GPA Question Forum

[jollyjames]

I go to a top university that doesn't give out A+ as a grade, the top grade possible is an A so GPA is out of 4.0. Do law schools take this into consideration? I feel like other undergraduate institutions that give out A+ give their students an inherent advantage.

[mastermonkey45]

I go to a top university that doesn't give out A+ as a grade, the top grade possible is an A so GPA is out of 4.0. Do law schools take this into consideration? I feel like other undergraduate institutions that give out A+ give their students an inherent advantage.

I remember looking into this last year as I am in the same boat. From what I've read, we're just inherently given the short end of the stick as we cannot get above a 4, so yes, students who attend schools that give out A+ grades have the opportunity of being more competitive with a GPA higher than 4. Calling Cav on this one to confirm.

[nixy]

I go to a top university that doesn't give out A+ as a grade, the top grade possible is an A so GPA is out of 4.0. Do law schools take this into consideration? I feel like other undergraduate institutions that give out A+ give their students an inherent advantage.

For the limited purpose of LSAC calculating your UGPA, yes, students at schools with A+ grades have an advantage. Assuming of course that some/any of your A grades at your school would turn out to be A+s at a school that gives them out.

Law schools take the number that LSAC gives you as the number that matters, in part because (again) there’s no guarantees your As would be A+s, but mostly because that’s what they have to report to USNWR for rankings purposes.

I tend to figure the number of people who have over 4.0 GPAs is small enough that poor mortals with mere 4.0s don’t really suffer.

[mastermonkey45]

I go to a top university that doesn't give out A+ as a grade, the top grade possible is an A so GPA is out of 4.0. Do law schools take this into consideration? I feel like other undergraduate institutions that give out A+ give their students an inherent advantage.

For the limited purpose of LSAC calculating your UGPA, yes, students at schools with A+ grades have an advantage. Assuming of course that some/any of your A grades at your school would turn out to be A+s at a school that gives them out.

Law schools take the number that LSAC gives you as the number that matters, in part because (again) there’s no guarantees your As would be A+s, but mostly because that’s what they have to report to USNWR for rankings purposes.

I tend to figure the number of people who have over 4.0 GPAs is small enough that poor mortals with mere 4.0s don’t really suffer.

I'd agree with this- check LSN for any school you're interested in and you'll notice that there are no apparent applicants who are admitted since they have above a 4 over someone who has a 4.