<p>I know I post on here kind of frequently (ahah), but it's really the only place I've come to and gotten amazing advice. So I thank you all so much for listening to me. That said: </p>
<p>I have a 2.4 GPA in college. I'm a junior. I've been working on various issues in my personal life that may have made the grades come out the way they did, and I am consulting the various appropriate sources (which have been suggested to me by parents on this forum and others) to help guide me.</p>
<p>But there is one thing that no-one has been able to help me with, and I thought you guys might have some insight into it.</p>
<p>Being as late into my academic career as it is, is there any point in trying to do well at this point? What benefit will good grades for 1.5 years of college bring me, when the rest were shot? For super-late bloomers like myself, is law school still an option? Will good grades (even so late) help me in that endeavor or help me with finding a job? </p>
<p>Parent here. I would say it’s NEVER too late to do well in school. Are you suggesting that you should just keep getting Cs and an occasional B in college for the next 1 1/2 years? At this point, you should be mostly taking courses in your CHOSEN major. This IS the time to do well. It’s time to show demonstrate that you are capable and are hard working and can achieve in your chosen area of study. Future employers and grad schools will be MIGHTY interested in what you do in the upper level courses in your major. </p>
<p>I would say you SHOULD aim for a higher bar than the one you have achieved so far. I hope your personal issues have resolved so that you can do so. If not…perhaps a leave of absence from college until you CAN do well is in order.</p>
<p>Coming into the university with as many AP credits as I did, I’ve already taken quite a few major classes and upper-levels (esp. if you count this past Fall semester, during which I did poorly - the usual Cs and one or two Bs deal). To me it just seems like there is an overwhelming stain on my record, encompassing everything: CORE classes, major classes, lower levels, upper levels; nearly three years of it. Would one year really overcome or change or prove anything? Would decent grades in the next few semesters show I’ve “turned around” this late in the game, or would it just been seen as more inconsistency?</p>
<p>A leave of absence is definitely something I’ve considered, though again it doesn’t seem worth it if doing well after I’ve already amassed so many credits under my belt (close to 100, since I’ve taken summer classes and came in with 30 or so AP credits) isn’t going to have much of an impact on my career or grad school prospects. I would have felt much better if I had taken a break earlier, maybe after freshman year, because that’s something people understand - the freshie didn’t do well, came back, and did fine the next three years, you know? But a junior?</p>
<p>What you define as your sub par performance is clearly bothering you. So change what you can and do your best. It will increase your confidence and your overall GPA, both of which will help you move forward on whatever path you choose after graduation. Do it for yourself and try to ignore any thoughts of what this GPA or that GPA will get you later.</p>
hmm … I’m 50 so this is old info … undergrad semesters GPAs … 2.5, 2.7, 2.4, 2.1, 2.9, 3.6, 3.7. 3.8 (3.6 GPA in major) … grad schools = top 5 engineering school and top 5 B-school. Moral of the story … it’s never too late to get your butt in gear … and there will be a school who appreciates your improved performance</p>
<p>If you need motivation, grab a calculator and figure out your gpa with two semesters worth of As vs two semesters of your current grads. There’s your answer.</p>
<p>As for this, “Would decent grades in the next few semesters show I’ve “turned around” this late in the game, or would it just been seen as more inconsistency?”</p>
<p>Yes, it would be seen as inconsistency, which is good. Not all change is bad; an especially good change would be a higher gpa.</p>
<p>Lastly, if you are considering law school, you need to figure out how to structure your studies so that you can earn the highest grades. It’s practice for the more demanding academic experience that, hopefully, will be in your future. Also join an LSAT study group. If you cannot find one, ask a political science professor.</p>
<p>If you want to go to law school, you’ll need a strong LSAT. </p>
<p>As for your GPA, you could delay graduation while you take more classes to bring up your GPA. You don’t “have” to graduate when you get your needed credits. You could continue with a minor or whatever - to help bring up your GPA.</p>
<p>Can you retake some classes that you did poorly in, but you’d do better if retaken? Would your school let you “replace” that grade with the new grade? If so, that would greatly help.</p>
