Associate Dean for Law Career Services
Now that Fall grades have been finalized and class ranks have been calculated, students are often confused as to how to present this information to prospective employers. (If you are wondering whether you ranking warrants mention on your applications, consult with a career advisor at LCS.)
Regardless of whether you consider yourself to be a “numbers person,” you must get it right when it comes to presenting your class rank. Misrepresenting your academic credentials comes with harsh consequences: in addition to losing out on the job you were seeking, you may be subject to disciplinary action at GGU, which could ultimately jeopardize your ability to get licensed by a state bar.
Here are a few pointers to get it right:
Reporting Your GPA. Present your cumulative GPA exactly the same way as it is reported on your transcript; do not round the numbers to the nearest whole number. For example, if your GPA is 2.999, you should list it on your resume as 2.999. (When reporting your undergraduate GPA, use the cumulative - as opposed to major - GPA awarded by each institution attended.)
Reporting Your Class Rank. Divide your place in the class by the total number of students in the class as reported to you by the Registrar’s Office. Class rank percentages are typically reported with whole numbers; to get to a whole number, round up to the next highest number as your class rank. In other words, if your class rank calculation places you in the top 9.99% of the class you will need to list it as Top 10%, not Top 9%.
Here are a few illustrations:
Raw Ranking: 23 out of 219Remember, grades and class ranking are only some of the credentials that employers consider in a hiring process. Let the diligence and detail-orientation you use with your academic credentials set a tone for the way you construct your entire application!
Calculation: 23 ÷ 219 = .1050 or 10.50%
Class Rank: Top 11%
Raw Ranking: 54 out of 274
Calculation: 54 ÷ 274 = .1970 or 19.70%
Class Rank: Top 20%
