How GPA is accumulated? Forum

Burke21 · Post by **Burke21** » Sun Jan 09, 2011 7:23 pm

Hello, I am a third year University student, majoring in Philosophy (political philosophy and jurisprudence interested), and a political science minor. I am going to be applying to law school this time next year. I am just wondering how schools like Stanford, Harvard, Columbia, and Berkly calculate GPA. In other words, do they look at all 40 classes ( 10 classes a semester, each class worth 3 semester hours), or will they look at my top 20, last 20, or just classes, which I major in? I have heard several different answers. Just would like to get a better idea of my GPA, before applying. Thank you.

JazzOne · Post by **JazzOne** » Sun Jan 09, 2011 7:24 pm

One semester at a time.

Bildungsroman · Post by **Bildungsroman** » Sun Jan 09, 2011 7:25 pm

Burke21 wrote:Hello, I am a third year University student, majoring in Philosophy (political philosophy and jurisprudence interested), and a political science minor. I am going to be applying to law school this time next year. I am just wondering how schools like Stanford, Harvard, Columbia, and Berkly calculate GPA. In other words, do they look at all 40 classes ( 10 classes a semester, each class worth 3 semester hours), or will they look at my top 20, last 20, or just classes, which I major in? I have heard several different answers. Just would like to get a better idea of my GPA, before applying. Thank you.

LSAC calculates a GPA for you that includes all classes taken prior to being awarded your first bachelor's degree. Law schools look at this GPA.

Burke21 · Post by **Burke21** » Sun Jan 09, 2011 7:28 pm

Okay, thank you. Now regarding this answer, I will not know my GPA until I complete my BA, and LSAC does the calculation for me. In addition, does this GPA count for all 4 years, or just a certain amount of classes? Thank you.

Bildungsroman · Post by **Bildungsroman** » Sun Jan 09, 2011 7:29 pm

Burke21 wrote:Okay, thank you. Now regarding this answer, I will not know my GPA until I complete my BA, and LSAC does the calculation for me. In addition, does this GPA count for all 4 years, or just a certain amount of classes? Thank you.

So, if you apply before you've finished your degree, then it's just all the classes taken at the point that you send your transcripts in to LSAC and apply. LSAC will calculate your GPA from the classes on your transcripts.

Burke21 · Post by **Burke21** » Sun Jan 09, 2011 7:34 pm

Perfect, thank you very much. You have been helpful. I also found an article that claims LSAC calculates GPA on a 4.3 scale, as does my University.

Now, just for clarity sake would you all agree that it's possible to get into a school like Stanford (seeing as it's my number 1 goal) with say a 3.7 GPA, in other words that's a 80-84 % (A-). I have read several articles that claim Stanford's lower 25 % is 3.7, median 3.8, and 75%+ 3.9. So a even a 3.9 GPA would be somewhere between 3.7 GPA (80-84) and 4.0 GPA (85-90). Right?

Burke21 · Post by **Burke21** » Sun Jan 09, 2011 7:39 pm

It's true. I am Canadian. Nonetheless, I have just been doing research for law schools as I will be applying for them in December of this year. I will be doing my LSAT in June. I am just being realistic and I can see me finishing my B.A. with roughly a 3.7 GPA, and that is counting every single class... So I am just wondering, since LSAC also calculates GPA on a 4.3 GPA scale, like my school..will it be the same. And if that is the case and they take all my classes, which should leave me a 3.7 GPA will that be good enough for a school like Stanford. Assuming my resume, and recommendations are great, plus my LSAT is above 168.

This is more of just clarity, and seeing where I am at as of now. Best case is that LSAC does not count all my classes, which means my GPA will only rise.

Bildungsroman · Post by **Bildungsroman** » Sun Jan 09, 2011 7:41 pm

Burke21 wrote:Now, just for clarity sake would you all agree that it's possible to get into a school like Stanford (seeing as it's my number 1 goal) with say a 3.7 GPA, in other words that's a 80-84 % (A-). I have read several articles that claim Stanford's lower 25 % is 3.7, median 3.8, and 75%+ 3.9. So a even a 3.9 GPA would be somewhere between 3.7 GPA (80-84) and 4.0 GPA (85-90). Right?

What? If your question is whether you can get into Stanford with a 3.7, I'm sorry to say that's probably not going to happen. That's under the 25th percentile for entering GPAs.

HowdyYall · Post by **HowdyYall** » Sun Jan 09, 2011 7:44 pm

JazzOne wrote:One semester at a time.

lol

Burke21 · Post by **Burke21** » Sun Jan 09, 2011 8:18 pm

Yes I am aware that Stanford's GPA lowest 25% is 3.7, however, it is still possible to be accepted. Hopefully LSAC only counts your last 3 years of study for one's GPA, that way I should easily be in the 3.8 GPA, which makes me in the median of Stanford.

Bildungsroman · Post by **Bildungsroman** » Sun Jan 09, 2011 8:19 pm

Burke21 wrote:Yes I am aware that Stanford's GPA lowest 25% is 3.7, however, it is still possible to be accepted. Hopefully LSAC only counts your last 3 years of study for one's GPA, that way I should easily be in the 3.8 GPA, which makes me in the median of Stanford.

That's not how it works. They count all classes taken before being awarded your first bachelor's degree.

Burke21 · Post by **Burke21** » Sun Jan 09, 2011 8:31 pm

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