When to include a transcript/mention of grades? Forum

[Anonymous User]

[Ed. Hi guys, I'm posting this anonymously because it has to do with Michigan Law's Summer Start program which has a very small class size. Combined with my post history, it'd be very easy to figure out who I am, and I'd rather avoid it since we're talking about grades.]

I've been to a ton of the 1L job panels this semester, and more than once someone has recommended including your transcript or making a mention of your grades if they are good with your application. As a summer starter at Michigan, I already have my grades back for Torts and Civil Procedure which were both above median. But how high should they be to warrant mention or the inclusion of a transcript?

Greater than a 3.5? 3.7?

Or, since we're so close to the end of this semester and a new round of grades, should I just wait?

Thanks!

[underdawg]

i'm sure a 3.7 would at least warrant it. prob 3.5 too but we go to different schools.

also plz just say you're attaching your tranny and not saying "yo my gradez were good" in your actual email

[Anonymous User]

i'm sure a 3.7 would at least warrant it. prob 3.5 too but we go to different schools.

also plz just say you're attaching your tranny and not saying "yo my gradez were good" in your actual email

sarcasm

I was actually planning on putting my GPA on my resume in bold right next to my name at the top. Maybe even in a different color so it would stand out.

/sarcasm

lol, but yeah, I've actually had at least one person recommend putting it on the resume under the education heading. I'm a little iffy about that myself, and I think I'd probably be more comfortable just sending a transcript.

Thanks for the answer, underdawg!

[Anonymous User]

Hey,
I'm also a summer starter and from what I've heard, if your GPA is really really high (3.7+) you should put it on your education section, but only if you're including your ugrad GPA and not including a transcript. What I've done is put my GPA (which was pretty good, def. above median) in the education section as x.xx/4.3, for all the jobs that didn't require a transcript, but I also included a note that I could send an updated transcript if required. If a job did ask for a transcript, I didn't include that, but I also didn't include mention of updated grades. I don't think this semester will be as good as my summer one, and I don't want to highlight those grades unless they ask.

(I'm anonymous for the same reason as the OP)

[Anonymous User]

Hey,
I'm also a summer starter and from what I've heard, if your GPA is really really high (3.7+) you should put it on your education section, but only if you're including your ugrad GPA and not including a transcript. What I've done is put my GPA (which was pretty good, def. above median) in the education section as x.xx/4.3, for all the jobs that didn't require a transcript, but I also included a note that I could send an updated transcript if required. If a job did ask for a transcript, I didn't include that, but I also didn't include mention of updated grades. I don't think this semester will be as good as my summer one, and I don't want to highlight those grades unless they ask.

(I'm anonymous for the same reason as the OP)

Did you insert any explanation for why you already have grades as a 1L?

[underdawg]

i'm sure a 3.7 would at least warrant it. prob 3.5 too but we go to different schools.

also plz just say you're attaching your tranny and not saying "yo my gradez were good" in your actual email

sarcasm

I was actually planning on putting my GPA on my resume in bold right next to my name at the top. Maybe even in a different color so it would stand out.

/sarcasm

lol, but yeah, I've actually had at least one person recommend putting it on the resume under the education heading. I'm a little iffy about that myself, and I think I'd probably be more comfortable just sending a transcript.

Thanks for the answer, underdawg!

our school recommends putting your ugrad gpa if it was good, but not putting law school GPA on your resume.

also if your grades are good enough, i would just do it now rather than later. unless that would cut into studying for finals...

[Anonymous User]

Did you insert any explanation for why you already have grades as a 1L?

I say in my cover letter that I am a second semester 1L, and my grades are from the summer start semester. Career services told me that many of the places/judges I'm applying to are familiar with Michigan's summer start program.

also if your grades are good enough, i would just do it now rather than later. unless that would cut into studying for finals...

I plan on applying for some of the more competitive places on 12/1, but a lot of places I'm not applying to until over winter break.

[Anonymous User]

i'm sure a 3.7 would at least warrant it. prob 3.5 too but we go to different schools.

also plz just say you're attaching your tranny and not saying "yo my gradez were good" in your actual email

sarcasm

I was actually planning on putting my GPA on my resume in bold right next to my name at the top. Maybe even in a different color so it would stand out.

/sarcasm

lol, but yeah, I've actually had at least one person recommend putting it on the resume under the education heading. I'm a little iffy about that myself, and I think I'd probably be more comfortable just sending a transcript.

Thanks for the answer, underdawg!

our school recommends putting your ugrad gpa if it was good, but not putting law school GPA on your resume.

also if your grades are good enough, i would just do it now rather than later. unless that would cut into studying for finals...

Schools just tell you not to to protect the people who have worse grades than you. It's really a simple calculation - if your GPA is going to move you up in the stack of resumes, you include it; if it will move you down in the stack, don't include it.

[underdawg]

i'm sure a 3.7 would at least warrant it. prob 3.5 too but we go to different schools.

also plz just say you're attaching your tranny and not saying "yo my gradez were good" in your actual email

sarcasm

I was actually planning on putting my GPA on my resume in bold right next to my name at the top. Maybe even in a different color so it would stand out.

/sarcasm

lol, but yeah, I've actually had at least one person recommend putting it on the resume under the education heading. I'm a little iffy about that myself, and I think I'd probably be more comfortable just sending a transcript.

Thanks for the answer, underdawg!

our school recommends putting your ugrad gpa if it was good, but not putting law school GPA on your resume.

also if your grades are good enough, i would just do it now rather than later. unless that would cut into studying for finals...

Schools just tell you not to to protect the people who have worse grades than you. It's really a simple calculation - if your GPA is going to move you up in the stack of resumes, you include it; if it will move you down in the stack, don't include it.

it's tacky. they'll look at your tranny, so no need to put that on the resume too. that's why you put your upga if it's good; they wont see it otherwise

[Anonymous User]

it's tacky. they'll look at your tranny, so no need to put that on the resume too. that's why you put your upga if it's good; they wont see it otherwise

That's why I said that I only include my GPA on my resume if the job doesn't ask for a transcript (which many of the non-profits and firms do). I agree, it's tacky to put it twice, but if I'm including my ugpa, which I almost always do, I think you need to include your law gpa if you have it.