Prelaw Grades and Courses

General

How many applications do you receive?
Depending on the year, we receive 2300 to 3000 applications.

What is your class size?
198 students.  

If I provide you with my LSAT score and grades, can you tell me my chances of admission?
No. It is not possible to predict chances of admission in advance based on those metrics alone. Admission will also depend on your personal profile and the applicant pool in the year you apply. 

Will a high LSAT make up for a low GPA, or vice versa?
It depends on the strength of both. Generally, strong performance in one will not offset very weak performance in the other. We are seeking strength in all three areas we assess: academic performance, LSAT performance, and your personal profile. 

What does the personal profile include?
It includes your personal statement, LSAT Writing, reference letters, autobiographical sketch, detailed sketch, verifiers, and any extra education in addition to your undergraduate university degree. It also includes a CV (for mature applicants) and supporting documents (for Access applicants).

What does your holistic application review include?
In addition to strong LSAT scores and grades, we are seeking well-rounded applicants with a variety of experiences (work, public service, leadership, etc.) and skills, including strong communication and social skills. Please visit page 6 of our Prospectus to view a pie graph outlining what we are assessing when reviewing your application.     

Does Western have any quotas or caps for any category of applicants?
No. We are looking for strong applicants in all categories of admission.

If English is not my first language, do I need to provide proof of English proficiency?
Yes, IF your university education was in a language other than English. Please see our English Language Proficiency requirements to learn more.

What prelaw program of study do you recommend?
We admit students annually from over 40 different programs. You should take a program of study you enjoy and in which you believe you will excel. However, we also recommend you take courses where you will gain reading, research, writing and problem-solving skills.  

What is Western Law’s tuition?
Tuition and supplemental fees are approximately $22,000 for Ontario residents, and $25,000 for domestic out-of-province students. The supplemental fees include student activity fees, health and dental coverage, and a London Transit bus pass.

Grades and Courses

What is considered a full course load for law admission purposes?
Five courses per term. This provides the best evidence of how you will handle the rigors of first-year law school (where six courses per term are taken).

What if I didn’t take 5 courses per semester? 
You will still be considered, and you may still be admitted. However, your academic record may not stand out as much as someone with a full course load for their entire program of study. If there is a specific reason you could not take a full course load you may discuss that in your personal statement.

Are semesters where I took fewer than 5 courses included in the calculation of my GPA? 
Yes. All university courses – regardless of when or how they were taken – are included in your GPA calculation.

What years of study “count” when reviewing applications? 
We consider all years of study. Strong cumulative averages (~3.7+) are preferred.  If your cumulative average falls below a 3.7 we will give greater weight to your last 2 years of full-time (or equivalent) undergraduate study.

How will my grades be converted to a GPA for law school applications?
Visit the Ontario Law School Application Service (OLSAS) Grade Conversion Table. Find your university on the institution list then use the appropriate column to determine what OLSAS value (GPA) will be assigned to each of your grades. 

The OLSAS conversions shows a GPA lower than my university transcript. How can this be?
The purpose of the OLSAS grade conversions is to level the playing field among applicants from different undergraduate institutions. Everyone is “in the same boat” with respect to the conversions, so you are not disadvantaged even if your OLSAS GPA calculation is lower than expected. 

How will my GPA for my “Last 2” years be assessed?
We define “Last 2” as your last 20 semestered courses for which you were assigned grades, including summer terms. (One year-long course counts as 2 semestered courses.) However, we will not break up semesters. This means your “Last 2” could be more than 20 courses depending on your academic record. 

If I apply to law school in my final year of study, will you count those grades in my “Last 2”?
We will include your fall term grades in the calculation of your “Last 2” years and we may defer our final decision until your winter term grades arrive. This is a decision we make based on the strength of your application overall.

What if I take Pass/Fail or Credit/No Credit courses? Do they count?  
Courses for which you receive a Pass or Credit count towards the number of credits completed, but since there are no grades associated with them, they are not included in your GPA calculation.  

If I have the option, should I take a Pass or Credit OR should I take the grade?
We strongly recommend you elect to receive a grade, so we have the best evidence of your academic performance. If you choose otherwise, it suggests you were not doing well in the course and did not want the grade to appear on your transcript or be included in your GPA. If you have too many P or CR notations on your transcript, we may have insufficient information upon which to make an informed decision about your application. (The exception is during COVID when some institutions mandated P or CR notations in lieu of grades.)

What if I take more than 4 years to complete my degree or take courses after my degree is awarded?  Will they count? 
Yes. We include all university courses taken in our assessment.   

Is it advantageous to take upper-year courses in 3rd or 4th year or in post-degree work?
Yes. We strongly discourage you from taking 1000 level courses in your final years of study.

Does Western Law consider the grades from a graduate degree program?
A graduate degree is a positive factor and we will review your graduate degree grades. However, they are not used as part of your OLSAS GPA calculation for admission purposes.

Does Western Law consider grades received on exchange programs abroad?
Yes, and as noted in the OLSAS Application Guide, you must request that official transcripts from the exchange institution to sent to OLSAS. OLSAS does not convert the grades, but we include grades from your exchange program in our assessment of your academic performance.

Will Western count the grades from repeated courses?
Yes, and if the original course grade appears on your official transcript, OLSAS will include it in your GPA calculation as well. For this reason, if you have a choice to repeat a course or take a new course, we usually recommend you take a new course in which you expect to do well. 

I have some college education. Does it count?
College courses are not included in your OLSAS GPA calculation and Western Law does not accept college education as eligible prelaw study. This is consistent with the Federation of Law Societies of Canada national requirement. However, any additional education (including a college diploma or degree) is a positive factor and is considered separately.

What about college courses for which my university granted transfer credit?
While your university may give you transfer credit for your college study towards a university degree as part of a pathway program, we do not treat those courses as university study for the purpose of law admission. A minimum of three years of university study is still required. The only exception is a formal approved collaborative program between a specific university and a specific college.