How much will high LSAT help if International GPA is poor? Forum

[DolnaRay]

Everywhere its said that LSAT matters more than GPA for international applicants, but I am having my doubts as I have an abysmal GPA.

What schools should an international student target if he/she has poor GPA?

I am from India which has evaluation system similar to UK. I have a 2:2 in my History major. UK students here will understand that 2:2 is a harbinger of doom. My transcripts will be in all probability get termed as below average. My WES calculation is a grand 2.5+. ( pathetic I know). My grad school GPA is 3.8 ish,( which wont be considered anyway)

I am trying my darned best to get a 175+ on the LSAT. If by God's grace, I am successful, what schools will I have a chance in? I am non URM, non military etc.

I am targeting T30/40 schools. Any chance there?

Has there been any international student has made it with poor UG GPA and great LSAT?

[freekick]

I recently replied to a couple of similar queries and have modified those responses for your queries.

- See this spreadsheet to get an idea of how (some) applicants without a numerical GPA fared this cycle: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/ ... p=drivesdk

- As an international applicant, you want to be at or above the 75th to have a shot at admission plus some scholarship.

- Your ugpa is likely to get the 'poor' or 'below average' evaluation from LSAC. Chancing applicants without a numerical gpa is extremely difficult. It comes down to the quality of the international pool in your cycle, schools' priorities, your softs, nationality and a host of other things which are meaningless to talk about in the abstract.

- You are probably right in realistically targeting t30-40 schools with your gpa. A 170+ should open some good doors for you. However, you should apply as widely as you can to the extent you can afford it and especially if you have a good explanation for your grades and/or good sorts or any other unique feature.

Hope that helps.

[DolnaRay]

I recently replied to a couple of similar queries and have modified those responses for your queries.

- See this spreadsheet to get an idea of how (some) applicants without a numerical GPA fared this cycle: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/ ... p=drivesdk

- As an international applicant, you want to be at or above the 75th to have a shot at admission plus some scholarship.

- Your ugpa is likely to get the 'poor' or 'below average' evaluation from LSAC. Chancing applicants without a numerical gpa is extremely difficult. It comes down to the quality of the international pool in your cycle, schools' priorities, your softs, nationality and a host of other things which are meaningless to talk about in the abstract.

- You are probably right in realistically targeting t30-40 schools with your gpa. A 170+ should open some good doors for you. However, you should apply as widely as you can to the extent you can afford it and especially if you have a good explanation for your grades and/or good sorts or any other unique feature.

Hope that helps.

Thanks. I am aiming a high LSAT ( 175+) . If any T 40-50 takes me, well and good. If not, a good T2 ( 50-70) is good enough. I just don't want to end up at T3 or unranked schools like thomas cooley . One of the users here who probably had his/her LSAC evaluation was below average ended up at Cooley even with a 171 LSAT. Then again that person might be lying about the LSAT score... if he/she weren't .... all I can say, is that I am truly terrified.

[chargers21]

I recently replied to a couple of similar queries and have modified those responses for your queries.

- See this spreadsheet to get an idea of how (some) applicants without a numerical GPA fared this cycle: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/ ... p=drivesdk

- As an international applicant, you want to be at or above the 75th to have a shot at admission plus some scholarship.

- Your ugpa is likely to get the 'poor' or 'below average' evaluation from LSAC. Chancing applicants without a numerical gpa is extremely difficult. It comes down to the quality of the international pool in your cycle, schools' priorities, your softs, nationality and a host of other things which are meaningless to talk about in the abstract.

- You are probably right in realistically targeting t30-40 schools with your gpa. A 170+ should open some good doors for you. However, you should apply as widely as you can to the extent you can afford it and especially if you have a good explanation for your grades and/or good sorts or any other unique feature.

Hope that helps.

Thanks. I am aiming a high LSAT ( 175+) . If any T 40-50 takes me, well and good. If not, a good T2 ( 50-70) is good enough. I just don't want to end up at T3 or unranked schools like Thomas Cooley . One of the users here who probably had his/her LSAC evaluation was below average ended up at Cooley even with a 171 LSAT. Then again that person might be lying about the LSAT score... if he/she weren't .... all I can say, is that I am truly terrified.

I think you'll be able to go to a fine regional school, and that may be a good option for you depending on citizenship status and whether you'd consider living in the regions that those schools are in. Cooley is not a fine regional. Best of luck on the LSAT!

[sanzgo]

Everywhere its said that LSAT matters more than GPA for international applicants, but I am having my doubts as I have an abysmal GPA.

What schools should an international student target if he/she has poor GPA?

I am from India which has evaluation system similar to UK. I have a 2:2 in my History major. UK students here will understand that 2:2 is a harbinger of doom. My transcripts will be in all probability get termed as below average. My WES calculation is a grand 2.5+. ( pathetic I know). My grad school GPA is 3.8 ish,( which wont be considered anyway)

I am trying my darned best to get a 175+ on the LSAT. If by God's grace, I am successful, what schools will I have a chance in? I am non URM, non military etc.

I am targeting T30/40 schools. Any chance there?

Has there been any international student has made it with poor UG GPA and great LSAT?

i am of the opinion that you're in luck.

if you had a low US GPA, that'd have to be reported to US news but an international GPA doesn't factor into anything. the low international GPA won't be ignored but if you have a 173+, T-14 is very possible.

basically, given you're an international, the importance of your gpa is relatively less than that of US applicants so if you do well on the LSAT, i think you should still be able to nab a T-14 acceptance. good luck

[DolnaRay]

Everywhere its said that LSAT matters more than GPA for international applicants, but I am having my doubts as I have an abysmal GPA.

What schools should an international student target if he/she has poor GPA?

I am from India which has evaluation system similar to UK. I have a 2:2 in my History major. UK students here will understand that 2:2 is a harbinger of doom. My transcripts will be in all probability get termed as below average. My WES calculation is a grand 2.5+. ( pathetic I know). My grad school GPA is 3.8 ish,( which wont be considered anyway)

I am trying my darned best to get a 175+ on the LSAT. If by God's grace, I am successful, what schools will I have a chance in? I am non URM, non military etc.

I am targeting T30/40 schools. Any chance there?

Has there been any international student has made it with poor UG GPA and great LSAT?

i am of the opinion that you're in luck.

if you had a low US GPA, that'd have to be reported to US news but an international GPA doesn't factor into anything. the low international GPA won't be ignored but if you have a 173+, T-14 is very possible.

basically, given you're an international, the importance of your gpa is relatively less than that of US applicants so if you do well on the LSAT, i think you should still be able to nab a T-14 acceptance. good luck

Hmmm. At this point, I will just count myself lucky if I don't end up at T3 or unranked schools. Will be a massive let down if I end up at Cooley or some T3 if I manage a 170+.
Thank you for your kind words.