GPA Calculation. Univerisites in different countries Forum

[eatyourschnitzel]

Hello!

Does anyone know how LSAC calculates GPA for someone who has studied in two countries? (Not as an exchange student)

After 2 years of college in the states, I dropped out because of health issues and moved to Germany, where it is closer to my family. Unfortunately I can not use the credits from my previous college and have to start from Freshman the first semester again.

In this situation how does the LSAC calculate my GPA?
GPA from the college in the states + GPA from german university
OR only GPA from german university

Thank you!

[blueberrycrumble]

disclaimer: not actually sure what the outcome would be in this situation

honestly, i would recommend just submitting your transcripts now and seeing what LSAC actually does in this circumstance. it doesn't take very long to process, LSAC is pretty quick with transcripts I found.

[eatyourschnitzel]

disclaimer: not actually sure what the outcome would be in this situation

honestly, i would recommend just submitting your transcripts now and seeing what LSAC actually does in this circumstance. it doesn't take very long to process, LSAC is pretty quick with transcripts I found.

Thank you for the quick reply!

[Hand]

They only calculate a GPA for your US studies. For your studies in Germany, only a general indication of the quality of your studies will be provided (superior, above average, average, below average). So you would have a reportable GPA (assuming that the # of credits you amassed meets a certain threshold, but I think the threshold is pretty low, something like 15 to 30 credits) based exclusively on your US studies, and a separate foreign transcript evaluation.

[eatyourschnitzel]

They only calculate a GPA for your US studies. For your studies in Germany, only a general indication of the quality of your studies will be provided (superior, above average, average, below average). So you would have a reportable GPA (assuming that the # of credits you amassed meets a certain threshold, but I think the threshold is pretty low, something like 15 to 30 credits) based exclusively on your US studies, and a separate foreign transcript evaluation.

Correct me if I am wrong. I thought the grades contributing to the Bachelor degree (in this case those from the german Uni) are more important. Hope the foreign transcript evaluation is also a deciding factor.

[Hand]

They only calculate a GPA for your US studies. For your studies in Germany, only a general indication of the quality of your studies will be provided (superior, above average, average, below average). So you would have a reportable GPA (assuming that the # of credits you amassed meets a certain threshold, but I think the threshold is pretty low, something like 15 to 30 credits) based exclusively on your US studies, and a separate foreign transcript evaluation.

Correct me if I am wrong. I thought the grades contributing to the Bachelor degree (in this case those from the german Uni) are more important. Hope the foreign transcript evaluation is also a deciding factor.

Well if LSAC calculates a GPA for you on the basis of your US studies, which it does if you have enough credits, then that's your GPA that'll be reported to the ABA and USNWR, so that's the number that's going to matter, I fear. The evaluation of the foreign transcript is probably not going to make much of a difference (assuming it's at least above average - if it's really bad they will presumably hold that against you. But I don't think anyone here has ever reported an average evaluation, let alone a below average).

[blueberrycrumble]

They only calculate a GPA for your US studies. For your studies in Germany, only a general indication of the quality of your studies will be provided (superior, above average, average, below average). So you would have a reportable GPA (assuming that the # of credits you amassed meets a certain threshold, but I think the threshold is pretty low, something like 15 to 30 credits) based exclusively on your US studies, and a separate foreign transcript evaluation.

Correct me if I am wrong. I thought the grades contributing to the Bachelor degree (in this case those from the german Uni) are more important. Hope the foreign transcript evaluation is also a deciding factor.

Well if LSAC calculates a GPA for you on the basis of your US studies, which it does if you have enough credits, then that's your GPA that'll be reported to the ABA and USNWR, so that's the number that's going to matter, I fear. The evaluation of the foreign transcript is probably not going to make much of a difference (assuming it's at least above average - if it's really bad they will presumably hold that against you. But I don't think anyone here has ever reported an average evaluation, let alone a below average).

I believe it's if you have 60 credits from US studies, they will calculate a LSAC GPA? Either way, just submit your transcripts and see if you get a # gpa, OP.

[Hand]

I believe it's if you have 60 credits from US studies, they will calculate a LSAC GPA? Either way, just submit your transcripts and see if you get a # gpa, OP.

Turns out you are right

LSAC does not report a cumulative GPA or admission index for applicants who:

- received their undergraduate degree from an institution located outside the United States, its territories, or Canada, and who also completed less than 60 credits of US/Canadian undergraduate-level work prior to the awarding of the international degree.
- received their undergraduate degree from a US institution that does not issue grades and credits, only narratives.
- received their undergraduate degree from a US institution that does not issue grades and credits, only narratives, and also completed less than 60 credits of other US/Canadian undergraduate-level work prior to the awarding of the US/Canadian degree.
- do not have an institution identified as their undergraduate degree-granting school and have a total of less than 60 credits of US/Canadian undergraduate-level work on their file.

If a law school uses an index to assess its applicants, reporting an index (which uses the cumulative GPA for calculation) or cumulative GPA for someone who only had a few hours of US/Canadian classes could be misleading.

Source

[eatyourschnitzel]

They only calculate a GPA for your US studies. For your studies in Germany, only a general indication of the quality of your studies will be provided (superior, above average, average, below average). So you would have a reportable GPA (assuming that the # of credits you amassed meets a certain threshold, but I think the threshold is pretty low, something like 15 to 30 credits) based exclusively on your US studies, and a separate foreign transcript evaluation.

Correct me if I am wrong. I thought the grades contributing to the Bachelor degree (in this case those from the german Uni) are more important. Hope the foreign transcript evaluation is also a deciding factor.

Well if LSAC calculates a GPA for you on the basis of your US studies, which it does if you have enough credits, then that's your GPA that'll be reported to the ABA and USNWR, so that's the number that's going to matter, I fear. The evaluation of the foreign transcript is probably not going to make much of a difference (assuming it's at least above average - if it's really bad they will presumably hold that against you. But I don't think anyone here has ever reported an average evaluation, let alone a below average).

wow ok. Bye-bye top law school. My GPA from the american college is 3.7+. Screwed up the transcript in the 4. semester by doing nothing other than lying in bed and scaring myself because of depression. For a month I did not go to classes. No essays were handed in. And no finals were taken. How dumb.

I am doing well in Germany now. The grades I received so far are all between 1.2-1.5 (the american "A" or "A+"). Well, such is life. Thank you so much for the details! Have a great weekend!

[eatyourschnitzel]

Unfortunately I have more than 60 credits.
But thanks man!

[Hand]

Unfortunately I have more than 60 credits

well if you only botched one semester, and have some documentation supporting that you were not doing well (e.g. you went to therapy or something) maybe you can get a retroactive withdrawal for the courses you took in your last semester - if you can get rid of that coursework and find yourself with a 3.7+ you are potentially in good shape for almost anywhere. Totally worth looking into.