Overcoming Low GPA with Work Experience Forum

[perhapslawschool]

Let me start with a bit of background. I am a senior in a top undergrad business school right now. I have already signed my contract with Goldman Sachs; for the next 2 years I will be doing investment banking there. However, I think that I may want to go to law school after.

Here is the problem: my college GPA is really low, and I really want to shoot for a HLS school. My college GPA is low (about 3.65) because of only 3 semesters of poor performance. I had a medical condition that meant I couldn't really devote time to school. The other semesters are all fine with grades (lowest semester is a 3.85).

Assuming I get a really good LSAT score(I know, anything could happen, but lets just assume), like 172+, what are my chances of getting into HLS? Obviously the thing I worry the most about is my GPA hurting me. Would it be possible to overlook this fact, especially since I would have worked for 2 years at a top investment bank?

[shoeshine]

This thread makes too many assumptions about your future for me to take it seriously.

However, I did something similar to what you are attempting and I will say that the W/E bump does do something for you but it will not make up for GPA minimums. You have a shot at H with a stellar lsat score 173+ but I would not count on it.

BTW, your investment banking experience will give you a huge boost if you want to go into big law after law school.

[perhapslawschool]

I agree that I did make an assumption about my future LSAT score. However, that is the only assumption that I made, so I am not sure what you mean by me having a lot of them.

[shoeshine]

I agree that I did make an assumption about my future LSAT score. However, that is the only assumption that I made, so I am not sure what you mean by me having a lot of them.

You also assume that you will be still interested in law school in two years.

[perhapslawschool]

lol that's true...but I think we have to make that assumption for obvious reasons...

[Gail]

The WE bump seems to be more relevant for OCI


Look at the legal employment subforum. I think one of the posters here made a google doc and you can definitely see that WE was beneficial.

[Tadatsune]

In any case you should write an addendum explaining that your poor performance was due to a medical condition. That might help a little.

[emkay625]

Why are you assuming a score of 173+? Have you taken a diagnostic test?

[JDizzle2015]

I applied to law school this year with finance work experience that many would consider as "prestigious" or more prestigious than a Goldman job (depending on what you're doing at Goldman); think high profile PE/VC. Then, I did about a year of legal assistant work for HYS attorneys.

My cycle has pretty much played out exactly as if I got two years of work experience anywhere else.

It looks like HLS does have a 3.7 GPA floor (http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 2&t=162680) but a high 170s LSAT might make acceptance possible. ~173 probably won't cut it. If you can bring it closer to 180, HLS may be in reach.

HTH.

ETA: tl;dr don't expect work experience to do magic on your GPA/LSAT.

[NomNom]

I applied to law school this year with finance work experience that many would consider as "prestigious" or more prestigious than a Goldman job (depending on what you're doing at Goldman); think high profile PE/VC. Then, I did about a year of legal assistant work for HYS attorneys.

My cycle has pretty much played out exactly as if I got two years of work experience anywhere else.

It looks like HLS does have a 3.7 GPA floor (http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 2&t=162680) but a high 170s LSAT might make acceptance possible. ~173 probably won't cut it. If you can bring it closer to 180, HLS may be in reach.

HTH.

ETA: tl;dr don't expect work experience to do magic on your GPA/LSAT.

Two years of work experience won't do much no matter what the field. Maybe a decade.

[Doorkeeper]

Perhaps an addendum explaining the medical condition, plus the WE, could help to mitigate the GPA? I'm not sure, but I would think they would at least take into consideration a medical issue.

Also, can you take summer classes before you graduate or something? Anything to boost that GPA above 3.7 for HLS.

[20130312]

My college GPA is low (about 3.65)

Oh, jump off a bridge.

[Lincoln]

Anecdotal evidence, but probably pretty standard. I had 5 years of work experience, including 3 years in a relevant field. It may have given me a marginal bump, in that my LSAT is median for my school, but my GPA is around the 25th percentile.

It was very helpful during OCI, however, and I definitely did much better than my peers who didn't have work experience.

[t14fanboy]

My college GPA is low (about 3.65)

Oh, jump off a bridge.

lulz

Seriously, I'd kick a baby into a woodchipper for that shit

[senorhosh]

The WE bump seems to be more relevant for OCI


Look at the legal employment subforum. I think one of the posters here made a google doc and you can definitely see that WE was beneficial.

I'm trying to find this. Can anyone link me this please? Thanks

[bk1]

The WE bump seems to be more relevant for OCI


Look at the legal employment subforum. I think one of the posters here made a google doc and you can definitely see that WE was beneficial.

I'm trying to find this. Can anyone link me this please? Thanks

http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 3&t=175410