<p>So I am a current freshman from UC Berkeley and more and more I am beginning to realize that it is EXTREMELEY difficult to get a high GPA from this school. Looking at statistics and seeing that the average to get into a good Law School is 3.7, it is beginning to scare me. Do you think law schools like Columbia and other places would take into consideration that BErkeley has a policy on grade deflation with its difficult classes, or would they just not consider it alltogether?</p>
<p>The answer to your question is, ‘No’. But, more importantly, you are mistaken if you think Cal has grade deflation outside of the sciences, which have strict curves. Cal has a mean gpa of 3.27 (which is higher than UCLA, btw). Certain majors award plenty of A’s. (Since the sciences award C’s and D’s, the humanities grades have to be a LOT higher to yield a mean of 3.3.)</p>
<p>Well, seeing as I am an intended business major, there are a LOT of classes I have to take with a VERY strict curve. Haas is known for its infamous grade policies, as well as the difficulty of the classes to get INTO haas. So its not just sciences with that curve, its humanities as well…have you been to Berkeley?</p>
<p>Sure, admissions to Haas is extremely competitive. But still, Law Schools will not care. They only care about gpa+lsat. If you are dead set on law school, choose a ‘Studies’ major, or public health, to pad the gpa.</p>
<p>Ironic, I’m an intended business major at Cal and I’m doing this to inflate my gpa for law school since I’ve heard Haas is generally easier once you get in.</p>
<p>You’re studying business at Berkeley, not astrophysics at CalTech.</p>
<p>“have you been to Berkeley?”</p>
<p>Don’t need to have been to know it’s the best state school–so, uniformly hardworking student body, but significant discrepancies in intelligence among students. Getting consistently beaten down at a public institution means you simply don’t compare with the mass of students above you. Why would law schools humor you when there are so many stronger candidates they could court?</p>
<p>Bluebayou is correct. That will not be a consideration. Consideration will be given to your GPA and LSAT. Consideration may be given to the fact that you are graduating from Berkeley rather than, say, Cal State Dominquez Hills. “May”, not “will” is the operative word. </p>
<p>You may find it easier getting into a private law school (say USC) than you would public (i.e. UCLA or Boalt), especially if you have legacy. Keep in mind, also, that there is a possibility of starting law school at Law School “A”, getting great grades, then transferring to Law School “B” after the first year. Spots usually open up after the first year, because a number of students just can’t hack law school or just hate it and don’t want to go back. Just keep that in the back of your mind as “Plan B”.</p>
<p>Quotes:
Law School “A”, getting great grades, then transferring to Law School “B” after the first year</p>
<p>I don’t know about this. Say if you are at Davis Law and you are in top 5%, pretty much sure you can get a job at Big law. Why risk yourself to transfer to say Boalt or Columbia and end up in a bottom half and don’t get a job at BIGLAW.</p>
<p>“I don’t know about this. Say if you are at Davis Law and you are in top 5%, pretty much sure you can get a job at Big law. Why risk yourself to transfer to say Boalt or Columbia and end up in a bottom half and don’t get a job at BIGLAW.”</p>
<p>most biglaw job interviews judge candidates based on 1L grades, meaning, despite someone possibly going down in the class rank 2L or 3L, he/she can get that biglaw gig with top notch 1L grades. (since the person should’ve already gotten biglaw offer before 2L grades come out)</p>
<p>which brings out the point that transferring up in law school can really improve one’s odds of landing a biglaw job if that person has top notch 1L grades from a non-T14 school.</p>
<p>I know 2 kids from my high school who went to Indiana University, pulled 3.8+ GPA and 170+ LSAT who both got into top 6 law schools.</p>
<p>I know 2 kids from MIT, 5 kids from Cornell, and 3 kids from Princeton all with 3.5~ GPA, with 170~ LSATs who all got rejected from every single top 6 law school they applied to. (2 of them got rejected from all T14 except Georgetown) </p>
<p>If you’re at Davis, you’re not going to transfer. But if you’re stuck with Southwestern or Loyola (both have pretty stellar alumni, but mixed placement), you might consider transferring to UCLA or Boalt after the first year. Or not. If you’re an evening student, you can’t.</p>
<p>That’s what I meant by Law School “A” and “B”.</p>
<p>Personally, getting into any firm, BIGLAW or o/w is difficult right now, if that’s what you want to do. And BIGLAW isn’t looking exclusively at stats when they interview – potential, personality, practicality (the 3 P’s), fit, and lack of arrogance play a big part. Whatever law school you go to, if you can get your foot in the door, you’re halfway there.</p>