Next to your LSAT score, your GPA is the most important thing on your law school application. Like it or not, those numbers hold the greatest weight in your likelihood of getting into a particular school. Unlike your LSAT score, though, your GPA has another facet to it: your transcript. Whether your transcript has a positive or negative effect on your application depends on what’s on it.
Let’s take a look at what your transcript can say about you. Before we start, though, a disclaimer: not everyone’s transcript will be analyzed. I imagine that the people who run the greatest risk or chance of having their transcript reviewed fall into a few categories.
- Splitters (e.g., those with a high LSAT/low GPA or low LSAT/high GPA combo).
- Those with a good GPA that could have been a great GPA had they not messed up one or two semesters.
- Those with a lower GPA but who undertook a non-traditional (for law school) major, such as a hard science or math.
- Those who attended more than one undergraduate institution.
- Non-traditional applicants, particularly those that have been out of school for a while and may not have had the best GPA when they were in school.
If you’re a PoliSci major (or any other “traditional” law school major) with a 3.5+ GPA, I don’t think your transcript will be scrutinized in any fashion. You can rest easy. For those of you that will get scrutinized, though, let’s see what the different aspects of your transcript may say.
Your Grade Trend
What pattern do your grades follow? Do they start off strong and go down as you go progress through college? Or are they weak at the start and get stronger? What if they start off weak and never improve? Do they fluctuate up and down throughout your college career? All these different scenarios will say different things about you.
The Decline
If you start off with strong grades that get weaker, it may indicate that they can’t handle more advanced courses. This assumption stems from the typical college career, with general courses in the beginning and more advanced, specialized courses later.
Moving on Up
If you begin with weak grades that get stronger, you can make a good case about your potential and maturity. You can easily argue that you had a hard time at the start of college, for whatever reason that may be. Whether it was your first time on your own, you went crazy for a semester, etc. But, then you got your act together and excelled when it mattered most! This also looks better than those with a downward grade trend since your highest grades are most recent.
Consistently Weak
In the event that you have weak grades that never get better, you have a lot of explaining to do. Hopefully, you have an LSAT score that belies these grades! Or, perhaps you pursued a major that is known to be objectively difficult and preferably at a university that has a reputation for being exceptional in that field. Keep in mind that neither of these makes the transcript look better. After all, a low GPA is a low GPA. If someone comes along with a higher GPA in the same discipline, they are looked at much more favorably. It may, however, take some of the edge off. However, a weak GPA is never a good thing, no matter how many reasons you can point to for it. If law school is your eventual goal, then aim for a 3.5+. No real two ways about it.
No Consistency
If your grade trends are all over the place, you probably have it worse than any other trends we’re going over. If there is no true trend, it can be taken to be an unknown quantity. There’s no rhyme or reason for your performance—sometimes you do well, sometimes you don’t. Class types, subjects, times of the year; none of these seem to make any difference or create a pattern. Law schools might look at this grade trend and wonder which student they will get. If you fit in this category, especially if it’s in conjunction with a less-than-stellar GPA, address it in an addendum.
Your Class Selection
Ah, the great debate over class selection. Some say that it doesn’t matter which major or classes you take, as long as you get that coveted 4.0. Needless to say, I’m on the dissenting camp. I believe an “A” in Underwater Basket-weaving will not be considered the same as an “A” in Advanced Calculus. Call me old-fashioned, but I judge a person’s academic prowess and potential based on the difficulty of their courses. I’m willing to bet AdComs do the same. I’ll go further and says an “A” in Underwater Basket-weaving won’t hold a candle to a “B-” in Advanced Calculus.
The moral of the story? Don’t pick classes because they look easy. Pick classes because they complement your major and will challenge you. Then do well in them. If you end up doing not-so-well in them, at least you can fall back on the “it was a truly difficult course” excuse. You can’t do that if you get a “C” in Dog Walking 101.
Your Major
There’s a lot of chatter about what constitutes a “good” major if you’re planning on going to law school. I’m of the opinion that any major that is reading-, research-, and writing-intensive is good, even if it’s not in the realm of the “traditional” law school majors (PoliSci, Econ, English, etc.). People with notoriously difficult majors (Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Math, Engineering, etc) will get a little more leniency if their grades aren’t stellar. Not only have professors in these disciplines been found to be tough graders, the subjects are also tough in and of themselves.
On the other hand, much like with class selection, those that take the painless way out major in the super-easy just for the sake of an easy “A” may also be looked upon not as favorably. Above all, law schools want to see that you can handle the rigor of law school classes, and that you are ready for the academic intensity that they will entail. Yes, your major should be interesting and easy for you to be engaged in–but it should also speak to your academic potential.
