GPA Addendum, do you think its all bullshit/bragging? Forum

[Duramax80]

Starting college in 2006, I lacked direction in what field of study I wanted to partake in, causing me to essentially test out several different courses. Then, in 2008, I suffered from depression upon the death of two very close friends, which severely impacted my academic performance. The following semester, I was diagnosed with mononucleosis, and had to medically withdraw from all of my classes. Medical documentation of the illness and treatment can be provided upon request. However, after fully recuperating from both of these factors, I entered back into my undergraduate career to continue my education. In the spring of 2010, I enrolled into a law class, and found my inspiration and direction I had been lacking thus far. I transformed myself into a disciplined and motivated student, and committed myself to taking my studies seriously, which led to a significant improvement in my academic performance. I find it important to note that from Spring 2010 and onward, I was enrolled in the highest-level courses offered by my institution, where I earned a cumulative GPA of 3.7 and Dean’s List Honors. I believe that my overall GPA does not reflect my intellectual capabilities, and the semesters following Spring 2010 better demonstrate my true academic potential.

*The semesters Im talking about, from Spring 2010 until June 2011, I had a:
3.2 (spring 2010, 4 classes),
4.0 (summer 2010, 2 classes),
3.7 (Fall 2011, 4 classes),
3.5 (Spring 2011, 4 classes),
4.0 (summer 2011, 2 classes).

[citykitty]

So basically in Spring 10 you had a single semester where you had a sub 3.5? I wouldn't write an addendum.

[sach1282]

I think this is an addendum from OP about some semesters he has not listed and the list is his good semesters.

[Duramax80]

eventhough my overall gpa is 2.68? I figure 2 years of grades that are drastically above 2.68 were worth writing an addendum for, would you disagree?

[citykitty]

I think this is an addendum from OP about some semesters he has not listed and the list is his good semesters.

Ok, well I don't think that's very clear, but I get what you mean now. He should not write such a lengthy addendum. It should be shorter and more to the point.

[sach1282]

Ok, well I don't think that's very clear, but I get what you mean now. He should not write such a lengthy addendum. It should be shorter and more to the point.

This, I agree with.

[Duramax80]

I think this is an addendum from OP about some semesters he has not listed and the list is his good semesters.

Exactly, I guess I should mention my overall GPA is 2.68. I want to focus the adcoms attention on my last two years that average to a 3.7.

[Duramax80]

How could I shorten it without losing focus on emphasizing my later GPA?

[citykitty]

Starting college in 2006, I lacked direction in what field of study I wanted to partake in, causing me to essentially test out several different courses. Then, in 2008, In 2008, I suffered from depression upon the death of two very close friends, which severely impacted my academic performance, and the following semester, I was diagnosed with mononucleosis, and had to medically withdraw from all of my classes. Medical documentation of the illness and treatment can be provided upon request. However, after fully recuperating from both of these factors, When I reentered the university in back into my undergraduate career to continue my education. In the spring of2010, I enrolled into a law class, and found my inspiration and direction I had been lacking thus far. I transformed myself into a disciplined and motivated student, and committed myself to taking my studies seriously, which led to a significant improvement in my academic performance. I find it important to note that from Spring 2010 and onward,I wasenrolled in the highest-level courses offered by my institution, where I earned a cumulative GPA of 3.7 and Dean’s List Honors. I believe that my overall GPA does not reflect my intellectual capabilities, and the semesters following Spring 2010 better demonstrate my trueacademic potential.

[Duramax80]

thanks for the advice. Would it be lame to end the addendum with "Thank you for your attention to this matter."

[rinkrat19]

thanks for the advice. Would it be lame to end the addendum with "Thank you for your attention to this matter."

Yes, that would be lame. It's not a letter, and they're not doing you a favor by reading it. They are, in fact, actually paid to read it.

[MrAnon]

Why do you insist on submitting this addendum. Of course your best semesters reflect your optimal academic ability. But the true warhorses among us are able to overcome mental obstacles and still pull out the good grades no matter what is going on around them. Think everything in life will go perfectly during your three years in law school? I would worry about telling the adcom that if some event happens in life that is outside of your control that you have learned how to refocus beyond it onto your schoolwork. Have you done that? If not, all your proclamations about how well you do when you are at your best are useless.

[bhan87]

Starting college in 2006, I lacked direction in what field of study I wanted to partake in, causing me to essentially test out several different courses. Then, in 2008, In 2008, I suffered from depression upon the death of two very close friends, which severely impacted my academic performance, and the following semester, I was diagnosed with mononucleosis, and had to medically withdraw from all of my classes. Medical documentation of the illness and treatment can be provided upon request. However, after fully recuperating from both of these factors, When I reentered the university in back into my undergraduate career to continue my education. In the spring of2010, I enrolled into a law class, and found my inspiration and direction I had been lacking thus far. I transformed myself into a disciplined and motivated student, and committed myself to taking my studies seriously, which led to a significant improvement in my academic performance. I find it important to note that from Spring 2010 and onward,I wasenrolled in the highest-level courses offered by my institution, where I earned a cumulative GPA of 3.7 and Dean’s List Honors. I believe that my overall GPA does not reflect my intellectual capabilities, and the semesters following Spring 2010 better demonstrate my trueacademic potential.

This. Get rid of the fluff and get straight to the point if you're going to write an addendum.

[nsbane]

*edit*

[JasonR]

Starting college in 2006, I lacked direction in what field of study I wanted to partake in, causing me to essentially test out several different courses. Then, in 2008, In 2008, I suffered from depression upon the death of two very close friends, which severely impacted my academic performance, and the following semester, I was diagnosed with mononucleosis, and had to medically withdraw from all of my classes. Medical documentation of the illness and treatment can be provided upon request. However, after fully recuperating from both of these factors, When I reentered the university in back into my undergraduate career to continue my education. In the spring of2010, I enrolled into a law class, and found my inspiration and direction I had been lacking thus far. I transformed myself into a disciplined and motivated student, and committed myself to taking my studies seriously, which led to a significant improvement in my academic performance. I find it important to note that from Spring 2010 and onward,I wasenrolled in the highest-level courses offered by my institution, where I earned a cumulative GPA of 3.7 and Dean’s List Honors. I believe that my overall GPA does not reflect my intellectual capabilities, and the semesters following Spring 2010 better demonstrate my trueacademic potential.

This is exactly what you should submit.

[Duramax80]

Think this addendum will help my chances of admission?

[JasonR]

I don't know how much it will help, but it won't hurt. Addenda are generally a very minor factor at best in admissions decisions. To be blunt, your overall GPA is so low that it couldn't hurt to explain part of why that's the case (mono is a pretty big deal; death of close friends is a big deal as well, though I think adcomms would probably give mono greater weight as a justification). Your upward grade trend is evident on your transcript, but it won't hurt to remind the adcomms of it in the addendum. Anything to keep them from focusing strictly on your overall GPA.

[Grizz]

Think this addendum will help my chances of admission?

Nope.