A reader asks: I want to apply to two highly competitive graduate schools. My concern is my GPA, which is a 2.5. However I have a wealth of experience. The two programs do not specify GPA. Other schools require a mandatory GPA of 3.0. Should I apply, with the risk of not getting accepted and reapplying next year? Should I wait and improve my credentials?
GPA questions are tough. There's no guarantee when it comes to graduate school admissions. While some graduate programs apply cutoff GPA scores in order to weed out applicants, this is not always the case. We can make predictions, but there are many factors at play -- even factors that have nothing to do with you can influence the availability of slots in a given program and your chances of getting in.
Now, to consider your specific situation, remember that graduate programs look at your overall application. Grade point average (GPA) is one part of that application. Several other factors, outlined below, are also important components of the graduate application.
Graduate Record Exam (GRE)
Grade point average tells the committee what you did in college. Scores on the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) are important because the GRE measures an applicant's aptitude for graduate study. Academic performance in college often does not predict academic achievement in grad school, so admissions committees look to GRE scores as a primary indicator of applicants' capacities for graduate study.
Admissions Essays
Admissions essays are another important part of the package that can make up for a low GPA. If you address the topic and express yourself well it can allay concerns that arise because of your GPA. Your essay may also offer you the opportunity to provide context for your GPA, for example, if extenuating circumstances harmed your academic performance during one semester. Beware of griping about your GPA or attempting to explain four years of poor performance. Keep all explanations concise and don't draw attention away from the central point of your essay.
Recommendation Letters
Recommendation letters are critical to your admissions package. These letters demonstrate that faculty are behind you -- that they view you as "grad school material" and support your academic plans. Stellar letters can trump a less-than-stellar GPA. Take the time to nurture relationships with faculty; do research with them. Seek their input on your academic plans.
GPA Composition
Not all 4.0 GPAs are equal. The value placed on GPA depends on what courses you've taken. If you take challenging courses, then a lower GPA can be tolerated; a high GPA based on easy courses is worth less than a good GPA based on challenging courses. In addition, some admissions committees compute a GPA for major coursework to assess a candidate's performance in the courses that are deemed essential to the field.
All in all, if you have a solid application package -- good GRE scores, an excellent admissions essay, and informative and supportive letters -- you can offset the effects of a less-than-stellar GPA. That said, be cautious. Carefully select schools to which to apply. Also choose safety schools. Consider delaying your application to work hard to increase your GPA (especially if you don't gain admission this time around). If you're looking at doctoral programs also consider applying to master's programs (with the intention of possibly transferring to a doctoral program).
Arizona Summit Receives WRBLSA Award Arizona Summit was recently awarded the 2016 Black Student Law Association Chapter Award at the
Western Region Black Law Students Association (WRBLSA)'s 48th annual convention held during the
first week of January in San Diego.
Charlotte School of Law AAMPLE®
If a lower LSAT score is hurting your chances of getting into law school, Charlotte School of
Law (CSL) offers the Alternative Admissions Model Program for Legal Education (AAMPLE), a
seven-week online class that helps prospective students prove they are able to handle a
demanding law school curriculum.
Florida Coastal Law's Practitioner Clinics Florida Coastal Law's Practitioner Clinic is an innovative course offering students a chance
to work closely on pro bono cases with a practicing lawyer. Students are often invited to
work on these cases in the practitioner's office off campus, and the Clinics are offered as
two credits with an evening classroom component.
Center for Professional Development Arizona Summit's Center for Professional Development (CPD) is a full-service career counseling
and resource center that supports and assists students in all stages of the career planning
process, while helping employers fill their semester, summer, and permanent hiring needs.
Charlotte Law Compliance Certificate Program
Students with or without a legal background can pursue a career in the rapidly growing
field of compliance and ethics. Charlotte Law is one of the few law schools in the U.S.
offering a Corporate Compliance Certificate Programentirely online. It's an 18-week
platform that prepares students for the Compliance Certification Board exam.
Florida Coastal Law Offers LLM & Certificate in Logistics & Transportation Florida Coastal Law is the first law school in the U.S. to offer an onlineLL.M. Degree or
Certificate in Logistics & Transportation. Students in the 24-credit LL.M. or 12-credit
Certificate program gain expertise in global logistics and transportation law through
cutting-edge courses taught by attorneys and industry professionals online.