Your Major GPA vs. Your Overall GPA
Some students have a high major GPA, and a low overall GPA, or viceversa. This can be due to a number of things, but you should be prepared for what this major vs. overall GPA scenario might say about you. If your major is, for example, in a hard science, and you did very well in it, but did very poorly in the less-scientific/more right-brain classes outside of your major, law schools may see you a risky candidate–law school classes, although they are certainly rooted in analysis, also require subjective and intuitive skills.
On the other hand, if you’re overall GPA is a good one, but your major GPA is poor, that may say that you lose interest in delving deeply in a subject, and that you do better when you have multiple subjects to choose from and study at once. While that might say wonderful things about your personality, it may make law schools a little leery–law school (any professional or graduate program, really) is about advanced study in a single field. If you haven’t shown that you can focus intensely on one subject and succeed in it, what will happen when you have to study nothing but law for three years?
Your Undergraduate Institution
I am a big believer in that your undergraduate institution really doesn’t hold that much weight (if any) during the law school admissions process. Don’t believe me? Check out Harvard Law’s list of undergraduate institutions represented during the 2010-2011 school year. It’s not just the Ivy League represented–there are plenty of state universities, small private colleges, and liberal arts institutions, too. Where you come from doesn’t matter as much as how you did when you were there. Instead of worrying about the relative “prestige” of your institution, worry about doing well in your classes while you’re there..
Some may say that taking the time to scrutinize your transcript like this borders on the obsessive and overly analytical. While I agree, to an extent, I also believe that knowing what all the different aspects of your application say about you is also incredibly beneficial. It is only by learning to listen to your application that you will be able to put together the most effective admissions package, and increase your overall chances of acceptance. Take the time to hear what your transcript (and all the other parts of your application) are saying, so that you can better harness their words.
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Chloe says
Hello! I am not looking to get into any top 14 law schools, but definitely aiming for some well-respected ones. I am a junior and was wondering if when it comes to taking electives, should I reach for a high 300 level (nearly 400) that I’m not positive I will excel in, or would a lower-level course (possibly even an intro) that I know I will get an A in be better? If it helps at all, I have a 3.5 and hold multiple leadership positions in established clubs right now.
Also, when it comes to the pandemic and many universities allowing pass/fail, how much is too much? I have not opted into that system because I feel my actual As and Bs look much better on my transcript, but I have a friend who got multiple Cs yet because of pass/fail has kept a 3.8 GPA intact. I understand that law schools are taking the harder times into consideration, but do you think they will also draw a line somewhere? It’s disappointing that I have worked harder and actually made good grades, yet other people are able to sweep their bad grades under the rug.
Jon Denning says
Hi Chloe – thanks for visiting the blog and for posting! You ask some really interesting questions!
Law schools will receive your full transcript and likely take note of the classes you’ve taken, so there is some value in committing to a more rigorous/prestigious course of study, but the truth is that ultimately it’s a numbers game: a higher GPA achieved via slightly easier coursework is going to carry more weight than a lower GPA resulting from tougher classes. So in that regard, knowing you’ll get As in the lower-level courses vs uncertainty in higher-level courses, the scales tip in favor of the better grades over the greater esteem.
The Pass/Fail choice is, at face value, another slightly tricky one, but happily when it comes to law schools the answer is straightforward: avoid the Pass/Fail option, especially if you feel confident you’ll get all-As with a particular course selection. Not only do Pass/Fail results give law schools virtually no information about your actual achievement, but a Pass is also not counted towards your overall GPA by LSAC! So a bunch of “Pass” entries on your transcript won’t bring that 3.5 up at all, while obviously a series of As would.
Here’s LSAC’s explanation of how their CAS GPA calculations work: https://www.lsac.org/applying-law-school/jd-application-process/cas/requesting/transcript-summarization
And an excellent article from UMass’s pre-law page with even more info/advice on course selection and transcripts: http://prelaw.umass.edu/topics/grades
I hope that helps!
Apple says
Hi there,
I have a question regarding transcripts and how important they are. I took a course that was not part of my credit requirement but just wanted to do it because I was curious. I ended up failing the course because I didn’t pay much attention to it and honestly this year hasn’t been great. My overall GPA is 3.7 and this course doesn’t matter at all in the overall GPA. I have already graduated so I don’t even know what to do. Please let me know if this can be a problem for law schools. Is it still worth applying?
