does your undergrad university prestige matter? Forum

[emc]

As a history major and philosophy minor, I have a 3.8 from a smaller liberal arts university in the northwest.

Will my gpa be viewed differently since it is not from a more prestigious school, and perhaps not perceived as strong? My best friend attends Berkeley as an undergrad, but has a lesser gpa by a few points, around a 3.5 or 3.6. Does she appear more attractive because of her higher ranked undergrad school regardless of a slightly lower gpa?

Thanks!!

[KevinP]

In general, no, school prestige won't make a difference at all.

Only time that I can think of that it might matter is an extremely slight boost for HYP or a slight boost for attending the law school's UG.

[oshik87]

Delete

[lawyerwannabe]

Agreed that it can be a tie-breaker on a candidate-by-candidate basis.

However, my 3.9 from a state school looks better than that 3.5 from UChicago in the eyes of admission offices. Thus, in OPs instance, s/he is probably in a better position for admittance to law school than their friend.

[Dany]

In general, no, school prestige won't make a difference at all.

Only time that I can think of that it might matter is an extremely slight boost for HYP or a slight boost for attending the law school's UG.

^^This is nonsense. Of course schools will see a 3.5 from UChicago and 3.5 from Loyola Chicago differently.

Yeah, if they have identical LSAT scores, work experience, personal statements, etc. and there happens to be only one spot left in the class that must go to one of the two. Then it might be used as a factor.

Anyway, OP, there are dozens (if not hundreds) of threads on this topic, so use the search function at the bottom of the page and you'll have as many opinions on this as you could ever want.

[oshik87]

In general, no, school prestige won't make a difference at all.

Only time that I can think of that it might matter is an extremely slight boost for HYP or a slight boost for attending the law school's UG.

It also depends on the school to which you're applying and who is reviewing your file. As far as I know, almost every law school website says what school you went to is definitely a factor.

[Dany]

in OPs instance, s/he is probably absolutely in a better position for admittance to law school than their friend.

[Dany]

It also depends on the school to which you're applying and who is reviewing your file. As far as I know, almost every law school website says what school you went to is definitely a factor.

Do you also believe the schools who say personal statements, LORs, and resumes are all very important and then proceed to admit 99% of applicants based on their LSAT/GPA?

[KevinP]

In general, no, school prestige won't make a difference at all.

Only time that I can think of that it might matter is an extremely slight boost for HYP or a slight boost for attending the law school's UG.

^^This is nonsense. Of course schools will see a 3.5 from UChicago and 3.5 from Loyola Chicago differently.

U.S. News doesn't see them differently. Why would law schools (in most cases) given that they highly care about US News rankings?

This doesn't go against my statement since I spoke in general terms.
A 3.55 from Loyola Chicago will almost exclusively fare better than 3.5 from UChicago, given everything else is equal.

[oshik87]

It also depends on the school to which you're applying and who is reviewing your file. As far as I know, almost every law school website says what school you went to is definitely a factor.

Do you also believe the schools who say personal statements, LORs, and resumes are all very important and then proceed to admit 99% of applicants based on their LSAT/GPA?

Nope, just responding to the first responder who says it won't make a difference at all, when it might.

[KevinP]

It also depends on the school to which you're applying and who is reviewing your file. As far as I know, almost every law school website says what school you went to is definitely a factor.

Do you also believe the schools who say personal statements, LORs, and resumes are all very important and then proceed to admit 99% of applicants based on their LSAT/GPA?

Nope, just responding to the first responder who says it won't make a difference at all, when it might.

Nice way to build up a straw man argument.

[Lagunitan]

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[YourCaptain]

yes it matters youve already lost give up all hoap

[ndirish2010]

Did you go to HYP? If not, it doesn't matter at all. If so, it matters slightly.