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GPA Addendum help

Posted: Tue Nov 05, 2013 12:46 pm
by closerup
Edited for obvious reasons.

Re: GPA Addendum help

Posted: Tue Nov 05, 2013 1:02 pm
by Lockfast
Don't over think it. Identify the poor grade (Ecology, F's --> C) and explain why, maybe something like: "It was unusually challenging and frustrating and resulting in my poor grade." Subsequently, highlight your success in other courses (seems like your A/B average). The C is, clearly, an anomaly. Just demonstrate how it is different and what you believe caused you to do poorly.

My addendum was no more than 3-5 sentences, one paragraph.

Re: GPA Addendum help

Posted: Tue Nov 05, 2013 4:00 pm
by closerup
OK, thank you Lockfast. I just wasn't sure if my reason sounded like a dumb excuse.

Re: GPA Addendum help

Posted: Tue Nov 05, 2013 5:03 pm
by Dr. Review
You write GPA addendums for extenuating circumstances that prevented you from being able to adequately dedicate yourself to your studies (e.g., parent passing away, diagnosed with cancer during UG, etc.). You don't write them because you found one particular set of classes difficult.

All this will serve to do is point to your weakness and say "I did poorly because it was tough." Law school is tough, and admissions people don't want to admit people who can't rise to the challenge.

Re: GPA Addendum help

Posted: Wed Nov 06, 2013 12:51 pm
by midwest17
Bedsole wrote:You write GPA addendums for extenuating circumstances that prevented you from being able to adequately dedicate yourself to your studies (e.g., parent passing away, diagnosed with cancer during UG, etc.). You don't write them because you found one particular set of classes difficult.

All this will serve to do is point to your weakness and say "I did poorly because it was tough." Law school is tough, and admissions people don't want to admit people who can't rise to the challenge.
This.

Re: GPA Addendum help

Posted: Thu Nov 07, 2013 12:38 pm
by bp shinners
midwest17 wrote:
Bedsole wrote:You write GPA addendums for extenuating circumstances that prevented you from being able to adequately dedicate yourself to your studies (e.g., parent passing away, diagnosed with cancer during UG, etc.). You don't write them because you found one particular set of classes difficult.

All this will serve to do is point to your weakness and say "I did poorly because it was tough." Law school is tough, and admissions people don't want to admit people who can't rise to the challenge.
This.
Yep, just hopping on to the "don't write one" bandwagon, for the above reasons.