<p>I'm currently a freshman in college and got a D in one of my classes first semester. It is in a subject that I am NEVER going to take a class in again. </p>
<p>Assuming that everything else is fine for a top law school (strong upward trend in GPA, awesome internship, LSAT between 165-180), would this D still make me an auto-reject at Harvard, Yale, and Stanford law schools. Because if it does, I might as well not even bother applying to these places three years from now.</p>
<p>Not auto-reject, but certainly drags your chances way down. The median GPA at these schools is like 3.8-4.0. The only way you could get that now is with all A’s the rest of your college career. Also, 165 is not good enough for these schools. Think 170+ for HS, 172+ for Y. And an “awesome internship” won’t cut it at Y and S. Think about publishing a book, then you’d a have a fighting chance.</p>
<p>i’m definitely hoping for 170+, took a practice lsat over winter break and got a 174, if that means anything, lol</p>
<p>It wouldn’t automatically reject you, but it would seriously cripple your chances.
In regards to your practice test - congratulations! Although you have to realize that I have seen people score consistently high on practice LSAT’s and then go down 10-15 points on the actual test (and vice-versa). Don’t think that you are going to get a 170, focus on college and getting your grades the highest you can be before you consider trying to get into a T14 law school. Also, they will take into account that the class you received a ‘D’ in wasn’t part of your major.</p>
<p>Best of Luck!</p>
<p>Assuming you take 4 graded classes per semester for 4 years, that D will bring you down about .1 GPA. If you have a 4.2 for the rest of your classes, a 4.1 certainly don’t keep you out. If it brings you down from a 3.85 to a 3.75 on the other hand, yes, it will probably keep you out of Yale or Stanford, and probably Harvard if your LSAT is <176. Of course, it could hurt much worse. I know someone who only had about 15 graded classes due to AP credits and pass/fail, so that D would have brought them down a full .2.</p>
<p>thanks everyone for the advice!
this semester, i am really trying to make up for bad grades.
i was way too focused on the other ‘aspects’ of college life and thought that my grades would be alright in the end. now i’m trying to really make up for a entire semester lost.</p>
<p>It’s easier said than done in having an awesome upward trend. You never know when you’ll get that professor who refuses to give out an A, for example. </p>
<p>To makeup for 3 semesters at 3.5 I had to make a lot of sacrifices - mostly in terms of personal and romantic relationships. I have 3.9’s ever since while taking a more than full courseload and working. Now I just have to keep it going to get my overall into 3.8 territory. </p>
<p>But what an amazing LSAT score, especially as a freshman. If you take a lot of practice tests you should be able to secure yourself into 177+ territory.</p>
<p>You could probably write an addendum for that D if you have a good reason. Otherwise, if you wish to get into HYS, making up for that D will be extremely hard work. Plus, you should probably question if you really are HYS material if you got a D in one of your classes. Unless your school is incredibly harsh on grades (like MIT) I don’t think it should be hard to maintain at least average grades even if you are very active in non-academic areas.</p>
<p>I mean, the OP is a freshman. It’s really a non-sensible discussion until he’s actually demonstrated his upward trend and gotten his 174 on an actual LSAT. Until then, there’s just no sense discussing this.</p>
<p>In a theoretical universe, a D is not auto-reject material in and of itself. That’s basically the only useful information we can give him.</p>
<p>were your other grades all As? </p>
<p>I think you’re making pretty grand assumptions…it’s easier to say you’re going to get your **** together than to actually get your **** together</p>
<p>A 174 LSAT on a practice test is without significance. Although GPA and LSAT are the two most important factors considered by law school admissions, a solitary “D” among high grades will not preclude admission into elite law schools.In what course did you receive a “D”? And why?</p>
<p>“A 174 LSAT on a practice test is without significance.”</p>
<p>I don’t agree. If the practice test was a real LSAT, and the OP took it under timed conditions, then getting a cold 174 is an extremely good sign.</p>
<p>If it was untimed or a simulated LSAT, that’s without significance.</p>