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Mediocre College-Credit Grades in High School
Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2016 1:04 am
by fourwinds
I went to a dual enrollment program when I was in high school that allowed me to graduate with an associate's degree from the local community college at the same time as my high school diploma. I have since been at a liberal arts college finishing my bachelor's degree. My current college is pass/fail and does not have letter grades or a GPA. I've matured and grown a lot since my time in high school, but I'm afraid that my subpar 3.57 GPA I graduated from community college with will hurt my chances for the T14 law schools, as my current college does not issue letter grades. I'm pretty sure that most law schools will ask for my community college transcripts, even though I completed that coursework while in high school. I don't want them to see those grades; I was a different person then. I'm much more motivated now. Granted I will have three years at a pass/fail institution to distance myself from my community college transcripts, but I think I'll still be required to send them to law schools.
Has anybody else been in this position?
Re: Mediocre College-Credit Grades in High School
Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2016 3:17 am
by Pneumonia
I did this, minus the pass/fail four-year institution. Law schools won't ask for your transcripts directly, but LSAC will, and they'll get forwarded to any law school that you apply to.
3.57 won't keep you out of the T14 by any means. The only schools out of play for you are Stanford and Yale. Of course, this assumes you can get a 170+ LSAT. 173+ for CCN/H.
I'm actually not sure how LSAC treats pass/fail grades when your degree-granting institution is pass/fail only. You should look into that more.
Re: Mediocre College-Credit Grades in High School
Posted: Wed Jun 08, 2016 12:30 pm
by Smibea
Sorry, this may be too late, but have you already officially graduated from your new (pass/fail) college? If not, how many community college classes did you take in order to obtain your 3.57 GPA?
Re: Mediocre College-Credit Grades in High School
Posted: Thu Jun 09, 2016 12:13 pm
by fourwinds
I have not yet graduated from my pass/fail school. I still have two more years there. I will graduate in May 2018.
At the community college, I took a full associate's degree - 60 credits - to get the 3.57 GPA. I had A's in most classes and the reason why the GPA is so low is because I got a C in general biology, physics, and pre-calculus. All of my other classes were fine; I specifically struggled in the science classes and it brought my GPA down. I guess that's another important detail.
Re: Mediocre College-Credit Grades in High School
Posted: Thu Jun 09, 2016 12:27 pm
by Smibea
Okay! You're actually in a pretty good situation, then

With a good enough LSAT and your current GPA, you're in play for H and have a great chance at anything below T3 (excluding Chicago and Berkeley), as per mylsn. If you're willing to take a few community college classes over the next few years (during summers and winter break), you can also raise your GPA before graduating. I fooled around with your numbers a bit on a GPA calculator. If you can take online classes during the summers/winter breaks, with a conservative estimate of one class this summer, one class next winter break, and two classes next summer, getting A+s in all of them, that puts you at a GPA of 3.69. If you can raise that to two classes this summer and five next summer, you have a potential GPA of 3.79. Given the consistency of your high grades before that, this is certainly an option. Considering your good reasons for doing so (your own schools lack of grades and a desire to prove that you've increased in maturity), that puts you in striking range of Stanford, though it is still unlikely, but also makes you an easier pick for CCN/Berkeley/Harvard. It also increases your chance at getting scholarships! I would carefully look at colleges that offer A+s in your state/that have online programs, and would also see if any offer more than 3 credits! If you can take 4 credit classes, then with 2 classes this summer, 5 next summer, and 1 next winter, you're looking at a beautiful 3.83. Best of luck

Re: Mediocre College-Credit Grades in High School
Posted: Thu Jun 09, 2016 12:33 pm
by Smibea
I'm also more than happy to help you find online classes in your state! Feel free to send me a PM.