Pretty unique/odd transfer resume question Forum

[bceagles182]

I transferred last year. I just got first semester grades back at my new school. They're good, but my first semester GPA at my new school is identical to my cumulative GPA at my old school. See below. Are employers just going to think that I'm listing my old GPA under my new school? Any thoughts on how I can avoid this? I don't have a rank at my new school.

New School of Law
Candidate for Juris Doctor, May 2013
GPA: 3.66
Honors: Journal Member

Old School of Law
First-year curriculum completed, 2010 – 2011
GPA: 3.66
Rank: xx/xxx (Top x%)
Honors: Invited to Old School Law Review

[rjl]

I read your grade stuff before I read the second half of your introductory paragraph and it made sense to me.

You might put "Cum GPA" instead of just "GPA" under your "Old School of Law," though. That would be my only suggestion.

EDIT: Now that I think about it, that should be fairly obvious. So ignore if you want.

[bceagles182]

I read your grade stuff before I read the second half of your introductory paragraph and it made sense to me.

You might put "Cum GPA" instead of just "GPA" under your "Old School of Law," though. That would be my only suggestion.

EDIT: Now that I think about it, that should be fairly obvious. So ignore if you want.

Perhaps I'm immature but I can't imagine putting "Cum GPA" on a resume.

[smittytron3k]

1) I don't think GPA is commensurable across schools, so I wouldn't try to put a cumulative GPA on your resume.
2) Is journal membership an "honor?" Seems like this would be more honestly and accurately characterized as an "activity".

[Anonymous User]

1) I don't think GPA is commensurable across schools, so I wouldn't try to put a cumulative GPA on your resume.
2) Is journal membership an "honor?" Seems like this would be more honestly and accurately characterized as an "activity".

From what I've seen, it's generally listed as an honor. Our CSO instructs us to do it that way (I, like you, was a little surprised at this too), and I know other schools do too. Legal employers know what it is.

[bceagles182]

Uh, it's not a cumulative GPA across schools. I had a 3.66 1L and I got a 3.66 this fall (my only semester at my new school). Therefore I have a 3.66 at each school independently. I spelled that out pretty clearly in the OP. The whole point was that I was worried about people thinking that I was combined the GPAs. I didn't.

And yes, both CDOs I've worked with and virtually every resume I've found online lists journal as an honor.

[Anonymous User]

I'm a transfer (though now a 3L) and my CSO told us that unless we were 3.9x at our old school (out of 4), that we shouldn't put our GPA from the old school on the resume. Class rank is fine for the old school though

Edit: And the way I've seen journals is that law review goes under honor but secondary journals go under activity

[bceagles182]

Hm, I guess that makes sense, but it's kind of annoying to give up my class rank entirely. It's higher than the typical student who transferred in.

Could I drop the old school GPA and leave the rank or is that too inconsistent?

[Anonymous User]

Uh, it's not a cumulative GPA across schools. I had a 3.66 1L and I got a 3.66 this fall (my only semester at my new school). Therefore I have a 3.66 at each school independently. I spelled that out pretty clearly in the OP. The whole point was that I was worried about people thinking that I was combined the GPAs. I'm not.

And yes, both CDOs I've worked with and virtually every resume I've found online lists journal as an honor.

I personally don't put my GPA on my resume - our CSO prohibits us from putting it on (we don't have "official GPAs") and interviewers always get my transcript so I don't really think it's necessary. If you really feel you need to list it, I think it's clear enough that they are separate since you've put the years of your attendance at each school and the relevant GPA for those years. If a potential employer is confused, they will ask. It should be clear enough from your transcript(s), though, I'd imagine - your new school's classes will add up to 3.66 by themselves.

[Anonymous User]

3l transfer from above....I'd say keep rank from old but axe the gpa. I think the idea is that gpa from school to school means diff things but top x% means the same thing everywhere and unless it's a crazy gpa like 3.9x it's not really worth noting. Same thing for undergrad gpas...

[mel2010]

I agree with above poster. Obviously if you transferred (up?) you had a "good" GPA at your first school. Put rank or something there, and GPA at new school. $0.02