There are several things that can cause students to freak out when applying to law school. Some students worry about the relative “prestige” of their undergraduate institution and how schools will view that during the admissions process. Some have concerns about their choice of major, letters of recommendation, or that one C they got freshman year. Then there are the students that took the test cold and worry about what that looks like on their application. P.S. don’t take the LSAT cold. The list goes on endlessly.
For most students, the fears are unfounded. They are simply a by-product of a stressful admissions process where you nitpick everything about yourself and your file. However, for others, there are blemishes that are founded and need to be addressed and explained. That’s where addenda come in. Let’s start with the basics.
What is an Addendum
An addendum (plural: addenda) is a document, written by the applicant, explaining a negative in their application. It is usually brief in length and is an attachment to the application. By brief, we mean no more than one page long, typically only one to two paragraphs. Students usually write addenda to explain one of the following.
- Issues with your LSAT record. Examples include a very low LSAT score, multiple absences/cancellations, or an unusually high jump in scores from one administration to another.
- Issues with your GPA. For example, a very low GPA, a semester with sub-par grades in an otherwise great transcript, a rash of failed or withdrawn classes, etc.
- Issues with “character and fitness.” On that section of the application, you can explain a number of things:
- Interruption in your academic career.
- Academic disciplinary actions.
- Academic probations and/or expulsions.
- Criminal issues such as felonies, misdemeanors, arrests, or convictions.
- Dishonorable discharges from the armed forces.
How to Make an Effective Addendum
- Write carefully. Tone and word choice are incredibly important when writing an addendum. You’re essentially asking the Admissions Committee to ignore or disregard very important parts of the application. You can easily end up sounding as if you’re groveling. Or worse yet, you can end up sounding whiny, arrogant, irresponsible, immature, lacking in good judgment, or lacking self-awareness. It needs to convey information without boring or offending those reading it.Keep it short. There is absolutely no need to write an addendum that is longer than your personal statement. When addenda start breaking the 250-word barrier, you run the risk of rambling and creating more problems than you’re explaining.
- Don’t tell the admissions officers how to do their job. They know how to interpret LSAT scores and transcripts. The Admissions Committee will know how to interpret what you give them and will understand that it’s a supplement to your file.
- Keep it drama-free. Overselling the case or overstating the flaws tends to remove any seriousness from the addendum. This renders it useless for the purposes of explaining the flaw. You’re not trying to tug at heartstrings or solicit pity, so veer away from dramatic language.
- Stick to the facts. Don’t provide unnecessary information. Aside from increasing the length of the document, unnecessary details can also detract from the message you are seeking to convey.
- No flights of fancy. Addenda are different from the personal statement in that there is no element of creative writing in them. This is simply an explanation and a presentation of circumstances. There is no need to refer to stomach upsets as “exploding fireworks” or a migraine headache as “skull-splitting agony.” You may think it adds flair, but all it does is add unnecessary verbiage.
Final Things to Remember
Understand an addendum is not an excuse. What you’re providing to the Committee is additional information to consider during the evaluation of an application. Present the facts clearly, discuss the lessons you learned, and what you’re doing to ensure the negative doesn’t happen again. Excuses are just that—excuses. They have no place in an addendum. It’s important to remember that the purpose of the addendum is to explain, but not excuse, the negative in the application. Unless the circumstances were incredibly unusual and compelling, chances are pretty good that you are at least partially to blame for whatever the negative in your application happens to be. Don’t try to hoodwink the AdComs. They’ve seen enough of these addenda that they’ll see right through you! And they won’t be happy that you tried to shirk your part in the situation.
Another word of advice, never go “addendum-happy.” You do not need to explain why your GPA is a 3.72 instead of a 3.73, or why your LSAT score went down a single point on a retake. You don’t need to address every tiny detail that you are not pleased with! You need to discuss the glaring issues, not the minutia that is only noticeable to you. Submitting 12 different addenda makes you look slightly crazy, not thorough. You’re likely to exhaust and annoy whoever is reading your app, which is not something you want to do.
Perhaps most importantly, don’t forget that your personal statement is not an addendum. Use the personal statement for what it’s meant for! These allow you to present great or unusual qualities, beliefs, and experiences in a positive light. Don’t use it to explain inconsistencies in your application.
