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The Magic Number

Posted: Fri Jul 19, 2013 6:26 pm
by Rhesus
I've heard from a few sources that the magic number (really, I should say 'minimum cutoff') for admission to top law schools is a 3.5 undergraduate GPA. I've just graduated and my final, cumulative GPA is a 3.48. After doing the math, I've found that if I took one more class and received an A, I would be elevated to a 3.50. The class would be an online, language course which I am confident would yield the A.

Holding LSAT score constant, do you believe that the magic cutoff number is in fact a 3.50? Will the course be worthwhile?

Re: The Magic Number

Posted: Fri Jul 19, 2013 6:27 pm
by DildaMan
Rhesus wrote:I've heard from a few sources that the magic number (really, I should say 'minimum cutoff') for admission to top law schools is a 3.5 undergraduate GPA. I've just graduated and my final, cumulative GPA is a 3.48. After doing the math, I've found that if I took one more class and received an A, I would be elevated to a 3.50. The class would be an online, language course which I am confident would yield the A.

Holding LSAT score constant, do you believe that the magic cutoff number is in fact a 3.50? Will the course be worthwhile?
My understanding is that classes taken post-graduation don't count towards your LSAC GPA.

Re: The Magic Number

Posted: Fri Jul 19, 2013 6:30 pm
by 20141023
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Re: The Magic Number

Posted: Fri Jul 19, 2013 6:30 pm
by Nova
Lawschoolnumbers.com

Re: The Magic Number

Posted: Fri Jul 19, 2013 6:35 pm
by 09042014
Rhesus wrote:I've heard from a few sources that the magic number (really, I should say 'minimum cutoff') for admission to top law schools is a 3.5 undergraduate GPA. I've just graduated and my final, cumulative GPA is a 3.48. After doing the math, I've found that if I took one more class and received an A, I would be elevated to a 3.50. The class would be an online, language course which I am confident would yield the A.

Holding LSAT score constant, do you believe that the magic cutoff number is in fact a 3.50? Will the course be worthwhile?
3.5 isn't a magic number at schools. 3.48 is viewed basically the same as a 3.5.

Almost every law school regularly takes below 3.5 (exceptions being HYS, U of Chi, and Berkeley). But HYS are looking for well above a 3.5.

Re: The Magic Number

Posted: Sat Jul 20, 2013 12:37 am
by Tiago Splitter
<---- 3.49 no biggie. Under 3.5 may have screwed me out of money at NYU otherwise no biggie.

Re: The Magic Number

Posted: Sat Jul 20, 2013 1:04 am
by kckool7
Had a 3.2, got $ at T14. Not a URM, don't have a 170. The game has changed with the drop in applications.

Re: The Magic Number

Posted: Mon Jul 22, 2013 10:31 am
by UMich11
not URM, not military, WASPY midwestern kid with 162, 3.45 in at T10. it happens.

Re: The Magic Number

Posted: Mon Jul 22, 2013 10:36 am
by t-14orbust
Are you sure your UGPA = your LSDAS GPA? Often times LSDAS GPAs are lower, unless you have A+'s.

Re: The Magic Number

Posted: Mon Jul 22, 2013 10:51 am
by hephaestus
There isn't really a magic number. A high LSAT can trump a low GPA.

Re: The Magic Number

Posted: Mon Jul 22, 2013 10:58 am
by ms9
There is no single-factor casualty. In other words, there is far from a "magic number" and many variables come into play. Certainly if you are above their 75th, median, or 25th their (not "all top 5" but what each of these is for their respective schools) will come into play, but can be mitigated by many other factors.

These kinds of myths drive me crazy for some reason :)