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Way too long.

This shouldn't take more than a few sentences, a paragraph at most.

CONSIDER: Life got in the way of my quest for a perfect 4.0 GPA.

Ha okay, cut it down. Got it. I had no idea about appropriate length - I thought addenda were 1-pagers. Thanks!

Optional statements are often 1 page. Addenda are supposed to be brief, concise, and to the point.

I don't know if you've read this, but this would be a good place to start.

http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 22&t=86526

It's way too long and while it doesn't sound "whiny", it does sound like a series of excuses, none of which are particularly compelling. Usually GPA addenda read like this: Something happened. During the time this thing was happening, my GPA was x.x. With the exception of that period, my GPA is x.x, which I feel to be more representative of my true academic ability.

Also, I don't think I would put in your addendum what you expect your GPA to be by the time you graduate. This is what is known as "counting one's chickens".

Marionberry wrote:I don't know if you've read this, but this would be a good place to start.

http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 22&t=86526

It's way too long and while it doesn't sound "whiny", it does sound like a series of excuses, none of which are particularly compelling. Usually GPA addenda read like this: Something happened. During the time this thing was happening, my GPA was x.x. With the exception of that period, my GPA is x.x, which I feel to be more representative of my true academic ability.

Also, I don't think I would put in your addendum what you expect your GPA to be by the time you graduate. This is what is known as "counting one's chickens".

Excellent. None of my issues seem compelling enough to warrant an addendum after reviewing this. Thank you.

Whether it's an optional statement or an addendum, you're making an argument. Make your argument, and make it with the foresight that inherent weaknesses in your argument can be accounted for in other parts of your application. A convincing addendum prob rarely ever begins and ends with only what is written in that particular addendum.

I guess if you've reached the conclusion that an addendum should be written if and only if it is 100% convincing and compelling, then you probably shouldn't write one.

Good luck.