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Low GPA + 3 yrs working experiences

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USALLM

Joined: 11 Sep 2006
Posts: 2
Low GPA + 3 yrs working experiences
Tue Sep 12, 2006 09:31 AM
Hi, friends. It's my first time posting on this board.

I wish to apply for an US LLM program 2007-2008. It's so frustrating that the GPA of my undergraduate studies is about 3.1. Pretty low, right? I've left the school for 3 years and working at a US law firm's Chinese branch. Can this experience somehow compensate my low GPA? And is there any advice as to which law schools should I apply for?

Appreciate very much for any information.

Best!
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ColumbiaJoe
Joined: 12 Jul 2005
Posts: 67
Low GPA + 3 yrs working experiences
Tue Sep 12, 2006 03:06 PM
Yes it helps. But will it help enough? It depends upon your competition, specifically others similarly situated. Where are you from? What firm are you at? What do you want to study? Etc, etc...
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dcllm

Joined: 13 Apr 2005
Posts: 24
Low GPA + 3 yrs working experiences
Wed Sep 13, 2006 05:08 PM
I absolutely agree with ColumbiaJoe. You can overcome the gpa issue with a strategic approach by applying to schools that value your language skills, area of law, etc. Don't let a gpa stop you from applying, and just go for it!
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Lit

Joined: 24 Jul 2006
Posts: 66
Low GPA + 3 yrs working experiences
Thu Sep 14, 2006 03:32 PM
At the risk of seeming stupid, could someone tell me how much a gpa of 3.1 amounts to in A,B,C averages.Not from the US so not fammiliar with that system. Further, if one is looking to get admitted into a good school, Columbia, for instance, what GPA would one look to have, in A,B,C averages.
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ColumbiaJoe
Joined: 12 Jul 2005
Posts: 67
Low GPA + 3 yrs working experiences
Thu Sep 14, 2006 04:28 PM
No worries, I had to ask someone to explain to me the "first, second, third" system in England.

A 4.0 is an A, a 3.0 is a B, and 2.0 is a C. Accordingly, an A- is a 3.66 or 3.7 and a B+ is a 3.33 or a 3.4. As you surmised, the real difficulty is determining what the GPA means. Some schools curve, some use the 100, 90, 80, 70 percent model, some schools are more prestigious, etc. For JDs, GPAs are somewhat coordinated by LSAC and the range of GPAs are published by USNEWS. Unfortunately, I can't tell you what you need for LLMs.
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USALLM

Joined: 11 Sep 2006
Posts: 2
Low GPA + 3 yrs working experiences
Fri Sep 15, 2006 10:01 AM
Thank you so much, guys!

I am currently preparing my personal statement, and will try to use some skills to make myself look better. :)
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Lit

Joined: 24 Jul 2006
Posts: 66
Low GPA + 3 yrs working experiences
Mon Sep 18, 2006 12:18 PM
Thanks ColumbiaJoe, can always count on you for useful information.So now I know. Does anyone else have any idea what the minimum GPA (since I now know the lingo) you should be looking to get to stand a chance?
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sylviaTT82

Joined: 01 Aug 2007
Posts: 3
Low GPA + 3 yrs working experiences
Thu Oct 29, 2009 09:41 PM
No worries, I had to ask someone to explain to me the "first, second, third" system in England.

A 4.0 is an A, a 3.0 is a B, and 2.0 is a C. Accordingly, an A- is a 3.66 or 3.7 and a B+ is a 3.33 or a 3.4. As you surmised, the real difficulty is determining what the GPA means. Some schools curve, some use the 100, 90, 80, 70 percent model, some schools are more prestigious, etc. For JDs, GPAs are somewhat coordinated by LSAC and the range of GPAs are published by USNEWS. Unfortunately, I can't tell you what you need for LLMs.


Hi ColumbiaJoe,

Really hope that this message will reach you after so many years. Do you have any idea what is a law degree in the grade of "second lower class" (granted by a UK law school) equivalent to under GPA?

Regards
Sylvia
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exoprasta

Joined: 19 Jun 2008
Posts: 2
Low GPA + 3 yrs working experiences
Thu Nov 05, 2009 09:42 AM
i dont understand. how much merit does American Law Schools give to GPAs? I intend to apply LLM this year to US Law Schools , one of the reason is because they never put a threshold to GPAs and put more weigh in the personal statement + recommendations. At least this is what I heard. For sure, I have had two friends admitted to Harvard LLM in 2006-2007 and both of their GPAs are not even 3.

Can anybody share?
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Devil_Cat

Joined: 04 Nov 2009
Posts: 8
Low GPA + 3 yrs working experiences
Mon Nov 09, 2009 06:58 AM
What kind of formula your school used to transfer your score into the 4 point grading system? I am also from China and based on my understanding, very few Chinese law schools use 4 point grading system... For example, my school uses the 100 point grading system... what exactly is your mark using your school's original system? Somtimes, if the formula your school follows is very tight, you can explain this to the school, and if you use LSAC, they might simply ignore your transferred marks, but use your orignial grading system. They do so in my case.

Anyway, I agree with other people that the US schools will not weigh your GPA separately from your other materials; and you have to compete with other applicants, i.e., to see what the others' grades are.

But people told me that, if you use LSAC, an "above average" remark should be OK for T14 for Chinese applicants...Well, if you are talking about the Top 3.... I think you will need higher marks...
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