Top Law Schools

Hi! I hope this isn't an annoying first post, but I wanted to get some advice regarding GPA... I attend ASU and my LSAC GPA should end up being about a 4.07... But I know that law schools obviously will consider a 4.0 from ASU to be equivalent to maybe a 3.5+ at a more prestigious school. BUT, I am an honors student and taking what is basically the most rigorous coursework I could take at ASU (I've taken 2 graduate level courses, and 5 courses at Sandra Day O'Connor...Also in Phi Beta Kappa). Do you think that including these law/grad classes and Phi Beta Kappa on my resume will... validate my 4.0 as being on par with a 4.0 at a "better" school?

I'm mostly concerned because I just took the LSAT and have NO IDEA how I did... When taking diagnostics, my score can literally range from a 161 to a 171ish depending on the day... I didn't feel great about how today went, so to be safe, I am assuming I got the lower/average end (so maybe like a 164?).

So I think that if i did get something along the lines of a 164 with a 4.0 I at least have a shot at some T20s... but I'm just praying that law schools won't see that my 4.0 is from ASU and be unimpressed...

Thoughts?

gravityrides0 wrote:Hi! I hope this isn't an annoying first post, but I wanted to get some advice regarding GPA... I attend ASU and my LSAC GPA should end up being about a 4.07... But I know that law schools obviously will consider a 4.0 from ASU to be equivalent to maybe a 3.5+ at a more prestigious school. BUT, I am an honors student and taking what is basically the most rigorous coursework I could take at ASU (I've taken 2 graduate level courses, and 5 courses at Sandra Day O'Connor...Also in Phi Beta Kappa). Do you think that including these law/grad classes and Phi Beta Kappa on my resume will... validate my 4.0 as being on par with a 4.0 at a "better" school?

I'm mostly concerned because I just took the LSAT and have NO IDEA how I did... When taking diagnostics, my score can literally range from a 161 to a 171ish depending on the day... I didn't feel great about how today went, so to be safe, I am assuming I got the lower/average end (so maybe like a 164?).

So I think that if i did get something along the lines of a 164 with a 4.0 I at least have a shot at some T20s... but I'm just praying that law schools won't see that my 4.0 is from ASU and be unimpressed...

Thoughts?

Your 4.0 is just as good as a 4.0 from anywhere else that isn't an ivy, and even then the ivy status just acts as a tiebreaker. Stop worrying. And if you don't get a score in the high 160s, retake. Don't waste a perfect GPA.

P.S. Yes, most of TLS will find this an annoying first post because undergrad prestige doesn't matter to law schools. Just the GPA number so they can report it to usnews for rankings purposes. You're lucky I even bothered to respond.

I had the same concern when I was applying.

I am now a 2L at a Top 14. I had a 4.0 from University of Arizona and was thinking of the same thing. As the poster above said, a 4.0 from ASU is the same as a 4.0 from other schools (except an Ivy).

Also, in my opinion, with a 4.0 and 164, you have a good shot at lower Top 14. Apply to all the top 14. Good luck!

gravityrides0 wrote:Hi! I hope this isn't an annoying first post, but I wanted to get some advice regarding GPA... I attend ASU and my LSAC GPA should end up being about a 4.07... But I know that law schools obviously will consider a 4.0 from ASU to be equivalent to maybe a 3.5+ at a more prestigious school. BUT, I am an honors student and taking what is basically the most rigorous coursework I could take at ASU (I've taken 2 graduate level courses, and 5 courses at Sandra Day O'Connor...Also in Phi Beta Kappa). Do you think that including these law/grad classes and Phi Beta Kappa on my resume will... validate my 4.0 as being on par with a 4.0 at a "better" school?

I'm mostly concerned because I just took the LSAT and have NO IDEA how I did... When taking diagnostics, my score can literally range from a 161 to a 171ish depending on the day... I didn't feel great about how today went, so to be safe, I am assuming I got the lower/average end (so maybe like a 164?).

So I think that if i did get something along the lines of a 164 with a 4.0 I at least have a shot at some T20s... but I'm just praying that law schools won't see that my 4.0 is from ASU and be unimpressed...

Thoughts?

Nobody cares. Going to a top undergrad is basically a good soft. The school gets no credit for admitting ivy students for purposes of their USNWR ranking. Thus, they are happy to accept your high ASU GPA because it makes them look better. Your 4.07 from ASU is better than a 3.95 from Berkeley, ND, Cornell, etc.

Even as a 4.07/165 reverse splitter you have some T14 chances. Go crazy.

Thanks! I feel (very) slightly less worried now, but definitely hoping for that 165...