How will paralegal certificate grades affect LSDAS GPA? Forum

[CalamityJen]

I completed the University of San Diego's Paralegal Certificate program in 2001. At the time, applicants were required to have completed a bachelor's degree to be considered for admission to the program, or at least that's what all of USD's promotional materials indicated. I had already been working as a legal secretary/paralegal for several years but I did NOT have a bachelor's degree. However, I went to the Paralegal Program Office, knocked on a few doors, and jumped through a few administrative hoops, and I was admitted under "special circumstances".

I completed all of the paralegal courses before I finished my first bachelor's degree, but they are not graded according to a standard scale.

My paralegal transcript indicates a total of 26.5 semester credits earned. The possible grades are H (honors), HP (high pass), P (pass), and F (fail), according to the following:

Honors = 90-100
High Pass = 85-89
Pass = 70-84
Fail = Below 70

The breakdown of my grades gives me 8 semester units at "HP" and 18.5 semester units at "H".

Will these count towards my LSDAS GPA? If so, how will they be evaluated?

[Opie]

I completed the University of San Diego's Paralegal Certificate program in 2001. At the time, applicants were required to have completed a bachelor's degree to be considered for admission to the program, or at least that's what all of USD's promotional materials indicated. I had already been working as a legal secretary/paralegal for several years but I did NOT have a bachelor's degree. However, I went to the Paralegal Program Office, knocked on a few doors, and jumped through a few administrative hoops, and I was admitted under "special circumstances".

I completed all of the paralegal courses before I finished my first bachelor's degree, but they are not graded according to a standard scale.

My paralegal transcript indicates a total of 26.5 semester credits earned. The possible grades are H (honors), HP (high pass), P (pass), and F (fail), according to the following:

Honors = 90-100
High Pass = 85-89
Pass = 70-84
Fail = Below 70

The breakdown of my grades gives me 8 semester units at "HP" and 18.5 semester units at "H".

Will these count towards my LSDAS GPA? If so, how will they be evaluated?

I would guess that they won't be counted, but I think it is worth a call to LSAC to know for sure. You certainly did well.

[CalamityJen]

Thanks for the response.

LSAC received my paralegal transcript earlier this week, but no report has been issued yet. I'm kinda hoping the paralegal courses won't count towards the GPA calculation because I assume if they do, my "high pass" classes will count as something less than a 4.0. Notwithstanding those "high pass" classes, I have a 4.0 GPA, which might be even higher if my school(s) gave A+ grades a value higher than 4.0.

That said, I'm not here to brag about my grades. I'm trying to offset a truly disappointing LSAT score (and unlike some of the geniuses on this forum, when I say "truly disappointing" I don't mean a 165 or higher), so a LSDAS GPA of anything less than 4.0 for me means that (1) I may not be considered for admission at some of the more competitive schools, and (2) Regardless of which school I attend, I may have to forfeit an opportunity for scholarship money that I can't afford to lose.

[Opie]

I would hope they didn't count too if I had a 4.0. I think you're assumption that HP is less than 4.0 is accurate. Do you mind sharing your LSAT score and where you want to practice/what schools you are considering? Some of the members here may be able to help you decide on some schools you would have a chance at.

[Yeshia90]

Thanks for the response.

LSAC received my paralegal transcript earlier this week, but no report has been issued yet. I'm kinda hoping the paralegal courses won't count towards the GPA calculation because I assume if they do, my "high pass" classes will count as something less than a 4.0. Notwithstanding those "high pass" classes, I have a 4.0 GPA, which might be even higher if my school(s) gave A+ grades a value higher than 4.0.

That said, I'm not here to brag about my grades. I'm trying to offset a truly disappointing LSAT score (and unlike some of the geniuses on this forum, when I say "truly disappointing" I don't mean a 165 or higher), so a LSDAS GPA of anything less than 4.0 for me means that (1) I may not be considered for admission at some of the more competitive schools, and (2) Regardless of which school I attend, I may have to forfeit an opportunity for scholarship money that I can't afford to lose.

Hey, a 164 isn't something to kill yourself over.

[HOPEFORCHANGE]

Your paralegal grades will not be calculated into your LSDAS GPA.