<p>Hey, I'm looking to take some summer courses and was hoping for some advice. My GPA is far below what it should be due to financial issues freshman year that forced me to miss class and forgo my schoolwork. This resulted in a very low GPA. However, over the final three years of college, I held a constant 3.85. However, my cumulative is only around 3.45, which in no way represents my performance or what I can bring to a law school. So I'm looking to take some summer courses to boost my GPA as much as possible. I'm thinking a 3.5 is strong enough to at least be considered on its own merit, and my explanation and huge upward trend will make up for the rest. </p>
<p>Also, my major (hospitality administration) isn't considered to be an "academic" field. So I want to make sure that I show law schools that I am more than capable of maintaining the same production in strictly "academic" courses. So I was wondering what you guys recommend taking? Would any random academic subject like anthropology, sociology, or english literature suffice? Or would it be smarter to take a course in paralegal studies or oral presentation?</p>
<p>Definitely not paralegal studies or oral presentation! You want a fast way to kill any academic credentials you might have left, those are the best ways to do it.</p>
<p>Oh I have no requirements left to kill. I am all set to graduate with the few required courses I have left in my hosp major. I just want to boost my GPA and take some "academic" courses. So you think just something general like anthropology or sociology would suffice? It will only raise my GPA all of .02 or something, even if I get an A, but I need all I can get. I am very concerned that law schools will look at me as a 3.45 student if I don't make an effort to raise it as much as possible. That is my predicament. I don't want to apply as if I am a 3.45 student because I am far above that level and always have been. I would be completely selling myself short if I were to apply to schools that had a 3.45 average GPA. I was a 4.0 student in high school and, once the financial situation was smoothed out, a 3.85 student in college. I want to apply to the schools that are on this level of competition. Obviously a very high LSAT score can completely change the game for me. Thats why I'm going to dedicate an entire year to studying, to ensure that I get right around 170.</p>
<p>And what do you recommend with the summer classes? Is it worth it just to raise my GPA from about 3.45 to 3.47? Again, I am going to make clear to the schools in an addendum that this number is wholly unrepresentative of my performance and capability and the 3.85 over the final 3 years should be the number consulted when trying to make an assessment of what I can bring to the school. So, given these circumstances, is it worthwhile to even take the summer courses? Again, my major isn't considered an "academic" field so I would like to pile on those academic courses just to show them that I can succeed in such courses as well.</p>
<p>I don't believe bdm was referring to required courses. My first thought was the same as bdm's: oral presentation and paralegal studies are not academic courses. If you want to beef up your gpa without "more of the same" vocational courses, take math, science, philosophy, or similar. You might want to look at the courses you are considering, then calculate an estimated gpa. If you can bump your gpa up to 3.5, you might want to consider taking the courses. If your gpa stays below 3.5, you might consider doing something different with your summer.</p>
<p>But I'm confused. Are you graduating this May? If you are, then taking courses this summer is irrelevant, since the post-graduate grades would not be figured into the undergraduate gpa.</p>
<p>I am actually graduating in May 2009. I have one more year to complete and I will earn a 3.8 or higher without a doubt. I will not let myself get any less. I have been trying to take as many "academic" courses here at BU as I can. Unfortunately, most of my academic courses and general requirements were taken freshman year, when I was unable to perform at my normal level.</p>
<p>Ok, thats good to know. Would it make sense to study all summer and take it in October? I would like to do this but I know that I wouldn't be able to study much in the month leading up to the test, because I will be back at school.</p>
<p>If you're concerned with your gpa, should you be applying to law school while you are a senior? If you're looking to earn some more A's to bring up your gpa, it seems like you should apply the year after you graduate, to make sure you get the highest gpa you can, which won't happen if your last semester grades won't be calculated into the admissions decision.</p>