Thanks,
Apple
Dave Killoran says
Hi Apple,
Thanks for the question! I can’t tell if this class was post-graduate, in which case it wouldn’t be part of your uGPA, or just not part of your major. But, what I’d do is write an addendum that explains why the class was failed. The pandemic is providing lots of free passes for things like this, so I don’t think it’s fatal to your chances at all 🙂
Thanks!
Reina says
I was also considering possibly doing a masters to possibly try to I guess raise my gpa, it would probably also be in a stem field. I would like to know if you think this is something I should still consider/pursue further?
Dave Killoran says
Hi Reina,
I’m going to answer these out of order (and likely some hours apart). The clear answer here is: do not take on a graduate degree just to raise your GPA. Law schools heavily discount graduate degree GPAs, and instead use your undergraduate GPA (uGPA). The uGPa is the number reported to the ABA and thus used for rankings, so that is the one that matters most.
Graduate GPAs are discounted for three reasons: not everyone has one, law schools presume grade inflation exists in grad programs, and the grad GPAs don’t affect rankings. I talked about this in a recent free webinar I did, at https://blog.powerscore.com/lsat/secrets-of-the-law-school-admissions-process-webinar-with-dave-killoran/. Go to the 38:24 mark and listen in for more details (in fact, the webinar would likely be off help to you!).
In any event, your uGPA is fixed once you graduate; you can’t change it or your GPA profile by getting a grad degree, so regrettably this is not the best use of your time as far as applying to law school! I’d only make this decision if it was something you truly were interested in and planned to pursue regardless.
Thanks!
Riena says
Hello,
I am currently a 3rd-year computer major and am actually set to graduate a year early. My grades at the beginning weren’t stellar due to going off of my medication for ADD because it made my mental disorder worse. During my second year, I finally was able to find a good combination for the medication and my grades have gotten better. My GPA is currently about a 3.0 (pulled down by my earlier semesters), but I have gotten an LSAT score of 167. In addition, since the pandemic, my university has allowed students to take a pass/fail on a couple of classes which I have taken advantage of.
I was wondering if a couple of things would be factored in and with how much weight:
1) Having a disability
2) my graduating a year early
3) my being in a stem field
4) having pass/fails on my transcript
I would really appreciate your feedback! (thanks in advance)
Dave Killoran says
Hi Riena,
Thanks for the message, and let’s take a look at your points. I will say beforehand that the exact factors and weights can’t be determined, and in fact change from school to school. So, there’s no exact formula and it’s all very general. That said, let’s take a look:
1. It’s a positive when presented well, and I’d suggest addressing it in an addendum or your personal statement so they understand more about who you are. It’s not just about the disability, by the way, and much more about how you discuss it and what you’ve learned and overcome.
2. Extremely minor factor, not necessarily a positive. Law school takes maturity, so being even younger isn’t seen as a real positive.
3. A positive. Law school classes need people from all walks, and while STEM majors have been growing in numbers, humanities is still more common. Anything that sets you apart typically helps, so this is a good thing to be!
4. Zero factor. Law schools know these are extraordinary times, and so no one is going to be penalized for some pass/fail classes during a pandemic 🙂
Thanks!
Katie says
I started off college with high 3.8 until spring semester of my sophomore year. There was some heavy stuff going on in my life, and I was a STEM major at the time getting into some upper level courses. I’m a first gen URM & although I was incredibly unhappy my with major, I didn’t really know what to do because no one in my family had been through college & I didn’t want to disappoint my them, & I had already spent 1.5 years working towards this major.
Basically, spring semester my sophomore I absolutely tanked. I failed intro to bio & did poorly in a couple other STEM classes, with my over GPA going from a 3.8 to a 3.3. As my college course continued, I had a couple more semesters as a STEM major, doing not so hot in a total of 3 courses, which I ended repeating (the only one I actually failed was bio).
Besides the semester I tanked, the lowest grade I got for a course I was genuinely interested in was a 3.0. After switching my major, I progressed into upper level courses & did well. I ended up with a 3.54 GPA.
My 3.54 GPA calculated by my university is not factoring in the original grades I got in the 3 courses I ended up repeated. They take the grade I got when I repeated the course, which is better.
My question is- how much will my CAS GPA fluctuate from the 3.54, considering they will factor in the original grades from the repeated courses? And more importantly- considering my high starting GPA, then the tanked semester, then again an upwards trend once I switched majors, is it even worthwhile to apply to T-14s?
