| Topic Name: |
ban the LSAT |
| Message Name: |
Law School Grades |
| Date Posted: |
01/05/2002 |
| In Reply To: |
I've heard of studies that tend to show that LSAT is a slightly better predictor of law school success than UGPA. Both are pretty bad, according to those studies.
In any case, my opinion is that the LSAT is far more indicative of my abilities than my GPA. Of course, that's easy for me to say with a 2.8/177! But the 2.8 was in a top mathematics program. I easily could have chosen psychology or sociology - easier majors at Duke - and gotten a 3.4 or so while doing MUCH less work.
In fact, the average UGPA for a math major at Duke is about a 3.0, while the average for a psych major is about a 3.3... and that doesn't even take into account the self-selection that takes place which results in generally smarter and more motivated students choosing math as opposed to other majors.
The LSAT isn't a great test, but at least it measures something that is defined... something that is the same for everyone. To compare a 3.4 in psych to a 3.4 in math at Duke is a joke... the latter is far, far superior. The difference is easily worth half a grade point, in my opinion.
On the other hand, my wife is getting shafted two ways... she was also a math major, and her numbers are 3.6/160. So not only is her 3.6 really much, much better than the normal 3.6, but she also isn't a great tester (although of course 160 is a pretty good score). So I definitely have sympathy for those who are frustrated by the importance of the LSAT. |
| Message: |
Just like the LSAT, you only get one shot at tests in law school. At most schools there are no weekly assignments, no midterms, no extra credit, only a final exam. Thus your entire grade breaks down to a single 3 hours exam or a single paper. Considering this, the LSAT may not be such a bad predictor of law school performance. I did poorly in undergrad, very well on the LSAT and very well in law school. I know of others who did poorly on the LSAT but well their first year - but most of the people I know who did well scored highly on the LSAT.
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