Top Law Schools

I know this is "top-law-schools" but what are the chances of attending any school with a GPA below 2.0?

Due to a serious health setback during undergrad I have a full year of Fs on my transcript, which bring my cumulative GPA below 1.9. Is there any chance a school will admit me with a well written addendum, and considering my reasonable LSAT score of 163? I'm not aiming for a top 100 school, but rather attending any school and potentially transferring within the top 100 would be my best bet. Is this even an option? I would rather not do another undergraduate degree, but would that be my only option?

I know its like asking for Skoda repair advice on a Bentley forum, but I appreciate the knowledge level of the forum when it comes to admission related advice. Thanks in advance.

Your LSAT will definitely get you in somewhere. If schools had to report an averaged GPA of its students you might be SOL, but for all intents and purposes, your low GPA is hurting them only as much as somebody whose GPA is .01 below their 25%. So long as you have a good reason for it, which you do, and its not the result of complete incompetence, some school will bite.

I thought you couldn't graduate with below 2.0...

Anyways, your best bet is to apply to 20 or so schools and write an addendum explaining your situation. Your LSAT is definatly a big plus. You should be able to get in to some school for sure, it might not even have to be the worst school in the country.

Do not count on transferring.

reebtoor wrote:Do not count on transferring.

+1 Yes, thanks. I forgot to say that.

GoTribe1 wrote:Your LSAT will definitely get you in somewhere. If schools had to report an averaged GPA of its students you might be SOL, but for all intents and purposes, your low GPA is hurting them only as much as somebody whose GPA is .01 below their 25%. So long as you have a good reason for it, which you do, and its not the result of complete incompetence, some school will bite.

That sounds promising.

Ragged wrote:I thought you couldn't graduate with below 2.0...

Anyways, your best bet is to apply to 20 or so schools and write an addendum explaining your situation. Your LSAT is definatly a big plus. You should be able to get in to some school for sure, it might not even have to be the worst school in the country.

I wasn't initially allowed until I met with the dean. I explained my situation and after providing some medical documentation he approved my grad request. Would retaking to try and get a >170 be worth it?

Wow,
I think you should just apply to as much schools as possible, also look into which schools weigh the LSAT significantly more than the GPA

bagosian wrote: Would retaking to try and get a >170 be worth it?

Retaking for a 170+ is always worth it.

Ragged wrote:

bagosian wrote: Would retaking to try and get a >170 be worth it?

Retaking for a 170+ is always worth it.

I'll see how the cycle goes. If nothing works out I'll retake in June to try and score a 170+.

Try NYLS. Some Asst. Dean of Admissions made an ass of themselves by soliciting my 50yr stepfather to apply for one of the many still open spots in the class.



You might have to go prove yourself in the real world first.

erniesto wrote:Try NYLS. Some Asst. Dean of Admissions made an ass of themselves by soliciting my 50yr stepfather to apply for one of the many still open spots in the class.



You might have to go prove yourself in the real world first.

How did that happen?

erniesto wrote:Try NYLS. Some Asst. Dean of Admissions made an ass of themselves by soliciting my 50yr stepfather to apply for one of the many still open spots in the class.



You might have to go prove yourself in the real world first.

LOL. Actually true?

Is it possible to do any sort of graduate level work to try to bump up your GPA? That > 2.0 will hurt you. Some school will bite, but if they do, there will be -0- money offered, and it will most probably be T3/T4 that may bite.

Miznitic wrote:Is it possible to do any sort of graduate level work to try to bump up your GPA? That > 2.0 will hurt you. Some school will bite, but if they do, there will be -0- money offered, and it will most probably be T3/T4 that may bite.

Would schools distinguish between the two? I was under the impression that schools focused on the cumulative UGPA for admission purposes.

Miznitic wrote:Is it possible to do any sort of graduate level work to try to bump up your GPA? That > 2.0 will hurt you. Some school will bite, but if they do, there will be -0- money offered, and it will most probably be T3/T4 that may bite.

don't almost all grad schools have a gpa requirement too?

an addendum will help significantly, along with documentation of your illness. somewhere will take you. apply as early as possible. and maybe wait a few years and work first. anything to get yourself away from that GPA.

also, do not count on transferring.

roadkilllaw wrote:

erniesto wrote:Try NYLS. Some Asst. Dean of Admissions made an ass of themselves by soliciting my 50yr stepfather to apply for one of the many still open spots in the class.



You might have to go prove yourself in the real world first.

LOL. Actually true?

True story, happened on Monday at a "focus" aka sell-you-on-this-school admitted student event that I went to.

if you retook the lsat, and got 170+ your cycle would be SO unpredictable as you'd be one of the most extreme splitters ever. I don't even think I could tell you where to start applying...

roadkilllaw wrote:if you retook the lsat, and got 170+ your cycle would be SO unpredictable as you'd be one of the most extreme splitters ever. I don't even think I could tell you where to start applying...

Northwestern took a 2.1/171 ED this cycle...anything's possible.

bagosian wrote:

Miznitic wrote:Is it possible to do any sort of graduate level work to try to bump up your GPA? That > 2.0 will hurt you. Some school will bite, but if they do, there will be -0- money offered, and it will most probably be T3/T4 that may bite.

Would schools distinguish between the two? I was under the impression that schools focused on the cumulative UGPA for admission purposes.

They do focus on cumulative UGPA for admissions. Only way a grad degree would help is by distancing yourself from the 1.9.

I would say that if you think you can hit a 167+ on the LSAT then it is worth a retake. I think with a steller LSAT, addendum and early apps then you might have a shot at some schools that would be worth the $.

Which is more reliable in predicting admissions likelihood for extreme splitters, LSP or the official LSAC guide?

I have sent out 15 applications so far to a number of tier 3s, with absolutely no idea of who would even consider me or auto-ding me. LSP seems to have me as an automatic ding at pretty much every Top 100 school, so is it even worth sending out applications to lower top 100 schools that are within the region I would like to work in?

The official guide search is a bit more forgiving, with a number of schools I would love to attend showing an admissions likelihood range of (40-70%).

bagosian wrote:Which is more reliable in predicting admissions likelihood for extreme splitters, LSP or the official LSAC guide?

I have sent out 15 applications so far to a number of tier 3s, with absolutely no idea of who would even consider me or auto-ding me. LSP seems to have me as an automatic ding at pretty much every Top 100 school, so is it even worth sending out applications to lower top 100 schools that are within the region I would like to work in?

The official guide search is a bit more forgiving, with a number of schools I would love to attend showing an admissions likelihood range of (40-70%).

Apply to schools where you're well above their 75% LSAT. If you actually think you can get over 170 with a retake, this list of schools will be bigger and better schools will be included (T1). Look into schools with a low gpa median and high lsat median, these schools are more splitter friendly. Honestly, I don't think either LSP or LSAC is reliable for such extreme numbers, you'll just have to apply to as many schools as possible.

Community college courses count for LSAC GPA, too. If it bumps you up significantly, I might take a few (even if they're just online) to get the number up (though that's certainly more expensive than retaking the LSAT).

I thought once you graduate, any other undergrad classes don't count towards your LSAC gpa?

Just to update, 2 rejections so far (one t4, one t100). Lots still pending. Unpredictable to say the least.