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Worth a GPA Addendum?
Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2017 6:40 pm
by ihaveadogking
I have a 3.5ish GPA and a 170+ and I am aiming for T13 (hopefully T10, reach choices UofC & NYU). The second semester of my freshman year of UG I did particularly badly (2.3x GPA) due to a variety of issues but namely because I was dealing with illness and traveling home, spending time in and out of doctor's offices, and surgery. Is it worth including an addendum to address this issue? Could it make a difference?
If so, should I mention my positive grade trend afterward up to a 3.8 junior and senior years? Or should I focus exclusively on the reasons why I did badly? etc.
Appreciate any and all input - thanks!
Re: Worth a GPA Addendum?
Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2017 6:51 pm
by Rigo
Physical illness makes for an appropriate addendum.
Basically just say what you did in this post.
Say you're healthy now and your upward grade trend is a better indicator of your academic abilities.
Re: Worth a GPA Addendum?
Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2017 8:56 pm
by Floriform
Absolutely.
If there's anything on your resume that you feel might raise eyebrows or be brought up by the admissions committee (such as a low UGPA one semester/year or a leave of absence due to health, etc.), you should definitely address that in an addendum.
Just make sure it's short, sweet, and to the point. Admissions readers have a lot of reading too, and while they'll appreciate you addressing the problem early-on, they also don't want to read a short story.
Re: Worth a GPA Addendum?
Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2017 9:04 pm
by ms9
ihaveadogking wrote:I have a 3.5ish GPA and a 170+ and I am aiming for T13 (hopefully T10, reach choices UofC & NYU). The second semester of my freshman year of UG I did particularly badly (2.3x GPA) due to a variety of issues but namely because I was dealing with illness and traveling home, spending time in and out of doctor's offices, and surgery. Is it worth including an addendum to address this issue? Could it make a difference?
If so, should I mention my positive grade trend afterward up to a 3.8 junior and senior years? Or should I focus exclusively on the reasons why I did badly? etc.
Appreciate any and all input - thanks!
I don't think you need to mention the positive trend (this is WAY too overdone. Indeed I've read hundreds of addenda that compute a GPA "without that one semester" etc. which is worse than pointless). But I would for sure bring up your situation, and I hope you are fully recovered!