Should I write an addendum? Forum

[dabbadon8]

Alright I had one bad semester:3.7 3.5 3.5 2.75 3.69 3.73, guess which one... Anyways that semester I received an F and a C. I am conflicted as to what to do. The C is a pain in the ass. It was an easy drug and alcohol class I took for an education minor. I received an A in the class close to 96 percent, but the professor messed up inputing grades. It happened to several people but they were still at school and went to his office hours. I didn't receive grades till I got home for the summer. Tried to call and email him a million times never got a response. Got back to school and found out he was an adjunct professor and no longer with the university. He never let us keep what he returned during class, would show us our grades and take the assignment back so I had nothing for a petition. If I could have done more I don't know but I feel I have no chance of changing it. I am more concerned with the F. It was an online class that I basically wrote the date of a project and test wrong (both within a day of each other) and missed taking them. This is clearly my fault. I was busy working many late nights (often till 4) and this is incorporated in my PS, but this is an excuse. I don't know if it is worth drawing attention to this semester, especially since I would not have any thing particularly strong to explain the F. What should I do?

[dukelawguy144]

dude, ill give you the prof leaving the university but you are dumbass for the online class. I dont know how you can articulate that well in a statement

[merichard87]

My vote is to leave it alone. Its clearly not a trend and if you write an addendum you draw attention to it.

[dabbadon8]

dude, ill give you the prof leaving the university but you are dumbass for the online class. I dont know how you can articulate that well in a statement

Thank you for your contribution. I'll be sure to keep this in mind.

[jks289]

Don't bother with the addendum unless you have some kind of documentation of at least making the complaint to the school. For what it is worth, I noticed a mistake on my transcript following graduation (a Pass class listed as No Credit) and managed to get them to correct it. All you have to say (at a UC school) is that the grade has been entered in error, get the professor to submit the correction. You'd be surprised at how easy it is to track old professors down and get them to change things. Good luck!

[CanadianWolf]

Many admissions officers might be sceptical of your claims regarding your drug & alcohol class. Lawyers are hired to solve problems. Don't let this improper grade of "C" get away from you. Write an affidavit attesting to your grades received for that class & shift the burden of proof to the university for the surprise &, seemingly, unjustified grade. Try to obtain a class syllabus or outline that delineates the basis for grading in the drug & alcohol course to support your claim.
Not sure that I believe your excuse for the grade of "F" for the online course, however, it appears that you are not contesting this grade. If you wish to contest the grade of "F", then you need to be more clear on the inadvertant errors that you deem excusable & must be prepared to verify your assertions with a sworn statement, in my opinion.
None of the above should be sent to law schools; contest the grade or grades with the issuing undergraduate school.
I can't offer any reasonable answer as to whether or not an addendum is appropriate until you have exhausted all avenues of appeals of those grades. If you are not going to appeal, then you need to be more forthcoming, in my opinion, as to why you received those grades since your current explanations sound borderline untruthful even though they are probably entirely accurate.

[dabbadon8]

Many admissions officers might be sceptical of your claims regarding your drug & alcohol class. Lawyers are hired to solve problems. Don't let this improper grade of "C" get away from you. Write an affidavit attesting to your grades received for that class & shift the burden of proof to the university for the surprise &, seemingly, unjustified grade. Try to obtain a class syllabus or outline that delineates the basis for grading in the drug & alcohol course to support your claim.
Not sure that I believe your excuse for the grade of "F" for the online course, however, it appears that you are not contesting this grade. If you wish to contest the grade of "F", then you need to be more clear on the inadvertant errors that you deem excusable & must be prepared to verify your assertions with a sworn statement, in my opinion.

Thanks I mean the excuse it legit, I am terrible with completely online classes, I marked my calendar wrong and didn't check the class page enough. I have no excuse other then it being a mistake, possibly due to stress/busy schedule. I am conflicted between writing an addendum because of the legit excuse for the c and not wanting to draw attention to the F.

[CanadianWolf]

Sounds as if you were overwhelmed by an unusually demanding course load.

[dabbadon8]

Thank you to everyone is said I should still try and change my grade. After hours on the telephone and many emails, I was just informed the grade has been changed to an A. This brings my LSAC GPA up by .05, and just looks better overall. I'm pretty excited.

