Which is more important long-term: LSAT score or 1L grades? Forum

[Nova]

I am of the opinion that the LS you attend may not indicate your LSAT score. I attend a LS that gave me a considerable discount, whereas I could have attended a T14 but it would have been close to sticker. Noting that fact with whomever is evaluating you might be appropriate, especially if you have good grades. Whether it would help or not, no idea.

Yeah, you really cant make assumptions.

Like JBB said about minorities, most have lower stats... but then there are ones like me who took a similar path you did (competitive numbre + big scholarship).

One may be right more often than not when assuming stats based on school or ethnicity, but they will be wrong a considerable amount of time too.

[LexLeon]

LexLeon has proven thru his posts he may not have a single foot on the ground.

Explain.

[Hutz_and_Goodman]

Lol this is like what is more important your kindergarten grades or college grades?

Once you are into law school your LSAT is irrelevant. If you get 180 but then land below median after 1L it's completely possible you will graduate jobless.

[Nova]

Lol this is like what is more important your kindergarten grades or college grades?

Once you are into law school your LSAT is irrelevant. If you get 180 but then land below median after 1L it's completely possible you will graduate jobless.

But if you get a 155 on the LSAT and go to a terrible school, no one will care youre top 20% or whatever of your class

[LexLeon]

I thought that nearly everyone would agree that the LSAT is more important, yet the poll suggests sharp division and a greater number who believe 1L grades are more important.

The LSAT has a lot to do with which school(s) one is admitted to. It's likely one cannot get into Harvard with a 140.

Even mediocrity at an excellent school (say, straight P's at Harvard) is likely to be more appealing to potential employers than excellence at a mediocre school (say, top 1% at Cooley; no offense to Cooley affiliates, but mediocre isn't that offensive of a term). And, further, making law review at most of the best schools is a result of writing competition results, not grades.

[Hutz_and_Goodman]

By the way, there's nothing more important for job placement than grades. I'd rather be top 10% at the university of Cincinnati than bottom 10% at HYS.

[tfer2222]

I thought that nearly everyone would agree that the LSAT is more important, yet the poll suggests sharp division and a greater number who believe 1L grades are more important.

The LSAT has a lot to do with which school(s) one is admitted to. It's likely one cannot get into Harvard with a 140.

Even mediocrity at an excellent school (say, straight P's at Harvard) is likely to be more appealing to potential employers than excellence at a mediocre school (say, top 1% at Cooley; no offense to Cooley affiliates, but mediocre isn't that offensive of a term). And, further, making law review at most of the best schools is a result of writing competition results, not grades.

like i said. it's a balance. if your lsat/ school REALLY suck, good grades won't matter. if your 1L grades REALLY suck, your school/lsat (probably) won't matter (with exceptions on this side, which probably tips in favor of LSAT being a little bit more important)

[maximator]

And, further, making law review at most of the best schools is a result of writing competition results, not grades.

This is wrong. As far as I know grades are the most important factor in making law review at every school. Some schools might reserve some spots for people based solely on the write on, but it is usually only a small portion of the spots.

[Nova]

By the way, there's nothing more important for job placement than grades. I'd rather be top 10% at the university of Cincinnati than bottom 10% at HYS.

no way

[Hutz_and_Goodman]

By the way, there's nothing more important for job placement than grades. I'd rather be top 10% at the university of Cincinnati than bottom 10% at HYS.

no way

Cincinatti has 10% big law placement. If you're in top 10% it's reasonable to assume you have 50% chance of big law (or higher). Bottom 10% of HYS you aren't getting big law unless you are connected or insanely charismatic.

[westphillybandr]

By the way, there's nothing more important for job placement than grades. I'd rather be top 10% at the university of Cincinnati than bottom 10% at HYS.

no way

Cincinatti has 10% big law placement. If you're in top 10% it's reasonable to assume you have 50% chance of big law (or higher). Bottom 10% of HYS you aren't getting big law unless you are connected or insanely charismatic.

I doubt this is true. Maybe bottom 10% at Harvard can't get biglaw. But I'd be surprised if bottom 10% at Yale can't get biglaw

[sinfiery]

Seems to be the common wisdom for smaller markets. YS could get NYC/CA respectively, I bet at bottom 10%.

[A. Nony Mouse]

And, further, making law review at most of the best schools is a result of writing competition results, not grades.

This is wrong. As far as I know grades are the most important factor in making law review at every school. Some schools might reserve some spots for people based solely on the write on, but it is usually only a small portion of the spots.

My school's LR was not grades-based. Those in the top 10% got a tiny boost (the lowest of their scores - out of 5, I think? - were dropped), that was it. People not in the top 10% who were excellent writers had no problem getting on; people in the top 10% who were crappy writers didn't get on.

(Now, I went to a lower T1, so perhaps beneath notice, and your point may well be correct for the schools LexLeon's talking about - but it's not true that grades are the most important factor at every school.)

[Summerz]

I am of the opinion that the LS you attend may not indicate your LSAT score.

Yeah, you really cant make assumptions. One may be right more often than not when assuming stats based on school or ethnicity, but they will be wrong a considerable amount of time too.

I agree. Given the perception that attending a lower ranked school automatically translates to a mediocre LSAT score, I’d consider mentioning my LSAT if my grades were stellar. However, the, “please understand I opted for a full ride, if not for that I could have gone to H/Y/S” pitch would fall flat if your grades were median (or worse).

[guano]

I am of the opinion that the LS you attend may not indicate your LSAT score.

Yeah, you really cant make assumptions. One may be right more often than not when assuming stats based on school or ethnicity, but they will be wrong a considerable amount of time too.

I agree. Given the perception that attending a lower ranked school automatically translates to a mediocre LSAT score, I’d consider mentioning my LSAT if my grades were stellar. However, the, “please understand I opted for a full ride, if not for that I could have gone to H/Y/S” pitch would fall flat if your grades were median (or worse).

Don't bring up your LSAT - let your grades do the talking

[jselson]

By the way, there's nothing more important for job placement than grades. I'd rather be top 10% at the university of Cincinnati than bottom 10% at HYS.

no way

Cincinatti has 10% big law placement. If you're in top 10% it's reasonable to assume you have 50% chance of big law (or higher). Bottom 10% of HYS you aren't getting big law unless you are connected or insanely charismatic.

What makes you think that fewer than 50% of HLS students in the bottom 10% do not have connections nor charisma?

[rickgrimes69]

By the way, there's nothing more important for job placement than grades. I'd rather be top 10% at the university of Cincinnati than bottom 10% at HYS.

no way