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Too Many Addenda?
Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2015 11:40 pm
by lawman3824
Been reading the forums for a while now, although this is my first time posting.
Some background info:
-Applying ED to a T14
-Splitter, with a GPA in the 3.0-3.5 range, and an LSAT score above 170.
-Attending T25 Private University, with a difficult STEM double major.
-Captain of an NCAA athletic team, along with some other respectable extracurricular involvement.
-Some insignificant work experience.
So, I'm done with pretty much every aspect of my application, just waiting for my 3rd and final LOR. I'm confident I'll be accepted based solely on my numbers, and I feel as though I have a solid all-around application that would only help my chances. In addition to the required PS and resumé, I wrote a good optional essay demonstrating my cultural and linguistic background, as well as my intent to study abroad at a location that is offered at said law school.
I have two LSAT scores that have a 6 point disparity. Upon visiting the school, an admissions officer advised me to write an addendum addressing this disparity, to make sure I "answer any questions the admissions committee might have about my application." Before that, I wasn't planning on writing an LSAT addendum, but I followed their advice and did.
Now, I wonder whether I should write a GPA addendum as well. My GPA through my first three semesters was in the low 3.0 range, and I consistently improved my GPA every year after that, as my classes got harder. I certainly have enough material to write a worthwhile GPA addendum, but I worry that I might be doing too much and sending in a bloated application. In my personal statement, I discuss the death of a parent during my freshman year, but I don't explicitly tie it to my GPA. I could write about this as a reason for my underperformance, among other factors not addressed in the rest of my application. My conversation with the admissions officer makes me think I should write this addendum to "answer any questions."
If I do decide to do so, I would be submitting a PS, resumé, optional essay, LSAT addendum, and GPA addendum. I'm willing to write as much as needed to get in, but would this be too much? Please help!
Re: Too Many Addenda?
Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2015 12:55 am
by malleus discentium
Don't submit any addenda. But also don't apply ED unless it's Northwestern.
Re: Too Many Addenda?
Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2015 1:09 am
by Mack.Hambleton
malleus discentium wrote:Don't submit any addenda. But also don't apply ED unless it's Northwestern.
This.
Re: Too Many Addenda?
Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2015 9:53 am
by OLitch
lawman3824 wrote:Been reading the forums for a while now, although this is my first time posting.
Some background info:
-Applying ED to a T14 and desperately want to attend.
-Splitter, with a GPA in the 3.0-3.5 range, and an LSAT score above 170.
-Attending T25 Private University, with a difficult STEM double major.
-Captain of an NCAA athletic team, along with some other respectable extracurricular involvement.
-Some insignificant work experience.
So, I'm done with pretty much every aspect of my application, just waiting for my 3rd and final LOR. I'm confident I'll be accepted based solely on my numbers, and I feel as though I have a solid all-around application that would only help my chances. In addition to the required PS and resumé, I wrote a good optional essay demonstrating my cultural and linguistic background, as well as my intent to study abroad at a location that is offered at said law school.
I have two LSAT scores that have a 6 point disparity. Upon visiting the school, an admissions officer advised me to write an addendum addressing this disparity, to make sure I "answer any questions the admissions committee might have about my application." Before that, I wasn't planning on writing an LSAT addendum, but I followed their advice and did.
Now, I wonder whether I should write a GPA addendum as well. My GPA through my first three semesters was in the low 3.0 range, and I consistently improved my GPA every year after that, as my classes got harder. I certainly have enough material to write a worthwhile GPA addendum, but I worry that I might be doing too much and sending in a bloated application. In my personal statement, I discuss the death of a parent during my freshman year, but I don't explicitly tie it to my GPA. I could write about this as a reason for my underperformance, among other factors not addressed in the rest of my application. My conversation with the admissions officer makes me think I should write this addendum to "answer any questions."
If I do decide to do so, I would be submitting a PS, resumé, optional essay, LSAT addendum, and GPA addendum. I'm willing to write as much as needed to get in, but would this be too much? Please help!
I'm pretty sure I know which school you are applying to. I think you should submit another addendum. You can add information that is not already in your package AND the admissions officer told you to fill in any holes. Just make sure it is well written.
