Split addendum Forum

[matt690]

Hi,

I am wondering if I should write an addendum, and if so, what I should say. I have a 151 on the lsat and a 3.9 gpa. First of all, I am not a great standardized test taker. I received a 1200 on the sat with a 4.0 high school gpa, and my high gpa at college shows that the sat was not truly reflective of my ability to succeed and that I am not a great standardized test taker. Someone suggested to write this and to offer to submit my sat scores? What would I write?

In addition, my family has been going through some tough financial difficulties over the past year (almost a foreclosure, spending cutbacks, stress, etc.). Although I am not looking for excuses, I partially attribute this huge lsat/gpa split to this, in addition to not being a good standardized test taker. Should I mention one or both of these things? Again, don't want to sound like I'm looking for excuses, just want to show that my lsat score may not be a true indication of who I am and my abilities.

I did retake the lsat; I do not believe I went up more than a few points, for the same reasons mentioned above. Thanks so much.

[cinephile]

A 1200 on the SAT is two standard deviations above median. A 151 on the LSAT is median. So, as far as evidence that you're not a good standardized test-taker goes, this isn't great.

[matt690]

Should I include one of the examples, both? Should I include the first one without the SAT example (which would weaken the argument)?

[cinephile]

I think you know your best course of action is to retake.

If you're not good with standardized tests maybe you could address the factors that make it difficult for you. Like, does the pressure of so much riding on one test make you anxious and under-perform? If so, work on anxiety. Or speed, or increase your vocabulary. It's not the simple fact that it's a standardized test that makes it difficult, it's something about it and that's what you can work on when you retake.

[20130312]

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