GPA addendum actually HELP? Forum

[Barbie]

Would my writing a GPA addendum (a very valid one) help when applying to schools that seem out of reach because of my GPA (meaning LSAT score at median or above)? Or is it still just a numbers game, really? Specifically, I have a degree GPA of about 3.8, but my (current) LSAC GPA is 3.1. I did have a health problem that resulted in a lot of ongoing treatment, procedures that would hospitilize me up to 2 months at a time, etc: but never withdrew from classes (I didn't want to postpone graduating!). Anyways, during a few semesters that I was particularly caught up with medical problems, my grades dropped significantly. But the question is: is there any point in applying to a school that wouldn't accept a 3.1 GPA, and hope that my addendum would help me out? Or is it a lost cause, and my addendum isn't going to help me at all.


*(rad law, kal, romo, etc: this is a GPA question. telling me to retake the LSAT is not a response !! )*

[094320]

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[4llin]

You will find that LSN (using your LSAC GPA) is very reliable.

Do not make the mistake of thinking that schools will take your degree GPA to mean much of anything. It will either serve no purpose (most likely) or, possibly, if you are tied with someone else it may be taken into consideration.

My advice would be to cast a wide net like this:

LSAT 165-170: Apply T20-35 + WUSTL
LSAT 165-163: Apply T35-50

Any lower I'd retake unless there's a regional you're interested in, in which case your 3.15 GPA won't be much of a hindrance.

If you can score over 170 then find schools that are splitter friendly and apply ED: Northwestern, Virginia, and check LSN for others.

[kalvano]

Your addendum will help explain why your GPA is what it is. It will not help you get in to schools your numbers don't support, but it will help you in comparison to the other applicants with similar numbers.

[Barbie]

You will find that LSN (using your LSAC GPA) is very reliable.

Do not make the mistake of thinking that schools will take your degree GPA to mean much of anything. It will either serve no purpose (most likely) or, possibly, if you are tied with someone else it may be taken into consideration.

My advice would be to cast a wide net like this:

LSAT 165-170: Apply T20-35 + WUSTL
LSAT 165-163: Apply T35-50

Any lower I'd retake unless there's a regional you're interested in, in which case your 3.15 GPA won't be much of a hindrance.

If you can score over 170 then find schools that are splitter friendly and apply ED: Northwestern, Virginia, and check LSN for others.

I've been kindof messing around with LSN, but is there a way to view a list of schools that have recently accepted my GPA/LSAT combo?

[jackalope11]

Your addendum will help explain why your GPA is what it is. It will not help you get in to schools your numbers don't support, but it will help you in comparison to the other applicants with similar numbers.

+1

I didn't get in anywhere that LSP showed that I was a 'Deny' despite an addendum... However, I think that it may have helped get me receive acceptances (rather than waitlists) at some schools where I was on the borderline, as well as made me slightly more competitive with peer applicants during scholarship decisions.

[Barbie]

Your addendum will help explain why your GPA is what it is. It will not help you get in to schools your numbers don't support, but it will help you in comparison to the other applicants with similar numbers.

+1

I didn't get in anywhere that LSP showed that I was a 'Deny' despite an addendum... However, I think that it may have helped get me receive acceptances (rather than waitlists) at some schools where I was on the borderline, as well as made me slightly more competitive with peer applicants during scholarship decisions.

LSP works for you?? I feel like it says I have a shot at school I definitly don't, and don't have a shot at schools that I do (when compared to LSN, at least)

[Marionberry]

Darby,

Keep in mind that no one on here is an adcomm, or has ever been an adcomm (with maybe a couple of exceptions that I'm not aware of). Take everything that's been said with a couple of grains of salt. It's probably not wise to get your hopes up for schools that are beyond your nubmers, but don't think that the addendum will be completely ineffective either. The reason I think a lot of people don't think gpa addendums are effective is because so many people on here, it seems like, have submitted addendums that are pretty much bullshit. Yours is about as legit as they come, and I imagine it will be taken into consideration, though how much is anyone's guess.

[im_blue]

Or is it a lost cause, and my addendum isn't going to help me at all.

[jackalope11]

LSP works for you?? I feel like it says I have a shot at school I definitly don't, and don't have a shot at schools that I do (when compared to LSN, at least)

The thing I try to remember with LSN is that it is a small, self-selecting group. Beyond that, it is also a group that is not reviewed for accuracy. Not to say that a great deal of the information isn't accurate, because I believe that it is, just something for me to remember when I consult it. LSP seemed much more accurate, at least in my case, in determining where I could expect to be accepted/waitlisted/denied.

I also found that the LSAC tool that allows you to sort based on your UGPA and LSAT score was pretty helpful too.

Again, I don't think the addendum got me IN anywhere, per se. However, as noted previously, your situation is certainly unique and you may find a totally different result.

HTH!

[Barbie]

LSP works for you?? I feel like it says I have a shot at school I definitly don't, and don't have a shot at schools that I do (when compared to LSN, at least)

The thing I try to remember with LSN is that it is a small, self-selecting group. Beyond that, it is also a group that is not reviewed for accuracy. Not to say that a great deal of the information isn't accurate, because I believe that it is, just something for me to remember when I consult it. LSP seemed much more accurate, at least in my case, in determining where I could expect to be accepted/waitlisted/denied.

I also found that the LSAC tool that allows you to sort based on your UGPA and LSAT score was pretty helpful too.

Again, I don't think the addendum got me IN anywhere, per se. However, as noted previously, your situation is certainly unique and you may find a totally different result.

HTH!

Whoa! what LSAC tool? and by UGPA you mean LSGPA? mine are completely diff! thanks:)

[jackalope11]

Whoa! what LSAC tool? and by UGPA you mean LSGPA? mine are completely diff! thanks:)

There is one under the school search function on the LSAC website... it provides a graphic representation of the 25/75 scores for the school, as well as an estimated likelihood for acceptance.
http://officialguide.lsac.org/UGPASearc ... SidString=

Not all universities are participating members, but a large number are... Like I said, it was helpful for me.

As far as the UGPA... I think it generally stands for the LSAC calculated GPA. However, I think each situation is unique, and yours more than most!

Strictly in my own experience, this tool and the LSP were fantastic for at least providing me a glimpse of what to expect. I would certainly never counsel anyone away from targeting reach schools, these sites just gave me an idea of what kind of mountain I had to climb at some of my own reaches...

[Barbie]

Whoa! what LSAC tool? and by UGPA you mean LSGPA? mine are completely diff! thanks:)

There is one under the school search function on the LSAC website... it provides a graphic representation of the 25/75 scores for the school, as well as an estimated likelihood for acceptance.
http://officialguide.lsac.org/UGPASearc ... SidString=

Not all universities are participating members, but a large number are... Like I said, it was helpful for me.

As far as the UGPA... I think it generally stands for the LSAC calculated GPA. However, I think each situation is unique, and yours more than most!

Strictly in my own experience, this tool and the LSP were fantastic for at least providing me a glimpse of what to expect. I would certainly never counsel anyone away from targeting reach schools, these sites just gave me an idea of what kind of mountain I had to climb at some of my own reaches...

Thanks!!! It is really surprising. With my numbers, LSN, LSP, and LSAC all contradict each other over and over again. It's driving me nuts! Thats what I get for being a low numbers splitterish I guess... haha