Is 3.7 GPA good for law school?
Asked by: Jimmy Sporer | Last update: February 26, 2026Score: 4.5/5 (66 votes)
Yes, a 3.7 GPA is generally considered very good for law school, strong enough to get into many good programs and competitive for top-tier schools, especially when paired with a strong LSAT score and compelling soft factors like work experience or personal narrative, though top schools often see median GPAs closer to 3.8-3.9+. A 3.7 is well above average, but success at highly selective schools (T14) heavily depends on your LSAT and holistic profile, as some top schools have average admitted GPAs above 3.8.
What did Barack Obama get on the LSAT?
Barack Obama's specific LSAT score has never been officially released, but it's widely believed he scored very highly (likely above 170, potentially near perfect) to gain admission to Harvard Law School despite a lower undergraduate GPA, suggesting he was in the top few percentile of test-takers for his application year. While no official number exists, analyses point to a score in the top tier (e.g., 94th-98th percentile) to overcome his GPA for admission to a top-ranked program like Harvard.
Can you get into Harvard law with a 3.7 GPA?
Harvard Law School typically looks for a GPA of 3.89 or higher, based on recent admissions data.
What is considered a good GPA in law school?
A good GPA for law school generally falls between 3.5 and 4.0. However, top-tier institutions like Harvard Law School, Stanford Law School, and Yale Law School often admit students with median GPAs closer to 3.9 or higher.
Is a 3.7 GPA impressive?
Yes, a 3.7 GPA is very good, indicating strong academic performance (mostly A-/B+ grades) and making you competitive for many selective colleges, scholarships, and jobs, though its competitiveness for highly selective programs (like Ivy League or top grad schools) depends on your major, school, and overall profile. It often qualifies for honors like magna cum laude and is well above the national average.
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Is 3.7 good for the Ivy League?
While 3.6-3.7 is a good unweighted GPA, it's below the average reported at Ivy League schools. However, this doesn't mean acceptance is impossible!
Is a 3.7 GPA worth putting on a resume?
Yes, a 3.7 GPA is generally worth putting on your resume, especially if you're a recent graduate with limited experience, as it signifies strong academic performance and competitiveness for roles in fields like finance, consulting, or law. Include it in the education section, but remove it once you have several years of relevant work experience, as your professional achievements become more important.
What GPA are law firms looking for?
At times, employers will even specify a GPA cut-off in the application process. They will indicate that they will not consider any applicant whose GPA is not at least, for example, a 3.0. Or they will not consider any applicant who is not in the top ten percent or top twenty-five percent of their law school class.
Do law firms look at law school grades?
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Firms can also decide how much they like you. But in terms of judging how serious you are about law school, and how much aptitude you show for the practice of law, grades are generally the most important criterion that firms use in the hiring of law students.
Did Kim Kardashian pass the LSAT?
That said, the question about what the “Kim Kardashian LSAT score” was, or if she even took the LSAT ends in a resounding no. This unconventional choice has sparked conversations about making legal education more accessible and exploring diverse paths in the legal profession.
Can I get into Georgetown Law with a 3.7 GPA?
Yes, you can get into Georgetown Law with a 3.7 GPA, but it's considered slightly below their median (around 3.85-3.95), making a strong LSAT score (170+) and compelling application materials crucial for competitiveness, as admissions are tough and weigh GPA, LSAT, personal statements, and other experiences heavily.
What score did Elle Woods get on her LSAT?
Elle Woods scored a 179 on the LSAT, just one point shy of a perfect 180, after going from a 143 on a practice test to achieving this near-perfect score by studying intensely for Harvard Law School. Her remarkable score, combined with a 4.0 GPA, secured her admission to Harvard Law.
Did Michelle Obama ever pass a bar exam?
Yes, Michelle Obama did pass the Illinois bar exam, but she failed it on her first attempt after graduating from Harvard Law School before passing it on her second try, later becoming a licensed attorney in Illinois and having a successful legal career before becoming First Lady. She was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1989 and went on to work in intellectual property law at a firm where she met her husband, Barack Obama.
What is the #1 ranked law school in the world?
There isn't one single "number one," as rankings vary, but Harvard University, Yale University, and Stanford University consistently appear at the very top globally, often trading #1 spots depending on the ranking system, with Harvard often leading in overall QS rankings and Yale/Stanford in U.S. News & World Report's domestic rankings for U.S. schools. Other top contenders include Oxford, Cambridge, Chicago, and NYU.
Is law school harder than med school?
Medical school is generally considered harder due to its intense, fact-heavy curriculum requiring massive memorization and dealing with life-or-death stakes, while law school focuses more on reading, critical thinking, and analysis, though both are rigorous and demand significant commitment. Med school involves vast scientific knowledge and clinical rotations, whereas law school builds analytical "thinking like a lawyer" through heavy reading, writing, and case application, culminating in high-stakes final exams.
What disqualifies you from law school?
What disqualifies you from law school often involves dishonesty, serious criminal history (especially crimes of moral turpitude like fraud), significant financial irresponsibility, or academic misconduct, all falling under the "character and fitness" evaluation, though a single minor issue usually isn't a bar if disclosed honestly and explained well; failure to disclose, lying on the application, or misrepresenting facts is often a more significant reason for denial or later disbarment.
How smart do you have to be to get into law school?
According to the Law School Admission Council (LSAC), students need a GPA of at least 3.59 and an LSAT of 162 or more to get into any top 10 law schools. However, that is the bare minimum, and you should aim higher if you want to increase your chances of getting into the top 3.
Is a 3.75 GPA bad for law school?
The top 20 schools have their median GPA above 3.7. Three law schools – Yale, University of Chicago and University of Virginia have a median GPA of 3.9 or higher. From the above table, it is evident that a good GPA is an important requirement to make it to these top schools.
Is a 3.7 GPA bad for the Ivy League?
A 3.7 GPA isn't inherently "bad," but it's on the lower end for highly competitive Ivy League admissions, making you a reach applicant who needs exceptional strengths in other areas like extracurriculars, essays, and test scores to stand out against many applicants with near-perfect grades. Your chances improve significantly if it's an unweighted GPA with rigorous courses (AP/Honors) and an upward trend, or if you have unique talents (athletics, STEM spike), but it's challenging unless you're a recruited athlete or come from a highly elite school that feeds Ivies.
Is a 3.7 GPA dean's list?
Yes, a 3.7 GPA usually qualifies for the Dean's List, as most universities set the requirement at 3.5 or higher, but it depends on your school's specific criteria, like the number of credits taken and if you received any failing or incomplete grades. A 3.7 is strong, often placing you above the standard cutoff and sometimes even qualifying for higher honors like a Chancellor's List at some colleges, so always check your university's catalog.
When should you stop putting your GPA on your resume?
In that case, when you have a high GPA, continue listing it until you've been out of school for three years. As you gain more experience, you can eventually leave your GPA off your resume entirely because you'll want to use the space to discuss more relevant skills and strengths.
Is a 3.5 GPA impressive?
Yes, a 3.5 GPA is generally considered good to very good, placing you above the national average and making you competitive for many colleges and scholarships, often earning honors like "cum laude," though its value varies depending on your specific goals (e.g., selective grad school vs. general undergrad) and the rigor of your courses.