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17 year gap in education....

Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2011 9:51 pm
by jnelsi
When I was a "traditional" undergraduate my dad became gravely ill and I subsequently lost him the start of my senior year and withdrew from school. I worked for more than 20 years and at age 40 went back to complete my undergrad degree. I am due to graduate in May. My current GPA is 3.91. HOWEVER, my GPA from 20 years ago was a measly 2.18 because of a few semesters I just "left" school without officially withdrawing and incompletes turned to "F"s as a result of me being completely detached from life.

What is the best way to address this with my applications? My current GPA is very strong but the old one will drag me down under a 3.0. I get LSAT results back on Wednesday. My 6 practice tests have all wound up between 164-169. Am I totally doomed because of UG GPA???

Re: 17 year gap in education....

Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2011 10:09 pm
by flexityflex86
jnelsi wrote:When I was a "traditional" undergraduate my dad became gravely ill and I subsequently lost him the start of my senior year and withdrew from school. I worked for more than 20 years and at age 40 went back to complete my undergrad degree. I am due to graduate in May. My current GPA is 3.91. HOWEVER, my GPA from 20 years ago was a measly 2.18 because of a few semesters I just "left" school without officially withdrawing and incompletes turned to "F"s as a result of me being completely detached from life.

What is the best way to address this with my applications? My current GPA is very strong but the old one will drag me down under a 3.0. I get LSAT results back on Wednesday. My 6 practice tests have all wound up between 164-169. Am I totally doomed because of UG GPA???
Maybe you can speak to the school about those incompletes? They're normally pretty forgiving about them.

Re: 17 year gap in education....

Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2011 10:24 pm
by DoubleChecks
jnelsi wrote:When I was a "traditional" undergraduate my dad became gravely ill and I subsequently lost him the start of my senior year and withdrew from school. I worked for more than 20 years and at age 40 went back to complete my undergrad degree. I am due to graduate in May. My current GPA is 3.91. HOWEVER, my GPA from 20 years ago was a measly 2.18 because of a few semesters I just "left" school without officially withdrawing and incompletes turned to "F"s as a result of me being completely detached from life.

What is the best way to address this with my applications? My current GPA is very strong but the old one will drag me down under a 3.0. I get LSAT results back on Wednesday. My 6 practice tests have all wound up between 164-169. Am I totally doomed because of UG GPA???
i cant imagine grades from 20 yrs ago, esp with a good reason, would be held against your apps today.

Re: 17 year gap in education....

Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2011 10:26 pm
by flexityflex86
DoubleChecks wrote:
jnelsi wrote:When I was a "traditional" undergraduate my dad became gravely ill and I subsequently lost him the start of my senior year and withdrew from school. I worked for more than 20 years and at age 40 went back to complete my undergrad degree. I am due to graduate in May. My current GPA is 3.91. HOWEVER, my GPA from 20 years ago was a measly 2.18 because of a few semesters I just "left" school without officially withdrawing and incompletes turned to "F"s as a result of me being completely detached from life.

What is the best way to address this with my applications? My current GPA is very strong but the old one will drag me down under a 3.0. I get LSAT results back on Wednesday. My 6 practice tests have all wound up between 164-169. Am I totally doomed because of UG GPA???
i cant imagine grades from 20 yrs ago, esp with a good reason, would be held against your apps today.
schools care about the gpa they report, but i am sure they'll be somewhat forgiving, but i'd apply to all the schools your current #s will be good for, and one of them will be bound to assess you base on skill rather than USNEWS.

Re: 17 year gap in education....

Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2011 11:49 pm
by Justathought
Sent you a private message.