Addressing Grades in a "Why X"? Forum

[CADM1UM]

I'm writing a "Why Vanderbilt" a few months after I submitted my application because it is undeniably my first choice and they discontinued the ED program. The rest of my letter is great but I was wondering if I could use a paragraph to address grades? I'm at their 75th LSAT but below their 25th GPA. I have no good reason for my grades being low as it is simply because I was a dumb freshman who assumed he didn't need to study. If I were to write a paragraph addressing grades, it wouldn't be to make excuses for my grades but rather to try to point out my intense GPA bump after I got my shit together (from a 2.7 to continuous 3.6/3.7's every semester after freshman year).

So would writing a short paragraph pointing out this GPA boost and explaining that the 3.6/3.7 student present in that boost is the student I am today be appropriate for this kind of letter?

[ymmv]

ymmv has moved on to greener pastures.

[AJordan]

Sounds like you're something like 3.4/170 in which case no real reason to write it. You're likely to get accepted anyway. Don't give them another reason to focus on it.

[CADM1UM]

Sounds like you're something like 3.4/170 in which case no real reason to write it. You're likely to get accepted anyway. Don't give them another reason to focus on it.

3.23 167.

Below GPA 25th but only at 75th LSAT. I think itll be a coinflip for me.

[CADM1UM]

Don't do it.

I have no good reason for my grades being low as it is simply because I was a dumb freshman who assumed he didn't need to study.

You and a million other applicants. Writing about your bad freshman grades only draws extra attention to them when it's already obvious to anyone looking at your transcript that they improved.

Cool thanks for the help! I'll just keep the letter focused on why I think Vanderbilt is perfect for me and how excited I would be to attend.