Not everyone needs to use an addendum. If there isn’t anything negative to address, don’t feel the need to create an issue or find something to explain. Instead, consider yourself one of the lucky ones! As for those of you who do have issues to explain—keep the tips above in mind. Be judicious in your use of addenda and you’ll minimize the negatives and enhance your application
Liz says
Hi!
I have been out of work since August 2020 (was laid off due to COVID and was able to focus on applying to law schools instead of working). This is the only gap on resume, which has about 8 years of work experience on it, would you recommend writing an addendum for this?
Thank you!
Dave Killoran says
I would not! Many people have been affected by the pandemic, and law schools are well aware this has affected job status. So for this instance specifically, it’s not necessary.
Thanks!
Olivia Ramsay says
Hello!
I am wondering if I should write a LSAT Addenda. I scored a 150 on my first exam in October, and a 151 in November. I have a 3.82 GPA, have many leadership positions/extracurricular activities – president of my student body, policy fellow, and more. I have a pretty good personal statement, really good letters of recommendation, and a compelling diversity statement according to my law school advisor. I am getting ready to submit my applications and want to make sure that I do not miss an opportunity to explain how COVID-19 has caused a lot of disruption in ability to preform to the best of ability on the exam, or how the score does not reflect my academic abilities.
Jon Denning says
Hi Olivia – thanks so much for visiting the blog and posting your question!
You certainly could be someone who would be well-served by a score addendum. To me the decision depends on which schools you’re considering, and where your 151 falls on their LSAT median range. That is, if you’re above their 50th percentile, or even closer to their 75th, then I don’t feel an addendum would be necessary. However if you’re at or below their 50th then an addendum explaining your situation (just as you describe it) would make a lot of sense!
I hope that helps!
Mara says
Hi Dave,
This thanks for this post and the podcasts, they’ve been super helpful. I’m 12 yr out of undergrad and have a couple questions:
1. I spent a few years in tech startups and got fired twice, leading to one small (1 month) and one large (9 months) gaps on my resume. I used the 9 month period to do some hard reflecting on why things hadn’t worked and transitioned away from startups into a Fortune 500 company where I’ve been thriving for the past 2 years. During this time I also helped aid an ailing parent. Question is: do i need to address the gaps with an addenda and, if so, how much detail and do I need to tell them I got fired?
2. My career has been varied and evolved from international relations to business and now (hopefully!) to law. It’s involved a few contract positions and internships that lasted less than a year (outside of the above terminations). I’m wondering if I need to explain the short length of the positions or the change in career area in an addenda?
Thank you again for all your help!
Mara
Dave Killoran says
Hi Mara,
Thanks for the message! Your questions—and the story behind them—are a good example of how difficult it can be to give advice without being able to see the actual execution of the addendum. I’ll explain as I reply:
1. You do not have to explain a 1 month gap in employment. And you probably don’t even have to explain a 9 month gap, although that’s much more debatable. But here’s the thing that makes this interesting: there is a possible case to be made for including your firing before this 9 month gap. I could see a really engaging essay that starts with something like “Getting fired was the best thing that happened to me,” and then addresses startup culture and how you needed to rethink your goals, which then lead you down a new, much more satisfying path. Is that a risk? Certainly. And this is why seeing how you executed such an essay would be critical. And it’s also why I’ll take the relatively unusual step of recommending you work with a professional on that.
2. Short employment tenures are very common these days, and so by themselves aren’t an issue. If the changes reflect a rise in responsibility and scope of job, its not an issue at all—you just like a fast riser. However, when it’s more randomized, then it sometimes will look like you don’t have stability or perseverance. It’s again hard for me to tell here, and so I’m not 100% comfortable saying it’s a hard yes or no to this question. It could be that you combine all these elements together and have a single addendum that slickly addresses everything. If done properly, it could check the box on easing adcomm minds, which is exactly what these addenda are supposed to do. This is why I’d say it’s something where professional help would be advantageous for you.
By the way, internships don’t count for these purposes—they are known to not be long-term positions so you don’t have to explain a short internship.
I hope that helps. Thanks!
