High LSAT, Low GPA, 3 arrests, no convictions. What to write in an addendum... Forum

[Anonymous User]

I figured I would go into detail about an earlier post. I really need to explain some stuff in my addendum but I'm not sure how detailed to get. I got a 171 on my LSAT but my cumulative GPA only showed up as 2.45 (3.3 degree). Also I have three arrests, although all charges were misdemeanors and were all dropped. Now my low cumulative GPA was basically the result of an opioid addiction in the beginning of my college career that eventually led me to get mostly Fs for 3 semesters and drop out for awhile. Of the arrests, 1 was as a juvenile for egging a house, 1 was a jaywalking ticket that escalated because I mouthed off, and 1 was an assault charge where I was attacked by my drunk cracked out roommate who then called the police when I handily won the fight. Now obviously, none of this reflects very well on me as a responsible adult but I'm not sure about which terms to use to talk about my issues. Do I spin the drug problem into a story about overcoming a difficult addiction which sapped my motivation and good sense and led to a brief period of homelessness (it was 8-9 years ago since I used) which is true or do I basically say there were personal problems that are now behind me? Do I explain the arrests in terms of youthful indiscretions that I am deeply ashamed of? Or do I double down and state that as the lack of convictions show, they were bullshit charges that are representative of our arrest first ask questions later approach especially when the offender is living in a poor community. Also the above would probably be easier to explain if I came from a socially or economically disadvantaged household, but I'm actually a half Jewish kid that comes from relative privilege, I just made some very poor decisions earlier in my life and could best be described as the bright ne'er-do-well youngest child of a family with a good legal pedigree. Maybe I could describe my experiences in positive terms by essentially showing that I have a family background similar to lots of students at the elite law schools but have life experiences that might help me understand important social and political issues with a bit more nuance than the other candidates?

[unfinishedthough]

Serious grain of salt, because this is my pretty much baseless opinion. I would think the great LSAT and long period of time since the issues you have talked about probably bodes well for you, and makes the idea of an addendum admitting to your past drug problems a bit more reasonable. As long as you don't come from a victimized standpoint or dwell too much on them, but just mention the circumstances and then highlight your significant achievements since you achieved sobriety, in my opinion you could make a pretty compelling statement.

[publicinterest7]

Also my fairly baseless opinion but I agree with unfinishedthough. I think you should definitely stay away from this approach: "they were bullshit charges that are representative of our arrest first ask questions later approach especially when the offender is living in a poor community" and emphasize this approach: "spin the drug problem into a story about overcoming a difficult addiction which sapped my motivation and good sense and led to a brief period of homelessness (it was 8-9 years ago since I used)." Talk about your sobriety, what you've learned from overcoming a drug addiction, and how you've changed. Very believable because it has been several years, and you can effectively and honestly demonstrate how you've changed. I think most people/society are coming to accept that drug addiction is a form of illness, and should be very understanding about this; like you pointed out in the last sentence of your post, it may make you a more interesting candidate since you have unique life experiences and a more informed perspective. But ultimately the key is to take responsibility, and to NOT shift responsibility to police, society, the flawed criminal justice system, etc. (And that part of the advice is not baseless.)