International Baccalaureate Program transfer credits in GPA Forum

[7ED]

Hi,

I took the IB program in high school and as a result, my university gave me 24 credits to apply toward my diploma for my Higher Level Courses. IB courses do not count as college courses, so I was not taking college courses for high-school credit.

IB courses are marked out of 7, with 3 possible bonus marks for a course called theory of knowledge. At my school, a 6 or higher on a higher level course will get you credit for it in university, and a 3 for TOK will get you credits for university philosophy as well.

I am wondering if these 24 credits will count toward my LSAC GPA, and if so, if anyone knows HOW they will apply, since IB courses are not marked according to percentages or grades.

Currently, it is aknowledged by the IB program and participating highschools/universities that 5-7 is the equivalent of an A grade in highschool. If that means they count as an A+ for me then all the better, but I have honestly know idea how it works for LSAC or if it coutns at all.

These credits apepar on my transcript as "24 transfer credits awarded". There are no other details, though the credits were applied for history, english, and physics.

[straxen]

The way I understand it, and the way it worked at University of Washington for me, is that these were ungraded credits only on your UG transcript.

In that case, for purposes of calculating your LSDAS GPA they might as well not be there--they won't hurt or help. If your university gave you a grade (which I sincerely doubt), then I suspect that grade would be used by LSDAS.

[eleemosynary]

In my case too, IB credits only appeared on my transcript and did not affect my regular or LSAC GPA.

[beesknees]

,

[7ED]

Oh okay. but the transcript just says "24 transfer credits" should i tell the university to add in a note to say they are ungraded high school courses? Otherwise LSAC might hound me for where i got those 24 credits from?

[Aeon]

Oh okay. but the transcript just says "24 transfer credits" should i tell the university to add in a note to say they are ungraded high school courses? Otherwise LSAC might hound me for where i got those 24 credits from?

Are you looking at an unofficial version of the transcript? Official transcripts can sometimes contain more information. In either case, I don't think it's much to worry about, and I doubt that LSAC would care. As long as you appropriately indicate which college(s) you've attended on your law school applications, I can't imagine schools having any questions about this either, and in the unlikely case that they do, they'll contact you.

That being said, if it would make you rest easier, I don't see a problem in asking your university to make a note on your transcript. Your registrar's office might be unwilling to do this, but there's no harm in asking.

Good luck!

[annabell]

Law schools are smart enough to figure out that IB credits (or AP for that matter) are from high school. Most are quite familiar with the program. I'd wager that a very high percentage of those entering law school have some sort of advanced credits from high school. Don't worry about it - admissions committees can figure it out.

Edit: And they are transfer credits, so like any other transfer credits, they don't factor into your GPA.

[Aeon]

Law schools are smart enough to figure out that IB credits (or AP for that matter) are from high school. Most are quite familiar with the program. I'd wager that a very high percentage of those entering law school have some sort of advanced credits from high school. Don't worry about it - admissions committees can figure it out.

Edit: And they are transfer credits, so like any other transfer credits, they don't factor into your GPA.

But this would depend on whether 7ED's transcript indicates whether they are IB credits. I get the impression that this may not be the case.

[Lingon]

I wanted to bump this thread because I have a similar question:

On my college transcript it says that I brought with me 37 credits from high school. I did the international baccalaureate and they were not college courses. The grade given for the courses is marked as a "P" and on the backside of my transcript it says that a P means "Passing" and is given a 0.00 on a 4.0 scale.

Do you guys think LSAC will use these credits from the IB and my 0.00 GPA for those course when calculating my GPA? I have a pretty good college GPA (did pretty well in the IB too btw) and I can only imagine how much lower it will be if they assume that I have a 0.00 GPA for 37 credits.

I have sent my transcript to LSAC but I am curious as to what you guys have to say. Does anyone have a similar experience?

[KingsBench]

On my college transcript it says that I brought with me 37 credits from high school. I did the international baccalaureate and they were not college courses. The grade given for the courses is marked as a "P" and on the backside of my transcript it says that a P means "Passing" and is given a 0.00 on a 4.0 scale.

Do you guys think LSAC will use these credits from the IB and my 0.00 GPA for those course when calculating my GPA? I have a pretty good college GPA (did pretty well in the IB too btw) and I can only imagine how much lower it will be if they assume that I have a 0.00 GPA for 37 credits.

I have sent my transcript to LSAC but I am curious as to what you guys have to say. Does anyone have a similar experience?

I also took IB and my official transcript has them listed as EQUIV, which won't be calculated in the GPA as far as I know. Echoing annabell, these universities know that a fair number of applicants apply with a smorgasbord of AP/IB credit and I really don't think you'll have to worry about it.

If you're still worried, this is what LSAC has to say about the matter (assuming AP roughly equates to IB):

Advanced Placement (AP) or College Level Examination Programs (CLEP)
AP or CLEP courses are summarized and included in the GPA if the undergraduate school transcript shows grades and credits for them.

In your case, the "Pass" grade according to LSAC is one of the types of grades excluded from conversion. Don't sweat it, I don't think there's really been a case where taking IB/AP has really harmed someone during applications.

[Lingon]

This makes me feel better. Thank you so much!

On my college transcript it says that I brought with me 37 credits from high school. I did the international baccalaureate and they were not college courses. The grade given for the courses is marked as a "P" and on the backside of my transcript it says that a P means "Passing" and is given a 0.00 on a 4.0 scale.

Do you guys think LSAC will use these credits from the IB and my 0.00 GPA for those course when calculating my GPA? I have a pretty good college GPA (did pretty well in the IB too btw) and I can only imagine how much lower it will be if they assume that I have a 0.00 GPA for 37 credits.

I have sent my transcript to LSAC but I am curious as to what you guys have to say. Does anyone have a similar experience?

I also took IB and my official transcript has them listed as EQUIV, which won't be calculated in the GPA as far as I know. Echoing annabell, these universities know that a fair number of applicants apply with a smorgasbord of AP/IB credit and I really don't think you'll have to worry about it.

If you're still worried, this is what LSAC has to say about the matter (assuming AP roughly equates to IB):

Advanced Placement (AP) or College Level Examination Programs (CLEP)
AP or CLEP courses are summarized and included in the GPA if the undergraduate school transcript shows grades and credits for them.

In your case, the "Pass" grade according to LSAC is one of the types of grades excluded from conversion. Don't sweat it, I don't think there's really been a case where taking IB/AP has really harmed someone during applications.