Messed up last semester of Junior year

Graduate School Law School
1

<p>After I graduated high school, I went to a two-year college and graduated with an AA in English. During that time I was a member of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, a Senator in SGA, and finished with a 3.9. </p>

<p>Currently I'm at UCF. I'm still an English-Lit major, but have declared a Writing and Rhetoric minor this semester. Fall semester I got a 4.0. This semester though has been really tough since I developed depression, social anxiety, and just a whole multitude of problems that have killed my motivation these past couple of months.</p>

<p>According to the grades I have now (finals notwithstanding), chances are I'll end up with an: A, 2 A-'s, and possibly a C or B depending if that professor decides to excuse my absences. Absences over 2 will result in a failing participating grade, which is really the only thing holding me afloat. If he doesn't I get a B, if he does I end up with a C most likely.</p>

<p>I'm aware that GPA and LSAT are the two main factors considered during the Law school admissions process. I have about three semesters left and figure if I can get back on my A game and ace every class from here on, I should be ok. I'm just concerned since I heard that law schools heavily scrutinize your junior and senior year. It seems as if they're going to ask: what happened? Maybe I can write a compelling enough personal statement, along with some letters of recommendation.</p>

<p>Also, I'm going to work in a law firm this summer (not taking classes since I can't afford it) and will hopefully be more active the upcoming academic year. Do I still have a chance at applying to a top tier school? This is assuming, of course, that my LSAT is 170+. I plan to take the October exam this year.</p>

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<p>Law schools don’t scrutinize any semester over any other. One bad semester, I wouldn’t even bother writing an addendum. Your GPA will take a hit but it’s nothing you can’t recover from. Presuming a decent LSAT, this semester probably won’t make a difference in your law school admissions cycle.</p>

3

<p>The usual advice is to wait until second semester senior year (or after) to apply, so that first semester senior year grades can mitigate the bad junior year grades.</p>

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<p>I would focus on addressing your problems and wait until you get yourself into a sustained healthy place again before worrying about the possibility of law school.</p>