D Grade off my transcript? Forum

[andreasmommy]

I have a question regarding a grade I received my first year of college. I received a D in one of my classes due to having serious complications during my pregnancy. I had terrible morning sickness that caused me to be hospitalized. I did all the homework, but my test scores were very poor because I could never concentrate due to being sick (caused me to get a D). I retook the class and got an A. Is there anyway I can get this D off my transcript?

This grade really lowers my LSDAS GPA if it is factored in.

Any advice would be helpful, thank you!

[rinkrat19]

Ask your school. Go to the dean. Sometimes people have been able to get retroactive withdrawls, but I don't think it's terribly common.

[andreasmommy]

I spoke with someone over the phone that works in the Counseling department (a secretary) and he told me that no grade can be taken off a transcript. How true is this?

If there is a possibility I will definitely speak with someone higher up (Dean) and protest to get the grade taken off. That is my only low grade, and my transcript can attest to my academic performance.

[rinkrat19]

I spoke with someone over the phone that works in the Counseling department (a secretary) and he told me that no grade can be taken off a transcript. How true is this?

If there is a possibility I will definitely speak with someone higher up (Dean) and protest to get the grade taken off. That is my only low grade, and my transcript can attest to my academic performance.

Having no idea what school you went to and no idea how strict that school is, there's no way I can answer that question. (And don't reply with the name of your school because I still won't have a clue.)

Look at it this way: If you go to the dean or whoever, it might not/probably won't get taken off. If you don't go, it definitely won't get taken off.

[spleenworship]

As mentioned, you need to go to the dean.

A word of caution though: virtually every school will leave it on. Sorry. Best you might hope for is for them to make it a "CR- credit" grade, in which case you walk away without it hurting your GPA, but a lot of schools won't even do this.

I had like 5 WFs and my final GPA by LSAC was atrocious despite a 4.0 for my last 2 years.

[JCFindley]

I got a D my freshman year.... Not because I was sick but because I sucked.... My first quarter of my freshman year was for partying and my teacher was a complete wench.... I wrote an addendum stating both of those facts and it was no problem.....

[bp shinners]

If you can't get it removed from your transcript, you can always write an addendum. Generally, I would recommend against an addendum for a single grade. However, an actual medical excuse is one of the few schools will listen to.

How did the rest of that semester go? If it went well, why didn't your morning sickness/hospitalization affect those classes?

[andreasmommy]

I took 3 classes that semester, I had to drop one because of my morning sickness, and the other the teacher was VERY accommodating (she was a female who had similar complications). The class I got a D in was not understanding at all.

I have to write an Addendum already to address a specific semester that significantly lowered my GPA, I received 2 B's and 2 C's. That was the semester my father passed away, and I was going through a really ugly court custody battle.

[bp shinners]

I took 3 classes that semester, I had to drop one because of my morning sickness, and the other the teacher was VERY accommodating (she was a female who had similar complications). The class I got a D in was not understanding at all.

I have to write an Addendum already to address a specific semester that significantly lowered my GPA, I received 2 B's and 2 C's. That was the semester my father passed away, and I was going through a really ugly court custody battle.

Might as well add it to the addendum. Don't make it an excuse; just present the facts. Keep emotions out of it. The addendum shouldn't really make an argument as much as present the situation and let the adcomms take from it what they will.

[andreasmommy]

I am going to speak with the dean, and try my hardest to get a W or a CR.

However, how bad do "W's" look on a transcript. I had to take a W the semester of my morning sickness for one class, and then another semester I herniated a disc in my back and my professor wouldn't give me an incomplete, only a W or F.

(I will let everyone know what the end result is, just incase someone has a similar case.)

[andreasmommy]

My GPA drops from a 3.5 to a 3.42 with the D. And I am afraid schools will not consider me because of my low GPA.

I am shooting for a high LSAT score, and really hoping for UCLA or Boalt.

[rinkrat19]

My GPA drops from a 3.5 to a 3.42 with the D. And I am afraid schools will not consider me because of my low GPA.

