Addressing an "In Progress" Grade for Honors Thesis
Posted: Wed Aug 21, 2013 8:29 pm
During my senior year (2010- 2011) I was enrolled to complete an honors thesis in anthropology. I was a declared double major and had already completed the requirements for a BA in political science in the spring of 2011. Unfortunately, early in the year, my father took to alcoholism after my grandmother passed away, and he had difficulty taking care of our family business which was on the verge of bankruptcy. I lived close to home, so during that year I commuted home to take care of the business and my family. I was able to pass my other classes that year (with A's), but I was never able to complete my honors thesis. I was extremely embarrassed by the situation and stopped communicating with my advisers. I even put off filing for graduation because I hoped I could finish the thesis in my free time; that never happened. I finally filed for graduation (major: political science; minor:anthropology) a year and half later, in fall 2012 (I was originally set to graduate in Spring 2011), and was awarded an "In Progress" for the two semesters of my honors thesis.
During that year and half, I was able to recover my dad's business and left it back in my dad's hands last summer (he quit drinking after doctor's told him he'd die from liver failure if he didn't stop). This past year, I have worked on a presidential campaign and now work for a local city councilmember.
I want to apply this cycle to T-14 schools. I'm going to be taking the LSAT in October. My GPA is a 3.63. I don't know how to address the discrepancy of the "In Progress" I described above in my applications. Should I write it into an addendum? Use the topic as my Personal Statement? As you might imagine, the incident also soured my relationships with some of the professors I was closer with, so I'm afraid my Letters of Recommendation are going to have to come from others professors I haven't spoken to for several years and didn't have as strong of relationship with.
I very, very much appreciate advice.
During that year and half, I was able to recover my dad's business and left it back in my dad's hands last summer (he quit drinking after doctor's told him he'd die from liver failure if he didn't stop). This past year, I have worked on a presidential campaign and now work for a local city councilmember.
I want to apply this cycle to T-14 schools. I'm going to be taking the LSAT in October. My GPA is a 3.63. I don't know how to address the discrepancy of the "In Progress" I described above in my applications. Should I write it into an addendum? Use the topic as my Personal Statement? As you might imagine, the incident also soured my relationships with some of the professors I was closer with, so I'm afraid my Letters of Recommendation are going to have to come from others professors I haven't spoken to for several years and didn't have as strong of relationship with.
I very, very much appreciate advice.