I am a 0L so this is only my opinion based on also speaking with the adcom at what is likely the same LS.
Good luck!
Re: Too Many Addenda?
Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2015 10:52 am
by GreekOmega12
Mack.Hambleton wrote:malleus discentium wrote:Don't submit any addenda. But also don't apply ED unless it's Northwestern.
This.
What's the rationale behind not submitting any addenda?
Re: Too Many Addenda?
Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2015 11:03 am
by A. Nony Mouse
If an adcomm at the school you're applying to told you to submit an LSAT addendum, there's absolutely no problem in doing so for that school (especially if it's short and sweet). Probably not necessary if you're applying to any other schools that don't say they want to see such an addendum.
The GPA addendum - your post both suggests that you have a general upward trend, which adcomms can see on their own without an addendum, and that there was a specific outside factor, the death of a parent, so it's not quite clear what you want to submit. If you think significant events outside of your control (death of a parent) significantly affected your performance, you could explain that briefly in an addendum. If the "other factors" were things like lack of preparation, not interested in major/changed major, not ready for college, immaturity or the like, don't mention them. An addendum should really only explain something that's out of the ordinary.
And frankly, low 3.0s isn't really that low - it's not like you have a 1.7 semester or something. So I would incline toward not writing the GPA addendum.
Re: Too Many Addenda?
Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2015 11:14 am
by BigZuck
GreekOmega12 wrote:Mack.Hambleton wrote:malleus discentium wrote:Don't submit any addenda. But also don't apply ED unless it's Northwestern.
This.
What's the rationale behind not submitting any addenda?
A lot of times they are just a list of excuses that are pretty common. And they are for stuff that are pretty common (lots of people have low freshman year GPAs for example, no need to write an addendum for that. But people come on here all the time and ask if they should). They should probably only be used in extraordinary circumstances. There's also a pretty strong chance that the person writing them doesn't do it well and makes themselves come across poorly.
An LSAT addendum is usually just kind of useless- "I scored 6 points higher because I studied more." If anything that sounds like the person has poor judgment. Why did they take the test the first time if they weren't ready?
As for the OP- The GPA addendum the OP proposed makes more sense I think because of the personal issues they had to deal with. I don't think it will necessarily make a difference one way or the other but I could understand writing that one.
Re: Too Many Addenda?
Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2015 11:19 am
by A. Nony Mouse
BigZuck wrote:An LSAT addendum is usually just kind of useless- "I scored 6 points higher because I studied more." If anything that sounds like the person has poor judgment. Why did they take the test the first time if they weren't ready?
I totally agree with this (barring an actual explanation like "my appendix exploded during the first exam"). But again, if an adcomm suggests you send one in, send one in.
Re: Too Many Addenda?
Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2015 11:24 am
by BigZuck
A. Nony Mouse wrote:BigZuck wrote:An LSAT addendum is usually just kind of useless- "I scored 6 points higher because I studied more." If anything that sounds like the person has poor judgment. Why did they take the test the first time if they weren't ready?
I totally agree with this (barring an actual explanation like "my appendix exploded during the first exam"). But again, if an adcomm suggests you send one in, send one in.
Sure
I had a big jump and ignored application instructions when they told me to explain a big jump in an addendum and it didn't adversely affect me. But no adcom told me to my face that I should do it. If I were the OP I would do it too I guess.
Re: Too Many Addenda?
Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2015 11:37 am
by Clearly
Had a large jump myself, didn't write one, multiple t14 admits with lower grades. Which school are you EDing to? That may or may not be a grave mistake.
Re: Too Many Addenda?
Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2015 12:27 pm
by A. Nony Mouse
Yeah, I doubt it will hurt the OP not to write one, but it won't hurt them to write one, either, if they want.
Re: Too Many Addenda?
Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2015 12:49 pm
by lawman3824
Thanks for the input everyone, I think I'm going to opt out of this GPA addendum, although I wrote a rough draft this morning. I figure that admissions can connect the dots on their own given my upward trend and the rest of my application. Considering the diminishing marginal return on every additional addendum, the risk of hurting my application is probably greater than the insignificant boost I might get from writing it.