Law School Conundrum

[jmars]

I have been reading a lot about how LSAC (Law School transcript credentialing service) finds all previous school transcripts. I left out a community college (2 Fs and all the rest Ws), and I am pretty sure a class or 2 from University of Phoenix (which I hated and found to be a scam of a school). The danger is, if I lie, and don't include it, and get accepted to Law School, when I finish Law School, the state bar will verify everything again when I go to get barred, and if they find a discrepancy, they will prohibit me from being able to practice law, and I will be on the hook for the cost of the education. If I do include it, it could prohibit me from being accepted because of how it will drop my G.P.A.

Furthermore, something which I have never considered since I graduated college, until this coming to Jesus moment, years after graduating with my Business Degree, I have read on other forums where people say to disclose all prior transcripts, and to just either write an addendum explaining your troubles at an early age, and then some people have said they think the increase in grades speaks for itself. My concern is, and nobody on these forums has said anything about it that I have seen, is if I am truthful with LSAC, then LSAC will know I wasn't truthful with my previous colleges, and I am guessing my prior University could rescind my degree, if they chose to do so. I honestly don't even know if they would be notified.

My conundrum is should I disclose everything to LSAC, or just not even try to go to law school at all. Not being truthful with LSAC at this juncture is not even an option in the age of computers. i don't want to graduate law school 150k in debt and not be a licensed attorney. I don't want to be truthful about not including a community college over 10 years ago and have my current degree revoked.

[High_Order1]

this is going to sound snarky, but I am being genuine...

You should seek out the counsel of an attorney familiar with these problems.

No way are you the first person to find yourself here, and the law schools want your money. Surely there is some kind of forgiveness program, etc, that will allow you to resolve this. Also, they could help you with the potential of the rescission of your current degree.

My other plan involves a mask and a coil of rope. Maybe some dark colored clothes and a map to all the servers, but I think.... I wouldn't give up if that's what you want to do. And, I would go find an education attorney, surely they exist?

[Thorne]

My other plan involves a mask and a coil of rope. Maybe some dark colored clothes and a map to all the servers

I've got the rope and mask, do you have the map?

[dfrecore]

I have been reading a lot about how LSAC (Law School transcript credentialing service) finds all previous school transcripts. I left out a community college (2 Fs and all the If I do include it, it could prohibit me from being accepted because of how it will drop my G.P.A.

This is about the GPA issue, rather than anything else:

I don't think 2 F's will drop your GPA a lot, unless you have very few graded credits. One thing you could do - go back to that school and see what the policy is for retaking courses. Many schools will let you retake bad grades, and "replace" the old grades with the new ones.

You can also take additional courses at that school, or another school, to increase your GPA.

[bjcheung77]

I've got the rope and mask, do you have the map?

I've got the other goods, my plan is to move at midnight when it's dark... I'll get the gang ready.

[Ideas]

I have heard of schools that drop any D's or F's, so maybe they won't know for sure that you withheld it from the school you got your bachelor's degree from? I don't know how it all works. They might still show the course, but blank out the grade. I also don't know about W's or I's.

[cookderosa]

If your goal is to GET INTO LAW SCHOOL, then you have a dilemma. If your goal is to GRADUATE and BE A PRACTICING LAWYER, then there is no dilemma. Full disclosure, let the chips fall.

[sanantone]

How would they be able to tell that you weren't honest with your prior schools? My failed courses aren't on my TESU transcript even though I sent them all of my transcripts. You should send all your transcripts to LSAC. Your biggest concern is whether or not the school you graduated from will find out some other way and revoke your degree.

[Yenisei]

I think you've gotten some excellent advice from the usual superb sources, but I just wanted to add that your LSAT score will carry a lot of weight as well, and you have a chance to pep up your application there.

LSAC also provides some information about applicant profiles that may help calm your nerves (this is for Fordham University, so just look for the schools of your choice): http://www.lsac.org/officialguide/2013/lsac_2259.asp

[Ideas]

I would stop worrying as much about GPA, and focus on having volunteer or work experience. Apparently they like people to have leadership experience whether it's a club, at work, or as a volunteer. You probably already have this, and I think us older people have more chance of getting an excellent recommendation, or doing better application essays because of maturity level and wanting to go back to school.

However, depending on how bad your GPA is, maybe you could do a pre-law post-bacc program. They may be expensive, but I guess anyone who wants to get into law school badly is ok with spending a bit more, if it makes all the difference. Of course that could take an extra year or so.