GPA questions... ??

[DMickey28]

Just curious what folks think out there!!!

As far as GPA is concerned both for admission to any type of grad. school....

My first semester of school I did REALLY BAD... really bad. I transferred schools, got things together and my GPA didn't drop below a 3.5 after that. It was more up in the 3.7-3.8 range. I ended up back at the orginal school to graduate. I have four semesters there. One really bad one, three good ones 3.5 or higher. Do the math, that makes my GPA in the 2.8 range because though my classes transferred my GPA did not. Do you think that is selfexplanitory in the transcripts or a topic of a personal statment in the application process?

I think that the preservence that I had at that age to get back up and go after what I wanted shows a lot and that the first semster should in no way hold me back. All those arguements worked great for getting into everythign I have want to so far, but Law schools a different story. Can I do it with that as my background?

By the way, that first semester I didn't party. Never really partied actually. I just wasn't ready to be away from home and was really down. Barely left my dorm room except for dinner sometimes and to go back home on the weekends. I should have withdrawed but it's took late now!

Just trying to rest my mind that I am good enought to get into Law School.... especially since I am studying my butt off for the LSATs...

 

[Lisa F]

Make sure you send transcripts from both schools showing your high GPA at the other school as well and yes, I'd address this in your application. I had a similar issue when applying to grad school and no one seemed to care. I also was a student rep to the admissions committee on my grad school and we did actually take the time to read all of the materials and try to get a sense of the person. IMO (and in the opinion of most of the other people on our committee) the essays were the most important part, followed by letters of recommendation (were they enthusiastic or just sort of generic letters?) I don't know how it is for law school though, but at least there's some hope for grad school in general!

Also if there are mostly core type classes that you took your first semester, you might want to emphasize what your GPA is in your major, as well as recalculate your GPA for yourself based on ALL of your courses and mention that as well!

 

[DMickey28]

Thanks for the response!!!

Would you make this the topic of the personal statment of the law school application? Emphasizing the growth during that time along with the achievements reached and how that first semester strengthened me as a person?

I am unsure how the personal statment should be answered... I am also lost with the letters of recommendation! I have no idea who I should ask. I have a boss that I worked with for five years but haven't worked with since 2001, but I am sure he would write a wonderful one. The job was at a camp and I don't think that would be "professional" enough. I am unsure of who to ask from my Professional jobs that woudl be good enough.. possible my boss from my last job that was a lawyer as well....

The school I really want is within my reach, but I am not outstanding by anymeans... I need to make the application as perfect as possible!!!

Thanks for the help!!

 

[tar heel]

It varies some from school to school -- you may get lucky. I got into a really good grad school that did not consider the entire college record. They considered the GPA in the major (I had almost a 4.0) and the GPA for the last four semesters (essentially junior and senior year) (again, I had very close to 4.0). If the first three semesters had been included, my GPA dropped to around 3.2, which absolutely would not have been good enough to get in. GRE and recommendations were also important.

It sounds like where you could be in trouble is at a school that looked at numerical cutoffs to even decide which applications to examine in depth. You've got to do everything possible to make sure your application gets looked at.

I would talk about your growth and maturity in your personal statement. A lot of people applying to law school are straight from college and have no professional work experience. I think the camp job person would be fine. I also would try to get someone from the academic side, if possible.

 

[DMickey28]

Thank you for the responses.

I applying to a few different law schools so hopefully one of them will accept me and look beyond the numbers cut off!! The last school and the last choice, even the lower GPA is in the range.. last resort, also the cheapest!!

I do have academic recommendations that I can get as well. Maybe more difficult, especially since I jumped around a bit and the dean that I worked with alot left UMAss, though I am sure I can find her!!

I really want this, I would rather a "better" school (who wouldn't) the best taht I can afford, but will be willing to get the degree either way....

 

[danacara]

You definitely want to shoot for at least one academic recommendation. Also, when you send along both transcripts, they'll more than likely aggregate your grades and recompute your GPA, don't panic about that yet. Are you missing any obvious prerequisites, for example, do you have any writing-intensive classes on your transcript, or any American history? If not, a great idea for you now would be to take a couple of courses locally (a university, ideally, but a cc would do) and get As. That'll show (1) academic maturity, (2) interest, (3) time management skills (by working or managing a family simultaneously).

 

[DMickey28]

I have the two western civ course for history but no American History. That's a great idea to take one now.

I am taking a Statistics course this semester (Fall 2004) because I didn't need that for my major but I have heard that a lot of other' s school req. that sort of subject. Maybe I will add an American History course in there too. Probally a good idea!!!

I do have a few writting intense courses, since I love to write!! A lot of my major was Business oriented, my degree is through the School of Management.

Are those preqs or mostly highly suggested??