Stay in UG for the GPA boost? Forum

[TopHatToad]

Hello you TLSers, you purveyors of wisdom...
I'm staring at the tail end of my UG life (December) with a 175/2.72. As with many splitters, I got my act together late in the game, and actually my past few semesters have been 4.0 or close to it. My question is essentially this: if I pick up a minor or otherwise artificially extend my undergrad for a semester or more, how beneficial would that GPA boost be for my law school goals (T10-T20 range)?
If I can add another 15 credits: 2.84
30 credits: 2.93

Compared to, say, 2 years WE or a graduate degree, should I even be considering this? I'm mentally law-or-bust, and I'll slug it out if need be, but I don't want to stick myself through more UG if I have better alternatives. Thanks guys!

[MusicComp]

I am sorry to say this, but I don't think any top 20 schools will accept a GPA below a 3.3, certainly not a 3.0

Maybe one or two of the top 25-top 30 will...

[CanadianWolf]

GWU, WashUStL, Minnesota & Indiana are all realistic possibilities with your stats according to lawschoolnumbers.com.

[MrAnon]

If you have to ask..... It sounds like a dumb idea because it is. Forget it. You need to push forward, not drown yourself in undergrad credits.

[CanadianWolf]

OP: Write an addendum focusing on your last few semesters GPA.

[Sh@keNb@ke]

Graduate as soon as possible. Go out and get some real work experience and enjoy Northwestern. The difference between a 2.7/2.9 is pretty negligible because either way you're under most schools 25% GPA. The poster above that says you're locked out of the top 20 schools has no idea what he's talking about.

[spleenworship]

Take more credits before graduation, up GPA, FTW IMO. With that LSAT you want a higher GPA if possible. If you can get it to 3.0 that would be best... you might be able to get T7-14.

Unless you are URM, in which case it might not be worth it for you, because the boost would get you in.

ETA; what the poster above said is true to a large degree, but I have heard of schools that have a firm lower limit for GPAs and won't take below a 3.0, FWIW.

[JamMasterJ]

There isn't really a difference until you break 3.0.

You have a good shot at WUSTL or Illinois right now, and as Sh@keNB@ke said, WE could get you Northwestern

[TopHatToad]

So 3.0 would be the magic number to make the difference then? I guess that answers that-- it's not worth another year and a half, if that's even possible.

Related to this, how much would an LSAT increase matter? I self-taught my way to my current score, but just started working for a major test-prep company. If I can increase my LSAT, do any new doors actually open or do I just firm up my chances with the currently-open ones?

[CanadianWolf]

A higher LSAT score is unlikely to help because your GPA is weighing down your options & a score of 172 clearly shows your potential to do well. A higher LSAT score might make you seem lazy--or lazier--in light of your dismal GPA.

[RaleighStClair]

I am sorry to say this, but I don't think any top 20 schools will accept a GPA below a 3.3, certainly not a 3.0

Maybe one or two of the top 25-top 30 will...

I am sorry to say this, but you are horribly wrong. A 99th %ile LSAT essentially trumps any GPA at certain schools, congrats OP! Don't worry about the difference between a 2.7 and 2.9...sub 25th is sub 25th.

[JamMasterJ]

A higher LSAT score is unlikely to help because your GPA is weighing down your options & a score of 172 clearly shows your potential to do well. A higher LSAT score might make you seem lazy--or lazier--in light of your dismal GPA.

I don't think a higher LSAT would seem lazy, but it is virtually meaningless, especially b/c you are far above the 75%ile for all the schools your gpa doesn't preclude you from

[j12]

Graduate and get the work experience, because the small bump in GPA won't make a difference. As many people pointed out, it'll be below the 25% either way, so doesn't make a difference, while having WE will help.

I don't think retaking will be worth it either, because you're already above the 75% there for everywhere outside the T6, and your GPA already excludes you from them.