Kate says
Hi,
Thanks so much for this great blog. I have an issue that has been bugging me for too long. I am not your conventional student. Straight after high school, I started working have switched into a couple of different fields since then. Late in my twenties, I earned a professional diploma and went on to earn several others and it was only in my thirties I earned my first degree and a graduate degree. That’s what LSAC count as the first degree. Would this background be viewed negatively? I mean switching careers, not earning the first degree sooner, and the fact that I am in my thirties? I plan to include some of it in my PS to explain my motivation but it’s not possible to explain every turn. Is this something that should be addressed in a PS?
I really appreciate your response. Many thanks in advance.
Kate says
I meant to ask “Is this something that should also be addressed in an Addendum?”.
Dave Killoran says
Hi Kate,
Short answer: no, this isn’t a negative 🙂
Longer answer: law schools value people from all walks of live and backgrounds, so being unconventional (or NonTrad in admissions parlance) isn’t bad at all, and can actually be a slight positive.
As to whether you need an addendum on it, it depends on how much is covered in your personal statement. Only after seeing the extend of coverage there could anyone assess whether an additional statement is needed. I could see it being useful, but only write one if the narrative/explanation makes sense and what you are explaining is something that actually needs explaining!
Thanks!
Ann says
Hi!
I was wondering if I needed to write addenda for my lsat and my gpa:
1)I have a 3.54 gpa, although my major gpa (which includes just the upper div classes) is a 3.83. The first half of college I was simply foolish. The last two years of college I split my time between an honors thesis, an internship, 2 leadership roles in two different orgs, a student job, and my academics. If I needed to, I would write about learning to recognize burn out, then add that since my days as a student (I graduated), I’ve added more structure and intentional rest into my schedule.
2) Re: LSAT I took it four times (2 cancels, a 158, then most recently a 171). The first time I was in a car accident before the test (canceled), second time there was 3 hour start delay (scored a 158), the third time was an lsat flex with proctor interruptions and mid-test technical problems (canceled). I finally had an uninterrupted test in November 2020 and scored a 171. Should I write an addendum for the 13 point jump?
3) In addition, is it too late to submit applications now (I’m mostly done with all required essays, but I’m just polishing them up)
Thank you so much in advance!
Dave Killoran says
Hi Ann,
Thanks for the message! A few thoughts here:
1. I don’t see this as necessary. they’ll see the trend and sub-GPA.
2. I would write an addendum here (and knowing this was likely to happen made me less likely to recommend a GPA addendum, fyi; you don’t want too many addenda if you can help it).
3. Nope, not too late at all! Every school is still accepting them 🙂 Better to put your best foot forward as opposed to showing up early not ready to go.
Thanks and good luck!
Aimee Grainer says
Makes perfect sense. Thanks so much!
Happy New Year!
Aimee Grainer says
Hello! Thank you so much for this post and all your other brilliant resources. As an “older” (32) law school applicant, I am particularly grateful for the assistance getting my head back into the academic game.
I wanted to ask about two possible addenda: 1) Re: extracurricular history in high school and college, and 2) Re: LSAT.
For 1) I didn’t have an active extracurricular resume, as I am sure many accomplished law school students did. My family is poor; I worked multiple jobs to make ends meet throughout both high school and college. In high school, I applied to a magnet school a couple hours from my home, in larger part to combat my family’s circumstances. The busing routine required to make this work precluded taking on much in the way of after-school activities. I was an excellent student academically. I do talk through my background in my “diversity statement,” but do not address how it sometimes prevented me from taking on extracurricular activities. Lastly, I have been in the workforce for 10 years and I have had a successful career. Do I need to address my lack of extracurriculars as a student?
2) I read all of the previous comments and your replies (thank you), and it sounds as though I should avoid writing an LSAT addendum if I can help it. At what point is it required or expected? What kind of score differential would raise an eyebrow, if it weren’t accompanied by an addendum?
Thanks so much for your time.
Dave Killoran says
Hi Aimee,
Thanks for the message! I’m so glad we could help you so far 🙂
Let’s take a look at your two questions:
1. I want to start at the end here, with “Do I need to address my lack of extracurriculars as a student?” — Good news here, the answer is No. That’s ten years ago, and frankly they don’t much care at this point. You’ve presumably been doing things in the last ten years that build up a stronger EC roster, and that’s what to focus on. Side note for any other readers: you NEVER have to talk about high school ECs in a law school app 🙂
If you did want to address it, however, I think a passing sentence in your Diversity statement would suffice!
