Is a 3.4 top 1/3 at Michigan? Forum

[Anonymous User]

This is what I've heard...can any Mich students verify this?
Further, what is top 35%?

[Person]

This is what I've heard...can any Mich students verify this?
Further, what is top 35%?

huh? I can't answer the first question, sry, but I doubt there is a meaningful and consistent difference between top 33% and top 35%.

If you are worried because some firm said only people in the top 35%, don't worry, it is totally meaningless.

[Anonymous User]

anyone?

[Aeroplane]

The best available info on this is Dean Baum's letter w/3L gpa cutoffs. It's under 'judicial clerkship resources' on the career services site. Some things to keep in mind when using it:
1. GPA at graduation is higher than 1L, at least for most people (near the top that may be less true).
2. The letter averages 5 yrs worth of data, and there is grade inflation year to year. At least b/w this years letter and last year's there has been.

[Anonymous User]

The best available info on this is Dean Baum's letter w/3L gpa cutoffs. It's under 'judicial clerkship resources' on the career services site. Some things to keep in mind when using it:
1. GPA at graduation is higher than 1L, at least for most people (near the top that may be less true).
2. The letter averages 5 yrs worth of data, and there is grade inflation year to year. At least b/w this years letter and last year's there has been.

Even for 1L classes?

There is indeed grade inflation in almost every upper level class even if they allegedly follow a curve -- the mean is at 3.4 or 3.5. 1L classes do curve at 3.2, though, and I guess that it is about right that 3.4 is roughly top 1/3.

[Anonymous User]

The best available info on this is Dean Baum's letter w/3L gpa cutoffs. It's under 'judicial clerkship resources' on the career services site. Some things to keep in mind when using it:
1. GPA at graduation is higher than 1L, at least for most people (near the top that may be less true).
2. The letter averages 5 yrs worth of data, and there is grade inflation year to year. At least b/w this years letter and last year's there has been.

Even for 1L classes?

There is indeed grade inflation in almost every upper level class even if they allegedly follow a curve -- the mean is at 3.4 or 3.5. 1L classes do curve at 3.2, though, and I guess that it is about right that 3.4 is roughly top 1/3.

I do not believe there has been grade inflation for 1L classes. The curve is about a 3.2 and has stayed that way. Not sure about upper divs. Larger/more popular upper divs, like evidence, tax, etc. are curved strictly. Seminars are not. The policy is that classes of 40 and over are curved strictly.

My GPA question is for OCI purposes, so I am only talking about the 1L GPA. I don't think the school has released anything officially regarding the cut-off for 1L grades, which is why I posted the question here.