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Scored 164 on September 2009 LSAT and 172 in December 2009. I'm debating whether I should write an addendum to address the lower score or to just let my higher score speak for itself since it's an 8-point jump. Three days before the September 2009 exam, my parents called me to tell me that they were considering hospice for my father since the three different treatment options he had tried for the past year had done nothing to shrink his tumors. They called to get my input on what I thought he should do. He has since passed away, so his condition was definitely serious at the time.

I was definitely shaken up going into the September 2009 exam, but at the same time, I don't want to seem like I'm playing the cancer card. Combined with my pretty decent GPA (3.77 from a top 10 school) I think my second score could be high enough to let it stand, but I'm not sure. Any advice?

I would definitely write an addendum explaining the difference. If it is brief and to the point, it won't come off as playing any card but rather explaining the discrepancy in scores..

People often say that one should let the higher score "speak for itself". Why should this situation be any different?

Lurkster wrote:People often say that one should let the higher score "speak for itself". Why should this situation be any different?

Many schools ask for an explanation if there is a reason (i.e., not "I studied harder") for the difference

If I decide to submit the addendum, I was thinking of something along these lines:

A few days before the September 2009 LSAT administration, my parents called me to discuss whether my father should enter a hospice program if his most recent chemotherapy treatment failed to achieve the desired results. I was worried about my father’s health, and I underestimated the effect of those concerns on my performance. As a result of these concerns, I feel that I scored below my potential. I retook the LSAT in December 2009, and I believe this latter score to be more representative of my abilities.

Short and effective. You had a valid reason for the increase and I don't see any problem with making the admission officers aware of the unfortunate circumstances. Congrats on the new score.

cc534128 wrote:If I decide to submit the addendum, I was thinking of something along these lines:

A few days before the September 2009 LSAT administration, my parents called me to discuss whether my father should enter a hospice program if his most recent chemotherapy treatment failed to achieve the desired results. I was worried about my father’s health, and I underestimated the effect of those concerns on my performance. As a result of these concerns, I feel that I scored below my potential. I retook the LSAT in December 2009, and I believe this latter score to be more representative of my abilities.

Bingo. I like it. I would take out the word "administration" in the first sentence.

Lurkster wrote:People often say that one should let the higher score "speak for itself". Why should this situation be any different?

Those are situations in which the reasons for retaking suck or aren't valid (and where people would be better off saying nothing)

Only submit an addendum if the application asks for one.

billyez wrote:Short and effective. You had a valid reason for the increase and I don't see any problem with making the admission officers aware of the unfortunate circumstances. Congrats on the new score.

So what is the view on "I was sick during the first one" addendums?

I considered this as well, 158-> 170. I started writing one, but there was nothing to say. The first score was a fluke. There's really no explanation. The applications, for me, at most have asked "if there is a score discrepancy you would like to explain please attach..." but... well, I didn't want to explain.

edit: but if you think there's an explanation, then, yeah. Do it.

Just send it..I had the same jump and sent the addendum to most of the schools I applied to...then the ones I didn't send one to emailed me asking for one

I was a student-athlete/academic All-American and rushed to graduate pending the MLB draft. Also rushed LSAT prep. 147 in feb. '08 retook in Dec. 09 167. Addendum?

dcrlo3 wrote:I was a student-athlete/academic All-American and rushed to graduate pending the MLB draft. Also rushed LSAT prep. 147 in feb. '08 retook in Dec. 09 167. Addendum?

No. What are you going to say... "I was too busy to study because everything else going on was more important than LSAT?" ....>>>> 'fluke'