2. The point in writing one is to explain something that would raise a natural question. So, for example, small LSAT jumps don’t merit an explanation. Two normal takes that result in a 161 and then a 168 will be presumed to be the result of more studying and a better day, and that’s fine. Now, if the 161 was partially caused by technical issues on the Flex test, I would likely be inclined to let law schools know that. In other words, if things were normal, ignore small gains or decreases (which means you also don’t have to explain a 171 followed by a 168). If something notable is in play, then the merits of writing one go way up.
What’s the point where—under normal circumstances—it becomes likely that you need to write one about your increase? Well, that depends. It used to be anything double-digits was likely worth an addendum, but that’s not so much the case these days. And that’s especially true if the explanation is “I studied more.” I tell our students to avoid those like the plague since it clearly but unintentionally indicates you didn’t take the test seriously enough the first time around! So, a 10 point increase under normal conditions wouldn’t be enough. I feel like it’s going to take about 12 points or more in order to compel an addendum, but again that’s under normal circumstances. If something weird happened that cause your issues, then that number drops way down from 12.
In other words, the answer here is it depends on the nature of each testing administration, as well as how big the point differential is.
I hope that makes sense! Thanks!
Becca says
Hello!
I’m having trouble finding resources about writing an addendum addressing a gap in resume. I left my job in March to move to another state for my wife’s career, and then decided to apply to law school…it coincides with Covid19 but I wouldn’t say the gap in my resume is due to the pandemic (I’ve used the move to reevaluate my career trajectory and have been financially fortunate enough to use this time to study for the LSAT, provide child care for full time family friends, and prep my applications). Thoughts?
Dave Killoran says
Hi Becca,
Thanks for the question. Why not just focus on this part: “I left my job in March to move to another state for my wife’s career” ? That’s a viable explanation, and if you wanted to combine that with the pandemic you can, but you don’t have to. Moving to support your spouse–and doing the required family things that go along with that–are a completely valid reason to have a gap, especially if you did it knowing you were making a change (a sort of “free year” where you can spend time in your life and with family in a way you can’t normally do). Your situation is not a weakness, but a strength, and is akin to a sabbatical (although child care is no vacation, that I know).
Thanks!
Angelica says
Hello! I have a 3.82 GPA from a tier 1 university. My LSAT score is a 164. I was wondering if I should write an addendum based on my LSAT score. When applying for undergrad several years ago, I scored a 1840 on the SAT which was close to the average for my class at the tier 1 university. However, with my GPA of 3.82 I graduated magna cum laude (90th percentile). Some law school applications offer an addendum if we have a history of standardized tests under-predicting our academic success, and to include a copy of the prior score. I believe this is the case for my LSAT score. Would you recommend that I write an addendum for this? Thank you!
Jon Denning says
Hi Angelica – thanks for posting!
I’d say an addendum could be warranted here under certain circumstances. The first that comes to mind where that 164 puts you relative to your target schools’ medians, where I wouldn’t write/submit one if you’re at or above midpoints I don’t think, but if you’re under the 50th then it becomes a much more reasonable decision. Secondly, if you’re applying to schools that directly specify they take past standardized test results into consideration and prior academic achievement speaks to what you feel is more potential than scores alone, that’s a pretty solid case for an addendum, as well.
In short, it’s really all about context and school policy–some schools wouldn’t want the extra paperwork for a 164 and excellent GPA; others clearly might. So those are factors in play imo
Lastly, you’ve got an incredible set of credentials, and with an LSAT score even 3-4 points higher (which I think you could attain, especially if the 164 is your only attempt) you’d be in a far better position, certainly with no need for the addendum. So if it’s me I’d also be looking at a retake, likely in February given deadlines. That could be the difference in maybe not getting in where you’d like to go vs five-figure scholarship offers and more reliable acceptance outcomes. So if you *can* take the LSAT again I’d urge you to consider it!
I hope this helps!
Nicole Perez says
Hello!
