GPA anddendum for a 3.83? Forum

[Beast15]

Feel sort of silly asking but I figured it wouldn't hurt.

Degree GPA=3.99

LSAC GPA=3.83

This is because my first two semesters at a community college were hampered by a legitimate personal issue that wouldn't be too difficult to explain. I switched to a university and got all A's for the remainder of undergrad--well, with one A-.

What's the thought here on the board? Would it be useful to include a brief paragraph to explain the shift? I'm applying to the top 20 or so.

[094320]

..

[TLSanders]

No.

[cold_logic]

I had a similar situation, and I wrote a really brief addendum (like, 3-4 sentences) just like "Look at this crazy upward trend once I transferred to a better school." Short, to the point, no excuses. I don't see how it could hurt, and you want to make sure they realize just how awesome you are academically. At YHS, 3.83 and 3.99 look really different... Just my two cents.

[DeeCee]

Sorry, but unless you're applying to HYS, you should not write a GPA addendum because your GPA is so high anyway and it looks ridiculous to write one. Example--my undergrad GPA was a 4.0, but yet my LSAC GPA was a 3.9 because I attended a community college in high school and made a B. There is no need to write an addendum, they see your school GPA for each school on the report anyway (at least mine was displayed).

[Cmart050]

No.

[Beast15]

Um...what was your GPA during the beg.? Unless it was something drastically low, no.

Actual GPA by term for those first two semesters: 3.15, 2.50

Those are drastically low aren't they? From the next semester on, it's all 4.00.

The consensus seems to be "no" but I thought I'd post these details before I make my final decision.

Thanks for the help.

[FiveSermon]

Was the reason legitimate?

If it was something like a medical reason or a death in the family I think you should write it regardless of how high your overall GPA is. A 2.5 is drastically different from your cumulative and if the reason was legitimate and not "I drank too much" you should go for it.

[BrownBears09]

Feel sort of silly asking but I figured it wouldn't hurt.

Degree GPA=3.99

LSAC GPA=3.83

This is because my first two semesters at a community college were hampered by a legitimate personal issue that wouldn't be too difficult to explain. I switched to a university and got all A's for the remainder of undergrad--well, with one A-.

What's the thought here on the board? Would it be useful to include a brief paragraph to explain the shift? I'm applying to the top 20 or so.

Seriously? An addendum for a 3.83?

[Dany]

Um...what was your GPA during the beg.? Unless it was something drastically low, no.

Actual GPA by term for those first two semesters: 3.15, 2.50

Those are drastically low aren't they? From the next semester on, it's all 4.00.

The consensus seems to be "no" but I thought I'd post these details before I make my final decision.

Thanks for the help.

I would certainly write one. Those are very low (especially the 2.5) and seem to be uncharacteristic of your other semesters. I don't know what your issue was, but if it's not "I drank a lot" or something similar I think you should write a very short addendum.

I have a 3.8 with one year of pretty terrible grades (due to a really difficult personal issue) bringing down all As/A+s and I wrote one. While I don't think it will help or get me into any reaches, at the very least it shows adcomms that my lower grades weren't me being lazy or partying.

[traehekat]

No. Adcomms have to read a lot of stuff. They don't want to be reading stuff that is pretty unnecessary. Your chances of just irritating someone are probably higher than any good you think an addendum would do you.

[Dany]

Sorry but if I see a transcript of all As and a year of B- and C grades, I'd want to know what was going on then. A few explanatory and non-whiny sentences aren't going to annoy anyone if the reason is legitimate.

[TheTallOne0602]

Um...what was your GPA during the beg.? Unless it was something drastically low, no.

Actual GPA by term for those first two semesters: 3.15, 2.50

Those are drastically low aren't they? From the next semester on, it's all 4.00.

The consensus seems to be "no" but I thought I'd post these details before I make my final decision.

Thanks for the help.

I would certainly write one. Those are very low (especially the 2.5) and seem to be uncharacteristic of your other semesters. I don't know what your issue was, but if it's not "I drank a lot" or something similar I think you should write a very short addendum.

I have a 3.8 with one year of pretty terrible grades (due to a really difficult personal issue) bringing down all As/A+s and I wrote one. While I don't think it will help or get me into any reaches, at the very least it shows adcomms that my lower grades weren't me being lazy or partying.

+1.

Just make it very short and to the point.

[BrownBears09]

Sorry but if I see a transcript of all As and a year of B- and C grades, I'd want to know what was going on then. A few explanatory and non-whiny sentences aren't going to annoy anyone if the reason is legitimate.

So you'd be surprised to see a freshmen year with lower grades than other years? Wait... what?

An addendum of this nature is completely unnecessary, and if I were an adcomm I'd question the "common sense" of the applicant.

[Dany]

Sorry but if I see a transcript of all As and a year of B- and C grades, I'd want to know what was going on then. A few explanatory and non-whiny sentences aren't going to annoy anyone if the reason is legitimate.

So you'd be surprised to see a freshmen year with lower grades than other years? Wait... what?

An addendum of this natures is completely unnecessary, and if I were an adcomm I'd question the "common sense" of the applicant.

Yes, I would, but fwiw my year of bad grades wasn't freshman year. So I guess OP should consider that, but I'm still in favor of writing one (assuming that OP's issue is serious, since we don't really know what it was.)

[swfangirl]

Sorry but if I see a transcript of all As and a year of B- and C grades, I'd want to know what was going on then. A few explanatory and non-whiny sentences aren't going to annoy anyone if the reason is legitimate.

So you'd be surprised to see a freshmen year with lower grades than other years? Wait... what?

An addendum of this nature is completely unnecessary, and if I were an adcomm I'd question the "common sense" of the applicant.

Diff between a 2.50 and a 4.0 is pretty different. I'd want an explanation. I had a similar experience--low grades one semester, but high grades the rest, so high overral GPA, and I wrote the addendum. Doesn't seem to have annoyed anybody yet.

[DeeCee]

Sorry, but unless you're applying to HYS, you should not write a GPA addendum because your GPA is so high anyway and it looks ridiculous to write one. Example--my undergrad GPA was a 4.0, but yet my LSAC GPA was a 3.9 because I attended a community college in high school and made a B. There is no need to write an addendum, they see your school GPA for each school on the report anyway (at least mine was displayed).

I agree with some posters after me....perhaps you should disregard some of what my initial post says and take into account your personal circumstances.

[Beast15]

I'm going to go ahead and include a brief explanation.

Thanks everyone.

[hjag]

Um...what was your GPA during the beg.? Unless it was something drastically low, no.

Actual GPA by term for those first two semesters: 3.15, 2.50

Those are drastically low aren't they? From the next semester on, it's all 4.00.

The consensus seems to be "no" but I thought I'd post these details before I make my final decision.

Thanks for the help.

I would write one.

Your cumulative is very impressive, yes, but they might wonder what happened in the beginning. In general, any large deviations in GPA ought to be explained.