Illness in the Family Addendum/3.7 GPA Forum

[WhiteGuy5]

Thank you.

[tennisking88]

For two consecutive years, members of my family were struck with life-threatening illnesses which I think impacted my schooling.

My GPA for those two years was around 3.7/semester. Before and after, however, semester GPAs were significantly higher.

Does it make sense to add an addendum explaining the differences, or will it come off as just being obnoxious?

Thank you.

This is why ppl hate TLS. If you write an addendum for a 3.7 any self respecting school would shred your application.

[WhiteGuy5]

For two consecutive years, members of my family were struck with life-threatening illnesses which I think impacted my schooling.

My GPA for those two years was around 3.7/semester. Before and after, however, semester GPAs were significantly higher.

Does it make sense to add an addendum explaining the differences, or will it come off as just being obnoxious?

Thank you.

This is why ppl hate TLS. If you write an addendum for a 3.7 any self respecting school would shred your application.

I dunno...I know what you mean, but this DID impact my schooling.

[tennisking88]

For two consecutive years, members of my family were struck with life-threatening illnesses which I think impacted my schooling.

My GPA for those two years was around 3.7/semester. Before and after, however, semester GPAs were significantly higher.

Does it make sense to add an addendum explaining the differences, or will it come off as just being obnoxious?

Thank you.

This is why ppl hate TLS. If you write an addendum for a 3.7 any self respecting school would shred your application.

I dunno...I know what you mean, but this DID impact my schooling.

You do realize a 3.7 is the median for NYU and Columbia. And this is only for two years, so the implication is that you did much better the other two years, so I'm guessing your GPA is at least in the 3.8 range? Why don't you talk about how family illness affected YOU PERSONALLY in your personal statement instead of your grades, which are already really good? If you write an addendum asking to be "excused" for already really good grades, adcomms will think something is wrong with you.

[tedler]

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