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I have searched through multiple threads, but have not found any answers to this question: When law schools report accepted GPA's to USNAWR, are they obligated to only report the LSDAS GPA? Or do they have the discretion to either report LSDAS, or the GPA from the degree granting school?

For example, I have a LSDAS GPA of 3.51 when including the two community colleges I attended first. Then I transferred to ASU in 2010, and since then I now have a 3.96 GPA, with a core GPA in Chemical Engineering of 4.12. My degree granting school being ASU and showing a 3.96, it would be beneficial for them to take me and report that GPA. But if they are bound to report LSDAS GPA only, then there is no advantage for them to take me, other than on the merit showed by my upward trend in grades.

Also, will they cut me a little slack that I have a 3.51 since it is in Chemical Engineering, which some would argue is either the most difficult, or one of the most difficult degrees ASU offers? Will they view my degree as a form of diversity as added to their incoming class?

My main concern is getting into Arizona State. I scored a 165, so I think I have a pretty good shot based on all of the predictor sites. But I think I would have an excellent shot if they could use my degree granting school's GPA. So I am looking for the general answer to that question. Maybe nobody knows for sure, or it varies from school to school, I certainly don't know, and hope some of you do.

Thanks

It does not vary at all. All schools report only the LSDAS GPA to USNWR. Difficulty of major affects your chances very little, except perhaps as a tiebreaker. (Yes, that means a 4.0 in basketweaving will beat the 3.6 in ChemE out at Harvard. No, this is not fair. No, complaining about it is not original.)

ChemE could be useful down the road a bit in that it qualifies you to take the patent bar exam. But it doesn't make up for an iffy GPA.

You should be fine, your LSAT is above their median and your gpa is pretty close to the median. Don't sweat it

IMO you really don't need to worry. LSN has people with your numbers at a 100% acceptance rate, some with money. Just don't do anything stupid in your application and you're solid

I guess I was just concerned with ASU moving up like 14 spots this year that next year it will be more difficult to get in than it has been in the past. Hopefully it will take them a few years to attract higher scores. Also hopefully the lower applicant numbers will play in my favor. I will be applying this fall for 2013 entry. Will their medians change due to the new ranking or will those changes lag a few years?