Avoid the LSAT - Michigan Undergrads Straight to Michigan Law

Graduate School Law School
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<p>You may have heard about the University of Michigan Law School's recent announement that U of M undergrads who have at least a 3.8 GPA would not have to take the LSAT when applying to U of M Law School (though admittance would not be guaranteed).</p>

<p>In today's Wall Street Journal online, the following quotes from the Dean of Admissions at the University of Michigan Law School, Sarah Zearfoss:</p>

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“When it comes to this ‘gaming the rankings’ allegation,” says Zearfoss, “I think there are two important pieces. First, the number of people I’m contemplating admitting [on the Wolverine Scholars Program] is between 5 and 10. We have a first-year class of 360. So it wouldn’t have any effect on the LSAT median, and I don’t see how it could have any effect on the GPA median either. Second, there are only 200 people in the entire University of Michigan junior class who have a GPA of 3.8 or higher. Obviously, most of them don’t want to apply to law school, and of those who do, many won’t choose this program.”</p>

<p>She continued: “So if gaming the rankings isn’t our motive, then the question is, what is our motive? Michigan is in an unusual position. We’re a national school and a public institution. We know, from all kinds of anecdotal evidence, that our position as a national school often discourages people in our own backyard from applying. This is a way for me to to signal that I view Michigan as a strong institution.”</p>

<p>So why is 3.8 the magic GPA? “We looked at a lot of historical data,” explained Zearfoss, “and that’s the number we found where, regardless of what LSAT the person had, they do well in the class. As you get below that number, there’s a little less certainty.”

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<p>As cited in the Wall Street Journal online, U of M Law School's website says: </p>

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The Law School’s in-depth familiarity with Michigan undergrad curricula and faculty, coupled with significant historic data for assessing the potential performance of Michigan undergrads at the Law School, will allow us to perform an intensive review of the undergraduate curriculum of applicants . . . and have confidence in our ability to assess an applicant’s academic strengths and the likelihood of outstanding engagement with the Law School. For this select group of qualified applicants, therefore, we will omit our usual requirement that applicants submit an LSAT score. . .Because we wish to encourage broad participation in this program, we will waive the usual application fee for anyone applying under the Wolverine Scholars program.

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<p>There are only 200 undergrads per year with 3.8 or better?</p>

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<p>There are some interesting comments to the article. Many feel this is a complete aim at rankings. (gets rid of some potentially lowere LSAT scores)</p>

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<p>bdm - I believe that the dean was referring to 200 in the junior class, rather than in the university as a whole, but I have to believe that she has good information straight from the source.</p>

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<p>Right, but even per year, 200 is a tiny number. I'm sure she's correct -- it's just astonishing. Out of 5,700 people per class, only 200 have a 3.8?</p>

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<p>I don't find it astonishing at all. Some colleges virtually give no A +'s. and for the very strong student who got an equal distribution of A and A-'s, their GPA would be in the 3.8 range.
As most kids go through 4 years of school and get a few grades below A-, their GPA is gonna be less than 3.8.</p>

<p>That's why I have never been shy to suggest a kid take a few ( 2 or 3) on-line or winter session community college courses. For those kids who go to a school where getting a 3.8 is a true accomplishment, I think it is only fair to try to tweak their GPA a bit upward as they are competing with kids who go to school's where an A/A + may be alot easier to obtain.</p>

<p>It may be a good tactic for U Mich. but my guess is that alot of UMich undergrads may prefer to get their JD from another school. 7 years in Ann Arbor might not be everyone's cup of tea. As a 3.8 U Mich grad may be aiming for other T14 law schools, they probably take the LSAT anyway.</p>