LSAC-calculated GPA vs. College GPA, etc. - What matters???

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• 1 Like

  akistotle Member ⭐ 🍌🍌

  August 2018 9382 karma

  Hi @LAWYERED,

  What matters is your cumulative undergraduate GPA according to the LSAC. Your LSAC GPA is what schools see.

  If your GPA is below the median, your LSAT score probably needs to be at or above their median. But the URM admissions can be different: https://7sage.com/admissions/lesson/affects-chances-getting-law-school/
• Tom_Tango Alum Member

  August 2018 902 karma

  LSAC gpa
• samantha.ashley92 Alum Member

  August 2018 1777 karma

  Have you transferred schools? I think that's what adjusted mine a little (3.79 to 3.80). Since GPAs are often rounded up, combining the grade points' unrounded numbers from multiple transcripts could change it. Anyway, your LSAC GPA is what matters.
• 4 Likes

  Leah M B Alum Member ⭐

  August 2018 8392 karma

  As the others said, it is your LSAC calculated cumulative GPA that law schools will look at. From what I gather, they really are not interested in what your degree GPA is. In that case, it sounds like good news! Your LSAC cumulative GPA is higher than what your school calculated. I'd be happy about that.

  As far as admissions goes, if you're below median with GPA you'll want an above median LSAT. If you're at 25th or below GPA, you'll want a 75th and above LSAT. You will likely get a little boost for being URM, but it's still best to set your goals like anyone else for the LSAT.
• 1 Like

  LAWYERED Alum Member

  August 2018 335 karma

  Thanks everyone!
  @"samantha.ashley92" I had to submit three different transcripts: 1 from my first year of study abroad, 1 from the university I received my degree from and 1 from a community college that I took one summer class at. I received a 4.0 at the community college because I only took one class and I did very well at the French study abroad school so perhaps that pulled up my GPA?
• 1 Like

  samantha.ashley92 Alum Member

  August 2018 1777 karma

  I have multiple as well, including a complete withdrawal from a semester. (I'll need an addendum for that!) So let's say your grade points were 55.5555 from one school and 55.4444 from another school. Separately, they would be counted as such. Combined, however, they total 110.9999. LSAC may round that up to 111.00, while the individual schools did not round up. I could be wrong on that, but that's the only explanation I can think of.
• 1 Like

  David Busis Member Moderator

  August 2018 7395 karma

  Yep—your cumulative GPA according to LSAC is the one that matters. Schools will see your degree GPA, which is good, but they have to bake your cumulative GPA into their 509 disclosures.
• 1 Like

  MissChanandler Alum Member Sage ⭐

  August 2018 3256 karma

  I think that community college class is the explanation! Usually transfers from community college aren't factored into your school's GPA but LSAC does include them
• LAWYERED Alum Member

  August 2018 335 karma

  @MissChanandler said:
  I think that community college class is the explanation! Usually transfers from community college aren't factored into your school's GPA but LSAC does include them

  I wish I had known that! I would've taken a ton of easy summer classes every year.
• 1 Like

  MissChanandler Alum Member Sage ⭐

  August 2018 3256 karma

  It's nice that it's giving you a boost! I know several kids who took classes they knew they'd do poorly in at a community college so that it wouldn't mess with their gpa, and now it's hurting them in the law school process