Does GPA or LSAT matter more?

Asked by: Prof. Jerald Smith  |  Last update: February 19, 2022
Score: 4.3/5 (54 votes)

While LSAT is the most important factor, GPA is still significant. When you get down into schools lower in the rankings (outside the top 10 schools), numbers alone become an even better predictor of how likely you are to get into a specific school. LSAT is still the more important number than GPA.

Do law schools look at GPA or LSAT more?

Keep in mind that law schools look at your application in full — not just your score and grades. An upward grade trend can offset a mediocre or poor GPA, as can a strong LSAT score. Similarly, consistently outstanding academic performance and a strong GPA can offset a less competitive LSAT score.

What weighs more LSAT or GPA?

In fact, some schools weigh your LSAT 4 or 5 times more than your undergraduate GPA. This means a three-and-a-half-hour test can weigh more than four years of college! Here's a great article on how your score weighs in relation to your GPA and other factors on your application.

Does LSAT outweigh GPA?

According to many sources, your LSAT score is more important than your undergrad GPA. ... Although the focus on the LSAT is probably a little annoying for the 4.0 GPA's of the world, it is a blessing for law school applicants who… may have been a little more focused on who they knew rather than what they knew.

Is a 3.0 GPA good in law school?

The grading curves for most U.S. law schools can be found here. At many lower-ranked schools, the GPA of the 50% rank is between 2.0 – 2.9. ... At mid-ranked schools, the 50% GPA is around 3.0. Top schools have a 50% GPA of 3.3.

Law School Splitter | High LSAT + Low GPA | why GPA "doesn't matter"

45 related questions found

Is a 3.2 GPA in law school good?

Yes. A 3.2 GPA and an average LSAT will get you into some low-ranked law schools. A 3.2 GPA and an excellent LSAT score might get you into a school ranked in the top 50 percent.

Is a 3.33 GPA good in law school?

GPA — Your GPA of 3.3 is below the 25th percentile GPA for admitted students at all 14 of those law schools. The 25th percentile GPA for admitted students at those law schools ranges from 3.47 to 3.85. The median GPA for admitted students those law schools ranges from 3.78 to 3.93.

Is a 3.8 good enough for law school?

You'll need a 3.8 or better to be above the median for a top 14 law school, and a 3.6 or better to be above the median for the top 50.

How good is a 163 on the LSAT?

The 25th percentile LSAT scoring range is from 163 to 170. These are the top-ranked schools for a reason—they are tough to get into. Only 7.4% of applicants earn the right to join Yale Law School each year.

What's the average GPA for law school?

What is a good GPA to get into law school? Only a very few law schools and colleges accept potential student candidates with an undergraduate GPA of 3.49 or lower. Most prestigious law schools require a GPA of 3.85 or higher.

Can I get into law school with a high GPA and low LSAT?

If you have a high GPA and a low LSAT score then you could be a shoe in at a top law school. Additionally, if you have unique or outstanding work or life experience, you should expound on this in your application because these are also factors that a school may consider regardless of your score or GPA.

Why is the LSAT so important?

The results are consistently clear: LSAT scores provide the most accurate prediction of a candidate's first-year performance in law school. In other words, LSAT scores are the best single predictor of first-year law school performance, even better than candidates' undergraduate grade-point average (GPA).

What is the easiest law school to get into?

These are the 12 law schools that are the easiest to get into in the country — and that still can help you start your dream legal career.
  • Concordia University School of Law, Idaho. ...
  • Roger Williams University School of Law, Rhode Island. ...
  • John Marshall Law School, Chicago. ...
  • Thomas Jefferson School of Law, San Diego.

Is 160 a good LSAT score?

160 score: A score of 160 or above is typically considered a good LSAT score. ... 170 score: Scoring a 170 on the LSAT is almost always considered a good score — that means you are in the 2-3% of test-takers. Still, it won't guarantee you admission at a top law school. Other parts of your application are still a factor.

Do law schools only care about LSAT?

Although the LSAT is still the dominant test for law school applicants, it is no longer the only one. According to the Educational Testing Service, more than 60 American and two foreign law schools accept GRE General Test scores as an alternative to the LSAT.

What did Obama get on the LSAT?

Barack Obama LSAT Score

Though not conclusive, we can predict that President Barack Obama scored somewhere between the 94th – 98th percentile on his LSAT. Converting his approximated LSAT percentile to today's grading system would give him about a 170 LSAT score.

Can you get into Harvard with a 163 LSAT?

A score of 163 on the LSAT would not qualify you for HLS. Nor for any other T14 law schools.

What was Elle Woods LSAT score?

LSAT Lessons from Legally Blonde (really!)

As you probably know, the LSAT is scored from 120 to 180. Elle Woods was able to raise her score from a 143 to a 179 just by diligently preparing.

Is a 167 LSAT good?

The average LSAT score for law schools at the top of the rankings ranges from 167-172. On the other hand, scores of 145-155 are generally good enough to be accepted into less prestigious law schools. A good LSAT score can open up a whole world of opportunities for you.

Can you get into Harvard law with a 3.5 GPA?

As the Harvard Law School statistics indicate, even those with a 3.5 GPA or better who dont do well on the LSAT have only about a four-percent chance of admission. ... The average score nationally on the LSAT is about 152.

How good is a 171 LSAT?

Test-takers who complete the LSAT receive scores ranging from 120 to 180. Generally, experts say scores in the high 160s and 170s are considered excellent.

Are B's good in law school?

Bs are perfectly acceptable grades in law school. What does a B grade represent? That a student has adequate mastery of the subject.

What LSAT score do I need for Harvard?

As you can see from these numbers, an LSAT score of 170 or higher and a GPA above 3.75 will give you a chance of gaining admission to Harvard Law School. If you have a GPA of 3.94 or higher and above a 175, you are pretty much a lock for admission, particularly given the class size of ~560.

Is 3.4 GPA good for law school?

I can say that with a 3.4 GPA and an LSAT of 165 you would be below the average of admitted students at probably every “top-14” law school in the United States, however other factors could help you get admitted (but that is probably unlikely for this upper echelon of schools).