. I wrote the LSAT last year on a whim and I got a 179. So I worked really hard and got an outstanding GPA this year to prepare for HYSCCN. I was however shocked to realize, after preemptively sending in my transcript and receiving my LSAC report, that my GPA in my first year suddenly dropped by .3 (3.6 to 3.3). An F showed up out of nowhere; upon reflection, I realize that this might have been because I didn't drop a class properly, although this did not show up on my previous transcript, so I am very frustrated. Luckily, my current school gives out A+'s, so I still have a cumulative GPA of 3.81.

In terms of my application I am international, have mediocre softs at best (by this site's definition), basket weaving major, and non-URM. Also as stated, graduating early, currently 20.

So my question is, what should my plan of action be? Should I write an addendum about the F? The F was not even worth a full class, it was only worth 2 credits, and I think what happened is I tried to drop it and the people didn't drop for me. I don't really know what I would say about it. Should I wait another year to graduate?

I understand that a lot of people are going to say, stfu you have 3.8/179, or, wow your school gives out A+'s, what a joke. But, I am concerned because I was aiming for HYS, and now I am not so sure after hearing of the 3.8 "floor", and also having that F on my transcript. Is CCN now a more realistic prospect for me, despite my high LSAT? I am very concerned because I doubt that typical HYS applicants have a 3.27 anywhere on their transcript, or an F.

Thanks a lot for your time.

Desert Fox wrote:1) I'd see about trying to get that F removed from your old transcript. Call the old school and see what they can do.

madvillain wrote:Thanks for the replies guys. I will try and call the registrar now, although I fear that since it's been over a year, and I am located very far away from the school now, this may be a futile effort. Of course I am very happy about my numbers otherwise, but I literally dropped from a 3.96 to a 3.8 with those two fail credits; again I am just frustrated because 2-credit classes at that state school are basically all pass/fail classes anyway, and taken for fun, although of course LSAC wouldn't know that. Even so, however, I am not really willing to gamble that my GPA will rise significantly in my senior year- that would require getting straight A's or higher, and I am not sure I can sustain this pace for another year, it was quite tiring for me. Thanks again for all the help and encouragement however, I do appreciate it.

madvillain wrote:Thanks for the replies guys. I will try and call the registrar now, although I fear that since it's been over a year, and I am located very far away from the school now, this may be a futile effort. Of course I am very happy about my numbers otherwise, but I literally dropped from a 3.96 to a 3.8 with those two fail credits; again I am just frustrated because 2-credit classes at that state school are basically all pass/fail classes anyway, and taken for fun, although of course LSAC wouldn't know that. Even so, however, I am not really willing to gamble that my GPA will rise significantly in my senior year- that would require getting straight A's or higher, and I am not sure I can sustain this pace for another year, it was quite tiring for me. Thanks again for all the help and encouragement however, I do appreciate it.