I am not sure if I should write an addendum for my GPA. It took multiple dual enrollment courses during high school and did not do well. I was dealing with my parent’s divorce and my house being sold. However, once I was in college I graduated with a 3.89 GPA. But, LSAC calculated it to a 3.66 because of my dual enrollment credits.
PowerScore Test Prep says
Hi Nicole,
Thank you for your comment. In your case, we would absolutely recommend writing an addendum! With a discrepancy that large, law schools should at least be notified that you obtained a 3.89 while in college and that it was the high school classes that unfortunately knocked your GPA down to 3.66.
So be sure to follow the advice given in this blog to make certain that your addendum is effective. We also offer Law School Admissions consulting and you can find more about our packages here: https://www.powerscore.com/lsat/law-school-admissions/.
Thanks!
Alyson says
Greetings,
I am really unsure whether or not I should write an addendum for my LSAT scores. The first time I took it I got a 147, the second a 154, and unfortunately the third a 147 again. I was honestly surprised because my PTS for my last exam (Oct. Flex) were an average of 158-160. The October Flex was not a good experience as I was interrupted by the proctor about two times. However, I did not not cancel because I figured it wasn’t that big of a deal. I don’t really have any excuse other than the fact that standardized tests have not be indicative of my ability to succeed in school. I am worried that admissions will be skeptical of my 154 because of the most recent 147. I don’t know if I should explain my Flex experience or just suck it up and apply without explaining the score drop.
I have a 3.9 GPA, strong recommendation letters, a compelling personal statement (according to my professors), and several undergrad legal work experiences. In case that matters. Please let me know. Thanks!
PowerScore Test Prep says
Hi Alyson,
Thanks for the question, and we’re sorry to hear about the proctor issues you experienced on test day. However, we typically think an addendum is unnecessary except in more extreme cases.
Please keep in mind that the ABA (American Bar Association) requires schools to report only the highest LSAT scores of students, regardless of how many times they have taken the test. What this means is that since schools only report their students’ highest LSAT scores to the ABA, all law schools only consider an applicant’s highest LSAT score. Yes, schools will see all of your scores if you have multiple retakes, but in the end, it’s the highest number that’s reported so it’s the highest number that matters.
Thank you!
Dave Killoran says
Hi Alyson,
I wanted to add a comment here. First, I’m sorry this happened, but I truly hope you are planning on taking the LSAT again. Your prior average was solidly higher, and with your GPA you really want a higher LSAT score to not only open the door to better offers but to unlock higher scholarship offers as well.
Second, if you can retake and score higher, then I would actually add an addendum that simply notes you had been progressing well with your studies but that the October LSAT had technical problems for you which compromised your results, and that your most recent results are more indicative.
Thanks!
Jennifer says
Hi Dave,
Thank you so much for your response! I won’t be writing an LSAT addendum. (Also your and Jon’s LSAT podcast really helped calm my nerves throughout the whole transition to LSAT-Flex. I listened every week up until I finished my LSAT journey. I am forever grateful for that resource.)
Thanks again!
Jennifer says
Hi! Thank you for this helpful post. I took the LSAT 3 times. The first time I got a 165, the second time a 168, and the third a 173. I took the test about 2 years ago and knew I could score better. I took some more time to study and re-took the LSAT in May (LSAT-Flex) and had an unexpected hour delay before getting a proctor. That delay definitely threw me off, and I had a feeling that would be reflected in my score. I signed up for the June LSAT-Flex test where I ended up scoring the 173, which was in my practice test range. Because there was a 5-point score jump within a month and a half, should I write an addendum for this increase? Also, what are your thoughts on reaching out to individual schools to ask their opinions on writing an LSAT addendum?
Thank you for all your help!
Jennifer says
To clarify–I took the first test (where I got the 165) about 2 years ago.
Dave Killoran says
Hi Jennifer,
Thanks for the message! I wouldn’t write one here–it’s fairly clear to me just looking at your history that you retook the test on the belief you could do better each time, and then successfully did so. Your score record presents no red flags or uncertainties, and so I don’t believe any school will be wondering why you took it three times, or why you took it over a few years. It stands on its own merits and doesn’t raise any questions, so I don’t see the need for an addendum.
Thanks!
