Answered- Thanks Forum

[NickValentine]

Appreciate the feedback all! Looking like a pretty resounding no.

[Dcc617]

Hi all,

First time poster here. I apologize if this has been asked to death, but I could use some opinions. I have a 2.7 GPA and a 158 LSAT (not looking for advice on whether or not I should apply at all). The long and short of it is I got wrapped up in my Fraternity. I helped spearhead it's founding on our campus and become extremely involved in that. Leadership positions, traveling to conferences, going to other chapters and helping them do the same. You name it, I did it. This provided me with some pretty solid soft factors, but as you can see my GPA suffered. Once I realized the error of my ways, I quickly got my act together and placed a focus on academia. My final semester of college I took an overload of credits, and received a gpa of about 3.8 for the term. This was despite taking my heaviest course load, taking the two most advanced courses in my major, and having to deal with the recent fallout of a family member developing alcoholism. After graduating I continually immersed myself in the practice of law as much as I could. I volunteered for a pro-bono organization and secured employment as a legal assistant.

So my question is this- is it worth submitting an addendum for my GPA to provide some context? I overextended my commitments, accept responsibility for the lack of prioritization, and have grown a great deal since then. I feel like it may be odd not to provide context behind the sudden upshot in GPA.

Thoughts?

I don't think it will help. You don't really have a good reason for the bad GPA. Your best bet is emphasizing what you've done since college and maximizing your LSAT.

[cavalier1138]

Nope. GPA addenda are for legitimate excuses for a low GPA (i.e. medical problems).

Oh, and I know you aren't looking for it, but with those numbers you should reconsider applying, period. Very few schools worth going to will take you, and you'll go into a lot of debt for nothing.

[Mr. Archer]

No. You chose to do the things that made you get a low GPA. If anything, your explanation just shows you have bad judgment. You chose frat life over academics for almost all of your time in undergrad, apparently. Others might disagree.

You'd be best just to keep retaking the LSAT for a higher score. The GPA/LSAT combo is a major problem for admissions. The LSAT also doesn't make your GPA look like it doesn't reflect your potential in law school.