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I graduated from UC Berkeley about 5 years ago with a cumulative GPA of 2.54. I was really struggling back then and did all I could to try to graduate. I took P/NP for the classes I was struggling in so as to not ruin my GPA in order to receive my diploma. However, I'm applying for law schools now and I realize that there is such thing as a CAS GPA which is calculated differently from how my college GPA was calculated. After taking into account of all the NPs and incompletes I received, my GPA came down to a 1.67. I recently received a 178 on my LSAT because I studied really hard for it knowing that my GPA is super low. Given my situation, is there ANY ABA-Approved law school that would possibly accept me? I was really struggling in my early 20s and I didn't have a goal in life. But now I've finally decided on what I'm gonna do with my life, so I'd like to know, is it possible to turn my life around and go to a law school and become a lawyer?

It's possible that a law school will accept you but it would probably be a school that will give you few to no employment options and just take your money.

Is it possible for you to redo undergrad? See if you can figure out how to re-do it cheaply and in 3 years instead of 4. I've heard of people doing this in situations like yours.

You cannot "redo" undergrad for lsac purposes. The calculation only includes grades that were done before you got your bachelor's.

OP, all you can do is fine tune every other part of your application, have a GPA addendum, and apply broadly.

Doesn't Washington University in St. Louis permit you to do a redacted-GPA application? If I were in your shoes, I'd do that.

Seconding WUSTL as the play here. Their entire strategy revolves around taking applicants who boost one median or the other; thus, you just have to serve one of their medians and they will more than likely throw you scholarship money.

Anecdotally, I know a guy who got a half ride at WUSTL off of a 2.low GPA and a 180 LSAT. He's doing alright now. I'd normally also throw UF-Levin into the mix as they're also splitter-friendly and generous with scholarship, but IDK how you feel about practicing in Florida.

That has to be one of the most epic splitter GPA's I've ever heard of.

I'd be shocked if no ABA approved school lets you in given that LSAT. The WUSTL idea is a good one, but I understand Northwestern can also be splitter friendly.

Apply widely as splitters can have unpredictable cycles. Write a good addendum for that GPA. If it was due to a health or family issue it could be compelling enough for some good schools to let it slide.

Definitely apply broadly and see what happens. I'd be prepared with a better narrative than "I was a mess"; you have to demonstrate that you're no longer a mess. You're smart enough to do well, but there's going to be concern that you'll have a repeat of your undergrad behavior. Have you held a job in the past 5 years? Anything to demonstrate maturity can help. You want a narrative that explains why this happened and why it won't happen again.

The days of 95% of law school graduates being K-JD are long over. Law schools are very receptive to applicants who have real world experience before applying. That would be you. And with your real world experience you grew up, turned yourself around and got an exceptional LSAT score.

Were I in your shoes (I was a K-JD from the 1950-1970s however) I would apply to as many of the T-14 as you can afford, explain your life, and sit back and wait for some acceptances. Just to be safe, apply to other law schools as well.

After you start getting responses to your applications, let us know how you did.

nealric wrote: ↑

Thu Apr 25, 2024 2:47 pm

That has to be one of the most epic splitter GPA's I've ever heard of.

I'd be shocked if no ABA approved school lets you in given that LSAT. The WUSTL idea is a good one, but I understand Northwestern can also be splitter friendly.

Apply widely as splitters can have unpredictable cycles. Write a good addendum for that GPA. If it was due to a health or family issue it could be compelling enough for some good schools to let it slide.

NU was splitter friendly. Last cycle they've been a bit wild towards splitters. Sub-3 is extremely difficult to overcome. With a 178 I don't want to discourage you from anything; I just know WUSTL literally only cares about whether you help one median or the other. Miracles do happen, but they're just that: Miracles.

looseleaf wrote: ↑

Mon Apr 29, 2024 4:30 am

nealric wrote: ↑

Thu Apr 25, 2024 2:47 pm

That has to be one of the most epic splitter GPA's I've ever heard of.

I'd be shocked if no ABA approved school lets you in given that LSAT. The WUSTL idea is a good one, but I understand Northwestern can also be splitter friendly.

Apply widely as splitters can have unpredictable cycles. Write a good addendum for that GPA. If it was due to a health or family issue it could be compelling enough for some good schools to let it slide.

NU was splitter friendly. Last cycle they've been a bit wild towards splitters. Sub-3 is extremely difficult to overcome. With a 178 I don't want to discourage you from anything; I just know WUSTL literally only cares about whether you help one median or the other. Miracles do happen, but they're just that: Miracles.

No way to know what will happen from cycle to cycle. It's worth an application. Splitters need to apply widely.

Completely agreed. Even a 1% chance >>>> a 0% chance.

Hey boss, not sure if you're still reading posts. In my opinion, you are an excellent candidate for an elite law school. While the GPA is important, in my view, LSAT has always been king/queen, and by a long shot—and furthermore, I think schools know this. It is the best predictor of success historically and there is a lot of data to back that up. Here is what I would recommend. First, I would apply with what you have, and obviously you need to clearly address the situation in your essays and with an addendum if necessary. But secondly, if you don't get in on the first try, this is obviously going to impinge on your personal life, so do this only if it works for you, but if you were really crazy about it, I would seek out a Masters and try to do really really well in it. Yes, it will not bring up your LSAC GPA, BUT it will demonstrate to admins that you are serious and that you are capable. Will Yale take you? I don't know, your GPA is going to seriously hurt their avearge. However, would Duke or Georgetown take you? I think they might. A 178 is cat nip to many elite schools.