Applying w/ Low GPA Due to Lifelong Struggle w/ Depression Forum

[AaronBurr7]

For almost as long as I can remember, I've battled with a mental illness called Dysthymia, a mild but chronic form of depression, the symptoms of which include: Inability to feel emotion, lack of motivation, feeling of hopelessness, inability to concentrate, and a general sense of weight that can make everyday activities feel monumentally daunting. Though 80% of the time these symptoms were mild enough to not interrupt my personal life, they have always, however, been the bane of my academic career. Like everyone who suffers from depression, I have my good and bad days, but as far as my GPA is concerned, the bad days have done far more damage than good days have been able to fix.

Towards the middle of last semester (second semester, junior year), I started getting counseling for the first time. This has helped immensely. With medication, daily exercise, a newly balanced diet, and a regular sleep schedule I am now not necessarily less depressed, but definitely better equipped to keep it from interrupting my schoolwork. Though I'm on course to get straight A's for the first time since grade school, I know this will barely effect my abysmal 3.1 GPA.

I have several questions related to my situation, and any help I can get with any of them would be greatly appreciated:

1) With a 3.1 and (what will likely be) an LSAT in the upper 170's, what are my chances of getting into a top 10 school (Penn specifically)?
2) I can address my depression in the following ways on my applications, but which would be helpful? - Addendum, LoR from professors who know me well and have seen a change in my mental wellness, LoR from my counselor
3) Should I pursue other avenues to showcase my academic capacity such as getting papers published in scholarly places?
4) I would very much prefer not to, but do my circumstances dictate I take time off to gain work experience in order to show my ability to excel?

[hichvichwoh]

do you actually need to mention your condition at all? Just apply get a 176+, get a good application packet together, and blanket the t14

[KMart]

The addendum will help weave away concerns about the GPA but they will want to know that it won't be an issue during law school. It is strenuous and there will be some concerns about you. Help alleviate those. This only makes the LSAT more important. Obviously, the higher the better but I'm not sure where exactly you would need to fall. I'd guess 174 as the lowest, but a 176 is obviously a safer guess.

[ikethegremlin]

I have incredible sympathy for you, and am really glad you are feeling so much better. I hope the changes you made stick and continue to be effective.

I think you could write an effective addendum, perhaps backed up by and LoR from someone with in depth knowledge of your situation.

However, I would just say that the trouble with writing about mental health in 2014 is that (sadly) it is no longer especially unique. Statistics vary, but I've seen it written that 20% of college students are taking, or have been on, SSRIs. Another 20% are taking ADHD medication. I knew of a large number of my friends who were prescribed Xanax, or needed beta-blockers for exams.

In fact, when I think of my time at college, I can't remember many people at all who didn't have something like that going on. That is an indication that something has gone very wrong with something, and not a reason to diminish your own condition. The people reading your application, though, will have been working in and around colleges for much of their careers, and will probably be skewed to think of conditions such as Dysthymia as fairly commonplace. Although it obviously has been a huge part of your life, and an explanation for performance below your own expectations, to them it might be fairly trivial and unimportant.

This doesn't mean you shouldn't write it, only that you should a) lower any expectations you have of it making an impact on your admissions cycle, and b) be careful in how you write it - nothing will ever 'excuse' a 3.1. They'll be looking at applications in the same pile as yours from multiple amputees (or something) who still managed to get a 4.0 and row across the Atlantic. The contrast will, however unfairly, be unflattering. Instead just offer it as information that might indicate the possibility of higher academic achievement if given the chance.

With a 3.1 (maybe more, you said? 3.3?) and a 170+ you have options. 175+ and you'll get plenty of offers, just probably not much money. But myLSN knows more than I do, so check that.

[whitespider]

I'd be very careful including any mention of mental illness in applications, especially to suggest that it negatively affected academic or professional performance.

[alexjinye]

This disorder does hurt your ability to study, although people always underestimate the effect. I had a mild symptom of this disorder in my first year of college. My grades were quite bad in that first semester, because I just can't concentrate. Then I went back home to spend my winter break and I mercilessly cured this disorder by myself during winter break. Since then, I get straight A/A+ in college.
That semester was a nightmare for me. I definitely don't want to experience it again. I understand what you are going though and I feel great sympathy for you.

like people said above, I think you should write an addendum, but you also need to show that you have the capacity to do well in law school. Above all, I believe an effective addendum could be a soft factor in your application, but don't count on it. You will still need to have at least a 170 to break the T10.