Rebecca Temkin says
Hello! Thanks for this helpful post. I have a 3.7 GPA from an Ivy League school, and I took the LSAT 3 times. The first time I got a 154, the second time a 164, and the third a 168. I was told by at least one school that I need to write an addendum, however, I’m struggling with the right language to explain my massive score jump. In reality, I was in a PhD program that I was planning on dropping out of, and I was trying to balance studying for the LSAT while also doing all of my normal grad school work, although I don’t feel like this is a hood enough “excuse.” Another reason is that I just didn’t give myself enough time to study, and the other scores are the result of many months of studying + a prep course. Can you help me figure out what kind of language to use for this problem? In addition, I was on the dean’s list every semester of college except for 1 semester where my GPA dropped to a 3.2. I don’t have much of an explanation here, except for the fact that I was taking really hard classes that were outside of my major. Do I need to write something about my GPA, or should I keep it to my LSAT?
Thank you!
Jon Denning says
Hi Rebecca – thanks for reaching out! Yours is an interesting situation, in that normally I wouldn’t recommend an addendum for someone with your scoring history/trajectory: you’ve shown what I, and from my experience schools, would consider to be a typical-enough improvement that supplying an explanation or clarification of it is generally unnecessary. That’s not to say what you’ve achieved is common! Just that it’s not alarming/unusual enough that I’d think a school would want more information.
Regardless, since a school has asked for an addendum let’s discuss how to tackle it.
Two key things occur to me straight away: (1) as you note, you don’t want it to sound like you’re making excuses or being self-critical about the early results, and (2) you likely don’t want to overemphasize (or even mention, potentially) the beneficial impact of an outside source, like a prep course, as it’s better to attribute growth to your own diligence and self-sufficiency. So keep it simple: frame it as taking the test at the outset and realizing that with additional time and study you knew you could improve, and then committing yourself to doing just that. You continued to study and retook the LSAT leading to a 10-point gain, but were still confident that your potential was greater so you kept at it and reached your goal. That doesn’t paint any of the earlier performances in a negative light, nor does it make it seem like you underachieved. Rather, you continued to study and improve until you had a score that reflected your true aptitude. (You’ll want to use your own words/language to express all of that, of course, but that’s the message to convey)
As for your GPA, a 3.7 doesn’t require any explanation, especially if (as you mention) there isn’t some reasonable circumstance that you could point to. So I wouldn’t worry about that.
I hope that helps!
Rebecca Temkin says
Thanks Jon! Definitely helpful, and I was also surprised that they said I needed to write an addendum. I’ll maybe speak to someone on the phone to get another opinion to check, since you think a 14 point jump is not so unusual as to merit an addendum.
Thanks again!
Luke says
Hi there,
I was just curious about the effect that withdrawals have on admission decisions. I have a 3.88 gpa and I scored a 169 on my first LSAT which I’m happy with. I do have 4 W’s on my transcript though, they’re not punitive, however, and I dropped half of them because I changed my major. Is this worth including on an addendum or are W’s not that big of a deal? Thanks!
Dave Killoran says
Hi Luke,
If those were spread out over time, no need for an addendum. If they were all concentrated in one or two semesters, then a simple explanation would make sense, and help answer any questions that the committee might have 🙂
Thanks!
Meghan says
Hello!
Thank you for the informative post. I am trying to decide whether to write an addendum addressing my low LSAT score. I took the LSAT for the first time in June (which was administered online as the LSAT-FLEX due to COVID-19), and although I consistently scored 160+ on practice exams, I scored a 155 on test day. I was supposed to start my exam at 11:30am, but I had technical issues connecting to a proctor and ended up dealing with IT technicians for an hour and a half. It was an incredibly stressful experience and totally threw me off before I was finally able to write my exam. My GPA is above 3.7 and I have extensive work and research experience post graduation… Do you think this is something is something law schools would understand? Or would I be better off to find the time to retake the exam? Thank you for your consideration!
PowerScore Test Prep says
Hi Meghan,
Thanks for the question, and we’re sorry to hear about the technical issues you experienced on test day. However, we typically think an addendum is unnecessary except in more extreme cases (e.g., a very low GPA, a semester with sub-par grades in an otherwise great transcript, a rash of failed or withdrawn classes, etc.).
