PRELAW HANDBOOK - Grade Point Average

TOPICS

WHAT YOUR LSAT AND GPA CAN DO FOR YOU

CALCULATING THE GPA

HOW IMPORTANT IS THE GRADE POINT AVERAGE

STRIVING FOR A HIGH GPA

HOW LAW SCHOOL MAY LOOK AT THE GPA

THE GRADES OF WITHDRAW (W) AND INCOMPLETE (I)

AVOIDING THE GRADES OF WITHDRAW (W) AND INCOMPLETE

PASS/FAIL OPTION

WHAT TO DO ABOUT YOUR SENIOR YEAR GRADES

WHAT TO DO IF YOU HAVE A LOW UNDERGRADUATE GPA

CALCULATING THE GPA

POLICIES RELATED TO TRANSCRIPTS SUMMARIZATION gives information which might be relevant; for example, what grades are excuded from grade conversion; how grades in a repeated course are counted. .

According to LSAC, their GRADE CONVERSATION TABLE converts grades to "a standard 4.0 system" (actually a "Standard 4.33 system") in order to furnish law schools with a uniform basis for comparing applicants." Unfortunately this is not true: LSAC allows a 4.33 for a grade of A+ whereas "a standard 4.0 system" does not allow an A+ let alone a 4.33. Allowing some applicant a chance for an A+ while others havie no chance, does NOT "furnish law schools with a uniform basis for comparing applicants." All grades of A+ should be downsized to the graade of A.

http://www.lsac.org/jd/Help/faqs-cas.asp

LSAC GRADE CONVERSION TABLE

LSAC Conversion Grades as Reported on Transcripts

4.0 Scale A to F 1 to 5 100-0* Four
Passing
Grades Three Passing Grades

4.33 A+ 1+ 98-100 Highest
Passing
Grade (4.0) Highest Passing Grade (4.0)

4.00 A 1 93-97

3.67 A- 1- 90-92

3.50 AB

3.33 B+ 2+ 87-89 Second Highest Passing Grade (3.0) Middle Passing Grade (3.0)

3.00 B 2 83-86

2.67 B- 2- 80-82

2.50 BC

2.33 C+ 3+ 77-79 Third Highest Passing Grade (2.0) Lowest Passing Grade (2.0)

2.00 C 3 73-76

1.67 C- 3- 70-72

1.50 CD

1.33 D+ 4+ 67-69 Lowest Passing Grade (1.0)

1.00 D 4 63-66

0.67 D- 4- 60-62

0.50 DE or DF

0.00 E and F 5 Below 60 Failure (0.00) Failure (0.00)

WHAT CAN YOUR LSAT
AND GPA DO FOR YOU?

USNews RANK

25th Percentile -
75th Percentile

25th Percentile -
75th Percentile

1-10

167.5 - 172.2

3.61 - 3.87

11 - 25

163.4 - 167.5

3.42 - 3.79

26 - 50

159.2 - 164.6

3.31 - 3.76

51 -75

157.5 - 162.1

3.25 - 3.71

76 - 104

155.5 - 160.3

3.13 - 3.66

Tier 3

151.9 - 157.2

3.09 - 3.64

Tier 4

150.0 - 154.9

2.95 - 3.49

HOW IMPORTANT IS THE GPA?

The University of Kansas Pre-Law Advising says that, "The major benchmarks in the law school admission decision are a student's grade point average and a student's score on the Law School Admission Test (LSAT). Other factors, such as extracurricular activities, work experience, recommendations, and the rigor of a student's academic experience are always relevant, but are not determinative.

SOME OBSERVATIONS

Wondering if it is possible to get into a law school with, let us say a GPA of 3.00 or below? "Yes it is possible." Is it is possible to get into a semidecent law school with, let us say a 3.00 GPA or below? Here the answer could also be "Yes" assuming a semi-impressive LSAT score with "semidecent" and "semi-impressive" defined appropriately.

STRIVE FOR A HIGH GPA

The appropriate time to begin working on having an impressive grade point average is on the first day that you are in a course that awards a grade and college credit (this may be while you are in high school).

