<p>Hey guys. I’ll be going to UC Berkeley in the fall, majoring in Mechanical Engineering & Political Science. Here’s the thing - my passion is truly politics/public policy, but I am also fairly good in Math/Science, so I’m majoring in MechE partly for the breadth, and partly because I’m interested in Aerospace engineering in particular. I’m not worried about what my Poly Sci GPA will be, but I am EXTREMELY worried about my engineering GPA, especially since Berkeley is up there (along with Cornell & MIT, I think) as schools that grade harshly and with deflation, most notably in engineering/science courses. What has got me more worried is the trouble I’m having taking a 2nd semester Calculus course (Math1B) this summer at a community college - a lot of it is still difficult for me to understand, even though it’s the second time I’m taking the class. I’ll cut to chase: Will a high Political Science GPA coupled with an “average” engineering GPA be good enough for some of the top law schools, like Penn, NYU, Columbia, Yale, Chicago, etc. (assuming I do pretty well on my LSAT, [let’s just assume])? I guess the question I might be asking is if law school adcoms will be able to see both my PolySci GPA & my Eng. GPA separately, and will be able to take both into account. In addition, I am almost positive that I want to do Peace Corps after I graduate in four years, preferably in Africa. I know Peace Corps is selective, but I’m pretty sure I could at least get in to U.N. or some other Service/Volunteering Corps. I would then apply to Law School after I come back to the US, 2 years (probably) later. I know this is HELLA early, and if you are ****ed of by this post then don’t respond, but will a 3.0-3.2ish Eng. GPA kill my chances of getting into a top law school? Thanks for your patience.</p>
<p>bump…</p>
<p>there are a lot of variables in your question…how low is an “average” engineering gpa and how high is the poli sci one? will your lsat score be so fantastic it outweighs your grades?</p>
<p>law schools will see an edited version of your transcript, prepared by the law school data assembly service (LSDAS). I don’t think it will have different gpas for each of your majors. However, you might consider writing a short statement about this (highlighting your excellent grades in law-related classes as well as the ways in which engineering will help you to be a good lawyer), in addition to your personal statement, and submitting it with your application.</p>
<p>If you have two undergrad degrees (ex: BS Eng and BA Poly Sci), why wouldn’t law schools see two different gpa’s? They couldn’t possibly combine them into one, could they?</p>
<p>I do wish I had noted that my liberal arts major GPA was very high (well within the range of all of the schools I applied to) but that my engineering GPA was dragging my grades down. For you - I would really suggest that route. You, yourself, however, will have to point that out - no one else compiles it.</p>
<p>Ultimately, however, the decisions are made on your straight-up GPA - one number that gets reported to US News & World Reports. That will hurt your chances.</p>
<p>Thanks for the responses. Also, how much do you think serving in the Peace Corps for two years would help in admissions?</p>
<p>I wouldn’t do engineering.</p>
<p>Loserkev, since you’re talking about trying to get into law schools like Yale coming from Berkeley. You should probably look at these figures. Notice carefully the average GPA’s necessary that Berkeley prelaws have historically needed to get into the law schools that you mentioned. You should then be able to assess yourself how realistic your chances are and what sort of GPA you will need. </p>
<p><a href=“http://career.berkeley.edu/Law/lawStats.stm#school[/url]”>http://career.berkeley.edu/Law/lawStats.stm#school</a></p>
<p>Wow… those kids are not getting a break for going to a good school. </p>
<p>You can also see that, since 1998, it’s generally gotten harder to get into law school. Thought I would point that out.</p>
<p>It’s sad for me to have to admit, but the fact is, Berkeley is really not that good of a place to go if you want to go to law school. The Berkeley prelaw statistics bear that out. Only a small percentage of Berkeley prelaws who apply to any top law school will get admitted, and to be one of them, you basically have to have amazing stats.</p>
<p>honestly, I have another hypothesis. I think even if you go to Harvard, and you get a 3.4, you are not gonna get into Harvard Law or another top 10 law school.</p>
<p>sakky:</p>
<p>What is your opinion of Georgetown?</p>
<p>****, these are hella discouraging stats, especially since I’m doing engineering…but back to my last question: How much do you think 2 years in Peace Corps would help?</p>
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<p>In my opinion, it will not be nearly as decisive as your GPA and LSAT.</p>
<p>“I think even if you go to Harvard, and you get a 3.4, you are not gonna get into Harvard Law or another top 10 law school.”</p>
<p>PSedrish’s daughter had a 3.2 from Harvard College and got into Harvard Law. I know someone with a 3.5 from Harvard who got in as well.</p>