TESC and Law School

[GringoInTijuana]

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For foreign language, you earn 12 humanities credits for a high pass in any language. (cheap cheap cheap- do it for sure)
Portfolios are not done at TESC, they have PLAs. Prior learning assessment. Use this board's seach feature- I think I have written a book of posts on that topic.

Couldn't find your info you wrote on PLA in the forum... Can you provide a link please?

[cookderosa]

Couldn't find your info you wrote on PLA in the forum... Can you provide a link please?

http://www.degreeforum.net/off-topic/387...assessment

Here is a link to start- you can type out the whole thing when you search - prior learning assessment- I think PLA is too short.

[soupbone]

WAIT. No, you are mixing up "don't lie" with "transfer everything."

Don't lie means on your law school application, you will list 2 schools:

1. old crappy school, coursework only, 27 credits earned, 2.0 GPA
2. TESC, BA degree, 120 credits earned, 3.5 GPA

You are simply acknowledging the existence of the credits to law school - not the same as using them in a bachelor's degree.

Remember, you need over 100 credits (graded, not CLEP) at straight-A grade (not A-) to pull up your GPA. Dude, start fresh.

Jennifer maybe I am misunderstanding but if they are going to pull your transcripts from schools that you didn't do so good in then why not send them all to TESC for evaluation? Since TESC doesn't give you a gpa except for courses you take with them what would be the negative? TESC would end up possibly granting you credit on some course and you can still actually get a gpa by taking courses through them.

[cookderosa]

Jennifer maybe I am misunderstanding but if they are going to pull your transcripts from schools that you didn't do so good in then why not send them all to TESC for evaluation? Since TESC doesn't give you a gpa except for courses you take with them what would be the negative? TESC would end up possibly granting you credit on some course and you can still actually get a gpa by taking courses through them.

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Because they will be part of his degree and forced to be calculated in (not by TESC, but by his grad schools). IF they are outside of his degree, they are floaters and may be excluded from is application.

Essentially, my suggestion is to earn 120 new good credits (for a total of 147) and even if they end up included in GPA, 120 at 3.5 or 4.0 + 27 at 2.0brings up the overall average significantly. If he used the old classes, he is only brining in a possible 93 credits at 3.5 or 4.0 and adding 27 at 2.0 That's not enough "good grades" to bring him up to snuff.
So- I'm saying that even if TESC gives him "credit" for the 27 old credits, the issue is diluting them so they won't bite him when he applies to grad school- and by compartmentalizing them (floaters) they may be excluded all together.
I took a sleeping pill, I hope what I'm typing makes sense:eek:

[barbeque22]

Has anyone ever recommended to you that you become a college advisor. You seem to be the one who answers everyone's questions. I think you would be great at it.

[brain122]

I am not sure how long ago his "bad" grades were, but it is a possibility if you ACE the class the next time through, it will show improvement.

If the first bad transcript has been a few years, it is possible you will get to "explain" them to a grad. school. But, it would be recommended to mention something of the explanation in your initial letter and application to grad. school. However, "time" is the key here for this scenario to be successful.

It is very common for people to make mistakes, but if you can show good cause and a record of change you may still have a chance. Remember, retaking a class at another institution does not "replace" your grade. It merely is the grade of record for your "new gpa" for that school.

Maybe you can wait on transferring the credits in, by taking classes as a non degree seeking student and then make a decision to transfer them (the 27 credits) or replace them.

Just a thought.

[perrik]

FYI, not all graduate-level schools look at only the full GPA. If old lousy grades are an albatross around your neck, seek out law schools that will look at your GPA for just the final 60 credits. Thank goodness my top choice for grad school does this!

Also, some schools will consider a lower overall GPA if you have other qualifications to balance it out (like a stellar LSAT score) or if you petition the department or dean's office.

[cookderosa]

Has anyone ever recommended to you that you become a college advisor. You seem to be the one who answers everyone's questions. I think you would be great at it.

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Funny you say that, yes- a few times. However, I wouldn't be good at it.

I was a program advisor years ago- but that's not the same thing as pimping out a college :eek: . "Advisors" who are employed by a student services of a college are expected to act in the best interest of the institution- and I never have been the type to drink company Kool-Aid if you know what I mean. LOL I like to be here, where we can all help each other.

That said, I very much appreciate your compliment and the sentiment you convey!

[malcs]

Starting over could be of use in two ways:
1) It could give you a chance to get a good GPA
2) It could help you refine your study skills. If your prior grades are so low, and you intend to go to law school, you need to improve your study skills, test taking speed, etc. Taking a bunch of cleps,dsst, or Ec exams will help you in this regard.

You can make up the old credits in a few months.

[damphoose]

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Because they will be part of his degree and forced to be calculated in (not by TESC, but by his grad schools). IF they are outside of his degree, they are floaters and may be excluded from is application.

Essentially, my suggestion is to earn 120 new good credits (for a total of 147) and even if they end up included in GPA, 120 at 3.5 or 4.0 + 27 at 2.0brings up the overall average significantly. If he used the old classes, he is only brining in a possible 93 credits at 3.5 or 4.0 and adding 27 at 2.0 That's not enough "good grades" to bring him up to snuff.
So- I'm saying that even if TESC gives him "credit" for the 27 old credits, the issue is diluting them so they won't bite him when he applies to grad school- and by compartmentalizing them (floaters) they may be excluded all together.

This post is a little old but it ended with some cloudy info so I hope the person in need of the info returns.
Transfer the credits.
Why?
Because it does not matter what he does, law schools will use the grades to calculate the GPA. They don't care what your undergraduate school does with your grades. They use their own calculations and 90% of the time it includes ALL courses. Did I say ALL. Is it possible to make the ALL bigger. I need to look into that.
The only exception to this rule is that some schools will calculate a total GPA and a final 60 credits GPA. This is becoming more common but it is still a small minority of laws schools. Specialty grad schools (medical, engineering etc.) sometimes will create two GPA's, total, and prerequisites GPA.

I get what you are saying about taking more classes to dilute the GPA. This idea has merit as long as he understands that laws don't care what TESC or anyone else says his GPA is. So while his TESC or EC GPA will look great......Law school will calculate their own GPA, using what?.....that's right ALL his grades.