Santa Clara University Pre-Law Manual informs us that, "While the maximum GPA of 4.0 ('straight A's') cannot be a realistic expectation for more than a few highly gifted and highly motivated students, it should be the goal of every pre-law student at the time he or she begins college work, and every effort should be made to come as close as possible to that goal. Since law school is a rigorous academic program, admissions officials want proof (i.e., a high GPA, particularly in your last two years) that you can succeed in college. A GPA below 3.0 [depending on the law school, this may apply to higher GPAs] will harm your chances of gaining admission to law school and will need to be explained."

HOW LAW SCHOOLS MAY LOOK AT THE GPA

The University of California at Berkeley Career Center indicates that, "Admissions committees not only look at your cumulative GPA from all undergraduate colleges and universities you attended, but also consider a year-to-year GPA breakdown. All courses taken for a letter grade are considered in this breakdown; in other words, the GPA in the major is not typically considered as a separate element. Because law schools examine your GPA year-to-year, substantial and continuing academic improvement will work to your advantage; improvement in grades reflects not only your ability to work hard, but also your ability to maneuver through college while grasping more difficult material."

The Florida State University Pre-Law Handbook advises that, "Many law schools consider performance trends along with your numerical grade point average. Thus, schools may discount a slow start in your college career if you perform exceptionally well in the later school years. At the same time, admissions committees may see a strong start followed by a mediocre finish as an indication of less potential to do well in law school.

THE GRADES OF
WITHDRAW AND INCOMPLETE

At most colleges and universities, one drops a course and one withdraws from all courses although one will oftentimes hear about about someone withdrawing from a course and about someone dropping all their courses.

In calculating your GPA, LSDAS ignores the grades of Withdraw and Incomplete assuming that the issuing school considers these grades nonpunitive. The grade of Withdraw is almost never considered punitive; the grade of Incomplete is punitive at some schools (e.g. it may change to the grade of F after one year). For more details (e.g. information about WF), see TRANSCRIPT SUMMARIZATION especially the subsection "Grades Excluded from Conversion."

New York University PreLaw Handbooks talks about withdrawals and says that "You should avoid withdrawing from courses whenever possible. This does not mean that you should never withdraw from a course, but a series of withdrawals over several semesters carries strong negative implications, from an attempt to manipulate the grade point average, to an inability to finish what you have started. Since most law schools have a prescribed first year curriculum, admissions committees look warily upon undergraduate students who fail to complete a term's expected course load."

AVOIDING THE GRADES OF WITHDRAW AND INCOMPLETE

You got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em,
Know when to walk away and know when to run.
          The Gambler
The Gambler was a top 100 hit (debut date: November 4, 1978) by Kenny Rogers. It was in the top 100 for 22 weeks, maxing out at 16.

Every semester, mark on your calendar each of the drop dates; usually these drop dates are:
          The last day to drop without receiving a grade of 'W'
and
          The last day to drop without receiving a grade of 'F' or one of its equivalents.

Before each drop date, for each course that you are enrolled in, be realistic about your prospects; if you think you will greatly improve in a course, ask yourself why this is a reasonable expectation. Note that expecting to make the greatest comeback since Lazarus is usually not being realistic. If, with great effort, you may earn a grade of C, you may be better off taking a grade of 'W.' If you lack the time to do well in all your courses, it might be time to pull the plug on one of your courses.

PASS/FAIL OPTION



The University of California at Berkeley Career Center say the following about taking courses Pass/Fail, "Although you may take some courses Pass/Fail, you should realize that the Law School Data Assembly Service counts a 'Fail' as an 'F' and calculates it into your GPA as a zero. The 'Pass' is given no value and is not factored into the GPA. Therefore, if you are considering applying to law school, be selective when using the Pass/Fail grading option.

Unless you have run out of courses that you can expesct to do well in, think twice before signing up for a Pass/Fail.

Whenever possible, choose courses that engage your interests and take them for letter grades."

New York University PreLaw Handbook say the following about the Pass/Fail Option: "Most admissions committees have what are best described as mixed emotions about the pass/fail option. Although committees sympathize with the notion that pass/fail grading may give a student the opportunity to take a course that he or she otherwise would not, committees also feel that the more of such marks on a transcript, the less information they have on which to base their judgment on your qualifications as an applicant. ... One of the consequences of a permanent record ladened with pass/fail credits is that increasingly greater weight is placed on your LSAT score. As a general rule, you should not take more than one academic course per year on a pass/fail basis."