Given that your score is below your results on practice tests and you experienced factors that certainly affected your performance in a negative way, we definitely recommend finding the time to retake the LSAT. The LSAT is the single most important factor in your application, law schools only care about the highest score, and test takers can take the LSAT three times per testing cycle, so it is certainly worth your time to prepare again for the test. Feel free to take a look at our blog here for more information on retaking the LSAT: Should You Retake the LSAT?.
Thank you!
Trevor says
I jumped from a 168 on my first LSAT attempt to a 177 on the second one, largely because I underestimated the amount of time needed to study during the first go round. I have a 3.77 UGPA from an Ivy League school. Would you recommend writing an addendum to explain this 9pt increase? Given the large jump, I’m slightly concerned that admissions officers at the top schools will see the 177 as an abberation.
Dave Killoran says
Hi Trevor,
Thanks for the message. That’s actually not how they look at it. 177 simply doesn’t happen due to an aberration or accident. If you do this long enough you learn that, and law schools know that to be true 🙂
I would not recommend writing an addendum because even though the point jump is decent, the percentile jump isn’t, and it will be clear why you took it twice. Plus, your explanation as stated actually reflects badly on you–it suggests you didn’t do prior research to inform yourself sufficiently of how the test or process worked. So, for me, ride the 177 and don’t try to explain something that doesn’t need explaining 🙂
Thanks!
Stephanie says
Hi there!
I know I will need to write an addendum, however I wanted some advice on if law schools would understand my situation. I started off a little rocky at my community college but by my last three semesters I made straight A’s. I transferred to a state university, but unfortunately I failed three classes and withdrew from the other one because I was in a bad situation in an abusive relationship. I was withdrawn from the university, and started online school where I had a rocky first trimester but have gotten straight As since. Every other class (only two) I have failed I have retaken, but was obviously not able to do so at that institution. Is this a situation admissions committees would understand?
Thanks for your time.
PowerScore Test Prep says
Hi Stephanie,
Thanks for your post! Yes, you would want to write an addendum addressing the situation you described below: explain what happened, take responsibility, and indicate what you have learned from the situation and that your retake grades are more indicative of your performance. This will help admission committees understand your situation! There is no definite answer on how admissions committees will look at this scenario, but a well-presented addendum alongside an otherwise stellar application (a high LSAT score, outstanding letters of recommendation, a compelling personal statement, etc.) will definitely sway the odds in your favor!
Thanks!
Kay says
Hello!
I cannot decide if I should write an addendum, or just include it in my personal statement – primarily because I do not find my situation to be regrettable or a mistake, but it may be questionable to a committee.
After one year in an art history PhD, I dropped out to pursue law school. This decision was due to various reasons, but primarily because of the failing academic covid19 job market and an interest to do more impactful work for the here-and-now. I was not academically suffering – in fact I received a 4.0 that entire year, and my PhD professors are extremely supportive and are writing my recommendation letters. Moreover, I am pursuing law in the hopes of practicing art law – thus, still within the field, but adjacent.
Would you advise to write the circumstances of this leave in an addendum? Or address it in the personal statement?
Thanks in advance!
Dave Killoran says
Hi Kay,
Thanks for the question! I actually think you could go either way, meaning this is more about execution than anything else. the key for me is whether your personal statement can include this info without it being a detour, piecemeal, or in any way negative. So, if it fits in perfectly with what you planned to write about, go for it. But, if you are trying to shoehorn it in, then I’d move to an addendum and put it there. Should it be addressed? Yes, because it raises a natural question about why you moved to law, and that needs to be answered.
I hope that helps. Thanks!
ritozeh saingbe says
Hi,
Thanks for the post. I have a follow up question. I graduated from Syracuse in May of 2019. After graduating, I took 2 classes in a non-degree, non-certificate manner at Fordham University, that have nothing to do with my interest in Law School. I just registered for the Feb. LSAT and I’m currently compiling application materials. Do the 2 classes from Fordham NEED to be submitted too? Are there any repercussions for not submitting them?
