I’m a political science major at a … not great school. Ranked 156 state school. Unfortunately my cumulative GPA sucks really bad right now and is sitting at a flat 3.0 and I can graduate a year early if I choose to do so. I’d rather not go to law school if I can’t get into at least a t30 institution, which obviously I can’t do with my current GPA so I need to get it up.
That being said, the only way that’s ever going to happen is if I take more credits in the form of another major, preferably economics in the business school so I can further supplement my GPA up to a 3.5-6, but that would involve me staying in school for a year later then my planned graduation date. Is it smarter to just take a bunch of fluff classes even if I meet the requirements to graduate with my poli-sci major? Or add on the business major?
What can I do to get my GPA up to that 3.5-6 threshold that many competitive law schools start at for a minimum requirement? I need 74 more credits at a 4.0 average to get up to a 3.6 … and 59 to get a 3.55 and 48 to get a 3.5 …
I would take a few practice LSATs. If you have a 170 or above, then with a 3.5/3.6 GPA you should get in some good schools, but if not, you would have more limited options no matter how hard you study from now on.
@ComradeH: A 3.0 is probably not going to get you into the T30. Take the extra year of school and get that GPA up. If law is really your goal (and you’ve done internships so you know what practice is like, right?) then there is no substitute for a good law school. You’ll also need to make sure you kill the LSAT.
The question is should I continue down my planned path of taking a semi difficult business degree ? or should I take an easier major which will supplement my GPA more but may not be as useful in terms of transferable skills
Have you met with the prelaw advising office at your college?
It does not sound like you think you will get the grades you need for law school admission by adding more business classes. It seems like a better option to take classes in your areas of strength and boost both your GPA and your rec letters.
@ComradeH: If you can continue down that path and get your GPA up too, then sure. Law schools won’t care about staying true to some major, they only care about the number at the end. Fluff is fine for that. Doubling down on your major is too.
What makes you think that you’ll get a 4.0 in classes from now on, when you have only a 3.0? Have you taken a practice LSAT and scored at least in the 160s?