Top Law Schools

Hello! Thanks for taking the time to read my post, I appreciate it!

You're probably wondering about the GPA range, so I'll explain it to you. I'm a Canadian and our grading system is different (for example, at my school A+ is 90+ whereas according to LSAC it's 98+). The two GPAs are different because one is calculated using my actual percentage grades and the other using my letter grades. I'm under the impression from what I've read (and calling LSAC) that they use the letter grades, which would put my GPA at a 4.215. For the record, at my university in Canada, it'd be about a 3.97 (out of 4). I'm currently in my second year but next year I'll be doing an exchange. Yes, I know, I'm a little young to be asking for my chances but please answer assuming I can keep my GPA fairly steady.

I got my LSAC earlier today (June 2011) and was rather disappointed. My diagnostic was a 167, so it was rather upsetting seeing it only improve by one point, especially when my average on PTs was about a 172-173. 2 days before the LSAT I received news that a family member had been seriously injured and aside from not getting any sleep that night, I think it may have thrown off my performance off on the LSAT. I'm planning to rewrite, which I realize will be the first suggestion that people will give me!

I guess my questions are thus: Have I completely ruined my chances at HYS? If not, what kind of score on a retake would I need to stand a good chance? Should I include an addendum, assuming I do better on my retake, explaining why the first LSAT didn't adequately reflect my ability? And for the sake of argument, if I don't improve my score, where would I have a good chance?

Thanks for reading through this long post and hopefully for answering!

Where does the 3.78 come from, you mention 3.97 and 4.215? Just retake, you seem like you obviously can do better.

For a fighting chance... 3.78 probably means in the 178-180 range. 4.215 171+ will give you a fighting chance (really anything above 4.01). 174 and I'd say you have H locked, and great chances at YS, depending on other factors.

booboo wrote:Where does the 3.78 come from, you mention 3.97 and 4.215? Just retake, you seem like you obviously can do better.

For a fighting chance... 3.78 probably means in the 178-180 range. 4.215 171+ will give you a fighting chance (really anything above 4.01). 174 and I'd say you have H locked, and great chances at YS, depending on other factors.

Hey, thanks for the quick response! Sorry if I didn't explain that well, a 3.78 is if I calculate my GPA using LSAC's conversion scale and my percentages (so for example, my 90 A+ at my university becomes a 3.67 with LSAC).

cowhorn12345 wrote:

booboo wrote:Where does the 3.78 come from, you mention 3.97 and 4.215? Just retake, you seem like you obviously can do better.

For a fighting chance... 3.78 probably means in the 178-180 range. 4.215 171+ will give you a fighting chance (really anything above 4.01). 174 and I'd say you have H locked, and great chances at YS, depending on other factors.

Hey, thanks for the quick response! Sorry if I didn't explain that well, a 3.78 is if I calculate my GPA using LSAC's conversion scale and my percentages (so for example, my 90 A+ at my university becomes a 3.67 with LSAC).

Maybe find out from your school or ask on the forum if anyone who went to your school has any experience with GPA conversion scale. Then you can really know where you stand. You could just send in your transcript to LSAC, since you have an account already, and you'll get your current GPA.

From what I've read on Canadian law forums, people have been saying they use our letter grades for the conversion, which is also what the person at LSAC told me. If you send in your transcript, I assume you just send in a new one when you have more credits to your name?

...

tng11 wrote:They go by letter grades as LSAC understands the scale works different up here. I would stake a lot of money on that statement.

Fabulous, that's what I was hoping! My GPA is much better when they go by letter grades. So what kind of LSAT score do you think I would need on a retake?

cowhorn12345 wrote:From what I've read on Canadian law forums, people have been saying they use our letter grades for the conversion, which is also what the person at LSAC told me. If you send in your transcript, I assume you just send in a new one when you have more credits to your name?

Yes. This is what people who are currently in school do. To be honest, you don't even have to submit your final transcript to LSAC. Your school of attendance is the one that requires it. The only negative of submitting your transcript in your sophomore year versus the first half of senior year is that schools will want to know why they lack more information.

Yes you need to retake. I'd guess the low 170's but how about you do the actual legwork and take a look at http://www.lawschoolnumbers.com

They might average, they might not. Act is if they don't because you can't really change what they will do (and the best you could get if they average is a 174).

bk187 wrote:Yes you need to retake. I'd guess the low 170's but how about you do the actual legwork and take a look at http://www.lawschoolnumbers.com

They might average, they might not. Act is if they don't because you can't really change what they will do (and the best you could get if they average is a 174).

Thank you for your response. I've obsessively checked at law school numbers but the only problem is with my GPA. Assuming they do use letters, there aren't a ton of people with similar stats to me. But thanks for your help.