Should I include an addendum? Forum

[PrayFor170]

My undergrad GPA is 3.8, and have some decent soft, but shortly after graduation and matriculation into graduation program, I started to suffer from a series of symptoms, unable to concentrate, consistently feel sad and hopeless, insomnia and occasionally suicidal ideation. I dismissed those issue and tried my best to concentrate, but after two semesters' poor academic performance, I went to student counseling for the first time and was advised to see a psychiatrist. After meeting with psychiatrist, I was diagnosed with major depressive disorder, and basic reason for depression was some childhood abuse issue, and abuse experience in college (an abusive ex). After one month's medication, all those symptoms disappeared and I became a perfectly functioning human being again.

However, due to two semesters' suffering from major depressive disorder, I had an abysmal GPA in master's program., 3.34/4.0, with two courses graded as P/F. My concern is, should I add an addendum to explain my issue? As I probably don't have solid evidence to prove I'm all right now, I'm afraid this might hurt my application.

Any suggestions or advice is welcome!

[Scalvert]

From what I understand, only UG GPA counts.

Also, check your PMs.

[benwyatt]

Post removed.

[Broscientist]

Totally anecdotal response:

I had a friend who had extreme difficulty in medical school and wanted to lateral to law school. He did not complete more than his first year of med school. After his medical school documents were entered, many schools had serious questions about his ability to handle work beyond the undergraduate level. Schools see graduate programs as a test of how you will do in law school.

If it were me, I would write something about it. When writing your addendum, explain the situation, but more importantly, explain how you grew or learned something through your experiences.

Hope this helps, but this is just one experience (that isn't even my own).

[Scalvert]

http://blog.powerscore.com/lsat/bid/153 ... duate-work

Maybe this will help. You do need to submit grad school transcripts to LSAC. However, those grades will not affect your GPA. Law schools will see them, though, so I would think that if you have a decent LSAT as well, all they will care about is your UG GPA. If you are a bubble candidate, they may look a little deeper into your file. I would say that you probably do not need an addendum.

[CanadianWolf]

Depends upon your numbers versus medians for targeted law school. If your numbers (LSAT score & undergraduate GPA) are above both medians, then an addendum is not necessary unless other issues arose from your situation besides a mediocre graduate GPA. However, if applying to one or more law schools where your numbers are below median, then consider writing an addendum.

Whether or not you write an addendum is optional in your circumstances. If you do, be sure to focus on the positives received from counseling & treatment.

[PrayFor170]

Totally anecdotal response:

I had a friend who had extreme difficulty in medical school and wanted to lateral to law school. He did not complete more than his first year of med school. After his medical school documents were entered, many schools had serious questions about his ability to handle work beyond the undergraduate level. Schools see graduate programs as a test of how you will do in law school.

If it were me, I would write something about it. When writing your addendum, explain the situation, but more importantly, explain how you grew or learned something through your experiences.

Hope this helps, but this is just one experience (that isn't even my own).

That's the part I'm struggling with. Even if I have explained how I grew and learned, there was no way they could testify the truthfulness.
I guess the best option is to get a stellar LSAT score
Btw, did your friend eventually get into law school?

[Broscientist]

I may have underplayed how terrible he did in medical school. They made him repeat his first year. Then he sucked again and they kicked him out. So, no. He did not get into LS.

That being said, I highly doubt they'll check the veracity of any addendum. Someone claiming a death caused depression or some other type of issue caused a bad semester/year is highly unlikely to provide proof beyond the addendum. Maybe I'm wrong, but it would be a huge amount of extra work for the school to review and confirm every addendum.

[UnicornHunter]

Don't write anything. Your grad GPA's not bad and schools don't give a crap anyway.

Do make sure your head is in the right place before going to law school. It's not a mental health friendly environment.