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Grade Point Average for Law School Applicants

About Grade Point Average (GPA)

Undergraduate academic performance is a critical factor in gaining admission to law school. A poor GPA may seriously weaken a candidate’s chances of success despite outstanding achievements in other areas of the application.

Grading schemes in undergraduate programs vary from university to university. Regardless of the grading methodology used, most law schools, including those located in Ontario, convert these grades to a 4.0 scale, which enables admissions committees to comparatively evaluate applicants from different schools. This measure serves as a more objective and straightforward way to compare prospective applicants from a wide variety of schools and countries. Admissions committees consider students’ GPAs at the beginning of the application process in conjunction with the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) score.

The Calculation

While some law schools will look to an applicant’s numerical average, the majority convert each course grade into corresponding values on the 4.0 scale they refer to as a ‘Grade Point Average’ or ‘GPA.’ These individual GPAs are then weighted based on course value (whether a full, half, or quarter credit) and averaged, generating a single cumulative GPA covering all of one’s undergraduate studies.

The correspondence of numerical averages to GPA depends on the undergraduate school one attended. Each year the Ontario Law School Application Service (OLSAS) releases a grading system conversion table to inform applicants how their overall GPA is to be calculated for that cycle.

OLSAS Grade Conversion Table

Learn More About GPA, including:

  • Example GPA Calculation
  • Points to Consider
  • Types of GPAs
  • How GPA is Used
  • A ‘Good GPA’
  • Courses
  • Disclosing Your GPA
  • Tips on GPA
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