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This is an astonishingly bad idea.

The only good reason for writing an LSAT or GPA addendum is a medical issue. Literally telling the admissions board that you don't test well is not going to help your case. Your numbers will already tell that story.

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mrtux45 wrote:

cavalier1138 wrote:This is an astonishingly bad idea.

Interesting. I've seen on other threads and sources that this was a reasonable move if you could back up your assertion with data.

Source here: https://books.google.com/books?id=SVhVD ... ce&f=false

I don't want to do anything that will hurt my chances, so if this is actually such a bad idea I won't move forward with it. I wonder why anyone would suggest it

I don't know that book, but based solely on that passage, the author is an idiot. You do not want to beat the adcomms over the head with the idea that you're a bad test-taker. There is no upside.

cavalier1138 wrote:

mrtux45 wrote:

cavalier1138 wrote:This is an astonishingly bad idea.

Interesting. I've seen on other threads and sources that this was a reasonable move if you could back up your assertion with data.

Source here: https://books.google.com/books?id=SVhVD ... ce&f=false

I don't want to do anything that will hurt my chances, so if this is actually such a bad idea I won't move forward with it. I wonder why anyone would suggest it

I don't know that book, but based solely on that passage, the author is an idiot. You do not want to beat the adcomms over the head with the idea that you're a bad test-taker. There is no upside.

One of the only good reasons to write an LSAT addendum is if you actually have a history of outperforming standardized test scores, as OP does. Most schools will specifically state "standardized test history" as something one may include on an LSAT addendum.

An LSAT addendum is basically "there is evidence to support the fact that my LSAT score won't be representative of my performance in law school." SAT score/undergrad performance discrepancy is one of the only things that actually provides even the tiniest shred of evidence to that effect

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tskela wrote: One of the only good reasons to write an LSAT addendum is if you actually have a history of outperforming standardized test scores, as OP does. Most schools will specifically state "standardized test history" as something one may include on an LSAT addendum.

An LSAT addendum is basically "there is evidence to support the fact that my LSAT score won't be representative of my performance in law school." SAT score/undergrad performance discrepancy is one of the only things that actually provides even the tiniest shred of evidence to that effect

I categorically disagree, especially because looking at the OP's post history, their numbers are 3.79/163. A 163 is not bad enough to warrant any kind of addendum, and it's a very hard sell to tell people that your decent GPA indicates that you would outperform a decent LSAT.

The problem is that there isn't really a GPA that "outperforms" a standardized test score, because your undergraduate GPA is influenced by so many factors that it can't be considered a reliable gauge (on its own) of your actual abilities. That's why the LSAT is a more reliable predictor of law school performance, and it's why LSAT and GPA together are considered the best predictor. Admissions offices didn't come to rely on these numbers by accident.

The only reason you want to write an addendum for any LSAT/GPA issue is if there is a medical concern. That's it. No "I used to party hard, but now I study hard." No "I just don't test well." No "I don't perform well under pressure." At best, it has no effect because you sound like every other applicant trying to justify their poor performance. At worst, it calls attention to a weakness on your application.

cavalier1138 wrote:

tskela wrote: One of the only good reasons to write an LSAT addendum is if you actually have a history of outperforming standardized test scores, as OP does. Most schools will specifically state "standardized test history" as something one may include on an LSAT addendum.

An LSAT addendum is basically "there is evidence to support the fact that my LSAT score won't be representative of my performance in law school." SAT score/undergrad performance discrepancy is one of the only things that actually provides even the tiniest shred of evidence to that effect

I categorically disagree, especially because looking at the OP's post history, their numbers are 3.79/163. A 163 is not bad enough to warrant any kind of addendum, and it's a very hard sell to tell people that your decent GPA indicates that you would outperform a decent LSAT.

Ah, I hadn't seen OP's numbers.

I agree that 163 doesn't warrant an addendum, certainly not a "bad standardized test taker" addendum.

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What was your SAT?

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mrtux45 wrote:

lymenheimer wrote:What was your SAT?

1210 Math/Reading combined, under my undergrad's 25th percentile for my entering class

better than the national average isn't "poor standardized test taking". (Just reinforcing the above-stated)

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If your lsat is in the 160s you're not really a bad test taker though.