GPA addendum for academic dismissal in undergrad Forum

[chopsueybrandy]

Bear with me; I know it's long. I was hoping someone would have some useful advice or criticism to help improve my addendum.

GPA Addendum
My undergraduate career was plagued with numerous personal problems that hindered my academic success. Spring 2009 and Fall 2009, I was too immature to handle college. As a result of multiple Fs, I was placed on academic probation for Spring 2010. During Spring 2010, I contracted mononucleosis and was hit by a car while bicycling on April 21,2010 fracturing my tibial plateau. Treatment for the fracture required being on crutches for 6 weeks, which I found immensely difficult as I lived alone off-campus. As a result, I was academically dismissed from [x University] and therefore enrolled in [X] Community College. However, on July 20, 2010, I was involved in a rollover car accident during which I received a deep cut on my forehead that damaged a nerve cluster. Treatment for the nerve damage was an anticonvulsant medication which lists drowsiness, confusion, and depression as possible side effects, all of which I experienced. Further, there was the unexpected death of my cousin on October 16, 2010. This led to a subpar performance during Fall 2010. Tragedy struck again on April 22, 2011 when my grandfather passed away. During Fall 2011, I was readmitted to [x university] on academic probation which was lifted Spring 2012.
Documentation for these events will be provided upon request. My GPA of [] since readmission to [university] and my LSAT score of [X] are more indicative of my academic potential than my past record.


Is that too much detail, too little? Should I omit some events?

Should I even submit an addendum?

I answered my Fall 2009 semester where I got all Fs by saying that I was too immature. Is that argument weakened if my freshman year was fairly successful? I really don't have a documented excuse, it just took too much effort to get out of bed. I'm fairly certain it was an episode of depression, but I was too stupid (or depressed) to seek help. So, idk how to explain that or if I should even try.

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

PS, I have no idea if it matters, but I'm only applying to a tier 2 and a tier 3 school.

[Mr. Pancakes]

remove the school from your post.

take out the word "plagued". It makes the situation sound even worse than it was. It wasn't a "plague" it was a situation.

You need to seperate these events with mini paragraphs or something.

Make sure you just include something that tells them that you've grown from this, but I do feel like this is a little long.

[kublaikahn]

Your theme seems to be that your were hit with a long series of unfortunate events. a long long series. But I think that lacks credence. You need a better theme. Like before and after. Before X I lacked the ability to deal with life's setbacks (which were many). Now I do.

[Map Cat]

I think it's too long. More than that, it reads like just a string of mediocre excuses. Saying you got bad grades because you were on crutches is an exceptionally poor excuse (unless you have no arms).

I answered my Fall 2009 semester where I got all Fs by saying that I was too immature. Is that argument weakened if my freshman year was fairly successful?

Yes (assuming that 2008-2009 was your freshman year).

If you're applying to a T3 and you did well (excluding the semester of Fs), you may not even need the addendum. I guess it never hurts unless you really don't have a good excuse.

[chopsueybrandy]

Okay, thanks guys.

Based on your advice, I've decided to scrap that entire thing. I'll just put a sentence or two to the effect of "I didn't know what I wanted out of life/college, so my grades were sh*t for a bit," and let the LORs and personal statement do whatever help they can. Probably works better since the coursework I took during those 3 semesters reflects 3 drastically different majors.

Thanks again for taking the time.

P.S. I wasn't only on crutches that semester, I also had mono and anemia. But I get what you are saying and I agree it wasn't a good excuse. That's part of the reason I posted this topic in the first place; I knew it sounded like crap and just wasn't sure where to go. But I do now, so thanks. Peace.