Transcript disclosure - Gap year Forum

[greeneggs27]

Hi everyone:

I took a year off after high school, deferring admission to a 4-year institution. During this time, I traveled and ended up coming home and taking some community college courses to pass the time. When I started UG in the fall, I petitioned to use those count those CC courses as elective credits, which is allowing me to graduate a semester early (doesn't count in either of my majors though). I'm graduating in the fall with a 3.66 and plan on applying to law school 2011-2012 cycle.

My question: I got an F taking a photography course in CC the summer before starting at the 4-year, not to mention not-so-stellar grades in the other courses (I was working 40 hrs/wk) Do I have to disclose the transcripts to LSAC, considering it was basically like taking CC courses during high school?

Thanks for your help!

[blurbz]

Yes, you do.

In fact, if you had taken CC courses in HS, you'd have to disclose those, too.

[kmap]

Hi everyone:

I took a year off after high school, deferring admission to a 4-year institution. During this time, I traveled and ended up coming home and taking some community college courses to pass the time. When I started UG in the fall, I petitioned to use those count those CC courses as elective credits, which is allowing me to graduate a semester early (doesn't count in either of my majors though). I'm graduating in the fall with a 3.66 and plan on applying to law school 2011-2012 cycle.

My question: I got an F taking a photography course in CC the summer before starting at the 4-year, not to mention not-so-stellar grades in the other courses (I was working 40 hrs/wk) Do I have to disclose the transcripts to LSAC, considering it was basically like taking CC courses during high school?

Thanks for your help!

Yes, you do. Anything for college credit counts. I did a 6-week non-graded arts program at NYU the summer before my senior year of high school and I had to disclose that too, as silly as it sounds.

[greeneggs27]

Thanks for your replies.

In that case, would it be helpful for me to include an explanation in my application? Or would it sound like an excuse?

[blurbz]

As long as the addendum is well written and there is a real reason (not just "I was working and didn't care about school, please give me a pass on this one") then it might help ever so slightly. The fact remains, though, that you will be judged on your cumulative GPA. This number will include all of these classes.

[greeneggs27]

I see.

Unrelated: if honors at my university is not completely related to GPA, how much will not having the words "summa/magna/cum laude" hurt you? FYI: At my school, you need at least 3.65 overall and in your major at the end of your junior year, then finish a thesis in your major to graduate any form of cum laude. I didn't have over 3.65 until the semester before graduating, and thus was not eligible to complete an honors thesis.

[blurbz]

I don't think anyone will care. They will only look at the cumulative GPA. Not having honors will not hurt.

[greeneggs27]

Thanks for your prompt responses, blurbz!

for college credit counts. I did a 6-week non-graded arts program at NYU the summer before my senior year of high school and I had to disclose that too, as silly as it sounds.

Did this class count toward your degree at a 4-year?