<p>Hi everyone! I would really like some advice here on my situation:</p>
<p>I'm currently a junior at UCLA, 3.75 GPA, 174 LSAT</p>
<p>My target schools are Harvard, Columbia, Stanford, and UChicago</p>
<p>Unfortunately I'm not doing so well in class and I'm thinking to retaking it...if I don't then I'll have three C's on my transcript (including the one I'm taking now) and there's no way I can get a B in this class...so it's basically down to retake v. getting a C</p>
<p>Which path should I take and will look slightly better when applying to T-1 schools?</p>
<p>If you “retake” the class, LSAC will still include the C you got when you first took the course in calculating your LSDAS GPA.</p>
<p>And with your numbers as they are right now, HLS and SLS are iffy. Probably in at Chicago and Columbia, though (and I should give a shout-out to my homeys at NYU). Three Cs won’t really matter at the latter three schools, but will probably cement your being out of the running at HLS and SLS.</p>
<p>So does that mean by now there’s no chance I’ll get into Harvard or Stanford? Is there anything I can do to improve my chances(Pulling up my GPA to around 3.9 and taking the LSAT a second time)?</p>
<p>And haha yes NYU is a brilliant school! My cousin just graduated from NYU Law three years ago :D</p>
<p>No I can’t drop the class or change it to a pass/fail since it’s a major class and according to the department all major classes must be taken with a letter grade :(</p>
<p>If you want Harvard or Stanford, the 174 is fine, but anything below 3.8 is pretty much a bar. That’s your goal. Putting a gap year between undergrad and law school will allow your senior year grades to count, which might put you over the top.</p>
<p>(Alternatively, LSAC calculates grades slightly differently than most undergrads. So your GPA might rise – or fall – a little bit on the official LSDAS report.)</p>
<p>Okay! Thanks so much bluedevilmike!! I will try my best to bring my GPA up in the next few quarters I even think it’s possible for me to pull it up to a 3.8 before senior year with my classes next quarter, and also if I retake the class next quarter. Thanks!</p>
<p>Remember that a retake doesn’t erase previous grades. LSAC will still count the old grade (although it will also count the new one). You’re probably better off just making sure to take new and easy classes.</p>
<p>as someone else mentioned, you may want to apply one year after senior year so senior year grades count. you can use senior year to put you at 3.85+ which will position you well for harvard. </p>
<p>if you manage to do something interesting in that year (volunteer, significant work experience, etc) that will also only strengthen your application.</p>
<p>Sorry to interrupt, there is one thing I`d like to ask.
I am starting a liberal arts college in the fall, and since it is mandatory to take at least one math and science class, do you think it is a good idea to laeve these classes for my senior year, as grades do not count if I plan on starting law school directly after college ?</p>
<p>I REALLY advise against waiting until senior year to take the math. Math is one of those subjects where it USUALLY hurts quite a bit to be away from it for a few years. If you’ve taken math in high school, I’d advise taking it freshman year. It will only get harder the longer you wait. A LS acceptance won’t help you if you fail math senior year and don’t graduate. And, you’ll have a lot to do senior year with applying to LS, possibly working on a senior thesis, etc. Having to go back and relearn math skills you’ve forgotten at the same time won’t be a picnic. </p>
<p>Science is different. You can always take beginning astronomy, geology, etc., in which most people have had little exposure to the subject. So, put that off if you want. </p>
<p>Haha, there is no way on Earth I can fail a math class.I am a good math student, scored 710 on SAT I math, 800 on SAT II math, I don<code>t have any problems related to math.It</code>s just that I find this subject extremely boring and pointless, since I am going to persue a career in law.</p>
<p>may I ask again? My school said they will erase the prevoius grade if you retake a class. There will be no record except where it says retake. So I was planning to retake the class in my senior class. bUT YOU Are ALL AGREEING that the previous grade is counted at LSAC. How would they know the grade if the university discards it and will be no record of it? thanks</p>
<p>Basically, it depends on the exact appearance of your transcript. You should order yourself a copy and take a look at it. If that grade is not anywhere on your transcript at all, then you’re fine.</p>
<p>Most of the time, however, the grade does appear on the transcript but not in the GPA calculation.</p>
<p>In that situation, because the LSAC does its own GPA calculation, the grade “doesn’t count” for your school but does very much count for law school.</p>
I even think it’s possible for me to pull it up to a 3.8 before senior year with my classes next quarter, and also if I retake the class next quarter. Thanks!</p>