F in law school

[waterpolio]

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I'm currently graduating from law school and plan on doing a pre-med post-bac so I can apply to medical school (MD). While my undergraduate degree is strong (3.81), my law GPA is mediocre (2.80). I also have one 'F' on my law transcript. I earned the 'F' because I was depressed that term and my step-father had passed away suddenly.

Now I'm wondering how much my law transcript will affect my medical school admissions in a few years. I'm confident I will do well on the MCAT, and I know I can keep my undergrad grades above 3.80. The only issue is that 'F' on my law transcript. I called the University of Washington School of Medicine and they told me that they do look at graduate school transcripts, but that they place more value on undergraduate performance. Any ideas on how I can mitigate my poor graduate school performance? I am not interested in going the DO route, and frankly, would rather not spend 2 years getting a post-bac if I'm setting myself up for certain failure.

 

[Law2Doc]

I'm currently graduating from law school and plan on doing a pre-med post-bac so I can apply to medical school (MD). While my undergraduate degree is strong (3.81), my law GPA is mediocre (2.80). I also have one 'F' on my law transcript. I earned the 'F' because I was depressed that term and my step-father had passed away suddenly.

Now I'm wondering how much my law transcript will affect my medical school admissions in a few years. I'm confident I will do well on the MCAT, and I know I can keep my undergrad grades above 3.80. The only issue is that 'F' on my law transcript. I called the University of Washington School of Medicine and they told me that they do look at graduate school transcripts, but that they place more value on undergraduate performance. Any ideas on how I can mitigate my poor graduate school performance? I am not interested in going the DO route, and frankly, would rather not spend 2 years getting a post-bac if I'm setting myself up for certain failure.

There's not much you can do about it, so just focus on the things you can work on.

 

[Kimaris]

I'm currently graduating from law school and plan on doing a pre-med post-bac so I can apply to medical school (MD). While my undergraduate degree is strong (3.81), my law GPA is mediocre (2.80). I also have one 'F' on my law transcript. I earned the 'F' because I was depressed that term and my step-father had passed away suddenly.

Now I'm wondering how much my law transcript will affect my medical school admissions in a few years. I'm confident I will do well on the MCAT, and I know I can keep my undergrad grades above 3.80. The only issue is that 'F' on my law transcript. I called the University of Washington School of Medicine and they told me that they do look at graduate school transcripts, but that they place more value on undergraduate performance. Any ideas on how I can mitigate my poor graduate school performance? I am not interested in going the DO route, and frankly, would rather not spend 2 years getting a post-bac if I'm setting myself up for certain failure.

Why not go the DO route. With your grades you're all most assured to get in.

 

[kia ora]

my law school gpa was less than impressive (didn't have any glaringly bad grades, though) and I'm starting med school in a couple of months. I do think it helped, though, that I went to a top-tier law school (one that even non-law people know and are impressed by...probably moreso than they should be) and that I had a successful and interesting law career for several years. as someone said upthread, you can't change it so just move forward and make sure the rest of your application is as strong as it can be. and if you are interested in UW, make sure that you have a ridiculous number of shadowing hours, that really is what they care about

 

[JeetKuneDo]

Looks like there are quite a few law to doc's around here.

 

[Xcited392]

I don't think med schools will care about graduate work--in fact, they primarily look at undergraduate work.

However, regardless of your motives for pursuing medicine, it might look sketchy for someone who has a very low gpa at law school and all of a sudden wants to go to medical school.

 

[MisterVeil]

Looks like there are quite a few law to doc's around here.

Yes, but only one Law2Doc

 

[searun]

If you and your step father had a deep father- son relationship, makes sense.

 

[JeetKuneDo]

Honestly, if you have a 3.8+ gpa, get the pre reqs done (if you haven't already) with a gpa similar to that, and get a 32ish on the mcat, you'll probably get in somewhere.

 

[MeRLin443]

I'm currently graduating from law school and plan on doing a pre-med post-bac so I can apply to medical school (MD). While my undergraduate degree is strong (3.81), my law GPA is mediocre (2.80). I also have one 'F' on my law transcript. I earned the 'F' because I was depressed that term and my step-father had passed away suddenly.

Now I'm wondering how much my law transcript will affect my medical school admissions in a few years. I'm confident I will do well on the MCAT, and I know I can keep my undergrad grades above 3.80. The only issue is that 'F' on my law transcript. I called the University of Washington School of Medicine and they told me that they do look at graduate school transcripts, but that they place more value on undergraduate performance. Any ideas on how I can mitigate my poor graduate school performance? I am not interested in going the DO route, and frankly, would rather not spend 2 years getting a post-bac if I'm setting myself up for certain failure.

A JD isn't a typical graduate degree, unlike most med-bound students who's Masters and PhD programs place an emphasis on research, law school's grades are the key differentiating factor. With that being said, you still have a law degree, even w/ a ****ty GPA, probably won't work against you. What some programs might take note of is the fact that you jumped from one professional school to another, w/o ever practicing law, or even doing your articles.

I'm purely speculating at this point, but just because the job market for new lawyers is ****ty, doesn't mean you should jump ship to MD without a lot of thought. Law school and the practice of law can offer two very different experiences. Don't jump to medicine just b/c the luster came off law, and medicine is a 'glamour' field.