First-semester law school grades can sometimes be a rude awakening, especially if you are accustomed to getting mostly As.
Getting top grades in law school is especially challenging because you’re competing against the best of the best.
If you’re disappointed with your first-semester grades, you’re not alone. But there’s no need to panic. There’s time to get back on track by following these steps.
Step 1: Maintain perspective
When you’re in law school, it can be easy to lose sight of the forest for the trees. Your first-semester law school grades are merely a few trees; there’s so much more to the forest.
You should be proud of completing a first semester unlike any other. Now that you have some experience taking law school exams, you can apply those tools to your next semester. Many students who didn’t do as well as they had hoped during the first semester are able to improve their grades going forward with hard work and better strategies.
Step 2: Avoid the echo chamber
One thing that can make law school especially stressful is the echo chamber effect: Law students often can’t help comparing themselves to other students. When grades become a topic of discussion, the loudest voices are often the ones who did well.
We recommend keeping two things in mind. First, you don’t need to share your grades with anyone. Second, more students than not are feeling the same way you are. Checking in with friends and family outside of law school is a great way to take a break from the competition and refocus.
Step 3: Talk with your professors
Reach out to your professors and ask them to review your exams with you. Approach this as an opportunity to receive constructive feedback that you can apply to future exams, not an attempt to argue about your grade.
Writing good law school exam responses is an important skill to develop, and professors can be a great help. They can help you identify where you did well and where you need to improve in the future.
Step 4: Focus on what you can control
Once you’ve gotten feedback from your professors, it’s time to create a strategy for implementing that feedback into your study plan. Keep in mind that optimal study habits have as much to do with quality as with quantity. Simply shutting yourself in the library won’t get you an A if you’re not using your time and resources effectively.
Creating a good strategy requires reflecting on your past study habits and identifying ways to improve. Consider outlining earlier in the semester, spending more time on practice exams, and using supplements to deepen your understanding.
Step 5: Remember that grades aren’t everything
There’s no sugarcoating it: Law school grades matter. However, they aren’t everything. When you start searching for a job, moot court participation, student organizations, clinics and other extracurriculars can help your resume stand out.
Similarly, building strong relationships with professors and other mentors can create great opportunities.
Making a plan to develop your resume beyond your GPA is a great way to alleviate some of the stress about your first-semester grades.
