165 -> 175 LSAT Addendum Forum

[Thelaw23]

Greetings, everybody!

I was absent for the October 2015 test, got a 165 on the December 2015 test, and then I scored a 175 on the June 2016 test.

I have a 3.56 GPA.

The dream school I am gunning for is CLS. I was advised by some very helpful and successful individuals to write an addendum for the score difference. Even those with the same exact stats as me.

I would like to know everyone's opinion on this as I read through a lot of differing opinions online. Also, let me know what you think of my addendum if possible. I really did not want to make it sound like an excuse in any way.

"In December of 2015, I took the LSAT and scored a 165. I felt that this score was not indicative of my abilities, and I went on to take a gap year in order to establish my business further before I leave it in my brother’s hands. I knew that my future legal career will require my full time and effort. I created an extensive self-study plan several months before the June 2016 LSAT. I made sure I would not burn out by taking small breaks from studying. I focused on taking as many practice tests as possible and targeted my weakest section. I took the June 2016 LSAT and scored a 175. I believe that this score is more representative of my determination and ability to succeed in Columbia Law School."

[grades??]

I had a larger lsat swing and I didn't write an addendum. A few deans asked, but literally doesn't matter. If its a 145 to a 175, then yeah. Otherwise its a waste of time. Just reading your proposed text sounds pretentious and I feel like it would hurt you more than it will help. A 165 to a 175 is not such a huge jump as to warrant writing one.

[jetsfan1]

Yeah don't think an addendum is totally necessary here, but won't hurt you if you add one. That being said, this is too much. PM and I'll send you mine with my outcomes as well.

Best of luck!

P.S. Bottom line, this isn't gonna make or break your app, so don't worry too much about it.

[RareExports]

Do not write an LSAT addendum.

It will come off as immature -- as if you're making excuses for what really isn't that big of a difference in LSAT scores.

[Hildegard15]

Yeah don't think an addendum is totally necessary here, but won't hurt you if you add one. That being said, this is too much. PM and I'll send you mine with my outcomes as well.

Best of luck!

P.S. Bottom line, this isn't gonna make or break your app, so don't worry too much about it.

I agree with Jets. I had a twelve point jump with two years between tests and I decided that for my peace of mind I'd write an addendum. I don't think it's necessary for your application, and either way it's not going to hurt your chances.

[MyNameIsntJames]

Greetings, everybody!

I was absent for the October 2015 test, got a 165 on the December 2015 test, and then I scored a 175 on the June 2016 test.

I have a 3.56 GPA.

The dream school I am gunning for is CLS. I was advised by some very helpful and successful individuals to write an addendum for the score difference. Even those with the same exact stats as me.

I would like to know everyone's opinion on this as I read through a lot of differing opinions online. Also, let me know what you think of my addendum if possible. I really did not want to make it sound like an excuse in any way.

"In December of 2015, I took the LSAT and scored a 165. I felt that this score was not indicative of my abilities, and I went on to take a gap year in order to establish my business further before I leave it in my brother’s hands. I knew that my future legal career will require my full time and effort. I created an extensive self-study plan several months before the June 2016 LSAT. I made sure I would not burn out by taking small breaks from studying. I focused on taking as many practice tests as possible and targeted my weakest section. I took the June 2016 LSAT and scored a 175. I believe that this score is more representative of my determination and ability to succeed in Columbia Law School."

Don't really think this is addendum worthy. I personally don't really think anything LSAT related is addendum worthy unless you took it like 5 different times or you got some absurdly low score like 145 on a take. Otherwise, the admissions' officers have enough brain cells to deduce that you took it the first time, didn't like your score and then studied harder, retook it and scored higher. I don't think its really any deeper than that.

[MyNameIsntJames]

Do not write an LSAT addendum.

It will come off as immature -- as if you're making excuses for what really isn't that big of a difference in LSAT scores.

This ^^^^^^^

Sometimes its best to just quit while you're ahead. There is such a thing as saying too much and from what you previewed as your addendum, you risk doing a little more damage than good honestly. Tons of kids retake the LSAT and the fact that most schools only take the highest score is indicative of the fact that most of them don't really give a fuck. A 175 is a 175 is a 175. Take yourself out of TLS world for a second. The AVERAGE score is like 152? The fact you decided to retake a 165 in it of itself shows that you have a high standard for achievement. Or at least that's a potential conclusion the admissions' officers might come to. However, if you write an addendum about why you were busy etc., then they might say "Oh, so you just didn't know how to manage your time properly." Especially given that you took this damn near two years ago.

[Alive97]

Personally I wouldn't write an LSAT addendum. You got a higher score, so obviously you improved your preparation somehow. Doesn't really matter how.

[rpupkin]

Don't write an addendum. CLS won't care--or really even notice--that you took the test twice. All they care about is that 175.

ETA: If you do feel compelled to submit an addendum (and you really shouldn't), please avoid sentences like this one: "I made sure I would not burn out by taking small breaks from studying."

This is why addenda should be reserved for extreme circumstances (like the death of a parent or an acute physical illness). When folks start focusing on mundane issues, they come off as immature and unprepared for law school. It's all downside.

[Dcc617]

I went from 165 to 176 and did not write an addendum. The only people to ask me about it was Columbia, during the interview. They also waitlisted me (but I was held and didn't submit any additional odes to Columbia because I was already set on another school).

I don't think the lack of addendum impacted me at all though.

[Thelaw23]

Thank you for everybody's feedback!

Maybe I won't write the addendum... It does seem like it could hurt more than it could help.

I went from 165 to 176 and did not write an addendum. The only people to ask me about it was Columbia, during the interview. They also waitlisted me (but I was held and didn't submit any additional odes to Columbia because I was already set on another school).

I don't think the lack of addendum impacted me at all though.

Do you mind telling me what your GPA is? Most of the people I heard with 175's got into CLS. You just got me kind of nervous

[Dcc617]

Thank you for everybody's feedback!

Maybe I won't write the addendum... It does seem like it could hurt more than it could help.

I went from 165 to 176 and did not write an addendum. The only people to ask me about it was Columbia, during the interview. They also waitlisted me (but I was held and didn't submit any additional odes to Columbia because I was already set on another school).

I don't think the lack of addendum impacted me at all though.

Do you mind telling me what your GPA is? Most of the people I heard with 175's got into CLS. You just got me kind of nervous

It's in my profile if you click on my avatar.

So I got into Chicago, NYU, and Harvard. I was waitlisted at Yale, Stanford, and Columbia. For whatever reason, Columbia wasn't digging on me. It may have been because during the interview I talked a lot about PI. Or because I didn't show enough interest in the school.

Fwiw, I think I'm the only person with my numbers to get waitlisted by Columbia like ever.

ETA My cycle is on lawschoolnumbers under the same username

[loh]

Do not write an LSAT addendum.

It will come off as immature -- as if you're making excuses for what really isn't that big of a difference in LSAT scores.

it is a big difference. for f sakes it's 10 points starting from already 90 percentile range.

OP, with that said, you don't have to write an addendum for this. For one, law schools don't care why you did well. The score speaks for itself. You studied better and got the higher score and you intended to do this. There's no mystery here. All they want is your GPA and LSAT as high as possible.
Two, they probably won't even read it.