Semester during which
the Transcript sent
to the Law School Data
Assembly Service (LSDAS)   What senesrer

Transcript request sent during
the Fall Semester
too early for transcript to include the
Fall Semester trascript.. Transcript sent by LSDAS will not
reflect your Fall Semester grades
unless you take the appropriate "
action (see below).

Spring Semester

You may want law schools to receive your fall semester grades, especially if they reflect continued academic excellence, an upward trend in your academic performance, or a meritorious effort on your part. In such cases, as soon as you know your fall semester grades, write a brief note to your prospective law schools indicating your fall semester grades and indicating that your college, acting on your instructions, will be sending your new official transcript to this prospective law school and to LSDAS [follow through by making sure that these two transcripts are sent]. LSDAS will submit an updated report to your prospective law schools that have indicated they will accept such updates.

You may want law schools to receive your spring semester grades, especially if they reflect continued academic excellence, an upward trend in your academic performance, or a meritorious effort on your part. In such cases, as soon as you know your fall semester grades, write a brief note to your prospective law schools indicating your fall semester grades and indicating that your college, acting on your instructions, will be sending your new official transcript to this prospective law school and to LSDAS [follow through by making sure that these two transcripts are sent]. LSDAS will submit an updated report to your prospective law schools that have indicated they will accept such updates.

SENIOR-YEAR FALL-SEMESTER GRADES

If your transcript was sent to the Law School Data Assembly Service (LSDAS) during the fall semester, this transcript will not reflect your fall semester grades.

LOW UNDERGRADUATE GPA
AND APPLYING TO LAW SCHOOL

If you are a senior with a low GPA but with rational expectations for his/her senior-year grades, you may want to delay applying to law school for a year so that your senior-year grades will be calculated into your GPA.

If you are a senior with a high GPA but expectations for lower senior-year grades, you may want to consider applying to law school during the fall semester of your senior year. This should prevent your senior-year grades from  being calculated in your LSDAS GPA.

In calculating the grade point average, LSDAS excludes all grades awarded after the first undergraduate degree is received. If this poses a problem, note that graduation can be delayed (usually not applying for graduation will do the job; if not, postponing a required course will certainly do the job).

If you have a low GPA when the time to apply to law school rolls around, make sure to maximize your effort on the LSAT. If this effort does not pay off, see our ranking of the LEAST SELECTIVE law schools or RETAKE THE LSAT.

The University of Notre Dame Prelaw offers the following useful advice: "If your GPA is really hurting your chances, taking several years off can help. The more distance you put between you and your undergraduate GPA, the lesser its negative impact on your application. If your GPA is low, but your LSAT is high, you might want to consider this option seriously. Letters of recommendation from professors who attest that your ability is not reflected in your overall GPA may also help.

Arizona State University Pre-Law indicates that "For those who have been out of school for more than a year or two, undergraduate GPA will be less important. Law schools will give greater weight to your LSAT score and accomplishments since leaving school."

University of Michigan Prelaw gives an answer to the the question, "My GPA is low but I really want to study law. What are my options?" Their answer is: "If you are truly interested in studying law, there are several law schools nationally where competition for admission is not as great. This does not mean that the programs at these schools are easier, simply that they have different admissions philosophies that allow more subjective evaluations of your ability to be successful. The pre-law advisor can help you to identify schools to optimize your chances of admission."

WHAT TO DO WHEN THE LSAT AND GPA ARE NOT IN SYNCH

Law schools Admission Committees (LSAC) first focus on the applicant's LSAT score and UGPA. On a typical undergraduate's application, these two factors are paramount. However, most law schools will tell you that the student's entire application is reviewed and considered. As a result, it would be to your advantage to supplement your curriculum with activities that demonstrate leadership, initiative, creativity, responsibility, analytical skills and research ability.
          University of California, Merced Law School Information

f your LSAT score and UGPA do not match up, explain this discrepancy (without bitterness, anger or defensiveness) on a separate piece of paper entitled Explanation of LSAT Score or Explanation of UGPA. This separate sheet of paper would be part of your law school addendum.
          Johns Hopkins University Law School Option