<p>From a few of the threads on here I've learned that study abroad grades DO count toward the LSAC GPA. But what if I decide to take classes abroad and do not get credit for them? That is to say, I would study abroad and choose not to transfer the credits to my home institution. Would the grades earned abroad still count towards the LSAC GPA? Am I under an obligation to report those grades? Could I not just say that I took those classes out of personal interest and not for the purpose of working towards my degree, therefore justifying not reporting the grades? Lastly, how would the LSAC have anyway of knowing that I attended the abroad institution if there was no record on my home transcript showing credit transfer?</p>
<p>Doesn't matter. Yes, they would. Yes, you are. No, that doesn't work. National student clearinghouses, your ethical obligations, SSN; bar reports have broad discretion at their searching prerogative at the end of law school anyway.</p>
<p>What if classes taken abroad are assigned a pass-fail grade by the home undergraduate institution? I know, for example, that my school grades semesters in Cambridge or Oxford on a pass fail basis. </p>
<p>They will accept the credits if pre-approved towards your major or degree, but the specific marks received do not factor into your overall GPA because of difficulties in conversion. </p>
<p>In this situation, would the LSAC request a separate transcript from the British institution, and convert the British marks back to a 4.0 scale? Or would they just let it go? </p>
<p>Many pre-med students at my school who need several semesters of grades to remain competitive have been advised against doing this study abroad program because of this reason.</p>
<p>Yes, yes, and no. AMCAS does the same thing as LSAC, so your pre-med colleagues are getting odd advice. (Not surprising, if you go where I think you go.) It has some truth in it, though, since the specific content of premed courses matters a lot more than the specific content of a prelaw student's coursework.</p>
<p>Requesting</a> Transcripts</p>
<p>Read this and see how it applies to your situation. I stress the fact that when you have a question like this, it's best to look for an official answer and not rely on a message board. </p>
<p>As you will see, how many courses you take determines whether you need to send a transcript.</p>
<p>Whoa. (re-reads) Apologies -- this is a fairly serious correction to something I'd been pretty sure about. In fact, even with a very obvious answer from an official source staring me in the face, I still almost can't believe it. There must be something I'm missing. It can't possibly be the case that you're permitted to shield up to a year of coursework. (Can it?)</p>
<p>[In any case, the answer to the OP's original question -- does it matter if I don't transfer the credits? -- remains the same at "no."]</p>
<p>The LSAC representative said that my grades abroad would NOT count towards my LSDAS grade point average. The LSAC website was accurate in stating that if I received my degree from an American institution that I would not have to report study abroad classes that were less than or equal to one year of undergraduate work. </p>
<p>Thank you to everyone who helped me find an answer to my question.</p>