Choosing Between Grade-based and Non-grade Based Law Schools
Just like other colleges and universities, those recognized as the best law schools in the nation put so much importance in grades when they assess the performance of a student. Because of the recent grade inflation, which refers to the increase in number of students getting high GPAs, the grade percentiles of several institutions of higher learning were also raised. This is to ensure that what they get are only the top students who made the cut. And because many law firms also see school grades as factors in employment, a raised grade percentile would mean a more selective process of choosing students and applicants.
Non-Grade based law schools
For these institutions, they do not use the traditional percentage-based system. Take for example Berkeley Law’s Boalt Hall. In this school, they use the following ranking system:
HH – High Honors
H – Honors
P – Pass
PC – Substandard Pass
NC – No Credit
This system is based not just on the academic performance of a student but also on other factors too. Non-grade law schools give recognition to students who don’t necessary excel in every subject but are have good performance in other activities or aspects.
In these law schools, students are more relaxed as opposed to those in grade-based law schools. For students of these law schools, getting numerous pass grades and receiving just a few honors is not really a major issue because such grades will not prevent them from being employed by top companies.
Grade-based law schools
In a grade-based law school, school life can get stressful. This is because the grading system is very selective; it gives the top ranks to a very select few. And because grade-based law schools put so much emphasis on grades, some raise their grade percentile whenever grade inflation arises. This helps very selective law schools keep up to their “standards.” The result is a very competitive school environment, wherein students truly learn the concept behind the phrase “survival of the fittest.”
Photo Credit : Brymo
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