Pre-Professional Information Session:

Pre-Law

Michael Gabriel, JD (Mr. Gabriel)Pre-Law Advisor

prelawad@gwu.eduSmith 118

Appointments may be scheduled online at, columbian.gwu.edu/undergraduate/advising.(Google: gwu ccas advising)

NO freshman appointments until after Xmas, please.

Common Questions

• How do I major in Pre-Law?• What courses are required for law school?• How many GW students get admitted to law

school?• Which law schools admit GW students?• How many internships do I need to get into

law school?

Common Questions

• How do I major in Pre-Law? You don’t.• What courses are required for law school?• How many GW students get admitted to law

school?• Which law schools admit GW students?• How many internships do I need to get into

law school?

Common Questions

• How do I major in Pre-Law? You don’t.• What courses are required for law school?

There are none.• How many GW students get admitted to law

school? • Into which law schools do GW students get

admitted? • How many internships do I need to get into law

school?

Common Questions

• How do I major in Pre-Law? You don’t.• What courses are required for law school? There

are none.• How many GW students get admitted to law

school? Lots. GW is one of the 20 top law school feeder schools in the country. (400+ a year)

• Which law schools admit GW students?• How many internships do I need to get into law

school?

Common Questions

• How do I major in Pre-Law? You don’t.• What courses are required for law school? There are

none.• How many GW students get admitted to law school?

Lots. GW is one of the 20 top law school feeder schools in the country. (400+ a year)

• Which law schools admit GW students? GW students get into all law schools for which they are qualified and to which they apply.

• How many internships do I need to get into law school?

Common Questions

• How do I major in Pre-Law? You don’t.• What courses are required for law school? There are none.• How many GW students get admitted to law school? Lots.

GW is one of the 20 top law school feeder schools in the country. (400+ a year)

• Which law schools admit GW students? GW students get into all law schools for which they are qualified and to which they apply.

• How many internships do I need to get into law school? None!

What Do Law Schools Care About?(90 - 95% of the admission decision)

•GPA• LSAT score

What Do Law Schools Care About?

•GPA National Median 3.3

• LSAT score

What Do Law Schools Care About?

•GPA National Median 3.3

Selective schools begin at 3.5

• LSAT score

What Do Law Schools Care About?

•GPA National Median 3.3

Selective schools begin at 3.5

• LSAT score 120 – 180 scale

What Do Law Schools Care About?

•GPA National Median 3.3

Selective schools begin at 3.5

• LSAT score 120 – 180 scale

National Median 152 - 153

What Do Law Schools Care About?

•GPA National Median 3.3

Selective schools begin at 3.5

• LSAT score 120 – 180 scale

National Median 152 – 153 Selective schools begin at 165

What Do Law Schools Care About?

• GPA National Median 3.3

Selective schools begin at 3.5

• LSAT score 120 – 180 scale

National Median 152 – 153 Selective schools begin at 165

• Disciplinary Record• Everything else

The Moral of the Story

•GPA As high as possible ↑

• LSAT score •Disciplinary Record• Everything else

The Moral of the Story

•GPA As high as possible ↑

• LSAT score As high as possible↑

•Disciplinary Record• Everything else

The Moral of the Story

• GPA As high as possible. ↑

• LSAT score As high as possible. ↑

• Disciplinary Record

Don’t get one!• Everything else

Disciplinary Record

Disciplinary Record

The Law School Killer

Disciplinary Record

The Law School Killer•Academic Dishonesty

Disciplinary Record

The Law School Killer•Academic Dishonesty•Two varieties

Disciplinary Record

The Law School Killer•Academic Dishonesty•Two varieties–Plain old cheating (copying during an exam)

Disciplinary Record

The Law School Killer•Academic Dishonesty•Two varieties–Plain old cheating (copying during an

exam)-You’re just too dumb to go to law school

Disciplinary Record

The Law School Killer• Academic Dishonesty

•Plagiarism

Disciplinary Record

The Law School Killer• Academic Dishonesty

•Plagiarism– Taking credit for someone else’s work

Disciplinary Record

The Law School Killer• Academic Dishonesty

•Plagiarism– Taking credit for someone else’s work

• Even a lab partner’s

Disciplinary Record

The Law School Killer• Academic Dishonesty

Plagiarism– Taking credit for someone else’s work

• Even a lab partner’s

–Handing in non-original work for a class

Disciplinary Record

The Law School Killer• Academic Dishonesty

Plagiarism– Taking credit for someone else’s work

• Even a lab partner’s

–Handing in non-original work for a class (even if it’s your own)

Disciplinary Record

What happens outside of school

Disciplinary Record

What happens outside of school

What happens in Vegas does notstay in Vegas!

