Let’s not pretend law school admissions is fair. If top schools can engineer their classes to maintain jaw‑dropping medians—looking at you, UVA Law, with your 3.99 GPA median—then why shouldn’t students have the chance to strategically raise their own numbers?
Below, I’ll explain how a handful of high‑credit A+ (4.33) courses can increase your LSAC GPA into that median sweet spot.
How LSAC GPA Really Works
LSAC doesn’t just copy the GPA printed on your degree-conferring transcript. Instead, it recalculates a Credential Assembly Service (CAS) GPA (known colloquially as “LSAC GPA”) that includes every undergraduate grade earned before your first bachelor’s degree:
- Dual‑enrollment or college‑credit courses taken in high school
- Community‑college classes taken over summer or during a gap term
- Online or extension‑program courses from accredited colleges
Each new grade, especially an A or A+ (4.33), rolls straight into your running average. Even a lift of 0.05–0.10 can take you from below a school’s median to meeting or exceeding it.
Quick‑Math Example
90 credits × 3.55 GPA = 319.5 quality points.
Add one A+ in a 3‑credit class (4.33 × 3 = 12.99).
332.49 ÷ 93 credits = 3.61 GPA.
One course, six‑hundredths gained.
Community College: The Most Overlooked Boost
Community colleges often offer:
- Low‑cost tuition (especially for residents)
- Online formats with flexible schedules
- Courses graded on an A+ scale, and yes, LSAC counts an A+ as a 4.33
(meaning it can raise your average above a 4.0 if your school didn’t offer A+)
But here’s the trick: don’t just take fluff. If it looks unserious or random, it might raise eyebrows with admissions committees.
What to Take Instead:
- Courses that align with your major
(e.g., a future poli sci major taking “Intro to American Government” or “Legal Systems”) - Courses that reflect genuine interests
(e.g., environmental science if you care about climate law; philosophy if you’re interested in ethics or theory) - Courses that show intellectual range but still feel academic
(e.g., public speaking, logic, statistics, psychology)
Avoid things that scream “easy A”—like bowling, meditation, or “History of Surfing”—unless you can clearly justify the fit.
How Many Classes Should You Take?
You don’t need a marathon of credits to make a difference. One or two targeted courses each term—summer, winter break, or a light semester—can give your LSAC GPA a meaningful lift without derailing your main workload. Think steady, sustainable progress rather than a last‑minute cram.
- Still enrolled? Every accredited grade you earn before graduation gets folded into your LSAC GPA, so keep stacking high‑value A’s (or A+’s) while you can.
- Already graduated? Your LSAC GPA is now fixed; shift your focus to LSAT, essays, and experience.
The goal is deliberate upward momentum, not panic‑driven credit hoarding.
This Isn’t a Loophole. It’s a Counterweight.
Law schools game the system all the time: they strategically admit applicants with high LSATs but weaker GPAs, delay deferrals, and offer conditional scholarships. They’re not evil for doing it; it’s just part of the process.
So don’t feel guilty about playing the game back. If you’re serious about law school, there’s no reason your GPA shouldn’t reflect the best version of your academic self.
Final Tips:
- Confirm regional accreditation. Grades from unaccredited schools do not factor into your LSAC GPA.
- Seek out A+ courses (4.33). If the syllabus tops out at 4.0, the payoff is minimal.
- Credit hours magnify impact. LSAC GPA = grade value × credits, so a 4‑credit A+ shifts your GPA more than a 1‑credit A+.
- Transfer not required. Even if your university refuses to apply the credits toward graduation, LSAC still counts both the grade and those credit hours.
Want an advantage in your law school applications?
The difference often isn’t in your stats, but your execution. That’s where I come in.