I’m taking the LSAT for the first time in January & then sending in my apps. I’m PT-ing in the 170s. I’m just worried about being considered apart of the group whose grades fluctuate, like you mentioned in your discussion above.
All the best,
Katie
Dave Killoran says
Hi Katie,
Thanks for the message! I have a few thoughts here in response to the various question you posed:
• “My question is- how much will my CAS GPA fluctuate from the 3.54, considering they will factor in the original grades from the repeated courses?” — Assuming you failed those three courses, that will add three Fs to your grade calculation (or whatever grades you received in those classes you eventually took again). Since each person’s GPA is calculated using number of classes taken and grades received, it often varies for each person since some schools use quarters, others semesters, and you may have taken more classes than needed, etc. So, I can’t calculate the exact impact for you, but you can do that easily by adding three more classes with those three grades to your current numbers. I’m sorry to say the impact could be significant, however.
• “I’m just worried about being considered apart of the group whose grades fluctuate, like you mentioned in your discussion above.” — This is where a GPA addendum comes in. You need to write one an explain what happened (especially the part about “some heavy stuff going on in my life”). That will help the committee understand that your performance wasn’t random, and that you just needed to get on the right path.
• “And more importantly- considering my high starting GPA, then the tanked semester, then again an upwards trend once I switched majors, is it even worthwhile to apply to T-14s?” — There’s actually a lot to like about your profile here: first gen, URM, 170s LSAT score (likely). I think the GPA will really hinder you in the top half of the T14, but in the bottom half I’d take a few shots, especially if you can put together a compelling personal statement and GPA addendum.
I hope that helps. Thanks!
JC says
Hi! I am currently a junior about to enter my second semester in undergrad. I have hopes of attending a a top 5 school such as Harvard and Columbia Law. I have so far received majority As and a few Bs (mainly during my freshman year). However, this semester I might be receiving my first C+. My GPA did dip a bit but I may be able to raise it back to a 3.7-3.72 range next semester and have an upward trend. I am wondering if this single C will significantly ruin any chances I have at a top school or if my overall GPA matters more. This semester has been tough considering the online environment and my school did not offer any P/F options so I am a little bit concerned what this means for me
Thanks!
Dave Killoran says
Hi JC,
Thanks for the message! Admissions at any of the top schools is a bit of a black box, so you never really know at a school like Harvard how things will be perceived. That said, if there was ever a time to get a lower grade, this would be it since there is a clear and easy explanation that everyone can understand: the pandemic and remote learning. So, it’s not a death knell, but do everything in your power to bring those grades back up this next semester (and consider delaying apps into late December next year to take advantage of Fall 2021 semester grades being reported so you can raise that average even higher).
I’d also make sure that your LSAT score is as good as possible–into the mid-170s and higher if you are looking at those schools. A higher LSAT score will help assuage any concerns about academic performance, and offset what at this point would be a GPA that at Harvard is below the 25th percentile median and is right at it for Columbia.
If we can help further along the way, especially with the LSAT, just let us know!
Roshan says
Hello!
My undergrad majors are German & Sociology (with honors) and I am minoring in math. I’ve taken classes in many different subjects, however, including multiple poly sci courses, philosophy, etc.
I have a 3.9 GPA, however this current quarter I am pass/failing one 400 level math class (I am getting a “pass”) and because of a scheduling issue (which I have proof of) there is also a “register drop” on my transcript this quarter. Will this one quarter be a deal breaker in terms of grades (assuming I can get the median GPA of my target schools)? I have heard that law schools are taking these online quarters slightly more leniently.. I don’t know. People tell me one pass/fail isn’t a big deal, but it definitely feels a little gut wrenching going onto my transcript..
I’m not necessarily trying to go to a top 50 law school, but will still apply to respectable ones with median GPAs around 160.
PowerScore Test Prep says
Hi Roshan!
This will not affect your application. 😊 Generally speaking for law schools, according to the policy on LSAC’s website, “Pass-Fail” grading systems are not calculated into CAS GPA. The CAS GPA is what is reported to law schools, and law schools do not use a separate GPA they calculate on their own.
As stated on LSAC’S website: “Grades Excluded from Conversion:
Passing grades from systems of one or two passing grades (e.g., Pass/Fail, Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory, Credit/No Credit, or Honors/Pass/Fail, High Pass/Pass/Fail), and those for which conversion rules cannot be formulated, including courses for which a transcript gives only narratives or descriptions. Credits for the work in these courses are totaled and reported separately as unconverted credits. The only exception to this policy is for a reported grade below C-minus from a two-passing-grade grading system (e.g., Credit/D/Fail) when the issuing institution includes this grade in their calculation of a GPA.”