Disciplinary Record

What happens outside of school

What happens in Vegas does notstay in Vegas!

It comes back to Foggy Bottom.

Disciplinary Record

• 17:

Disciplinary Record

• 17:364:

Disciplinary Record

• 17:364:23:

Disciplinary Record

• 17:364:23:59:

Disciplinary Record

• 17:364:23:59:59

Disciplinary Record

• 17:364:23:59:59

• 18:000:00:00:00

HappyBirthday!!!

Disciplinary Record

• 17:364:23:59:59

INFANT

• 18:000:00:00:00

Disciplinary Record

• 17:364:23:59:59

INFANT

• 18:000:00:00:00

ADULT

Disciplinary Record

• 17:364:23:59:59

INFANT

• 18:000:00:00:00

ADULT

Disciplinary Record

• 17:364:23:59:59

INFANT

(Everything Disappears From Your Record)

• 18:000:00:00:00

ADULT

Disciplinary Record

• 17:364:23:59:59

INFANT

(Everything Disappears From Your Record)

• 18:000:00:00:00

ADULT(Everything

stays on your record

Disciplinary Record

• 17:364:23:59:59

INFANT

(Everything Disappears From Your Record)

• 18:000:00:00:00

ADULT(Everything

stays on your record --- Forever!)

Disciplinary Record

• 17:364:23:59:59

INFANT

(Everything Disappears From Your Record)

• 18:000:00:00:00

ADULT(Everything

stays on your record --- Forever!)

Disciplinary Record

INFANT

(Everything Disappears From Your Record)

• 18:000:00:00:00

ADULT(Everything

stays on your record --- Forever!)

Disciplinary Record

INFANT

(Everything Disappears From Your Record)

• 18:000:00:00:00

ADULT(Everything

stays on your record --- Forever!)

Disciplinary Record

You can:• Enlist in the military

• 18:000:00:00:00

ADULT(Everything

stays on your record --- Forever!)

Disciplinary Record

You can:Enlist in the military

• Sign Contracts (parents not responsible)

• 18:000:00:00:00

ADULT(Everything

stays on your record --- Forever!)

Disciplinary Record

You can:• Enlist in the military

• Sign Contracts (parents not responsible)

• Get married

• 18:000:00:00:00

ADULT(Everything

stays on your record --- Forever!)

Disciplinary Record

You can:• Enlist in the military

• Sign Contracts (parents not responsible)

• Get married

• You can not

• 18:000:00:00:00

ADULT(Everything

stays on your record --- Forever!)

Disciplinary RecordYou can:• Enlist in the military

• Sign Contracts (parents not responsible)

• Get married

• You can not

• Go to Georgetown and buy a beer

• 18:000:00:00:00

ADULT(Everything

stays on your record --- Forever!)

Everything Else– Jobs (can be very important to schools if you’re putting yourself through school)– Varsity Athletics

– Military Service– Hardships overcome

• Physical/Emotional• Socioeconomic• Gender Identity• Racial/Ethnic

– Internships– Student Orgs

What you have control over

• Grade Point Average (GPA)

What you have control over

• Grade Point Average 0.0 – 4.0 (GPA)

What you have control over

• Grade Point Average 0.0 – 4.0 (GPA)• GPA = Credits x Quality Point Equivalents (QPE)

divided by the number of credits: CR x QPE

CR

What you have control over

• Grade Point Average 0.0 – 4.0 (GPA)• GPA = Credits per class x Quality Point

Equivalents (QPE), divided by the total number of credits:

CR x QPE TCR• Credits = Hours per week spent in a class (3 credits = 3 hours in class)

What you have control over

• Grade Point Average 0.0 – 4.0 (GPA)• GPA = Credits x Quality Point Equivalents (QPE) divided by the number of credits:

CR x QPE CR• Credits = Hours per week spent in a class (3 credits = 3 hours in class)• Credits, hours, credit hours are the same thing

What you have control over• Grade Point Average 0.0 – 4.0 (GPA)• GPA = Credits x Quality Point Equivalents (QPE) divided by the number of credits:

CR x QPE CR

• Credits = Hours per week spent in a class (3 credits = 3 hours in class)• Credits, hours, credit hours are the same thing• Letter grades have numerical values (QPE)

What you have control over

• The vaunted QPE!

