.. Forum

[flowering]

.

[wonka]

Post removed.

[UpandDown97]

Is there a big difference in applying to a given law school with your GPA at the 75th percentile, vs. applying with your GPA say 3-5 points below the 75th (but still above the median)?

Hardly a difference for admissions. It's possible that a 75th percentile GPA will help ever so slightly to increase merit aid if it's paired with a high LSAT, but even then, probably not by much. If you're gunning for the full-rides, in most cases you'll want to be above the 75ths anyway.

Actually, I believe this is false.

Let's assume that the 75th is a 3.9 and the median is a 3.65.

In that scenario, there's no difference between a 3.89 and a 3.66. Both are within the percentiles, but don't move it.

However, if you hit above the 75th, all the suddent you can help pull that 75th up.

This holds for the LSAT too. They want to affect the numbers that people see, that's all.

[starry eyed]

Is there a big difference in applying to a given law school with your GPA at the 75th percentile, vs. applying with your GPA say 3-5 points below the 75th (but still above the median)?

Hardly a difference for admissions. It's possible that a 75th percentile GPA will help ever so slightly to increase merit aid if it's paired with a high LSAT, but even then, probably not by much. If you're gunning for the full-rides, in most cases you'll want to be above the 75ths anyway.

Actually, I believe this is false.

Let's assume that the 75th is a 3.9 and the median is a 3.65.

In that scenario, there's no difference between a 3.89 and a 3.66. Both are within the percentiles, but don't move it.

However, if you hit above the 75th, all the suddent you can help pull that 75th up.

This holds for the LSAT too. They want to affect the numbers that people see, that's all.

this is true but we don't know next year's 75ths, it could well be a 3.89 when it was 3.9 the year when you applied. so i don't think it's helpful to worry about such small differences, but if it stays the same then i think you're right.

[wonka]

Post removed.

[flowering]

.

[wonka]

Post removed.

[flowering]

.

[UpandDown97]

Let me clarify: At this precise moment, my GPA is exactly equal to where the 75th percentile GPA at my target school was for the last admission cycle. However, once this semester's grades come through, my GPA will drop about 5 points (hundredths), leaving me with a GPA around midway between the median and 75th percentile. I guess my question is twofold:
1. I was really kicking myself for allowing my GPA to slip this semester, and was wondering how much of an adverse effect this would have on my app.
And 2. I was originally planning on taking just one course over the summer and study for the LSAT. With my grades as they are, I decided instead to add another class over the summer. This comes with the upside of raising my GPA to probably 2 points below the 75th percentile, but comes with the cost of somewhat less LSAT prep time. Bad idea?

Ahh, gotcha. Thanks! Honestly I don't think a few hundredths of a point will hurt your admissions chances much. Personally I'd focus on the LSAT as that number tends to carry more weight, and a couple points there can go a long way. Can I ask if you've done any practice tests and what schools you're targeting? Depending on where you are compared to where you need to be, the advice may change, but as a general rule, a few more LSAT points will serve you better than a few hundredths of a GPA. This is especially true if you already know you're above median GPA.

The GPA placement relative to medians and 75th probably only truly comes into play when you're a reverse splitter. If you are at their 25th LSAT, the difference of .01 relative to their 75th GPA could make a difference.

[wonka]

Post removed.