LSAC GPA Calculations: The Rules Can be Confusing!

The Law School Admissions Council (LSAC) converts applicants' undergraduate records to a standard 4.0 Grade Point Average system, so law schools can compare candidates according to a uniform standard. Applicants often have questions about how their GPAs are calculated by the LSAC, and they may see differences between their undergraduate GPAs as calculated by their colleges, and their LSAC GPAs.

One potential law student wrote to us as follows:

I have a very strong undergraduate GPA (3.

Mom as a Recommender?

Yesterday we received a question regarding letters of recommendation:

My son is applying to law school. I am a senior civil services officer of the Delhi Government in India, and I wish to know whether, if I write a recommendation for my son, it will be accepted and considered seriously. I think I know him better than any other person and I can be very objective in my assessment.

It's not surprising that this mom -- like many moms-- wants to do everything she can to help her son with his application But a letter of recommendation from mom or dad is not going to help this student, at least with U.

Ideology and Admissions

We received the following question from a blog reader and future law school applicant:

I have some concerns and don't know who to turn to for some solid honest advice. I am starting a one year program at a youth centered clinic predominantly focused on family planning and reproductive health. I will be a health educator there who will see the patients before they see the doctor.

Will more conservative law schools be hesitant to accept me based on such endeavors?

Are Law Schools Churning Out Too Many Lawyers?

Are law schools churning out too many lawyers? That's the question asked in today's Chronicle of Higher Education. The article is subscription-only, so for those of you who have an account, here's the link. For those of you who don't, here are some excerpts for you to mull over:

  • At least 10 new law schools are on the drawing board around the country, in addition to the 200 already accredited by the American Bar Association.

Informational Interviewing: What, Why, and How?

I just received the following email from a law student:

"I've got a couple of informational interviews coming up and I've never really had an informational interview before. Is there a protocol for what to wear or discuss?  Should I bring a resume or cover letter?  How does the tone for this sort of (what I perceive to be) informal interview differ from a job interview, if at all?"

This student is making a smart investment in his future by taking time to schedule informational interviews.

"Helping you convey your unique brand" - Harvard MBA

I entered the MBA application process believing that my academic and professional background positioned me well for the top MBA programs in the country. But a challenging economy had sparked one of the most competitive and unpredictable application cycles in decades, so I turned to Anna for her counsel to navigate this environment.

In my view, the most challenging aspect of the MBA application process is surveying one's complete academic, professional, and personal history, gleaning the most informative and illuminating experiences, and connecting and communicating them effectively through often vague essay prompts, limited recommendation submissions, and narrow interview windows.

A Modest Proposal: Is There a "Best" Way to Study for the LSAT?

As in many facets of life, sometimes the simplest question can have the toughest answer.  I’ve been kicking around such a question for the past few weeks, and I’d like to share it with you.

Is there a ‘best’ way to study for the LSAT?

For those of you who haven’t read a column by me yet, I consider myself a reasonably smart guy who has a somewhat curious fascination with standardized tests.