There’s no doubt that GPA is among the most important factors about your application to law schools. However, don’t let that stop you from applying to schools that interest you, and especially don’t look at your GPA as a deterrent to attending law school at all!
What’s a low GPA?
Typically, a low GPA is considered to be anything below the 25th percentile for admitted students. Be sure to thoroughly research the schools that interest you to find out their GPA ranges and the emphasis they place on GPA versus other admission factors. Generally, you should accentuate the strong parts of your application and make up for the “weaker” ones.
Here are some factors to help overshadow your less-than-perfect GPA:
- Strong letters of recommendation
Find professors who can speak to your abilities in more than just a general manner. It might be a good idea to remind them of the work you did for their classes so that they may include it in their letter of recommendation.
Following etiquette and being polite are both important considerations in this process. Stop into the CEC to learn more about how to professionally request letters of recommendation!
- Write an addendum
If there were extenuating circumstances that affected your GPA, the addendum is the place to explain what happened. Events such as family illnesses, health leaves, et cetera can be legitimate reasons.
Be sure to have succinct, genuine explanations—don’t just make excuses!
- Boost your application with great summer experiences
Anything that shows you’ve had experience with the day-to-day experiences of lawyers and law offices is a plus. These types of experiences demonstrate that you are aware of everyday legal tasks and have valuable skills that can make you effective.
Alternatively, completing an internship in a law-related area that interests you can be a good idea. For example, if you intend to delve deeper into and eventually practice immigration law, volunteer experience working in an immigration office could be an opportunity to further explore this interest. Additionally, experiences such as these could lead to applicable topics for personal statements or interviews.
Still looking for the perfect summer internship? Visit the CEC for help getting started in your search!
- Apply to a variety of schools “cast a wide net”
If your GPA and LSAT scores are split between high and low for a particular school, you could be a “wildcard” candidate. Depending on the strength of your other application factors, this could mean that you are unexpectedly accepted to schools you were unsure about. In other words, apply to as many of these schools as possible—you never know what could happen!
- Interview, if offered
Some schools may offer interviews to supplement the application. If this is the case, be sure to take advantage of this opportunity to demonstrate your personality and commitment to pursuing a legal career.
If you have an upcoming interview, be sure to schedule a mock interview in the CEC!
Good luck with your applications!