Very, very low GPA and poor undergraduate performance Forum

[keytiek]

To all of those out there who can give me some advice:

I am really interested in the law and the legal profession (after having paralegaled and continue to do paralegal work). I am preparing to take the LSATs within the coming year. I feel that I can get a decent LSAT score and I hope to be able to achieve above a 170. However, I wonder if all my efforts to prepare for the LSAT and law school are for nought. The reason I say this is because my undergraduate performance was horrible and I did not do well. To be exact, my perfomance in my major was a 2.0 Cumulative GPA. I just fulfilled the requirements necessary by my university to graduate. Without going into detail, I know that my performance and actions in college were a result of personal and depression issues that I was battling.

Now, I have gotten work experience and enjoy the law, I really want to pursue a law degree. Nevertheless, I wonder if I should just consider other options other than law school because I hardly believe that a top law school will accept me with the GPA that I have. Is there anyone out there who can give me advice as to ways in which I can either "make up" for sad undergraduate performance or have any advice as far as what someone in my situation should do if they want to get into a top twenty law school? I would really appreciate all the help and informative advice you can give. Thank you.

[Ken]

Unfortunately, law schools can be pretty unforgiving on low GPAs. Getting in to a top 20 law school initially seems impossible. However, there are some avenues to consider, but you will really need to excel on the LSAT to make them happen. There are some good law schools (although not great) that really focus upon one's LSAT score. In fact, at times a great LSAT score can allow these schools to forgive other weak factors, such as a 2.0 GPA. You should research law schools that really focus upon LSAT scores for admissions. I know that the U. of Alabama and the U. of San Diego focus heavily upon one's LSAT score.

That being said, you will still face a very uphill battle getting in to a good school. Even getting into one of the top 100 law schools will require a very good LSAT score (165+) and to have a shot at getting into one of the top 50 law schools will require an exceptional score (168+).

I would study heavily for the LSAT and take it this June. If you do very well, continue your quest to get in to law school. If you fare poorly or just average, you will need more legal experience and great recommendations to get in to almost any law school.

Once you are in a law school, if you do very well with your first-year grades, transferring to a higher ranked law school is an option.

If possible, I recommend contacting the pre-law advisor from your college to give you advice as well. I wish I could be more encouraging, but I want to give you realistic advice so you can make informed decisions.

The key to your admissions is your LSAT score, so study hard.

[Kohinoor]

To all of those out there who can give me some advice:

I am really interested in the law and the legal profession (after having paralegaled and continue to do paralegal work). I am preparing to take the LSATs within the coming year. I feel that I can get a decent LSAT score and I hope to be able to achieve above a 170. However, I wonder if all my efforts to prepare for the LSAT and law school are for nought. The reason I say this is because my undergraduate performance was horrible and I did not do well. To be exact, my perfomance in my major was a 2.0 Cumulative GPA. I just fulfilled the requirements necessary by my university to graduate. Without going into detail, I know that my performance and actions in college were a result of personal and depression issues that I was battling.

Now, I have gotten work experience and enjoy the law, I really want to pursue a law degree. Nevertheless, I wonder if I should just consider other options other than law school because I hardly believe that a top law school will accept me with the GPA that I have. Is there anyone out there who can give me advice as to ways in which I can either "make up" for sad undergraduate performance or have any advice as far as what someone in my situation should do if they want to get into a top twenty law school? I would really appreciate all the help and informative advice you can give. Thank you.

Many of the more forgiving top schools do still enforce GPA floors and yours is likely below even the most lenient ones. All you can really do now if you're set on law school is rock the LSAT and apply broadly.

[09042014]

Epic 5 year bump

[NV53A]

Unfortunately, law schools can be pretty unforgiving on low GPAs. Getting in to a top 20 law school initially seems impossible. However, there are some avenues to consider, but you will really need to excel on the LSAT to make them happen. There are some good law schools (although not great) that really focus upon one's LSAT score. In fact, at times a great LSAT score can allow these schools to forgive other weak factors, such as a 2.0 GPA. You should research law schools that really focus upon LSAT scores for admissions. I know that the U. of Alabama and the U. of San Diego focus heavily upon one's LSAT score.

That being said, you will still face a very uphill battle getting in to a good school. Even getting into one of the top 100 law schools will require a very good LSAT score (165+) and to have a shot at getting into one of the top 50 law schools will require an exceptional score (168+).

I would study heavily for the LSAT and take it this June. If you do very well, continue your quest to get in to law school. If you fare poorly or just average, you will need more legal experience and great recommendations to get in to almost any law school.

Once you are in a law school, if you do very well with your first-year grades, transferring to a higher ranked law school is an option.