[blurbz]

Thank you to everyone is said I should still try and change my grade. After hours on the telephone and many emails, I was just informed the grade has been changed to an A. This brings my LSAC GPA up by .05, and just looks better overall. I'm pretty excited.

Good job!

Now regarding the F...Don't call attention to it.

[CanadianWolf]

The grade of "F" may have to be addressed at some point in the application process as it will not go unnoticed by admissions officers. The circumstances leading up to this failing grade are somewhat similiar to a litigator missing a crucial deadline. You took on too heavy a workload & sacrificed the least demanding & least important course. This can't be done in the real world practice of law as it will lead to a malpractice matter & possible bar discipline. Explain that you have learned a very valuable lesson that will not be repeated. Basically I am advising you to turn a negative into a positive.

[CanadianWolf]

Another thought regarding your online course that resulted in a failing grade due to a lack of compliance on your behalf. As online courses & schools are often concerned with profits & satisfied students, you may want to contact the online school explain your situation, request a grade change to "incomplete" or "administrative withdrawal" so that you can retake the course at normal tuition in hopes of achieving a passing grade. Probably best to be respectful & humble when dealing with this school. And honest, of course.

[dabbadon8]

Another thought regarding your online course that resulted in a failing grade due to a lack of compliance on your behalf. As online courses & schools are often concerned with profits & satisfied students, you may want to contact the online school explain your situation, request a grade change to "incomplete" or "administrative withdrawal" so that you can retake the course at normal tuition in hopes of achieving a passing grade. Probably best to be respectful & humble when dealing with this school. And honest, of course.

This was an online class offered by my UG institution (UF). It was not a seperate entity. There were no classes and tests were online as well. I doubt they would change it, but what do you think?

[03121202698008]

Alright I had one bad semester:3.7 3.5 3.5 2.75 3.69 3.73, guess which one... Anyways that semester I received an F and a C. I am conflicted as to what to do. The C is a pain in the ass. It was an easy drug and alcohol class I took for an education minor. I received an A in the class close to 96 percent, but the professor messed up inputing grades. It happened to several people but they were still at school and went to his office hours. I didn't receive grades till I got home for the summer. Tried to call and email him a million times never got a response. Got back to school and found out he was an adjunct professor and no longer with the university. He never let us keep what he returned during class, would show us our grades and take the assignment back so I had nothing for a petition. If I could have done more I don't know but I feel I have no chance of changing it. I am more concerned with the F. It was an online class that I basically wrote the date of a project and test wrong (both within a day of each other) and missed taking them. This is clearly my fault. I was busy working many late nights (often till 4) and this is incorporated in my PS, but this is an excuse. I don't know if it is worth drawing attention to this semester, especially since I would not have any thing particularly strong to explain the F. What should I do?

What is incorporated into your PS? You don't want to mention bad grades or anything in the PS itself. If it's just that you were working hard...maybe...but keep in mind most of your peers were too.

[dabbadon8]

Basically I spoke about how I was working long hours and it was hard to balance school. Nothing too whiney, it is something that they would probably infer to be responsible for the trend in my grades. (PS is still being worked on)


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The process of deciding between my two passions served as an affirmation of my commitment to the field of law. Through carefully examining my priorities, I came to the conclusion that a career in the legal field will fulfill my need for invigorating intellectual stimulation as music has done, while also providing me the opportunity to directly serve the community. It is my intention to use the legal education offered at ___________________to pursue a career in the field of public interest law. I am going forward with no regrets, and if one day Tom Johnston comes calling, I may not be in the position to share the stage, but I will undoubtedly be able to offer sound legal advice.

[CanadianWolf]

It doesn't matter what I think. You have a limited time frame in which to act. Be honest, humble & respectful. Accept responsibility for taking on too heavy a courseload. Ask the registrar or dean for their suggestions.

[dabbadon8]

It doesn't matter what I think. You have a limited time frame in which to act. Be honest, humble & respectful. Accept responsibility for taking on too heavy a courseload. Ask the registrar or dean for their suggestions.

I will give it a shot. I appreciate the advice and if nothing can be done will write an addendum turning it into a positive. Ultimately it was my fault so I doubt they will be able to do anything, but it can't hurt to try.