Letter QPE Grade A = 4.0

A- = 3.7 B+ = 3.3 B = 3.0 B- = 2.7 C+ = 2.3 C = 2.0 C- = 1.7 D+ = 1.3 D = 1.0 D- = 0.7 F = 0.0

Calculating Your GPA• Grade QPE x Credits = Grade Points• A = 4.0 • A- = 3.7 x 3 = 11.1• B+ = 3.3• B = 3.0• B- = 2.7• C+ = 2.3• C = 2.0• C- = 1.7• D+ = 1.3• D = 1.0• D- = 0.7• F = 0.0

Calculating Your GPA• Grade QPE x Credits = Grade Points• A = 4.0 • A- = 3.7 x 3 = 11.1• B+ = 3.3• B = 3.0 x 3 = 9.0• B- = 2.7• C+ = 2.3• C = 2.0• C- = 1.7• D+ = 1.3• D = 1.0• D- = 0.7• F = 0.0

Calculating Your GPA• Grade QPE x Credits = Grade Points• A = 4.0 • A- = 3.7 x 3 = 11.1• B+ = 3.3• B = 3.0 x 3 = 9.0• B- = 2.7 x 6 = 16.2 • C+ = 2.3• C = 2.0• C- = 1.7• D+ = 1.3• D = 1.0• D- = 0.7• F = 0.0

Calculating Your GPA• Grade QPE x Credits = Grade Points• A = 4.0 • A- = 3.7 x 3 = 11.1• B+ = 3.3• B = 3.0 x 3 = 9.0• B- = 2.7 x 6 = 16.2 • C+ = 2.3• C = 2.0 x 3 = 6.0• C- = 1.7• D+ = 1.3• D = 1.0• D- = 0.7• F = 0.0

Calculating Your GPA• Grade QPE x Credits = Grade Points• A = 4.0 • A- = 3.7 x 3 = 11.1• B+ = 3.3• B = 3.0 x 3 = 9.0• B- = 2.7 x 6 = 16.2 • C+ = 2.3• C = 2.0 x 3 = 6.0• C- = 1.7• D+ = 1.3• D = 1.0• D- = 0.7• F = 0.0 ̲ ̲ 15

42.3

GPA = Grade Points / Credits• Grade QPE x Credits = Grade Points• A = 4.0 • A- = 3.7 x 3 = 11.1• B+ = 3.3• B = 3.0 x 3 = 9.0• B- = 2.7 x 6 = 16.2 • C+ = 2.3• C = 2.0 x 3 = 6.0• C- = 1.7• D+ = 1.3• D = 1.0• D- = 0.7• F = 0.0 ̲ ̲ 15 42.3

42.3/15 = 2.82 GPA (Fall)

GPA = Grade Points / Credits• Grade QPE x Credits = Grade Points • A = 4.0 x 3 = 12.0• A- = 3.7• B+ = 3.3• B = 3.0 x 6 = 18.0 • B- = 2.7 x 3 = 8.1 • C+ = 2.3• C = 2.0 x 3 = 6.0 • C- = 1.7• D+ = 1.3• D = 1.0• D- = 0.7• F = 0.0 ̲ ̲ 15 44.1

44.1/15 = 2.94 GPA (Spring)

GPA = Grade Points / Credits• Grade QPE x Credits = Grade Points• A = 4.0 x 3 = 12.0• A- = 3.7 x 3 = 11.1• B+ = 3.3• B = 3.0 x 9 = 27.0 • B- = 2.7 x 9 = 24.3 • C+ = 2.3• C = 2.0 x 6 = 12.0• C- = 1.7• D+ = 1.3• D = 1.0• D- = 0.7• F = 0.0 ̲ ̲ 30 86.4

86.4/30 = 2.88 GPA (Cum)