If possible, I recommend contacting the pre-law advisor from your college to give you advice as well. I wish I could be more encouraging, but I want to give you realistic advice so you can make informed decisions.

The key to your admissions is your LSAT score, so study hard.

Is this serious?

[ResolutePear]

Unfortunately, law schools can be pretty unforgiving on low GPAs. Getting in to a top 20 law school initially seems impossible. However, there are some avenues to consider, but you will really need to excel on the LSAT to make them happen. There are some good law schools (although not great) that really focus upon one's LSAT score. In fact, at times a great LSAT score can allow these schools to forgive other weak factors, such as a 2.0 GPA. You should research law schools that really focus upon LSAT scores for admissions. I know that the U. of Alabama and the U. of San Diego focus heavily upon one's LSAT score.

That being said, you will still face a very uphill battle getting in to a good school. Even getting into one of the top 100 law schools will require a very good LSAT score (165+) and to have a shot at getting into one of the top 50 law schools will require an exceptional score (168+).

I would study heavily for the LSAT and take it this June. If you do very well, continue your quest to get in to law school. If you fare poorly or just average, you will need more legal experience and great recommendations to get in to almost any law school.

Once you are in a law school, if you do very well with your first-year grades, transferring to a higher ranked law school is an option.

If possible, I recommend contacting the pre-law advisor from your college to give you advice as well. I wish I could be more encouraging, but I want to give you realistic advice so you can make informed decisions.

The key to your admissions is your LSAT score, so study hard.

Is this serious?

FIVE. YEARS.

[UCLAorbust]

I see this is an outdated thread buuuuttt........I have a question along the same lines.

I just graduated from Cal, am taking a gap year, and then hope to go to UCLA/USC/Hastings/etc. My overall GPA is like 3.35. BUT, I just got my grades from last semester, and I BARELY got a C+ in one of my classes. My other grades turned out fine, and my GPA for the semester was only a little shorter than what it usually is. However, it seems to me that having a C on my transcript at the very end of a long line of B+ and A-'s is going to be like a flashing "do not accept" sign on my transcript. Needless to say, I am buggin' about this grade (it was due to a misunderstanding of the midterm exam that led to a D-, though I did well on the final). Am I right in thinking that this C+ will kill my odds compared to a B-, or is overall averaged GPA all that is really focused on? I just feel like that C will really stand out and make it look like I didn't take school seriously second semester (which is COMPLETELY the opposite of reality).

Anyone have thoughts???

[TommyK]

No, you're obsessing about something that will be largely inconsequential. I can't imagine adcomms pulling your transcript, seeing a C+ and saying "OMG-WHAT IS THIS PERSON DOING?!" While it may not be as pleasing to the eye as a B would be to you, it won't affect your chances anymore than a difference of a .008 of a gpa typically would.

Now focus that obsession on the LSAT, where it will really make a difference

I hope to revisit this thread in 2013, when somebody responds.

[johnnyutah]

No, you're obsessing about something that will be largely inconsequential. I can't imagine adcomms pulling your transcript, seeing a C+ and saying "OMG-WHAT IS THIS PERSON DOING?!" While it may not be as pleasing to the eye as a B would be to you, it won't affect your chances anymore than a difference of a .008 of a gpa typically would.

Now focus that obsession on the LSAT, where it will really make a difference

I hope to revisit this thread in 2013, when somebody responds.

I got in to a t-14 with Fs on my transcript, dude. It's fine.

[HWS08]

I'm going to a T30 this fall. My GPA was almost the same as yours, and I know I got at least one C (class with a prof who had a reputation for being one of the toughest at my entire school my very first semester). Just make sure you do REALLY well on the LSAT.

[fatduck]

OP here: thanks for the advice. I decided to join the French Foreign Legion to get a new identity, and started over with a new bachelor's degree. I just graduated with a 3.02, and I'm really excited about my law school prospects. I owe everything to TLS!

[TommyK]

OP here: thanks for the advice. I decided to join the French Foreign Legion to get a new identity, and started over with a new bachelor's degree. I just graduated with a 3.02, and I'm really excited about my law school prospects. I owe everything to TLS!

goddamn, you always bring the funny. It's uncanny, fatduck.

[vanwinkle]

OP here: thanks for the advice. I decided to join the French Foreign Legion to get a new identity, and started over with a new bachelor's degree. I just graduated with a 3.02, and I'm really excited about my law school prospects. I owe everything to TLS!

goddamn, you always bring the funny. It's uncanny, fatduck.

+1, but a solid fatduck joke is typically the peak of a thread, so no harm in putting this one back in the ground where it belongs.

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