My first question:
I did poorly in a course my very first semester of undergrad, and re-took it later and received an A. Because it was in my first year, I could use a program at my institution called "freshman repeat", where you aren't penalized for the first course, and can replace the grade with a re-take. However, the original grade still shows on my transcript, with its unit value, but next to that it reads 0.00 and says "Repeat: First year repeat excluded". From what I can tell, LSAC will include the original grade in calculating my LSDAS GPA, based on their website a repeat will NOT be included in the calculation when and only when:
The original grade for a repeated course when the transcript does not show both the grade and the units for the original attempt. The total number of credits assigned to these grades will appear on the applicant's academic summary, but will not be included in the GPA calculation.
Am I right in assuming the initial grade will be included as well?
Second Question:
I withdrew for a semester because of family issues, and the semester is still on my transcript, but with a "W" next to each course. LSAC specifies that W's will not be counted if viewed by the institution as non-punitive. If I'm not penalized on my transcript by my undergraduate institution for the withdrawn semester, is it safe to assume these won't count against me?
Finally
I was really hoping to shoot for HYS, pending my LSAT, and I fear the above could hurt me greatly. Is it worth some sort of application addendum explaining how things were really tough at the time: family issues, I was working 3 different jobs to support myself (I'm the first in my family to attend college, and both of my parents were in and out of prison, I basically had to raise my little sister, and on and on)? My time after these hiccups was almost exclusively A/A+ work (eg I got my shit together). Btw, non-URM, but 'underprivileged'.
Sorry for the long post...I'm freaking out a little now...
