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https://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=263598
Your cumulative GPA is most important. However, I had a sub 3.0 first semester and am going to graduate with around a 3.7-3.8. If you keep getting 3.9 semesters, by the time you apply your first semester will not matter. If you have a 170+ and above a 3.7 gpa you will have lots of t-14 options. don't worry too much, just make sure you keep getting 3.9 semesters.derekne wrote:Hi everyone,
I am currently a rising sophomore at a top ten public university. I am wondering how t14 law schools view people who have GPA's that are lower than the median simply because of one poor semester? I entered college as a physics and math double major and quickly realized that those areas weren't for me. I took Honors Gen Chem, Differential Equations and Honors Physics and ended up with a 2.89. I switched my Major to political science and just learned that I got a 3.9 with a courseload of upper level, writing intensive political science courses. Assuming I keep this up,(which I think I can as long as I stick with poli sci), by the time I apply to t14's are admissions officers going to view my transcript in light of this continued success,(i.e if I get 3.9's for the next two years will they see me as a 3.9 student?), or will they simply take my GPA at face value and not seriously consider extreme upward grade trends? Let's assume that when I apply I have average softs and an LSAT in the low 170's,(i.e median stats except for my GPA). In closing, will this one bad semester seriously hurt my chances at getting into a t14 law school despite serious upwards grade trends?
This is true if your GPA stays where it is.derekne wrote:I have looked at mlsn but that doesn't necessarily reflect my situation,(i.e lower GPA because of hard STEM classes in my first semester in college and a significantly higher GPA after that as a poli sci major) and it's influence on how admissions officers will view my GPA. Just looking at mlsn my conclusion would be that I'd have to get an LSAT score in the mid to high 170's to make up for the deficit.
mid 3.7 is the median for almost half the t-14.derekne wrote:I understand that. But I'm assuming that come time to apply I'll have a mid 3.7,(lower than the median GPA at virtually all t14 law schools), simply because I had one bad semester. My real question is whether or not admissions officers will take things like this into account when they view my GPA.
People have answered this already. Your GPA is what it is; that's what schools have to report tO USNWR. Adcomms will see the upward trend and it's better than a downward trend, if they're comparing you to a candidate with similar the samederekne wrote:I understand that. But I'm assuming that come time to apply I'll have a mid 3.7,(lower than the median GPA at virtually all t14 law schools), simply because I had one bad semester. My real question is whether or not admissions officers will take things like this into account when they view my GPA.
Reported gpas to mylsn arent based on semester gpa. They are based on final gpa. Enter your final (expected) gpa (3.7?) and a mid-high 160s lsat and you will see acceptances at t14 schools.derekne wrote:I have looked at mlsn but that doesn't necessarily reflect my situation,(i.e lower GPA because of hard STEM classes in my first semester in college and a significantly higher GPA after that as a poli sci major) and it's influence on how admissions officers will view my GPA. Just looking at mlsn my conclusion would be that I'd have to get an LSAT score in the mid to high 170's to make up for the deficit.