In addition, LSAC and Law Schools are certainly all aware of the impact COVID-19 is having, and LSAC has stated: “Law schools are fully aware of and understand that virtually all students enrolled during the spring 2020 COVID-19 pandemic experienced significant disruption in their living and learning arrangements. Law schools are also aware that many undergraduate and graduate schools changed their grading systems to allow or require Pass/Fail grades in lieu of their traditional grading systems and will not penalize any applicant for presenting Pass/Fail grades. LSAC will place a letter in the CAS report of every applicant enrolled during spring 2020, reminding law schools of the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects on the population and on higher education.”
So in short, pass/fail grades do not affect your CAS GPA, which is what the law schools are concerned about. In addition, law schools are very much aware of the unique situation students are in this year (law schools are going through the same thing!), and will not be looking at pass/fail or similar grading systems negatively.
I hope this information helps! Thanks!
Karl says
Hello!
I was about to send off my applications when I stumbled onto this very helpful blog post and comments section. My cumulative undergrad GPA at a UC was 3.67 according to LSAC (3.63 according to transcript), but with some irregularities. My first two years were fairly steady, 3.52 and 3.64, with a drop to 3.33 my junior year, and a jump to 4.07 in my senior year. Senior year was all upper division major-related courses, so it’s not like I was attempting to pad my GPA with throw-away classes. The cause for the drop and subsequent jump was stretching myself too thin with internships and extracurriculars, and then stopping to focus on academics.
Is this worth an addendum? I question whether it will be seen as a sign of weakness that I had to stop focusing on my extracurriculars (though I did pick up a part-time job) in order to achieve good grades. Is it even worth drawing the adcom’s attention to something like this? If it’s relevant to this question, my LSAT is in the high 160s.
Thank you very much!
Dave Killoran says
Hi Karl,
Thanks for the question! I don’t think this warrants an addendum. 3.52 and 3.64 aren’t really all that far off of 3.33–it’s not even a 10% drop. So, I think you’d be drawing attention to something that isn’t likely create a big question mark to begin with. And the explanation might cause them to wonder about your ability to juggle multiple responsibilities, something that is a worry for any law school looking at prospective students 🙂
Thanks!
Brendan Smith says
Hello!
I would appreciate any help with this question. I took an extra few courses as part of my undergraduate degree, leading me to now be in my 9th semester. I am in a criminology major with a minor in law and business, and my GPA is at a 3.9.
However, I have a feeling that these courses may drop my GPA a bit, most likely toward a 3.7. I have not taken the LSAT yet, but I am aware that going into application processes with a 3.7 is not the end of the world in the case I achieve a high 160 on the LSAT. I also know that this can be seen as getting worse throughout my time with the school, despite 4 strong years prior.
I am wondering if these final courses, some of which go toward my degree, will matter much for the application process. I am not sure, given that these courses are beyond 4 years, and were not taken in a full year (i.e., it is just an extra semester). Will these potential poorer grades greatly ruin my chances of acceptance to some law schools or other graduate degree programs?
Any guidance would be appreciated.
Thank you once again!
Kindest,
Brendan.
PowerScore Test Prep says
Hi Brendan,
Thanks for your comment! Law schools care primary about the overall GPA, so while the slight decline in your grade trend may be noticed, it shouldn’t greatly affect your chances of acceptance. Also, keep in mind that your GPA is one half of a very important equation for schools, but your LSAT is the other, more important half. If you can do as well as possible in your remaining classes so that your GPA is as stellar as possible and score well enough on your LSAT, you’ll be in even better shape!
Feel free to utilize one of our favorite resources for researching data on nearly all of the ABA-approved schools in North America: LSAC’s LSAT/GPA Calculator. This tool allows you to input your undergraduate GPA and your highest LSAT score (or a score you’re realistically aiming for), and get feedback on where each stands relative to attendees at individual schools, as well as your likely odds of duplicating that result on those figures.
Thank you!
Zack says
Hi, thank you so much for still answering these questions!
My GPA is on the 25% and my LSAT is a point below the median of my dream school. I applied early decision and in October. In addition, I had impressive growth with my grades during my college career. How often do applicants like me get admitted?
Thank you!
Zack,
Jon Denning says
Hi Zack – thanks for posting!
I always try to give the most honest replies/advice possible when I get questions like this, so I’ll be candid here: the odds aren’t very good. Which isn’t to say it’s impossible, of course, but ultimately you’ve got at least three factors all working against you at the moment.
