JD/M.Div Program chances with Low College GPA

Graduate School Law School
1

<p>I am a year out of college, have been working constantly since August after my graduation (could work until then because I was extremely ill). By the time I apply to Law school (fall of 2010 most likely) I will have worked at my current job 2.5 years. I spent the first 6 or so months working a temporary job with a congressman. </p>

<p>I work at a Christian organization that does advocacy (ie. lobbying) to end domestic and international hunger. Personally, I work in grassroots advocacy going to speak at church groups and organizing members to take legislative action. I want to continue to do faith based advocacy work after I graduate which is why I want to do the M.Div/JD program. </p>

<p>The only programs I've found with it are Chicago, Vanderbuilt, Louisville, Wake Forest, Emory and Pepperdine. I am leaning towards Emory because I like their theological school better. One of my recs graduated from Chicago's divinity school and one graduated from Emory with a Ph.D (not that i think that matters but maybe it does!). </p>

<p>My GRE scores are fine and I'm not worried about Divinity School admissions (i have to get into both) but I am concerned about getting into Law school. I am going to take a diagnostic test today to see where I'm at, but since i have at least a year to study I'm not too worried. My college GPA was a 2.987 at a mostly unheard of school. This is mainly due to two reason, one I had severe depression one semester my sophomore year and the second is I started out a biology major, but turns out I suck at science. </p>

<p>After that long ramble, is there any chance my work expierence will help me? Should I work longer before returning to school? Any tips?</p>

<p>Thanks so much!</p>

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<p>Hi --</p>

<p>1.) Work experience does help, some.
2.) The more experience you get, the better. It puts distance between you and your undergraduate GPA. Again, some.
3.) The most important component is an LSAT score. Once that is in, it will almost certainly help us narrow the list of law schools.
4.) It's not particularly important to do it in a joint program. You can just do them separately. I'm going for a dual degree and I'm doing it program-less. I'm going to different universities entirely, in fact. It's not that big a deal. That opens up a whole host of other law schools and M.Div programs, since you don't have to do them together.</p>

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<p>Hey! I was wondering what you’re doing now? I’m 6 months out of college and juggling between law school and seminary and would love some advice! Please do tell me about your experiences and such since this posting. Thanks!</p>

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<p>Could you get an M.Div. first and then use good grades earned from that to then apply to law school? Also, if you apply to a Christian-oriented law school (i.e., Regent), I’d think that it would be more open to your motivations for going to law school than some secular institutions would be, and so you may have some GPA leniency that way.</p>

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<p>Please use old threads for informational purposes only. If you have a question please start a new thread. closing thread</p>