I am a senior undergraduate. I'll have all my requirements to graduate by the end of spring. Unfortunately, I have a GPA of 3.49 and my practice LSAT's are in the mid to late 150's. I'm considering taking another year of classes beyond what I need in order to raise my GPA and further prepare for the LSAT and gain legal volunteer experience. I would like to apply for my degree and apply for a different school where I'd want to live, then take another year of classes. I'm not sure if this would be possible, but it would be ideal. The other alternative would be simply to not graduate yet and either transfer or stay in the same school. Would this be helpful or is it a bad idea overall?
I'm definitely willing to spend another year in classes. It looks as though the 3.49 is a result of the really bad first two semesters I had. They may be due in part to an unexpected passing in my immediate family the summer before I began school. In addition, last semester, I received a D. I will retake that in the spring and replace it. The D sticks out pretty strongly amongst my other grades, especially within its major, which I've gotten all A's for. I did not expect to receive a D; No grades were given until the transcript, and I thought I was doing well. Nonetheless, I do believe I can receive an A next time as I'm otherwise very skilled with Latin. I don't want to use excuses for either of these. I simply want to put them behind me and perform better, which I have reason to believe that I can with effort. In high school (which is easy, I know) and beyond my first year, I've overwhelmingly gotten high grades.
I'm determined to become an attorney. I would like to be a public defender. My original choice of law school was George Washington University, but I believe my grades have undermined that. Nonetheless, ranking is not of vast importance to me as I don't expect to make a lot of money in life. I understand the field is massively saturated and it's difficult to find employment. It's simply always what I've had a passion for.
What should I do?
I'm definitely willing to spend another year in classes. It looks as though the 3.49 is a result of the really bad first two semesters I had. They may be due in part to an unexpected passing in my immediate family the summer before I began school. In addition, last semester, I received a D. I will retake that in the spring and replace it. The D sticks out pretty strongly amongst my other grades, especially within its major, which I've gotten all A's for. I did not expect to receive a D; No grades were given until the transcript, and I thought I was doing well. Nonetheless, I do believe I can receive an A next time as I'm otherwise very skilled with Latin. I don't want to use excuses for either of these. I simply want to put them behind me and perform better, which I have reason to believe that I can with effort. In high school (which is easy, I know) and beyond my first year, I've overwhelmingly gotten high grades.
I'm determined to become an attorney. I would like to be a public defender. My original choice of law school was George Washington University, but I believe my grades have undermined that. Nonetheless, ranking is not of vast importance to me as I don't expect to make a lot of money in life. I understand the field is massively saturated and it's difficult to find employment. It's simply always what I've had a passion for.
What should I do?