Undergrad GPA Forum

[MikeFL25]

Hey all, I recently started studying for the LSAT, and will be taking the test this fall. However I have a question regarding my undergrad GPA.

I ended my bachelors degree program in Political Science with a not-so-great 3.3 GPA. I don't feel the need to make excuses for my GPA; obviously I could have studied a bit more than I did. However, despite a bad first semester, my GPA did improve through undergrad, rather than start high and drop off.

Immediately following undergrad I went to grad school and got a Master of Science in International Affairs, with a 3.75 GPA. Now I am looking into law school applications, and the fact that undergrad GPA is weighted so heavily is slightly troubling to me. I have seen several posts that assert grad-school GPA is seen as a "non-factor" in LS applications. Some have even gone so far as to say grad school is "easy" to do well in (I call BS on that, my grad school program was much more challenging than undergrad and I worked harder in grad school, hence the better GPA).

I guess my question is, how much will my undergrad GPA hurt me in LS applications? I have a lot of good things going for my application in the form of my grad school coursework, GPA, and internships, study abroads, a foreign research project in Haiti and leadership positions in cultural exchanges. While I do not know what my LSAT score will be, I do have 3+ months where studying for the LSAT will be my focus, with no outside distractions or other time commitments.

I realize that without an LSAT score it is more difficult to give advice, but I appreciate your input nonetheless. Thanks!

EDIT: Just to add a bit more background, I graduated high school early with a HS diploma and an AA degree by doing an early college program offered by a local community college. I ended that AA program with a 3.6~ GPA. I'm currently 22 years old freshly graduated with a MS.

[ph14]

Hey all, I recently started studying for the LSAT, and will be taking the test this fall. However I have a question regarding my undergrad GPA.

I ended my bachelors degree program in Political Science with a not-so-great 3.3 GPA. I don't feel the need to make excuses for my GPA; obviously I could have studied a bit more than I did. However, despite a bad first semester, my GPA did improve through undergrad, rather than start high and drop off.

Immediately following undergrad I went to grad school and got a Master of Science in International Affairs, with a 3.75 GPA. Now I am looking into law school applications, and the fact that undergrad GPA is weighted so heavily is slightly troubling to me. I have seen several posts that assert grad-school GPA is seen as a "non-factor" in LS applications. Some have even gone so far as to say grad school is "easy" to do well in (I call BS on that, my grad school program was much more challenging than undergrad and I worked harder in grad school, hence the better GPA).

I guess my question is, how much will my undergrad GPA hurt me in LS applications? I have a lot of good things going for my application in the form of my grad school coursework, GPA, and internships, study abroads, a foreign research project in Haiti and leadership positions in cultural exchanges. While I do not know what my LSAT score will be, I do have 3+ months where studying for the LSAT will be my focus, with no outside distractions or other time commitments.

I realize that without an LSAT score it is more difficult to give advice, but I appreciate your input nonetheless. Thanks!

Your undergrad GPA isn't going to "hurt" you, your undergrad GPA is your baseline for law school admissions. And from there, your grad school GPA will not help you at all.

[rad lulz]

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