I am shooting for a high LSAT score, and really hoping for UCLA or Boalt.

California schools are GPA whores.
Unless you're URM (and probably not even then), you're not getting Boalt with a 3.5 anyway. http://berkeley.lawschoolnumbers.com/stats

For UCLA, you'll probably need a 169/170+ whether you have a 3.42 or a 3.5. http://ucla.lawschoolnumbers.com/stats

[Br3v]

I got a D my freshman year.... Not because I was sick but because I sucked.... My first quarter of my freshman year was for partying and my teacher was a complete wench.... I wrote an addendum stating both of those facts and it was no problem.....

Ppl might take this srsly

[spleenworship]

Two things:

1) Unless you have a history of a crapload of Ws, or a pattern of W's, they don't care. Cumulative GPA is all they care about.

2) 3.42 GPA isn't the end of the world for UCLA if you do well on the LSAT from my understanding.

[Br3v]

Yeah and to be blunt OP, your probably not going to get it off though it's worth the try because like another poster said, it's either a maybe, or a for sure no. Just don't bank on it

[bp shinners]

then another semester I herniated a disc in my back

I keep hearing more and more things coming up in your academic history that negatively affected your grades. I believe it's at the point where you need to prioritize what you include in the addendum. You don't want a bunch of 'And also _____' paragraphs. Pick the two things that had the largest effect and write those up.

[Applying_Late]

Don't go to the dean first. Go to the instructor. PM me for more info.

[JCFindley]

I got a D my freshman year.... Not because I was sick but because I sucked.... My first quarter of my freshman year was for partying and my teacher was a complete wench.... I wrote an addendum stating both of those facts and it was no problem.....

Ppl might take this srsly

Yeah, sorry, that was a bit snarky of me....

At least part of it is the reason I got my only D though.....

[lbeezy]

I got grades retroactively withdrawn. Look into your school's procedures. At least figure out what your options are.

[andreasmommy]

My URM is actually what will significantly help raise my chances at attending either of those schools. I am full Mexican (struggle with internalized racism), my mother is illiterate: cannot read or write. I am the first to go to college. I grew up very poor, and without any academic assistance with a prolonged learning disability. In addition, I am a single mother..blah blah blah, you know the rest. Of course I am not going to articulate my addendum and URM in the same manner I am writing on here.

I am using my addendum to address my low GPA : a 3.5 (A specific semester where my father passed away from cancer, and I was going through an ugly court custody battle which dropped my GPA). I do not feel I need to address my 2 W's.

I am using my URM to discuss how my upbringing (financial, economic, and social) all have affected my chances of a successful academic career in college (or lack of success).


I know a 3.5 is not the greatest GPA, but I am hoping that my URM, CV, and addendum will help me.

[bp shinners]

I am using my addendum to address my low GPA : a 3.5 (A specific semester where my father passed away from cancer, and I was going through an ugly court custody battle which dropped my GPA). I do not feel I need to address my 2 W's.

I am using my URM to discuss how my upbringing (financial, economic, and social) all have affected my chances of a successful academic career in college (or lack of success).

Sounds like a good plan. Are you going to 'use the URM to discuss your upbringing' as a diversity statement or a personal statement?

[andreasmommy]

I am using my URM as a diversity statement. I want to address critical issues minorities struggle with that in a sense makes them more acceptable to challenge and finding constructive mechanisms for over coming the challenge instead of succumbing to their environment.


In my personal statement, I want to go into depth with the struggle I went through with post partum depression, while having to take care of a new born and my ailing father through my second year of college. I want to show schools that I can rise above anything that is presented, regardless of my circumstances.


To be honest, there are a lot of issues I can discuss in my personal statement. For example, the struggles of teen motherhood and how that has enabled me to multitask, mature, and accept responsibility. Teen mothers are more susceptible to poverty, drop out of school, and have a new child within a few years (which many of my friends have). Instead I chose a path less chosen. However, I am a bit scattered on how I am going to directly approach my personal statement since there are a lot of issues I want to discuss. I do know Boalt allows a 4 page PS, but other schools only allow 2.

