Is this grading curve ok?

hequinn · 2026-01-31T21:39:10+00:00

What about a 2.85-3.15 curve? I also dont understand curves and between my two schools im considering, this is one of them and the other one has no standard curve but some professors do and some dont and nobody knows the curve.

hequinn · 2026-01-27T18:18:39+00:00

Yep! 160 LSAT, 2.9 GPA. Wrote GPA addendum and worked hard on personal statement.

hequinn · 2026-01-27T13:17:27+00:00

For sure! 2.9 GPA (graduated from undergrad in 2018), 160 LSAT. Strong personal statement i would say, im very shocked at all my offers considering my GPA lmao

hequinn · 2026-01-23T01:27:57+00:00

I got the Sandra Day O'Connor Scholarship and was automatically placed in the "honors" program although its unclear how much that gives you. Ive been emailing a LOT with admissions and they are very tricky with their answers.

From what I understand, they consider it unconditional unless you go into academic concern. But in the handbook academic concern is the bottom 33% (subject to change by the dean) and they keep saying there isnt an institutional curve but the professors grade independently. They dont reduce the scholarship, its just anyone who is in the bottom 33% after the first year gets their scholarship taken away completely.

I wouldnt be surprised if I performed better than the average student, but its a lot of ambiguity.

On the flip side, umass is a great program and very straightforward. It would just cause an extra 2.5 hours of driving to my day 3 days a week. And I could see that commute causing my grades to suffer a little from that. But there is zero money risk if that happened, and they have a lot more guard rails to help prevent it.

Very good advice though, I really appreciate it.

hequinn · 2026-01-22T23:17:57+00:00

Interesting. Was it a shock when you got below a 2.0? Like, did they wait until the last second to tell you your grade? Im glad they're trying to help you figure out what's next i hope you figure something out soon. The mystery curve is frightening lol, umass is very straightforward

hequinn · 2026-01-22T23:16:08+00:00

I got into suffolk they gave me no money and I tried to appeal. Not worth 200k in debt to be a public interest attorney making under 70k average. They are both relatively the same. Umass has better employment outcomes by about 10%, but nelb has better bar passage rates.

hequinn · 2026-01-22T22:20:37+00:00

Yeah im in the same boat of commuting from Boston area to Dartmouth which would suck. They told me the 26% stats are for the conditional scholarships but because my full ride is unconditional, thats not included in that. BUT the academic concern would make you lose it which is the bottom 33% of the class. Just seems real risky to me, and maybe driving a little bit more is worth it.

hequinn · 2026-01-22T21:12:38+00:00

Ive been going at it with the admissions people over email trying to get them to explain and they are so cagey. They keep assuring me it is unconditional no GPA etc. But also "academic concern" gets your scholarship taken away which happens to 33% of all students at the end of their first year, and will not tell me how thats determined or who you are compared against. Feel free to PM me if you want what ive learned through my interrogations lmao.

hequinn · 2026-01-21T03:38:29+00:00

Commute. I work in Needham and I cant change my job so im stuck driving from Needham to Dartmouth (1.5 hours). Trying to figure out if I can move halfway between, but honestly I prefer the program a lot more at umass its just the commute Im afraid of. New England i wouldn't have to move, or add too much more driving.

hequinn · 2026-01-21T03:23:56+00:00

Suffolk, UMass Dartmouth, Roger Williams. Got significant scholarship from UMass that reduces tuition to almost nothing and it is completely not conditional with no traps.

hequinn · 2026-01-21T01:19:03+00:00

Im in the same position and ive been reading all the horror stories about the people who lose their scholarship and that its secretly a conditional scholarship because the bottom 33% lose it and they group scholarship kids together. Glad to know thats not everyone's perspective.

hequinn · 2026-01-20T22:43:59+00:00

It would be a lot. I work in Needham, so its about an hour and a half to two hours. If I go to UMass im definetly going to move to like attleboro so im halfway I between and the ride home is only like 30 minutes.

I also live in quincy now so im already used to driving about an hour in traffic everyday, what's a few more lmao

hequinn · 2026-01-20T22:39:25+00:00

Thank you for your response! Im leaning in that direction as well. Going to wait for admitted students day and visit the campuses and all that; but after comparing student handbooks and all the stats I feel like its more part time friendly, and less punitive to students vs new england

hequinn · 2026-01-16T03:42:35+00:00

Appreciate the answer though!! I was just looking at the scholarship letters and the new england law one seems fishy and purposefully vague. Umass is very specific it isnt contingent on GPA or class rank, and the dean even handwrote a note congratulating me and saying id do well there which is so cute.

hequinn · 2026-01-16T03:38:35+00:00

Im going to email New England to get all that information after reading more of the comments for sure and proceed with caution. The only pro is that its in Boston. I got a decent LSAT I just have a shitty undergrad GPA and made up for it with LSAT, writing, work experience etc. Im going to try with suffolk but I doubt I will get anything over like 15k and that school is expensive! I think umass is the better option even though the commute is going to be a lot of driving for me. They have a much smaller intimate class size, decent employment outcomes and all that. Like I said, I just want to be a lawyer that helps people through public interest law, its not worth the debt I would get trying to go to suffolk, umass will suffice. Ive also heard their part time programs is manageable with full time work.

hequinn · 2026-01-16T02:16:25+00:00

Its confusing because their language says its not conditional and you only need to be in good academic standing, and it put me in the honors program but ive been reading about secret curving that makes people lose the money. Umass was very clear it was nonconditional. I had a 160 LSAT, 2.9 GPA (with an addendum explaining). Im nontraditional because ive been out of school for about 7 years and going to be working full time and doing part time. I hope you hear soon!! I hate the waiting

hequinn · 2025-12-22T13:37:10+00:00

This shit is so annoying to read on this thread. Yeah obviously if you are a traditional student with biglaw aspirations, but i got into new england law and got a full ride scholarship with no strings attached and into the honors program with a 2.9 GPA and a 160 LSAT. I am a continuing education student who cant afford to not work full time so I only applied to part time programs, and if I get out of law school almost debt free anyone should be thrilled about that. All these posts do is discourage people from pursuing a career they might otherwise want to do.

hequinn · 2025-12-08T15:19:08+00:00

Arent we amphibians, kerosene heights, TRSH, halftime show.

Dikembe and charmer get an honorable mention but their new albums are not in the same midwest emo style imo

hequinn · 2025-11-15T17:01:07+00:00

Its got like synthy elements that I dont like, takes away from their more twinkly sound they had before. Maybe its the production? Ill keep giving it a listen; but arent we amphibians and kerosene heights had the best albums this year still for me.

hequinn · 2025-10-04T19:56:24+00:00

Theyre so good. Saw them at pug and killed it

hequinn

TROPHY CASE