The first is that your GPA is at the bottom quarter of attending students, and it doesn’t sound like that’s going to change going forward (that is, you aren’t still in school with a few semesters left to pull it up). It isn’t necessarily the most fair system imaginable, but the fact is schools are highly numbers-focused, so if 3/4 of the people the school is successfully recruiting to attend have a higher GPA than you you’re already fighting an uphill battle.
The second is that your GPA isn’t offset by a particularly high LSAT. In fact, your LSAT is also lower than the school’s median, so you’re in the minority of matriculants in that category as well. The good news here is that if you can get your LSAT up around the 75th percentile, which at most schools means maybe just 3-6 more points (a totally realistic improvement), then the extra weight given to LSAT scores can more than offset the low GPA and put you firmly back in the running! So the most immediate take away if I’m in your shoes is to get signed up for a future LSAT, January being the most obvious option, and work like crazy to increase your score! That’s likely the only way to move yourself from extreme long-shot to realistic candidate.
Lastly, and often as something of a surprise to people of late, is that this particular application cycle is looking to be extemely competitive, with applicants up about 30+% and applications up over 50% compared to last year. What that means is you’ve got way more people fighting for seats than we saw in recent cycles, and that makes it even tougher to get in even if you’re at/above past medians (and will almost certainly raise those medians at virtually every school, too). There’s not much you can do about this one, aside from making yourself more competitive with a higher LSAT score. So again that’s the priority.
Beyond those numerical considerations, it sounds like your transcript will show encouraging performance trends through your academic years, and schools do consider that when evaluating people. And with a steller app (great essays/personal statement, solid resume, excellent letters of rec, possibly some helpful addenda) you can improve your chances as well, so consider getting some assistance as you put those pieces together—every little bit that you can do to boost your odds is well worth it!
Don’t let any of the above discourage you! Rather, think over what it realistically means for getting in as you are now, and what steps you can take to nudge the various components into more flattering territory.
I hope that helps!
Elizabeth says
Hi there!
In undergrad I minored in a science, but received almost all B(+/-)’s in those classes and ended up withdrawing from the final requirement. Outside of that minor (which was completely unrelated to the rest of my courses & interests — unsure why I bothered with it in the first place!) I was mostly an A student, and I have a hunch that my final 3.5 GPA would have been higher had I not taken those classes. I am already writing an addendum to explain an off semester (medical issue), and am wondering if I should also address the science minor’s effects on my grades? My LSAT was only a 166 so I’m trying to find every opportunity to boost my application where I can.
Thank you in advance!
PowerScore Test Prep says
Hi Elizabeth,
Thank you for your comment! Given what you’ve described, there’s no need to address the effects of your science minor as it relates to your GPA. An addendum is meant to explain truly unusual circumstances that might raise some eyebrows at the admissions office and raise questions that need to be answered. A STEM major/minor is not so rare these days and admission committees understand the grade issue that’s often associated with those classes or that particular field of study. Feel free to check out additional addenda information here: What’s the Deal with Addenda?.
Thank you!
Ariel says
So I am a senior and I’m currently applying to law school for next school year. I originally planned on doing an honors thesis this year and in doing the thesis I was enrolled in a half credit thesis writing course. But I just realized that I have taken on way too many responsibilities and have spread myself too thin, so I won’t be completing the thesis and doing it as an independent research project in the spring. Since I won’t be doing the thesis I don’t need to be in the writing class there is the possibility that the course may show up as a W on my transcript. How do you think the W will reflect on my transcript to schools?
Dave Killoran says
Hi Ariel,
One or two Ws won’t matter one bit to the law school adcomms!
Thanks!
Joey says
Hi! I completed my freshman year and college was not for me. My GPA ended at around a 2.0. I then left school, took a gap year, worked full time, and then transferred to a different school. I now have maintained a GPA of a 3.8. I have re-taken the classes I did not do well in my freshman year. Since I am at a different institution, those new classes won’t replace the old ones. But anyone looking at my transcripts can tell I took those classes over again and did well. So the vast majority of my credits are at the new institution and my first-year at my old school does not reflect me. If I continue with a 3.8 GPA and do good on the LSAT will I be able to get into U of MT Law School? I know admissions looks at all undergrad grades. But again, I transferred and turned everything around. I also have a personal story to go along with why I struggled at first.