Why It Matters

• Goal GPA = 3.5 at graduation

Why It Matters

• Goal GPA = 3.5 x 120 credits = 420 points (QPE)

Why It Matters

• Goal GPA = 3.5 x 120 credits = 420 points (QPE)

• Freshman GPA = 2.5 x 30 credits = 75 points

Why It Matters

• Goal GPA = 3.5 x 120 credits = 420 points (QPE)

• Freshman GPA = 2.5 x 30 credits = 75 points• 420 – 75 = 345 points needed to graduate with

a 3.5 GPA

Why It Matters

• Goal GPA = 3.5 x 120 credits = 420 points (QPE)

• Freshman GPA = 2.5 x 30 credits = 75 points• 420 – 75 = 345 points needed to graduate with

a 3.5 GPA • 90 credits left to graduation (120 – 30 = 90)

Why It Matters

• Goal GPA = 3.5 x 120 credits = 420 points• Freshman GPA = 2.5 x 30 credits = 75 points• 420 – 75 = 345 points needed to graduate with

a 3.5 GPA • 90 credits left to graduation (120 – 30 = 90)• 345/90 = 3.83 GPA required for 3 years

(at least 25 A’s, no more than 5 B’s)

What you have control over

• The vaunted QPE!

Letter QPE Grade A = 4.0

A- = 3.7 B+ = 3.3 B = 3.0 B- = 2.7 C+ = 2.3 C = 2.0 C- = 1.7 D+ = 1.3 D = 1.0 D- = 0.7 F = 0.0

What you have control over

• The vaunted QPE!

Letter QPE Grade A = 4.0

A- = 3.7 B+ = 3.3 B = 3.0 B- = 2.7 C+ = 2.3 C = 2.0 C- = 1.7 D+ = 1.3 D = 1.0 D- = 0.7 F = 0.0

Suppose though…

• You want to go to law school right out of college

Suppose though…

• You want to go to law school right out of college

• Which means that you are applying at the end of your Junior year…

Suppose though…

• You want to go to law school right out of college.

• Which means that you are applying at the end of your Junior year…

•THEN…

Suppose…

• You want to go to law school right out of college.

•THEN…• Goal GPA = 3.5 x 90 credits = 315 points

Suppose…

• You want to go to law school right out of college.

•THEN…• Goal GPA = 3.5 x 90 credits = 315 points• Freshman GPA = 2.5 x 30 credits = 75 points

Suppose…

• You want to go to law school right out of college.

•THEN…• Goal GPA = 3.5 x 90 credits = 315 points• Freshman GPA = 2.5 x 30 credits = 75 points• 315 – 75 = 240 points needed to reach 3.5 by

the end of your Junior year

Suppose…

• You want to go to law school right out of college.

•THEN…• Goal GPA = 3.5 x 90 credits = 315 points• Freshman GPA = 2.5 x 30 credits = 75 points• 315 – 75 = 240 points needed to reach 3.5 by the

end of your Junior year• Which means…

Suppose…

• You want to go to law school right out of college.

•THEN…• Goal GPA = 3.5 x 90 credits = 315 points• Freshman GPA = 2.5 x 30 credits = 75 points• 315 – 75 = 240 points needed to reach 3.5 by the

end of your Junior year• Which means…you need

Suppose…

• You want to go to law school right out of college.

• THEN…• Goal GPA = 3.5 x 90 credits = 315 points• Freshman GPA = 2.5 x 30 credits = 75 points• 315 – 75 = 240 points needed to reach 3.5 by the end of your junior year• Which means…you need

• 240/60 = 4.0, or all A’s (20, with no A-’s, B’s or C’s) for 2 years!

What you have control over

• The vaunted QPE!

Letter QPE Grade

A = 4.0 A- = 3.7

B+ = 3.3 B = 3.0 B- = 2.7 C+ = 2.3 C = 2.0 C- = 1.7 D+ = 1.3 D = 1.0 D- = 0.7 F = 0.0

Which Also Means…

If you have a GPA below 2.5 at the end of your freshman year;

Which Also Means…

If you have a GPA below 2.5 at the end of your freshman year;

You can’t get to 3.5.

Which Also Means…

If you have a GPA below 2.5 at the end of your freshman year;

You can’t get to 3.5.

Freshman Year Matters