<p>No, there is no “replacing” grades, unfortunately. </p>
<p>I’ve considered staying an extra year, but my parents have indicated to me that it would be on mostly my dime. Taking out 5-10K in loans would be reasonable, but only if it is worth it (esp. if law school loans would follow!). Is staying in school for 5 years looked down upon or would it add significantly to my resume to have an extra year of success under my belt? </p>
<p>Secondly, if I was applying to law school would that last year count, or is it kinda like undergrad. college admissions, where senior year of HS has very little weight (since apps are due in the Fall/winter)?</p>
<p>I would definitely put a lot of effort into studying for the LSAT.</p>
<p>I am 53 years old and the economy sucks to put it mildly, I found my self out of work this summer like about 2,000 other applying for the same job I was applying for. At 53 years of age they were not only calling my college to see if I had a degree they were taking the gradepoint average into consideration. I never paid attention to GPA back in the 70’s or early 80’s it was not an issue to students. Now a point or two separates you from a good job or not. OK to your point in 1 1/2 years from now the economy will not be in the same sucky position it is now and your GPA will still make a difference in separating out who gets an interview and who does not.</p>
<p>There is no law (pun intended) that says that you have to apply to law school while you are still in college. Just bring up the GPA if you don’t get in, apply again on your 4 year GPA.</p>
<p>Getting better grades may only help your overall GPA slightly, but you can always list your GPA by major, or even by year separately if it makes you look better. But the more important reason I think to get some good grades is to have some teachers that will be able to write good recommendations for you. You’ll need someone in your court, especially if your overall record is spotty.</p>
<p>DH had a so-so GPA after UG and went to work for five years. Nailed the LSAT, spent months working on his essay addressing UG issues and what he’d accomplished since, and got into a T-14 law school. Getting a job, working your way up the ladder and having some professional recommendations can help make up for a lackluster GPA.</p>
<p>I’ll join with others that you need to address the underlying issues first. Best of luck – it is hard to be stuck in a rut (BTDT).</p>
<p>I think you need to watch “My Cousin Vinny” – in which we have a lawyer who got his degree at night school do a bang up job. </p>
<p>Are you suffering some burn out? Do you need some time bussing tables just to breathe a bit? Somehow someone with a history of AP courses shouldn’t be producing a 2.4. </p>
<p>You said you were working on some issues. Fine. So, if I’m an employer and I am looking to hire a young person, do I want Applicant A who says “here I am with my 2.4 GPA degree” or do I want Applicant B who says “I had some issues to resolve in college, so I had a rough sophomore year. But, as my transcript shows, I matured a lot and my last three semesters were 3.8, which, I believe, is more indicative of the work I can do.” </p>
<p>Sweetie, I think it’s high time you get your academic butt in gear (IMHO). The only thing more challenging than being a graduate with an English degree is being BARELY a graduate with an English degree.</p>
<p>I am curious…if you manage to get into law school or grad school somewhere, is anyone ever going to look at your undergraduate grades? I’m sure it depends upon the field. In 25 years in my industry, I have never had any employer (or coworker) ever ask about my grades. It would have been laughable. They wanted to know about work related experience, and to test my skills and knowledge.</p>
<p>Of course you’ll want to get your grades up to have any chance of getting into law school.</p>
<p>Alas, the time when employers DO look at the transcript is for the FIRST job when one has little or zero job experience. It is what they do have to help evaluate a candidate. If the student struggled to get to class and get homework in, then why would we think this is going to be a stellar employee?</p>
<p>What bugs me here is the clear message that this is a student who knows he/she could do better – and is looking for reasons to coast on. At what point DO you get to work and prove yourself?</p>
<p>GPA isn’t the only (or best) reason to do better in college. There’s acquiring some better work habits. Or learning to fully commit your energy into your work. Developing fruitful relationships with your professors. Having a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction in working hard. I don’t mean to sound touchy-feely but right now these things are more important than worrying about getting into law school. Your motivation has to come from the right place or you’ll never get out of your rut.</p>