Hi everybody

Does someone know LSAC's criteria to ranks us?

I've been told they manage a chart in which our local grades (GPA) are rated in "Excellent", "Very Good", "Good", etc. My grades are ok, but not my ranking (very competitive class).. so I'm a bit worried about that.

Do they also take in account our degree honors? I got magna cum laude.. I hope they see that.


Thanks! and good luck to all.

Superior for those who are either in the top 5% of their class or have gained the highest marks available in the degree program.
Above average for those who have performed well in the university i.e. in top 20% of the class.
Average for those who have performed just as anyother student would have done at the university level i.e. in top 50-60% of the class.
Below average for those who have just passed the degree without honours etc.
Mine was above average.

To be honest I dont think there is a clear system or guidelines that LSAC uses. I graduated within top 5% and have been ranked as "above average". I know one person (same country, same university) that has lower GPA, no special honours (as they are not awarded at my university at all) and has been ranked "superior". My impression is that it is just a matter of luck as people there seem to try to interpret diverse transcripts so they reflect the American education system which is not always possible.

This means that they have no preset criteria for evaluation of transcripts.
I think you should go for reevaluation of your transcripts.

I don`t really have time for this anymore, my applications have been submitted already a while ago.
I also don`t think you can have preset criteria in the situation when you have to compare different graduates from different countries and everybody claims to be within top 5%/10%. In the US the students are strictly ranked according to the GPA but in most countries it is not the case.
I have heard of so many "LSAC-average" students who have been accepted at top law schools that I would consider whether it makes sense to rely on what LSAC says.

It depends on how the Universities consider the validity of LSAC's evaluations but all of them encourage us to use the LSAC.

Thanks to both! :)

Mmm LSAC doesn't seem reliable at all..

Hope they rank me according to my GPA and not my class rank.. And hope CLS doesn't care too much on LSAC's opinion!

Three things to bear in mind:

1. Being the US, the room for arbitrariness is probably very small. Those making the assessment are most likely people going through a thorough checklist. Otherwise it wouldn't make sense at all to have their services. If you disagree with them, then request a reevaluation.

2. Law Schools are used to all the points you have raised. Remember, they see thousands of applications a year, so there is probably very little they do not know already about the nuances of your legal systems.

3. Luck and country quotas also play a big role. Yes, you do have mediocre people that will go to the best schools (including Harvard) because they were lucky enough to have poor competition from their country/region. And yes, you will also have exceptional people who will be rejected because competition in their country/region was just too tough.

If alia jacta est, then just let it be.

Thanks. I know, I believe in destiny too, but waiting is somehow killing :S

Still hope I get "above average" from LSAC.. it's been 18 days waiting for the report.. when I called they said it might take from 2 -3 weeks so.. I should have my report anytime

hi there..

I am getting a little crazy.. It's been nearly a month of "under review" at LSAC... I've called and emailed, but no news at all.

Has someone taken that long to obtain a report? I would like to know if this is still a normal review.. I mean, if they do need more information or data from me they might have asked before..

It's gonna be an awful christmas without that report

Thanks in advance