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Hey all, really appreciate what you do here. A few questions: First, I had a personal incident the final semester of my senior year (best friend who went to school near me ended up diagnosed bipolar 1) and I got a D and a C- that semester. My GPA prior would have been pretty solid. Should I include an addendum for this? Is any law school likely to care given my GPA's effect on its median? Second, I'm a professional poker player. I played my way through college and have done only that for the nearly 5 years since I graduated college. Any thoughts on how a law school might react to it? Should it be hidden? Featured?

And finally, what do people think are my likely outcomes? (Yes, I'm taking the June exam.)

Do you have a 172, or is this just what you think you'll get? You should probably make that more clear, and if just guessing, wait until you get a score to assess options.

Nothing about your record suggests an addendum for that stuff would really help. They'll take your GPA for what it is and move on.

The professional poker player thing could be an interesting spin to put in your PS, but like any PS topic, it's entirely about how you frame it and make it work to give your application better dimensions and fill you out as a person.

Finally, if you want to play around with your chances, and considering nothing about you particularly suggests you'll play above or below your numbers, head to http://mylsn.info. That site is the best resource you'll have for gauging how your numbers will do.

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UVA2B wrote:Do you have a 172, or is this just what you think you'll get? You should probably make that more clear, and if just guessing, wait until you get a score to assess options.

Nothing about your record suggests an addendum for that stuff would really help. They'll take your GPA for what it is and move on.

The professional poker player thing could be an interesting spin to put in your PS, but like any PS topic, it's entirely about how you frame it and make it work to give your application better dimensions and fill you out as a person.

Finally, if you want to play around with your chances, and considering nothing about you particularly suggests you'll play above or below your numbers, head to http://mylsn.info. That site is the best resource you'll have for gauging how your numbers will do.

sorry, yes, I got a 172 in February.

universe112 wrote:

UVA2B wrote:Do you have a 172, or is this just what you think you'll get? You should probably make that more clear, and if just guessing, wait until you get a score to assess options.

Nothing about your record suggests an addendum for that stuff would really help. They'll take your GPA for what it is and move on.

The professional poker player thing could be an interesting spin to put in your PS, but like any PS topic, it's entirely about how you frame it and make it work to give your application better dimensions and fill you out as a person.

Finally, if you want to play around with your chances, and considering nothing about you particularly suggests you'll play above or below your numbers, head to http://mylsn.info. That site is the best resource you'll have for gauging how your numbers will do.

sorry, yes, I got a 172 in February.

I think it's +EV to be associated with Vanessa Selbst.

universe112 wrote:Hey all, really appreciate what you do here. A few questions: First, I had a personal incident the final semester of my senior year (best friend who went to school near me ended up diagnosed bipolar 1) and I got a D and a C- that semester. My GPA prior would have been pretty solid. Should I include an addendum for this? Is any law school likely to care given my GPA's effect on its median? Second, I'm a professional poker player. I played my way through college and have done only that for the nearly 5 years since I graduated college. Any thoughts on how a law school might react to it? Should it be hidden? Featured?

And finally, what do people think are my likely outcomes? (Yes, I'm taking the June exam.)

A 3.6 is nothing to be ashamed of, but if you really feel that you got those two grades because of that personal situation, then it can't hurt to include an addendum. I don't know if it will help, schools are inundated with "I'm sorry I failed this class but I was going through a really hard time" addendums, but it probably won't hurt. My one piece of advice is not to make excuses for yourself, own it as something that you did but also explain that you weren't operating at your full capacity.

I have no clue on the poker stuff, it's kind of cool and better than being unemployed for sure, so you can't really hide it, but I dunno it might turn some people off a bit.

I wouldn't hide the professional poker. It's unique and interesting, and I assume you do it legally in Vegas or something if you're calling it professional.

I believe there were several pages on how to address being a professional poker player on here a year or two so ago. Might be worth a search.

Would talk about poker, wouldn't talk about your friend. Would also consider quitting poker.