GPA, floors, 25ths, and scholarships question Forum

[splittingheadache]

Been reading the C/O 2017 Median LSAT/GPA spreadsheet. I have one more year to go before I graduate, going to apply 2015-2016 cycle. Taking LSAT this cycle. The dream is HCCN, and I will apply to most of the lower T14 as well (ideally with as much $$$ as possible). Almost finalized this semester's courses and still have time to play around with next semester's choices. Also, I know TLS hates hypotheticals, so apologies in advance. Really jittery cheerleading you guys on for this cycle!

I think the best I can do, with a reasonably maxed out course load (6-7 courses per semester), is pull my LSAC GPA up to a 3.70. If I add two online courses and basically OWN the courses on top of of my maxed out course load, I think the highest would be 3.72. If I add 5, it would be 3.75 (I honestly don't know how I would handle 8 courses a semester, plus this semester devoted to LSAT). Considering both of the first two scenarios are still below H and Chicago's 25th, should I just focus on my on-campus courses and LSAT, and take the 3.70?

Right now, my course load shows I'm not by any means taking an easy senior year. I have two theses for my double major and the rest consists of 300-level major electives and 1 or 2 general electives. I know 100-level courses are the easiest and are the best to increase GPA during the last year, but my school has a policy which LSAC uses in their calculations as well, in that after a certain number of 100-level courses are taken, the rest are counted as pretty much "audit" courses in which any grade does not count. I basically already forfeited an A- and an A+ due to this policy.

Will H look at my app with a 3.70? Is my only option now just to fight for the 3.70 and get that LSAT above the 75ths, as high as possible?

Is a Butler or any other 1/3 or 1/2 scholarships possible with a 3.70 and 170+ LSAT?

If the academic year ends on April 30 but the graduation ceremony is mid-June, if I take a quick intensive course in between, will LSAC calculate still calculate this into the LSAC GPA?

TLDR version: see bolded questions.
Thank you in advance.

[ilikebaseball]

Shouldn't you get your LSAT score first before asking? I mean, the score you need for HLS is, by no means, a sure thing.

[JohnnyHop]

1st: what ilikebaseball said. Both a 171 and 178 are 170+ scores but one would give you a chance at HLS or CCN with $$, the other not so much.

2nd: if the trade off is between. .5gpa or another point or two on the LSAT, the extra points will probably help you more. The problem is there is no one to one trade off. You can't assume that an extra 4 hours a week studying is going to even get you one more point on the LSAT.


All that being said, focus on the LSAT over a crazy number of courses, the truth is your GPA isn't going to be changing too much, and even if more studying doesn't guarantee you a better LSAT, the higher Lsat is the only reasonable way for you to achieve your stretchyer goals.


Just don't assume you'll actually get a super high LSAT score

[splittingheadache]

Thanks.

The reason I'm asking now instead of after I have an LSAT score that I'm happy with is by the time I know the score, I will not be able to change my course selection for the year. I know nothing is certain, you are all absolutely right, but I'm in the uncomfortable position of needing to simultaneously increase the GPA and get an excellent LSAT score. If there is something I can do (particularly in the realm of course selection) before my GPA is set in stone, this is basically my last chance. I'm not expecting something fireworks-worthy, but I need to make sure I gave myself every opportunity to try to make that happen.

But point is taken, LSAT points > marginal LSAC GPA increase.

[hill1334]

I think you should consider not taking the LSAT while still in school. I am not sure if you can really dedicate yourself to studying for the LSAT the way you need to while also focusing on your coursework.

[Calvin Murphy]

If I were in your shoes, assuming they aren't flaming troll shoes, I would take whatever # of courses gets you to the 3.7GPA. You seem to be assuming that you'll get an A/A+ in every course regardless of the number of courses you take...but the more courses you take, the harder it will be to do well in each course. If you haven't been getting 4.0s with a maxed out course load thus far, what makes you think that you'll be able to do it this year? Now, if EVERYONE gets an A in the online courses (which may or may not be the case), then maybe go ahead and take one or two...but really the LSAT is much easier to improve than your GPA--you don't have 6 semesters of LSAT scores weighing on your average like you do with GPA.

Also, consider taking a course or two over winter break/intersession at a local community college that offers A+ses. I think those would count into your LSAC GPA. (but check into it before blindly taking my advice.)

[Monochromatic Oeuvre]

Moot questions until you score 170 or have a PT average (minimum five tests) of 170.

Either Harvard or a Butler will require a 175+.

[MrBlueSky!]

Food for thought...is there anything precluding you from taking a few summer courses and graduating after summer? Rather than loading up during spring?



#FFT