Dave Killoran says
Hi Joey,
Your story will certainly explain those lower early grades, but any law school will still be tied to the final CAS numbers. So, to begin to make a reasonable assessment, I need to know your CAS GPA and your LSAT score. Montana’s medians as 3.37 and 155, and it would seem that GPA-0se you might be right in there. So, if your LSAT meets or exceeds the median, you’d have a good chance 🙂
Thanks!
Eleanor says
Hi! I’m currently in high school and enrolled in a college class at an ivy league but I’m considering switching to pass/fail for this course. I got a 4.0 the previous semester at the same school but am concerned that choosing to switch to pass/fail for this course will impact my law school admissions further down the line as it is for college credit. The course isn’t in my intended major. Should I be concerned?
PowerScore Test Prep says
Hi Elanor,
Thank you for your comment! Please note that pass/fail grades are excluded from GPA calculation. The only time a pass/fail grade could potentially harm your GPA is if you received a grade of C-minus or below. LSAC’s full policy on grade conversion may be found here: https://www.lsac.org/applying-law-school/jd-application-process/cas/requesting/transcript-summarization.
Thank you!
Andy says
Hi, I took college credits in high school, and my gpa was low for those courses. However I have a high gpa for my undergrad now. The cumulative gpa (3.43) is a lot lower than my current gpa (3.69). Will this be looked down upon?
PowerScore Test Prep says
Hi Andy,
Thank you for your comment! Law schools care primarily about your overall GPA and they also pay close attention to performance trends. If anything, your upward trend will look better since your highest grades are most recent. Also, keep in mind that your GPA is one half of a very important equation for schools, but your LSAT is the other, more important half. If you can do as well as possible in your remaining classes so that your GPA is as stellar as possible and score well enough on your LSAT, you’ll be in even better shape!
Thank you!
Sam says
Hi! I’m a student who hopes to get into the lower top 14 schools like Cornell and Georgetown. I wanted to please ask the concerns about my transcript.
So, the assumed flaws that I think found on my transcript records are like this:
1. I have retaken one course. (not a major course but a college algebra math elective course) First time I got ‘E’ at my second semester of freshman, and next time I replaced it with ‘A’. Is it a so bad thing? Do they look it bad the fact that I got an E grade even if it’s replaced later? I understand that it will hurt my gpa for the LSAC converted GPA. What I was wondering is if having one E is like a disaster even if it’s replaced with an A later time on the transcript and the reviewers look it so bad.
2. I have 1 CR/NC course on my record. (This one is an elective course not a major course) Would this be a so negative thing?
3. I withdrew from a whole semester in the first semester of sophomore year due to a medical reason: at the early of the semester, I got a car accident and things went gradually so bad, and it ended up that I had to take a surgery in the middle of the semester. (For this reason, I have a lots of W on my transcript. Though I can explain the reason for having many Ws on my transcript with the circumstance that I was put into in addendum, I was still concerned what if this still looks bad and the reviewers don’t have good impression.)
4. Through the 8 semesters of my 4 years college life, I have the trend of taking only four classes for the early college semesters -starting from second semester of freshmen until first&second semesters of sophomore and first semester of junior- instead of taking the 5 full courses.
Later, I improved though. I took 7 courses for each of the remaining semesters before I graduate- starting from second semester of junior and first&second semester of senior. And I got all of the them A.
Taking that many courses was a means of raising my GPA from what ‘the having E’ ruined my LSAC converted version of GPA. Though I think my grade pattern falls into the ‘improvement trend’ and I also proved that I can take the hard work load through what I’ve done in my Junior and senior years, I was concerned that the fact that I only took 4 courses instead of 5 for my early college life would look bad.
5. I have a history of taking a semester off twice. Each of them was only just the for one semester (6months) though, not like a year or 2 years much long.
And I think (perhaps) I kinda have good enough reason to make it up for the taking offs. The first time I took the semester off, I went to a voluntary mission trip for 6 months to help the refugees in Turkey and Greece. And the second time of me to take the another semester off was due to the covid 19 situation.
However, I was concerned what if the fact that I still have a history of taking a leave of absence for twice would look bad for the reviewers, along with the ‘flaws’ that I wrote above.
I have a GPA of 3.75 (on college transcript it’s 3.85 but when LSAC converted it’s 3.75) and 169 for the LSAT. And I consider that this score maybe is not so bad to get into the lower top 14 schools. But due to the history of what I’ve been through that’s shown on the transcript (withdrawing the whole semester, taking semesters off twice, one CR/NC course, getting an E), I was worried what if these would block my way of getting into the schools that I want to go, since it makes a negative impact when the reviewers look at my transcript.