[rinkrat19]

I am using my URM as a diversity statement. I want to address critical issues minorities struggle with that in a sense makes them more acceptable to challenge and finding constructive mechanisms for over coming the challenge instead of succumbing to their environment.


In my personal statement, I want to go into depth with the struggle I went through with post partum depression, while having to take care of a new born and my ailing father through my second year of college. I want to show schools that I can rise above anything that is presented, regardless of my circumstances.


To be honest, there are a lot of issues I can discuss in my personal statement. For example, the struggles of teen motherhood and how that has enabled me to multitask, mature, and accept responsibility. Teen mothers are more susceptible to poverty, drop out of school, and have a new child within a few years (which many of my friends have). Instead I chose a path less chosen. However, I am a bit scattered on how I am going to directly approach my personal statement since there are a lot of issues I want to discuss. I do know Boalt allows a 4 page PS, but other schools only allow 2.

If you try to cram all of that into one PS, it's going to be bad, superficial writing that barely skims across a bunch of subjects. It also might read like a laundry list of whiny excuses, no matter how legitimate the excuses are. Pick one topic to cover in more detail, and spin it in an "I overcame; I am awesome!" direction instead of a "My life has sucked, feel sorry for me" direction. Hardship can make a great PS. You just have to do it right.

[andreasmommy]

I am using my URM as a diversity statement. I want to address critical issues minorities struggle with that in a sense makes them more acceptable to challenge and finding constructive mechanisms for over coming the challenge instead of succumbing to their environment.


In my personal statement, I want to go into depth with the struggle I went through with post partum depression, while having to take care of a new born and my ailing father through my second year of college. I want to show schools that I can rise above anything that is presented, regardless of my circumstances.


To be honest, there are a lot of issues I can discuss in my personal statement. For example, the struggles of teen motherhood and how that has enabled me to multitask, mature, and accept responsibility. Teen mothers are more susceptible to poverty, drop out of school, and have a new child within a few years (which many of my friends have). Instead I chose a path less chosen. However, I am a bit scattered on how I am going to directly approach my personal statement since there are a lot of issues I want to discuss. I do know Boalt allows a 4 page PS, but other schools only allow 2.

If you try to cram all of that into one PS, it's going to be bad, superficial writing that barely skims across a bunch of subjects. It also might read like a laundry list of whiny excuses, no matter how legitimate the excuses are. Pick one topic to cover in more detail, and spin it in an "I overcame; I am awesome!" direction instead of a "My life has sucked, feel sorry for me" direction. Hardship can make a great PS. You just have to do it right.

Well, I am not going to articulate my URM or PS in the same manner I am writing here. I was writing quickly so the thread could get a jist. I know the approach I am taking with my URM, but I am still struggling with the direction I am going to take with my PS since there is so much to talk about. I do not want an overbearing amount of "boo hoo me's." I want an eloquent academic PS that shows I am able to write well, and articulate a persuasive argument. Because a PS is all about selling yourself, and you need to convince admissions that they should chose you over other students that are applying.

[bp shinners]

Well, I am not going to articulate my URM or PS in the same manner I am writing here. I was writing quickly so the thread could get a jist. I know the approach I am taking with my URM, but I am still struggling with the direction I am going to take with my PS since there is so much to talk about. I do not want an overbearing amount of "boo hoo me's." I want an eloquent academic PS that shows I am able to write well, and articulate a persuasive argument. Because a PS is all about selling yourself, and you need to convince admissions that they should chose you over other students that are applying.

Between the two you list, I would definitely recommend the teenage motherhood essay over the post-partum depression essay. The former you can definitely spin to be about the positive traits you list, while also spinning into how you want to use your law degree (even if only as some pro bono hours) to help others in a similar situation. That becomes about taking that situation, adding a law degree, and making something positive happen. I can't see an essay about post-partum depression working the same way.