<p>Hello everyone,
As an potential international student, I have to say there is some incredibly useful advice here and hope that you might be able to help me!</p>
<p>I am from the UK, graduated from a UK Top 30 University with a 2.1 degree in French. I studied Law in my first year but had to transfer from my original university due to ongoing family circumstances. I also spent a year abroad and wrote a 10,000 word dissertation in French which required a great deal of research in both French and English in order to develop a well balanced discussion and conclusion. </p>
<p>I have since worked for a couple of years in a variety of roles thanks to the recession! I am now going to work in a secondary school (high school) for a year until July 2011 but would like to complete my law degree as it was/is the vocation I would most like to pursue but have not had the opportunity to do so! </p>
<p>I had my 2.1 degree and transcript translated to US GPA which came out at a disappointing 3.17 which obviously is a concern, although I have some legal work experience when I was younger (school work experience week and other snippets when I was at university) along with an internship at a strategic management firm, temporary (which lasted 11 months) work in a customer service environment and now teaching! </p>
<p>I realise I am required to submit LSAT and GRE for the joint degree option and I am busy preparing when I have time. I have a range of extra-curricular activities including rowing (crew) amongst others.</p>
<p>I wish to pursue a JD degree, possibly as a joint degree with Public Policy although I believe this would be a 4 year undertaking. I am keen to gain admission to the more recognised law schools (from an international perspective) and would appreciate advice in this regard.</p>
<p>Can anybody help me with regard to explaining the tier system that I have seen mentioned? I understand there is tier 1 to 4 and would be grateful for information as to where law schools fit in within this ranking system?</p>
<p>Does anyone have any experience of international students on their JD programs?</p>
<p>First, put <a href=“http://www”>www</a>. in front of usnews.com and go to that website. (I’m not allowed to link here.) Look at the top, click on the link for rankings; choose grad schools, then law. This is where the tier system comes from. </p>
<p>Second, talk to another company re the evaluation of your 2:1. With a 3.17, it’s going to be very, very difficult to get into a law school with a name that’s recognized in the UK. I’ve never heard of a 2:1 being ‘translated’ to that low a gpa, but most of the “kids” I know who have done this–only a couple–went to Oxbridge. They got a 3.5 in ‘translation.’ </p>
<p>To see where you might get in, go to [LSAC.org</a> Homepage](<a href=“http://www.lsac.org%5DLSAC.org”>http://www.lsac.org). This site has a link where you can input your LSAT and gpa and get an idea of where you might get in. You can also download a practice LSAT. Take it under timed conditions to get an idea of how you’ll do. (Yes, you can improve your score with studying, but you’ll have at least a rough idea.)</p>
<p>At the ABA official guide to law schools on the <a href=“http://www.lsac.org%5B/url%5D”>www.lsac.org</a> page, you can click on law schools and get info which includes the 25th-75th gpa range for various law schools.</p>
<p>Thanks for your reply! I found the LSAC website very useful particularly with the ability to search by GPA and projected LSAT score. </p>
<p>I too am confused by my low translated GPA, although I think every single class I took has been translated and averaged accordingly which of course like any student has some weak results in it! I hope that the LSAC credential assembly service might be a little more accurate. I was originally informed that a 2.1 would be a 3.5 GPA so I was a little surprised when 3.17 came through. </p>