I’m so desperate to please listen your objective thoughts and advice on my transcript and the chance of me getting into schools like Cornell and Georgetown with the background of GPA 3.75 and 169 for the LSAT. But, as written, not a good looking transcript.
Thanks!
Jon Denning says
Hi Sam – thanks for the message!
The great news here is that your LSAC GPA of 3.75 is right around the medians for most of the T14 schools (Cornell’s, Georgetown’s, Duke’s, NYU’s, etc are all about a 3.8, for instance), and since that number is really what school’s take into account you’re just fine in terms of credentials! Nothing I’m reading above leads me to believe you’re in any kind of insurmountable trouble admissions-wise with top schools, although I will say that since your GPA isn’t *above* medians I’d recommend looking into an LSAT retake to see if you can get your score up a few points: climbing into the 170s will do wonders for your chances at your target schools!
Further, since your transcript circumstances are a bit unusual—time off and the rest—I’d also advise you to submit an addendum explaining the details to schools so that they have a clearer understanding of exactly what occurred and why.
We’re happy to help you out with that, as we have a program dedicated to situations just like this and that has helped countless students smooth out any transcript wrinkles that might otherwise pose a problem: https://www.powerscore.com/lsat/law-school-admissions/
An hour or two with a consultant would ensure that any concerns you, or schools, might have about your undergrad journey are competently explained and thoroughly resolved, so consider investing in that opportunity and putting any lingering fears to rest 🙂
I hope that helps!
Sam says
Thanks for the thoughtful explanation. It indeed helps. I do appreciate.
Just a one more quick question.
As for one of the semesters in my senior year, I took the courses during the summer class season. (I took 22 credits, 7 courses for that semester).
Would this look bad or many any difference that I spent a semester during summer class time from the regular spring and fall season?
PowerScore Test Prep says
Hi Sam,
Thanks for the post. No, law schools shouldn’t be concerned that you took classes during a summer semester. 😊
Thanks!
Julie says
Hi! First of all, in case this info may help, I am one of those students showing an upward trend in GPA. I heard that law schools look at not just your GPA, but also what courses you took, and the level of the courses. Thus I was wondering if taking more upper-level courses such as 400 level courses would provide more merit to my application? I have had situations where I found the topics of 300 level courses to be more interesting, but was not sure if I should choose other 400 level courses over the 300 level ones since law schools also look at the level of the courses. Please let me know!
PowerScore Test Prep says
Hi Julie,
Thank you for your comment! Please keep in mind that not everyone’s transcript will be analyzed, and the most important components to your law school application will be your GPA and LSAT score. Just make sure you’re picking classes that complement your major and challenge you (which is typically the case with 300 level courses and above). And naturally, you’ll need to do as well as possible in the classes so that your GPA is as stellar as possible!
Thank you!
Anna says
Hi there,
So, I had a really rough time at my first college.. I was there for about 2 yrs and went through lots of family things, deaths, etc. As a result, at the end of my time at this school I had a 2.8 GPA. However, I then decided it was time to make a change/get my act together. I left my hometown and transferred to a new university for a fresh start. My GPA at the new institution, which I attended for three years, was a 3.5 (This actually would have been much higher had I not gotten a D in dumb classes like PE and transfer student studies..). I recently graduated from the 2nd school with my bachelors degree. My question is whether my GPA from my first college will seriously hurt my chances of getting into law school even with a 3.5 from my degree-granting institution? Is it still worthwhile applying?
Thanks,
Anna
Dave Killoran says
Hi Anna,
Thanks for the question! Well, there are different parts here, so I’ll try to cover them in a rough order:
* Yes, your initial GPA will have an effect. LSAC calculates your entire undergrad GPA into one number, so it will factor in those grades. If you took equal number of classes at the two schools, you could be looking at a CAS GPA of 3.15 or so.
* But, you can write an addendum that explains what happened, and that will at least answer the natural questions that would be raised by your transcript.
* Your GPA is one half of a very important equation for schools, but your LSAT is the other, more important half. If you can score well enough on your LSAT, it can directly offset your GPA. you would then be what is known as a Splitter, and splitters can have very successful application cycles since a high LSAT is less common than a high GPA, and so more coveted.
* Depending on the schools you are targeting, it can very much be worth your time. In your position, i would look at various schools that interest me, and check their 25/50/75th medians for both GPA and LSAT. That will help guide your choices and give you a sense of your chances.
Please let me know if that helps. Thanks!