GPA differences & other factors

Graduate School Law School
1

<p>I just finished my sophomore year in college and I'm seriously considering law school. I've done my research and I get it, GPA and LSAT are pretty much the main deciding factors. I haven't taken my LSAT yet but I have a 3.75 cumulative at a top 25 university, political science major. I definitely want to reach for the top 14 (if not top 5).</p>

<p>However, I'm wondering how law schools judge your GPA, since different colleges have different ranges. My sister was a freshman at McGill and their grading scale is 85-100 = A, 80-85 = A-, and so on. At my school an A is 93-100, A- is 89-92, B+ is 85-89...which is typically the grading system in the US (give or take). I've gotten a few B+s that brought down my GPA but my sister's 85's have gotten her A's.</p>

<p>She's not thinking about law school but obviously her 4.0 would look much more favorable compared to my 3.7. I was wondering if law school admissions consider the different grading scale of a college like McGill or just weigh these two GPAs equally? There's the whole "it's hard to get an A" argument but my sister disagrees, and I personally think that's subjective too. I really hope I won't be disadvantaged like that compared to an applicant from McGill...</p>

<p>Also, how important are extracurriculars? I am deeply involved in 3 organizations on campus, including several semesters of leadership in one of them. I'm also currently interning at a Legal Aid Society. Would these help with my application?</p>

2

<p>LSAC has their own GPA calculations, it is on their site.</p>

<p>Off the top of my head, an A+ is a 4.3, an A is a 4.0, a B+ is a 3.6 something, etc…</p>

<p>No, they do not care if an A is 85-100 or 98-100, an A is an A to them.</p>

<p>EC’s in my opinion are not important at all. They may help if you are tied with other people or have a weak spot in your stats, but EC’s are very soft softs, being the vice assistant for helping passing out save the trees t-shirts is not going to net much. Remember, you are competing with lots of people who have done real things in life, managed businesses, fought in wars, etc, so your college EC is not going to ever be a big deal to the admissions committee. But this is all my opinion. Just concentrate on getting a high GPA and LSAT score, that is the best thing you can do.</p>

<p>Law schools are strange, they will accept a drunken frat guy that has done nothing in life but has a 3.9/179 over a guy who possibly has done many things, served in a war, worked, obtained some level of real responsibility, etc, with a 3.5/168.</p>

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<p>Yeah I’ve heard that law school is even more about numbers than college apps. kfc, that really sucks considering the chart on LSAC puts an 85 at a B (3.0), yet some people will get away with an A on their transcripts. If they just want to focus on numbers at least do it right!</p>

<p>Oops…sounded a tad bitter there :slight_smile: But thanks for the info!</p>