Explanation of Medical Impact on Academic Record Forum

[odellthethird]

I have a 3.2 GPA and a 150 on my LSAT. Some schools have asked for any disadvantages of which they should be aware. Here's what I've got. Thoughts?


I struggle with a sleep apnea disorder. In short, the soft tissue in the back of my throat expands when I sleep instead of relaxing. Several times per night, it blocks the airways, causing me to stop breathing and jolt awake. As with most who suffer from sleep apnea, I do not completely wake up when I stop breathing, but my sleep is nonetheless severely interrupted. So while I may be asleep for 8 hours in a given night, the real sleep time I get could be as little as 3 or 4 hours.

I have learned how to cope with sleep apnea. However, because I was not diagnosed until the middle of my junior year of college, I did not realize I was not functioning at full capacity. Eating healthier and keeping a more routine schedule are key to overcoming the disorder’s effects, but these were hardly aspects of my academic career. While I believe this disorder has negatively affected my past academic performance, I know that it will not affect my ability to succeed in law school. You will see in my recommendation letters that I am a person highly regarded by my peers and employers. In two years, I received two major promotions in one of the most competitive Apple stores in the world. Other information about my experience and achievements outside of academics is detailed in my Programmatic Contribution statement.

Medical documentation of this disorder can be provided upon request.

[MrAnon]

What are you trying to explain away? Your GPA is not horrible. Its a B+ GPA. Your LSAT is nothing to write home about but its not clear how sleep apnea really affects that. You could retake it if you think you will do better. The bottom line is that the schools really don't care about these types of notes. You'll get into all the schools that have a 3.2/150 GPA/LSAT range. You won't get into schools that take people with 160 LSAT. That's just how it works.

[odellthethird]

What are you trying to explain away? Your GPA is not horrible. Its a B+ GPA. Your LSAT is nothing to write home about but its not clear how sleep apnea really affects that. You could retake it if you think you will do better. The bottom line is that the schools really don't care about these types of notes. You'll get into all the schools that have a 3.2/150 GPA/LSAT range. You won't get into schools that take people with 160 LSAT. That's just how it works.

That's the conclusion I was coming to myself, but I thought I'd at least write it and get some feedback. Thank you!