Should I submit an addendum for a poor 20-year old uGPA? Forum

[ScottRiqui]

My uGPA is definitely going to be the weak point of my applications; my LSAT is already above the 50th or 75th percentile for the schools I'm interested in, and I'm retaking in October with the hopes of boosting it further. I've had a 20-year career in the military, and a STEM master's degree with a 3.9 GPA that was awarded in the past five years. My uGPA, however, is from 1994, and it's sub-3.0.

If the schools' applications don't specifically require anything along the lines of "Attach an explanation if you don't think your uGPA is indicative of your abilities", should I write one anyway, or just hope that the adcomms will look at the rest of my package and make the assumption on their own that my uGPA is no longer a good indicator of my potential?

I think I could write an acceptable explanation if needed, but I don't have a compelling explanation for my GPA (battling cancer, having to work three jobs to support my family, etc).

[Ti Malice]

If you don't have a compelling explanation, then you should just leave it alone.

[Ex Cearulo]

You may already be doing this, but since the master's degree was awarded fairly recently, consider an academic LOR from a grad school professor if you can. I find it hard to believe any school would expect one from an undergrad professor in your case, but an academic LOR of any kind for an applicant with so much professional experience will probably be looked upon favorably.

[xylocarp]

Just my personal impression, but I think the LSAT, masters GPA and 20 year removal from your UGPA speak for themselves on this one.

[jbagelboy]

We've got a Wildcat in the making

[ScottRiqui]

You may already be doing this, but since the master's degree was awarded fairly recently, consider an academic LOR from a grad school professor if you can. I find it hard to believe any school would expect one from an undergrad professor in your case, but an academic LOR of any kind for an applicant with so much professional experience will probably be looked upon favorably.

Fortunately, I've stayed close with my master's thesis advisor, and I'm sure the letter she wrote for me was great.

As for the uGPA, I'll just ignore it unless the adcomms ask specifically - thanks all for the advice. I just didn't know if some kind of an addendum was *always* expected if one part of your application was much weaker than the rest.

[Monochromatic Oeuvre]

We've got a Wildcat in the making

+1

Enjoy Northwestern and just tell everyone you're 28.