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Hi, all. Does anyone know whether having a graduate degree makes a difference in admission? For instance, is it something likely to help? I hold a MPA from Penn State. GPA is 3.74. Undergrad GPA is 3.65.

Devblev wrote:Hi, all. Does anyone know whether having a graduate degree makes a difference in admission? For instance, is it something likely to help? I hold a MPA from Penn State. GPA is 3.74. Undergrad GPA is 3.65.

The common wisdom here is that a grad degree provides little to nothing, perhaps a minor tie breaker.

I also held a master's among several other softs, but my cycle went mostly as one would suspect from my undergrad GPA and LSAT.

I think it helps a little bit as a soft. It's probably similar to a couple years of work experience in that it helps you stand out a bit. But they only count your undergrad GPA, so I don't think your grad GPA will matter much.

Devblev wrote:Hi, all. Does anyone know whether having a graduate degree makes a difference in admission? For instance, is it something likely to help? I hold a MPA from Penn State. GPA is 3.74. Undergrad GPA is 3.65.

It has a pretty minor effect on your application, I'd think of it as a soft positive. Also, only your undergrad GPA will count towards your "LSAC" GPA. That extra experience in school will boost your profile as a capable student, and you can go to those professors for letters of recommendation as well.

Thanks for the insight. My grad degree is a Master of Public Administration, and I have been working in the nonprofit/advocacy realm since graduation. Hoping it helps since I'm most interested in public interest law.