Question(s) regarding less than favorable transcript & GPA! Forum

[brobar]

Ok... "less than favorable" was being very generous. Abysmal would be more appropriate.



So it was my first year of school almost 18 years ago. I wasn't prepared for it, I didn't know what I was getting in to... you've heard the story a thousand times before from others so I'm not gonna rehash it. It happens.

I am curious though about a few things and I'm hoping you fine ladies and gents can lend some assistance. I am planning on speaking to a school counselor to hopefully get a definitive word but wanted some insight from you guys before then.

Since that very very awful first year so many years ago I have taken various courses at different CCs and have boosted my GPA up to a 3.22. Not outstanding I know but at least I'm trending in the right direction. I haven't pulled anything lower than a B since then and I'm pulling twice as many A's as I am B's and once I go back full time (as soon as my wife finishes pharmacy school next year) then I'm sure I can do even better when not having to balance a demanding full-time job with part-time school work. I have no doubt that by the time I graduate I can pull my GPA up to between a 3.5 and a high 3.6. Unfortunately I don't see how I can pull it up any higher with that transcript from 18 years ago.

So... the couple of questions I have:

1) How (if any) will all those W's on that transcript affect my LSAC GPA? As far as I can remember I withdrew from those courses well before the deadline so I'm not sure how they would be considered punitive by the issuing school. I'm sure I'll have to supply an addendum to explain them though.

2) While I know those two C's & two D's will be factored into the LSAC GPA no matter what and there is nothing I can do about that... if I retake those courses at my degree granting school and pull A's or high B's will the school factor those old grades into my school's GPA or will the new grades supersede them in factoring my GPA?

3) Will all of the law schools I eventually apply to ONLY see my LSAC GPA or will they possibly see (or is there a way for them to see) my degree granting school's final GPA because there will surely be a variance between the two. I'm sure the LSAC GPA will be the only one that carries any weight but I'm just curious if they see your other GPA as well.

4) What are "softs"? I see people talking about "softs" all the time but I'm not quite sure what that entails.

Thanks kindly in advance for the responses. Any advice you guys/gals have to offer... I'll take anything I can get. I'm just getting back on this horse anticipating a LONG ride after being off for quite some time.

-brobar

[citykitty]

1) How (if any) will all those W's on that transcript affect my LSAC GPA? As far as I can remember I withdrew from those courses well before the deadline so I'm not sure how they would be considered punitive by the issuing school. I'm sure I'll have to supply an addendum to explain them though.

If you withdrew before the deadline, they won't factor in at all. The schools will still see them though.

2) While I know those two C's & two D's will be factored into the LSAC GPA no matter what and there is nothing I can do about that... if I retake those courses at my degree granting school and pull A's or high B's will the school factor those old grades into my school's GPA or will the new grades supersede them in factoring my GPA?

It shouldn't matter. Most schools won't factor transferred grades into the degree granting institution GPA. They just give you credit for classes taken. You'd need to ask your DGI though for specifics on this. If you retake though, both grades will factor into the LSAC GPA. There's really not much point in retaking unless you really need the classes.

3) Will all of the law schools I eventually apply to ONLY see my LSAC GPA or will they possibly see (or is there a way for them to see) my degree granting school's final GPA because there will surely be a variance between the two. I'm sure the LSAC GPA will be the only one that carries any weight but I'm just curious if they see your other GPA as well.

LSAC combines all your transcripts into a report. They will see that your DGI has way better grades and that your lackluster year was almost 2 decades ago. Your LSAC GPA is the most important.

4) What are "softs"? I see people talking about "softs" all the time but I'm not quite sure what that entails.

Softs are things other than GPA and LSAT that might make you more desirable to a school. Things like URM status, military veteran status, wrote a novel, peace corps, 5 years work experience, etc. They do come into play, sometimes more than applicants tend to think, sometimes not. But, they're unpredictably useful. You really don't know how softs will help until your cycle is over.

Thanks kindly in advance for the responses. Any advice you guys/gals have to offer... I'll take anything I can get. I'm just getting back on this horse anticipating a LONG ride after being off for quite some time.

-brobar

[bp shinners]

3) Will all of the law schools I eventually apply to ONLY see my LSAC GPA or will they possibly see (or is there a way for them to see) my degree granting school's final GPA because there will surely be a variance between the two. I'm sure the LSAC GPA will be the only one that carries any weight but I'm just curious if they see your other GPA as well.

LSAC combines all your transcripts into a report. They will see that your DGI has way better grades and that your lackluster year was almost 2 decades ago. Your LSAC GPA is the most important.

And this is exactly the type of situation for which schools allow you to attach a GPA addendum. While they generally don't carry much weight, a 2-decade gap between when you were a poor student and a great student will most likely be a strong soft factor in your favor.

In the addendum, just call attention to the discrepancy, the GPA that you've earned since that first semester, and why the difference.

[brobar]

Thanks for the responses! Much appreciated!

[Liquox]

17 years is a long time. I think the law school admin officers will give you a break.

[fashiongirl]

My first quarter in college was less than a 1.0. The 2nd, not much better. I graduated only 2 years ago and my overall GPA is a 3.12. I could not get higher than that since I had so many Fs. I ended up skipping classes instead of just dropping or withdrawing. Now it's on my transcript forever. I'll let you know how my cycle goes.