Is a 3.85 GPA bad for law school?

Asked by: Bianka Mertz  |  Last update: September 24, 2023
Score: 4.8/5 (43 votes)

Among the 191 ranked law schools that submitted grade data to U.S. News in an annual survey, the average median GPA of entering law school students in 2021 was 3.55. But at the 20 highest-ranked law schools, the average median GPA is much higher – 3.86.

Can I get into Harvard Law with a 3.85 GPA?

Although no GPA cutoffs are listed on Harvard Law's website, students have the best chance of admission with higher GPAs. The GPA percentiles of incoming Harvard Law students are: 25th percentile GPA: 3.82. 50th percentile GPA: 3.92.

Is 3.8 GPA good for Harvard Law?

The median student admitted to Harvard Law School has an undergraduate GPA of 3.92 and an LSAT score of 174. Applicants with numbers in that range have a 10–15% chance of being admitted. What makes the difference between being admitted or not, assuming that your raw numbers are in the range HLS expects?

What is considered a bad GPA in law school?

What is considered a low GPA for law school? Typically, a low GPA for law school would be below 3.0.

Is a GPA of 3.96 good for law school?

Longer answer: With a 3.9 GPA and a 153 LSAT, you're what law schools call a “super-reverse-splitter” — very high GPA, low LSAT score. You have the GPA of a student who is a viable candidate for a T6, but an LSAT score that indicates you belong in a third- or fourth-tier law school.

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

43 related questions found

Is a 3.8 law school GPA good?

DO raise that GPA, if it's not too late. 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.

Is 3.8 GPA too low for law school?

Among the U.S. News top 20 law schools, the median GPA for accepted students in 2021 was 3.86.

Do law firms look at GPA?

No firms will admit to having a solid grade or GPA requirement or a set number of schools which they exclusively recruit from. Each firm has a slightly different take on the grades it expects recruits to have and which schools it likes to recruit from.

Do law firms care about grades?

Grades are important to many law firms when making hiring decisions. However, the weight that they carry in these decisions most often depends on the particular firm involved and whether you are (A) a junior attorney or law student, (B) a mid-level to senior associate, or (C) a partner.

What is the lowest GPA to get into Yale law school?

There is no minimum GPA or LSAT score for applicants, but the recent statistics show that the lowest GPA and LSAT scores received by a member of Yale Law School's most recently admitted class were 3.32 and 155 respectively.

Is a GPA of 3.85 good?

Most commonly, students graduate cum laude (Latin for "with praise") when they earn a 3.5-3.7 GPA, magna cum laude ("with great praise") when they earn a 3.7-3.9 GPA, and summa cum laude ("with highest praise") when they earn a 3.9 GPA or higher.

Do Ivy Leagues accept 3.8 GPA?

None of the Ivy League schools have a minimum GPA requirement for applications, which means anyone can apply with any GPA. For Ivy League schools, however, a competitive GPA and application are best. Admission rates at Ivy League schools may be low, but it's possible with a well-rounded application.

Can you get into Yale with a 3.8 GPA?

Yale University does not have a strict minimum GPA requirement for undergraduate admissions. However, admitted students typically have very high GPAs, ranging from 3.8 to 4.0, with an average GPA of 3.9.

Is 3.8 GPA too low for Harvard?

At Harvard GPA is Not Important Unless it is Very High or Very Low. As you can see, the acceptance rate between 3.0 and 3.79 is relatively flat. GPA only seems to have any impact if you are above 3.8 or below 3.0. The acceptance rate for Harvard is higher in the 3.0 to 3.39 range than 3.4 to 3.79.

Can I get into an Ivy with a 3.8 unweighted?

For most of the Ivy League schools, they expect as close to a 4.0 unweighted GPA as possible. However, the actual unweighted GPAs of students admitted could vary, with many around the 3.5-4.0 range.

What is the average GPA for Yale Law School?

The median GPA is 3.94. The 25th percentile GPA is 3.87 and the 75th percentile GPA is 3.99.

What GPA do big law firms look for?

Minimum GPA of 3.0 required. Law review, moot court, or other related experience is preferred.

Should I put my law school GPA on my resume?

List your college/university, city and state, and graduation year (not years attended). Include activities and honors from both undergraduate school and law school. List your GPA / Class Rank / and Top % of class, especially if you are participating in On-Campus Interviewing (OCI).

How to get big law with bad grades?

Below are a few strategies:
  1. Leverage Contacts For a Leg Up. Influential people have influence. ...
  2. Join A Small Firm. ...
  3. Join a Small Firm…and Make Partner. ...
  4. Go In House. ...
  5. Provide an Explanation for Your Grades. ...
  6. Emphasize Experience. ...
  7. Earn Another Degree and Get Good Grades.

What is a low GPA for Harvard Law?

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.

How important is GPA in law school admissions?

Your GPA and LSAT score are really important

By the time you begin the application process, your GPA will be relatively set, but the LSAT can be a way to make your application more competitive if your GPA isn't showing your potential.

Which GPA do law schools use?

In calculating a GPA, LSAC uses the grades and credits for every course that can be converted to the 4.0 scale, although the institution issuing the transcript may exclude some of the courses from its own calculations.

What is a 3.85 GPA?

So, a 3.8 GPA or Grade point average means an A-letter grade on a 4.0 GPA scale. Also, a 3.8 GPA is approximately equal to 90-92% marks. A 3.0 GPA is considered the national average GPA. Therefore, a 3.8 GPA is far better than a 3 GPA as it is above the average requirement.

Can I get into Harvard Law with a 3.9 GPA?

A 4.0 GPA (and above) means you have a stronger chance of acceptance. A GPA between 3.75-3.99 GPA means you have a decent chance of success. A GPA between 3.50-3.74 makes Harvard a “reach” school.

What matters more LSAT or GPA?

Just how important the LSAT relative to other elements of your overall application package varies a little from school to school. However, generally, your LSAT score alone is thought to be anywhere from twice as important as your GPA to four to five times as important!