Do schools factor in GPA trends or just your ultimate GPA? Forum

[JMU]

Freshman: 3.78, 3.9
Sophomore: 3.68, 2.98
Junior: 2.78, 3.34
Senior: 3.3, hopefully 3.3+

I'll end up graduating with a 3.3/3.4, I obviously had my first three semesters balance out some subsequent poorer semesters, but then I leveled out around a 3.3. I never really slacked off, I just had a mix of poor professors/unfortunate circumstances that got me below a 3.0 two semesters in a row. Will this be a big negative? I'm hoping to get into a top 20 school that is splitter friendly (UVA or Georgetown, possibly George Washington), and I want a 170+ on the LSAT and will work hard for that.

[North]

Grade trends are a soft factor that have very little impact on your chances of admission. A negative grade trend certainly isn't a good soft, but it matters FAR FAR less than your LSAT.

Settle for nothing less than a 170+ and you'll be fine.

[JMU]

Grade trends are a soft factor that have very little impact on your chances of admission. A negative grade trend certainly isn't a good soft, but it matters FAR FAR less than your LSAT.

Settle for nothing less than a 170+ and you'll be fine.

Great, appreciate it. I regret not getting a higher GPA. I originally planned on going into sales, where you can have a 2.5 and a strong personality and get a great job, so I was pretty relaxed on my academics. However, I changed my ideal career path recently so I'm basically focused on getting a great LSAT to offset my GPA. I don't think it's worth it (for me) going to a school outside top 20, so hopefully I can get that 170+.