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I'm about to finish up my first semester of my sophomore year with a 3.55 GPA (I got a 3.76 for the semester). First semester of my freshman year really screwed me over since I finished up with a 3.1 for the first semester. I improved it every semester and like I said before I will finish up the semester with a cumulative of 3.55. My question is do Law Schools factor in how you did your first semester of college? From the general consensus of other people and my the transition is hard for students from HS to college and that is understandable. I would like to be a competitive applicant for Law School and I know I don't have an LSAT score but as far as GPA goes if I keep maintaining a 3.76-3.96 (Lower end getting one B and higher end getting an A-) each semester from here on out should I be on the right track?

Thanks

Yes, first semester freshman grades count, but if you have a strong upward grade trend after that semester, they may be regarded somewhat less seriously.

Yes. First semester freshman grades do count. However, don't worry about it, since you still have plenty of time to bring your GPA up, if you actually get in the 3.8+ every semester from now on.

Why wouldn't they? They count pretty much any grade you've received...IIRC even graded college credit from high school.

blowhard wrote:Why wouldn't they? They count pretty much any grade you've received...IIRC even graded college credit from high school.

Yup, even dual-enrollment.

It's pretty easy to game your UGPA though. Extra easy-A classes, winter term, summer term, community college stuff... one bad semester should be easy to dilute.

I also shit the bed first semester freshmen year with a 3.1. Ended up with a 3.78 at graduation (had a 4.0 each semester junior and senior year) and had no glaring issues in my cycle. It's definitely doable. Best of luck!

My first semester freshman GPA remains my highest. 3.8. Downward trends ftw.

Killingly wrote:My first semester freshman GPA remains my highest. 3.8. Downward trends ftw.

Mine too but it was a 3.15.

Desert Fox wrote:

Killingly wrote:My first semester freshman GPA remains my highest. 3.8. Downward trends ftw.

Mine too but it was a 3.15.

I respect that. People need to calm down about the GPAs.

Desert Fox wrote:

Killingly wrote:My first semester freshman GPA remains my highest. 3.8. Downward trends ftw.

Mine too but it was a 3.15.

Engineering's a bitch.

Thanks guys! I appreciate the feedback! Correction to my OP I OFFICIALLY finished up my semester with a 3.93!

Desert Fox wrote:

Killingly wrote:My first semester freshman GPA remains my highest. 3.8. Downward trends ftw.

Mine too but it was a 3.15.

You can recover from that with a 176

I took a 1 credit course at the local CC in middle school and it counted towards my LSDAS GPA Had totally forgot about it until LSAC requested my CC transcript.