How important are the grades for a LLM application?


Raelda

Greetings. I would like to know if good LLM schools and universities take GPAs very seriously. My grades are not that good, as in I'm not top percentile of my class. I'm actually in the middle or probably lower. I started really poorly as a freshman and ended that year with abysmal grades, now that I'm about to finish though, I have improved significantly and raised my GPA to average levels. The thing is I used to work as an intern but only for 4 months and now I own my own company, which is a lot of work and my attention span is now focused on my business, so my grades have suffered a bit, add to that that it has taken me longer than usual to finish law school because of it and now I'm taking 11 classes per semester.

I'm interested in an LLM in Commercial and Corporate Law but I only want to attend a very good school, the thing is that I'm worried that my GPA will stop that from happening. I have the resources and the willingness to commit to a top programme, I'm a changed and responsible man but I feel like my gpa will hamper my chances of entering a good school. I want to study but not anywhere, I want a good place to learn.

Greetings. I would like to know if good LLM schools and universities take GPAs very seriously. My grades are not that good, as in I'm not top percentile of my class. I'm actually in the middle or probably lower. I started really poorly as a freshman and ended that year with abysmal grades, now that I'm about to finish though, I have improved significantly and raised my GPA to average levels. The thing is I used to work as an intern but only for 4 months and now I own my own company, which is a lot of work and my attention span is now focused on my business, so my grades have suffered a bit, add to that that it has taken me longer than usual to finish law school because of it and now I'm taking 11 classes per semester.

I'm interested in an LLM in Commercial and Corporate Law but I only want to attend a very good school, the thing is that I'm worried that my GPA will stop that from happening. I have the resources and the willingness to commit to a top programme, I'm a changed and responsible man but I feel like my gpa will hamper my chances of entering a good school. I want to study but not anywhere, I want a good place to learn.
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MAB79

Greetings. I would like to know if good LLM schools and universities take GPAs very seriously. My grades are not that good, as in I'm not top percentile of my class. I'm actually in the middle or probably lower. I started really poorly as a freshman and ended that year with abysmal grades, now that I'm about to finish though, I have improved significantly and raised my GPA to average levels. The thing is I used to work as an intern but only for 4 months and now I own my own company, which is a lot of work and my attention span is now focused on my business, so my grades have suffered a bit, add to that that it has taken me longer than usual to finish law school because of it and now I'm taking 11 classes per semester.

I'm interested in an LLM in Commercial and Corporate Law but I only want to attend a very good school, the thing is that I'm worried that my GPA will stop that from happening. I have the resources and the willingness to commit to a top programme, I'm a changed and responsible man but I feel like my gpa will hamper my chances of entering a good school. I want to study but not anywhere, I want a good place to learn.


It depends what a "very good school" is to you. I think that the top ten are propably out of range, because the are more or less into grades and there are some unis that are more or less into the top 15% of a class. But still, if you have an extraordinary exctracurricular cv, this might compensate for the bad grades. However, I do not think that it compensates for only, or even slightly under average grades. Therefore, I'd suggest you apply to schools that are very good, but not in the top 20 only. Such as UC Davis, which is a good school, but will not regard grades as "monumentally" important.

<blockquote>Greetings. I would like to know if good LLM schools and universities take GPAs very seriously. My grades are not that good, as in I'm not top percentile of my class. I'm actually in the middle or probably lower. I started really poorly as a freshman and ended that year with abysmal grades, now that I'm about to finish though, I have improved significantly and raised my GPA to average levels. The thing is I used to work as an intern but only for 4 months and now I own my own company, which is a lot of work and my attention span is now focused on my business, so my grades have suffered a bit, add to that that it has taken me longer than usual to finish law school because of it and now I'm taking 11 classes per semester.

I'm interested in an LLM in Commercial and Corporate Law but I only want to attend a very good school, the thing is that I'm worried that my GPA will stop that from happening. I have the resources and the willingness to commit to a top programme, I'm a changed and responsible man but I feel like my gpa will hamper my chances of entering a good school. I want to study but not anywhere, I want a good place to learn.</blockquote>

It depends what a "very good school" is to you. I think that the top ten are propably out of range, because the are more or less into grades and there are some unis that are more or less into the top 15% of a class. But still, if you have an extraordinary exctracurricular cv, this might compensate for the bad grades. However, I do not think that it compensates for only, or even slightly under average grades. Therefore, I'd suggest you apply to schools that are very good, but not in the top 20 only. Such as UC Davis, which is a good school, but will not regard grades as "monumentally" important.
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tato2010

For what your saying, it seems that dping an MBA may suit you better, since you have your own business. Or maybe you want to catch up with law after that, I don't know.

As for grades, I beleive that most top programmes would only take people with grades above average, I think at least top third of your class. some schools such as Yale or Harvard may only take top 10%. But perhaps with more extracurricular stuff you may get in. Probably it woud help to apply to a couple of top schools and others not so top to see how you do.

Good luck!

For what your saying, it seems that dping an MBA may suit you better, since you have your own business. Or maybe you want to catch up with law after that, I don't know.

As for grades, I beleive that most top programmes would only take people with grades above average, I think at least top third of your class. some schools such as Yale or Harvard may only take top 10%. But perhaps with more extracurricular stuff you may get in. Probably it woud help to apply to a couple of top schools and others not so top to see how you do.

Good luck!
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Greetings. I would like to know if good LLM schools and universities take GPAs very seriously.


Raelda:

LL.M. programs receive applications from all over the world and usually rank applicants compared to their fellows from their home country. The top 10 schools receive a lot of applications and I think the only efficient and objective thing they can go by to sort through the applications are your grades. So you do risk that despite other merits with a lower GPA you won't even make the first round in some of the better schools. Of course, it all depends on the details and it seems that you could write an interesting personal statement in which you reflect on your gpa improvement and how your business has become more important.

<blockquote>Greetings. I would like to know if good LLM schools and universities take GPAs very seriously. </blockquote>

Raelda:

LL.M. programs receive applications from all over the world and usually rank applicants compared to their fellows from their home country. The top 10 schools receive a lot of applications and I think the only efficient and objective thing they can go by to sort through the applications are your grades. So you do risk that despite other merits with a lower GPA you won't even make the first round in some of the better schools. Of course, it all depends on the details and it seems that you could write an interesting personal statement in which you reflect on your gpa improvement and how your business has become more important.
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Raelda

Thanks for the replies guys, I appreciate it. Good to know that even though GPAs are important, extracurricular activities are as well, and it could help my case a bit.

I think that I can write a good personal statement about my whole student life and how I've evolved during the years.

I do regret not studying or paying attention to college when I first started. I'm confident that if I had a good GPA I would have no problems joining the school I wish.

Right now I will take your advice and apply to a couple of top schools and also some mid-range ones.

Thanks for the replies guys, I appreciate it. Good to know that even though GPAs are important, extracurricular activities are as well, and it could help my case a bit.

I think that I can write a good personal statement about my whole student life and how I've evolved during the years.

I do regret not studying or paying attention to college when I first started. I'm confident that if I had a good GPA I would have no problems joining the school I wish.

Right now I will take your advice and apply to a couple of top schools and also some mid-range ones.
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