ARISE!
My life is sucking because school starts again tomorrow.
I currently have a 1.9 GPA (pending one more grade that STILL hasn't come in yet), and if my GPA doesn't get over 2.0 after this semester, I get the boot.
So I'm seeking out some tips/advice here... what is the easiest and most sure-fire way to graduate law school? I'm not bothering with the Bar, or any law-related jobs, so I couldn't care less what classes I take or what my GPA is when I graduate, as long as they meet the graduation requirements.
Any tips on what classes I should take?
I just got my second trimester grades in the JD program
First trimester, I was tied for dead last at the 0% percentile, and didn't even compute numerically, but if there was a number, it was "under 55", which means 50 or 45.
But on first set of midterms a few months later, I got dual 55s, not the worst but bottom 10% percent.
On the second set of midterms, I got 55s, some 60s, and one 70 and upped my class ranking by a considerable amount and am only in bottom 40% percent. My school ranks according to California bar standards where a 63.9% percent is the "average" passing score for the California Bar as was reported on the California Bar for 2007. Fewer than 1% percent get a 79% percent bar score, just to put things into context.
On my MBA portion of my studies, I am a 93% overall after my 2nd semester, but nowhere near the top of my class where many graduate with a 100% percent. I am in the top 15% percentile with that set of scores which is around an A- average for my MBA program.
It's important to put these two different programs into context. If you get an 85% in a law class, that is freaking amazing in California, but for an MBA class, that's very bad.
If I get out of the JD program with a 70 and the MBA program with a 90, that is pretty good for what I am shooting for. Some law schools have massive grade inflation and give out 80s and 90s like candy only to have their grads turn out to fail the California bar over and over and that's not fair to the student.
While the MBA programs in most schools give out the "higher" grades in any JD/MBA program, the MBA side is far more unforgiving with math and copious amounts of reading. The law school side is unforgiving in its time constraints usually only grading according to very, very short timed tests where extreme concise outlines as essays are key.
A perfect law school answer could be 1 page, where some MBA thesis papers, in schools like mine that may have a master's thesis, can run 1000+ plus pages and require a lot of interviews and travel.
In the context of your studies, if you have a 1.9, and a 2.0 is needed to pass, just passing is what is key as the real goal is usually passing the bar exam. Don't fret over grades as many a top law student never passes the bar. Class rank is just a number, but when you have that JD or MBA or PhD, it's if you finished it, not what class rank you are at.
Anyway, good luck and hang in there.