Source
r/lawschooladmissions•
anotherredditor20

Failed class on transcript and chances of admission questions

I have 1 failed class on my transcript due to my bright idea of taking an advanced out-of-major course I had no business taking. My school allows 1 retake if you get a D or F in a class, so I retook and landed a C. I believe my transcript will show both grades but my school only accounts for the higher of the two in my GPA.

Including the re-take class have a total of 3 C's on my transcript. I took a year of easy classes at a community college so they will not be factored into my GPA (massive mistake).

After fall semester I will be eligible for graduation.

If I bust ass fall semester and somehow manage straight A's I can move my GPA to a 3.42 (may be somewhat unrealistic).

If I were to apply to add another major and get accepted, and get all A's spring semester I could get to a 3.49.

If I were to get a B in two classes total through both semesters and the rest A's, I'd only end up with a 3.43 (more realistic).

My dream is to go to law school and become a successful lawyer. Do I even have a chance?

What would you do if you were in my position to increase my chances at getting into the best school I can?

Would pursuing an MBA first be a better route?

TLDR; I'm realizing I might've fucked up.

EDIT: Will the LSAC count the courses I completed at community college?

EDIT2: Since the LSAC will count the courses I've taken at community college, should I just bag adding the extra major at University and begin taking as many lower level courses as I can at the community college? This way I'd save tons of money and be able to work in the meantime.

Posted Jul 29, 2018, 6:12 PM UTC · edited

315
lehmanbro420•

Also to your MBA question, absolutely not.

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beancounterzz•

First, your GPA will be recalculated by LSAC for the purposes of law school admissions. All grades earned at the college level, including community college and both attempts at the failed class (F+C).

Second, yes you can still be a successful lawyer. While you’re still in school, earn the highest grades and most credit hours possible to improve your GPA. Postponing graduating to do so could improve your GPA further and therefore your chances. Graduate degrees, even with superior GPAs, will not alter your chances significantly.

You’ll also have to do well on the LSAT. At schools where your GPA is above-median, you’ll want an LSAT that’s also above median. At schools where your GPA is sub-mean or sub-25th percentile, you should shoot for a 75th percentile LSAT and apply broadly due to more unpredictable results.

Edit: My answer about retaken courses was incomplete. Both grades will count unless the school removes the attempted units from the first failed courses, per LSAC:

“The original grade for a repeated course when the transcript does not show both the grade and the units for the original attempt. The total number of credits assigned to these grades will appear on the applicant’s academic summary, but will not be included in the GPA calculation.”

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anotherredditor20OP•

So had I known the calculation system I would've been better off just taking the F and not retaking? I should've looked into this earlier..

Edit: Will the LSAC count the credits that I got at a community college?

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beancounterzz•

You would been better off taking an entirely new class and earning a grade higher than C.

Yes. You have to send all Post high school transcripts. All grades earned before the conferral date of your first bachelor’s degree count towards your LSAC GPA.

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lehmanbro420•

LSAC May or may count your original F. It depends on whether your school counts the original course as attempted units. If you check your transcript, there should be two numbers denoting units next to the course. The first is for the units of the class, second is for units attempted. If the second number is 0, lsac will not include it in your gpa calculation.

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anotherredditor20OP•

Dammit, it has units attempted on my unofficial for both the F and the C.

Will it still count the second attempt or completely discount it?

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lehmanbro420•

It’s probably gonna count it. I’m sorry. But on the other side of the coin, your CC classes will count. I would do a quick gpa calculation so see what you need to be above a 3.3/3.4. You get that, rip a 170, you’re chilling imo

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anotherredditor20OP•

Should I forget about trying to secure the second major at University and begin taking as many lower level CC courses as I can to improve my lsac calculated GPA? I have no scholarship at Univ and I'm way over my head in loans, so continuing on here would hurt me financially.

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larsjos•

Any classes after you are awarded your first bachelor won’t get calculated.

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lehmanbro420•

What’s your second major goal and what are the reasons? Is law school your main (only?) career goal?

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anotherredditor20OP•

The second major would be Management. Because of the classes I've taken, I'd only have to complete 12 more credits at Univ to stack on the second major. I see it as a back up plan for if I'm unable to get into a descent law school.

I'd also like to open a couple businesses on the side. I believe management will give me the knowledge to run a descent business.

I know doing both would be a great amount of work and dedication, but I'm ready for it.

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lehmanbro420•

Business management and going to law school pull in two quite different directions. If you choose to go to law school, you will have to completely sacrifice anywhere from 3-9 months for the lsat, three whole years of work/business experience, then compete in an over saturated market for a job with zero entrepreneurialism in attempts to validate your debt load/time investment.

If you’re looking for advice, I would say evaluate your true interest in going to law school vs your interest in being a business owner/investor. I don’t know you but if I had to make a split call, I’d say fuck law school, get the management degree and go all in on that.

This is, of course, a very personal decision.

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[deleted]•

Law schools only look at cumulative GPA factoring every school you've attended. As long as your LSAT is high, I wouldn't rule out applying to top schools.

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