<p>Quick question: Do you think that studying abroad would make a discernible difference when applying to LS? Do schools (im aiming for T10, inc. HYS) really care about whether you studied abroad? Im only asking because I have the opportunity to graduate a year early if i decide to opt out of studying abroad. If i do study abroad i would have to come back for 1 semester of my 4th year. My family is pretty poor and saving a semester of expenses would really help out, but what do you guys think?</p>
<p>Hello! I'm in a similar situation, except I'm worried about the opposite- I am going to be abroad all next year. How do you think law schools (similar to the OP's list) will view this?</p>
<p>Also, my grades during my year abroad do not factor into my GPA... so I think I basically have the GPA that I will apply to law school with. Will it look bad that I only have 2 years of grades when I apply?</p>
<p>calidan- are you sure your grades aren't going to count?? My d did a semester study abroad. Her grades were not counted into her "home school's" GPA, but she has to send her transcript from her study abroad program to LSAC. Luckily, her program was sponsored through another college based in NY state- so she was able to give both college codes to LSAC so they can obtain both transcripts.
Study abroad and graduate school admission can get a bit tricky- But definitely worth it!!
AbMed- Study abroad is a great opportunity- but honestly I don't think it helps too much in law school admission. If finances is really an issue- save the money and use it towards law school tuition.</p>
<p>Your study abroad GPA won't count towards your school GPA but will count towards your LSAC GPA (the GPA that law schools see) so don't think your GPA is settled and don't slack while abroad.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Grades from all your courses abroad will appear on your [University] transcript as they appear on the original transcript from the host institution. They will not be translated to an A-F scale.</p>
<p>Study abroad grades will not be factored into the [University] GPA.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I put [University] in place of my school's name.</p>
<p>So do you think that the grades will get factored into my GPA? I know they will appear on the transcript, but since they are not in the same grading scale, I'm not sure how they could be figured into my LSAC GPA.</p>
<p>Calidan- Check with your law school advisor/study abroad advisor- BUT if your study abroad grades appear on your transcript- then I think LSAC will factor them into your overall LSAC GPA-</p>
<p>As I said study abroad grades is a tricky issue. My d has a separate transcript from her "host" school. Grades from both institutions will be factored into her LSAC GPA. I've heard other programs just give PASS/Fail. I have no clue what LSAC does with those type of grades. I have also heard of kids getting their transcipts in the language of the host country and have to get an official translated version sent to LSAC.<br>
My d was initially under the impression that her study abroad grades wouldn't count- but I gotta admit, I got info from these boards which made me believe that they are considered for Law School. Luckily, I was able to convince my kid of that fact BEFORE she started her study abroad program.
As Dima said- Don't slack off on a study abroad program, cause very often the grades DO COUNT for grad/law school.</p>
<p>calidan -- Law school admissions won't use the GPA on your transcript. They'll recalculate it based on their own policies, and they'll include the grades from every college course you've taken (including in high school, at community college, summer school, and study abroad). I don't know what the policy will be if your study abroad grades are on a completely different grading scale (though I imagine LSAC addresses this on its website). But the important point is that even if your 'home' school doesn't include the grades in your GPA calculation, law schools will (or will certainly want to).</p>
<p>ab_med -- study abroad as undergrad offers it is often a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I would suggest making your decision based on your personal interest, parental support, and finances...leave law school out of the equation.</p>
<p>LSAC has conversion tables on its website for different grading systems, so if the program abroad has a different system than your school, you can use your chart to convert them to the same scale. I don't have the time to look it up right now, but it just takes a little searching on the LSAC website.</p>