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So, I applied to UNC today (a little late I know) and was fighting whether or not I should write a statement explaining a 3.14 GPA.

I attended Com Col for 4 semesters right out of High School and left after a miserable 2.14. I don't really have any excuse for it, I just didn't wanna.

I worked my way through the service industry and eventually making it to management level.
Well, that was 1997-2000. I went back to the same com col 6 years later and had 4 semesters of 4.0, got accepted to UNC and graduated from there with a 3.51 (all As and A-s, 4 Bs).

I'm now 33, and it seemed a little silly making excuses for the 18-20 year old version of myself, especially when my more recent academic record is obviously a true reflection of who I am now.

I ended up not writing an addendum to explain my crappy GPA, because there was no legitimate reason for it. In my personal statement I highlighted how the service industry changed my work ethic and honed my concentration and how these skills would benefit my legal career.

I have a 161 LSAT.

I guess my question is, if you think that's going to hurt my chances. Do you think they will take my GPA from the late 90s at face value, or will the school give me the benefit of the doubt?

It's really not about what schools will understand or not understand. They have to report the raw numbers of their admits, and then are judged on that basis. For that reason, you should re-take the LSAT.

Agree with above. It's about numbers at the end of the day. If you can beef up your LSAT by retaking, you won't have to worry about the other stuff. Good luck.

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The school will treat your numbers as your numbers. However, with a decade removed from an earlier, failed attempt, you'll have a decent soft factor to back that up - time to mature.

I'd write a short statement to call attention to it, but I wouldn't expect a miracle.

Incorporate your maturing and perseverance to finish college into your PS.

I was accepted off the W/L today. I didn't write an addendum about the grades but wrote an LOCI mentioning it.