College Grds or LSAT Better Predictor of Law School Success? Forum

[alltheway]

Are College Grades or the LSAT score a Better Predictor of Law School Success? I heard from one person it's the grades because it indicates how hard of a worker someone is and how well they are able to learn a body of knowledge like the law, but I wanted to hear other people's opinions, too.

[kalvano]

The best predictor of law school success is how stupid your classmates are.

[sissyclark]

Neither.

The best answer is that someone with good grades but poor LSAT will argue "We have the ability to work harder, and that is a better predictor of performance." Someone with a high LSAT but crappy grades will argue "I'm smarter, and I'm a quicker analyzer than the numbnuts who can't perform as well on a test."

[mst]

LSAC will tell you LSAT+GPA makes the best predictor of first year grades, not that necessarily means anything; LSAT is the best single predictor though, according to them.

[beach_terror]

The best predictor of law school success is how stupid your classmates are.

lol, this is undeniably true

[JazzOne]

Are College Grades or the LSAT score a Better Predictor of Law School Success? I heard from one person it's the grades because it indicates how hard of a worker someone is and how well they are able to learn a body of knowledge like the law, but I wanted to hear other people's opinions, too.

LSAT

Tell your friend I said so.

[fugitivejammer]

If I had to choose someone with slightly better grades vs. slightly better LSAT (all else being the same), I think I'd normally choose the person with better grades for a similar reason you mentioned. Grades are hard to compare though because different schools just grade differently, but if I could make the assumption that the two students are from comparable schools (and comparable degree programs), then that makes things a lot easier.

Also, better grades show hard work over a long period of time. LSAT shows a few months of preparation and how well you did that ONE day on the test.

[Gamecubesupreme]

LSAT.

Undergrad GPA means nothing in law school, besides maybe as an indicator of how hard you work. Even then, if you don't know how to write a law school final exam, you can work your ass off for the entire semester and you'll still get slapped with a B in your face while those who worked smart, not necessarily hard, will hog the A's.

[TigerBeer]

Also, better grades show hard work over a long period of time. LSAT shows a few months of preparation and how well you did that ONE day on the test.

Um what do you think law school exams are about then?

[AmicusCuriae]

Neither. I had a sub-3.0 college GPA and a mediocre LSAT score and I graduated top 1/3 from a T14.

[fugitivejammer]

Also, better grades show hard work over a long period of time. LSAT shows a few months of preparation and how well you did that ONE day on the test.

Um what do you think law school exams are about then?

Damn, touche TigerBeer. I still stand by my preference for grades though. Gun to my head, I'd say that someone who demonstrated an ability to work hard during UG and get good grades is showing more desirable, relevant characteristics than someone who did good on the LSAT, which in many ways is nothing like a law school exam.

[dailygrind]

This isn't a question open to opinions, educated guesses, or personal anecdotes.

There is emprical evidence out there, from LSAC, indicating that none of the predictors are strongly correlated with law school success. Among the available data points, LSAT score has the most predictive power, but it is still very limited in that regard.

i am in utter disbelief that there are serious responses that don't at least acknowledge this.

[Raver]

Also, better grades show hard work over a long period of time. LSAT shows a few months of preparation and how well you did that ONE day on the test.

Um what do you think law school exams are about then?

Rainbows and Unicorns.

[fugitivejammer]

This isn't a question open to opinions, educated guesses, or personal anecdotes.

There is emprical evidence out there, from LSAC, indicating that none of the predictors are strongly correlated with law school success. Among the available data points, LSAT score has the most predictive power, but it is still very limited in that regard.

Every question is open to my opinion and educated guesses. This isn't Communist China, man.

[fugitivejammer]

On that note, which was more oppressive: Soviet Union or Communist China?

[Raver]

On that note, which was more oppressive: Soviet Union or Communist China?

What time period are we talking? Mao vs. Stalin?

[fugitivejammer]

On that note, which was more oppressive: Soviet Union or Communist China?

What time period are we talking? Mao vs. Stalin?

Yea i think that's a fair match-up.

[Raver]

On that note, which was more oppressive: Soviet Union or Communist China?

What time period are we talking? Mao vs. Stalin?

Yea i think that's a fair match-up.

That's pretty tough. I think they were both ridiculously oppressive, but that Mao actually felt like he was trying to improve China, whereas Stalin just felt super paranoid (since he realized people didn't like him). So they were both oppressive jerks, but I think Mao was coming from an (ever so slightly) better place.

[kams]

My guess would be LSAT. How you do on a time-pressured test that you basically self studied for that is worth pretty much everything is a better indicator than classes where you hand in assignments and homework that could help even out a bad test grade.

[4for44]

On that note, which was more oppressive: Soviet Union or Communist China?

What time period are we talking? Mao vs. Stalin?

Yea i think that's a fair match-up.

That's pretty tough. I think they were both ridiculously oppressive, but that Mao actually felt like he was trying to improve China, whereas Stalin just felt super paranoid (since he realized people didn't like him). So they were both oppressive jerks, but I think Mao was coming from an (ever so slightly) better place.

Can we please get back on topic... Which do you think is a better indication of how oppressive the next communist leader will be? Their UG GPA or LSAT?

[beach_terror]

Real dictators don't go to college and therefore do not take the LSAT. /thread

[fugitivejammer]

Real dictators don't go to college and therefore do not take the LSAT. /thread

Well, Chairman Mao went to college.

And I'm still going to stick with UGPA.

[solotee]

On that note, which was more oppressive: Soviet Union or Communist China?

True story, my grandfather was executed by soviet soldiers during stalins great terror.