Dave Killoran says
Hi,
Thanks for the question! Based on work I’ve done in the past, I’d say these still need to be reported. However, please call LSAC and double-check because regulations change all the time!
the currently printed rules read as follows:
Required Transcripts
Law schools require transcripts from the following institutions you have attended:
community colleges
undergraduate and graduate institutions
law, medical, or professional institutions
institutions attended for summer or evening courses
institutions attended even though a degree was never received
Technically that last item applies to you, and so they’d likely say you need to have them submitted. the penalty? If you are found to not have complied with disclosure requirements you can be disbarred once you are a lawyer. That’s not highly likely though, but you might run into C&F issues trying to get into the bar.
Note: this is not legal advice, and in any event we strongly advise you to disclose all classes taken at all institutions.
Thanks!
Lucas says
Hi! Thank you for the helpful post. I have a 171 LSAT but a 3.14 GPA from my degree school (3.25 when combined with a semester at a community college). I also have been out of school working for nearly 4 years. I can honestly say I just handled undergrad immaturely, but it doesn’t reflect my current work ethic or approach to education. Is this something you would suggest not including in an addendum or could being honest about handling undergrad in a way you regret be a positive?
Thank you!
PowerScore Test Prep says
Hi Lucas,
Thank you for your question. Please note that you are what is called a “splitter.” A splitter is a person with a high LSAT score and a low GPA. We generally think addendums are unnecessary except in more extreme cases (e.g., a very low GPA, a semester with sub-par grades in an otherwise great transcript, a rash of failed or withdrawn classes, etc.), so your case usually wouldn’t qualify. Low GPAs often come with some cause for the low grades that can be used to create a compelling personal statement instead. Feel free to check out our blogs on traditional splitters and splitter-friendly law schools below!
https://blog.powerscore.com/lsat/what-are-law-school-splitters-reverse-splitters-super-splitters/
https://blog.powerscore.com/lsat/which-law-schools-are-splitter-friendly/
Thank you!
Max P says
Thanks for the post. I have two “negatives” on my resume (although neither are terribly bad). I have a 3.92 GPA, an honors student, getting around 168-170 practice LSAT, etc. However, I have withdrawn from 3 classes over the course of 9 semesters, the first two classes I was deciding whether or not I wanted to pursue that specific major (Econ), and the third one was a language, and I dropped it because I had a job offer and I could take another language during my school’s winter semester.
My other negative was during my first semester; I had a 2.7 GPA because I kept getting sick (I had mono and strep throat over the course of 8-10 weeks). My grades dropped because I took 8 A.M. classes every day and often couldn’t go to class. However, this was my first semester and on my transcript it shows that this was clearly an anomaly. So for my question (sorry it took this long lol), should I write 1 addendum on both of these issues, 2 separate addenda, or should I not worry? Thank you in advance!
Dave Killoran says
Hi Max,
Thanks for the question! This is an easy one: write a single addendum that focuses solely on the 2.7 semester, mainly because you have an excellent and reasonable excuse for it. The 3 withdrawals are simply not notable enough or even a concern that would require an addendum or any comment so don’t worry about mentioning that.
Thanks!
Kyra says
Thank you for this post! I’m not sure if I should include an addendum or not. I took the LSAT three times. The first time I cancelled, second time I got a 156, and the third time I got a 162. There weren’t any significant issues going on like family issues or illness, I just changed up my studying habits and that led me to my 162. Is that something that should be addressed?
PowerScore Test Prep says
Hi Kyra!
Congrats on your score increase! Our advice here is no addendum. Schools will treat you as a 162, and take note of the fact that you made a 6-point improvement as the result of (presumably) hard work and dedication, two highly-desirable attributes in the eyes of an admissions committee.
Thank you!
Kole says
Hello, I have a 142, 148, and a 159 on my lsac record. Should I write why there is a 17 point difference between my first and last scores? The first two scores were over a year ago, when I had bad family problems going on and once those subsided I was able to get a better handle on the LSAT and study regularly . My Ugpa is 3.77 and my Graduate gpa is 3.7x currently enrolled (Applied Economics).
Thank you.
Dave Killoran says
Hi Kole,
Yes, I think if you can give them some further details about what was happening, it will let them ignore those early scores with a clear conscience (they would anyway, but if you can eliminate an obvious question with a good explanation, why not do it?).
Thanks!
Jena says
Hello! This post was very informative, thank you! I have a 3.99 from my undergrad degree but a 3.36 from my graduate degree due to two Cs that I got in a term where family issues took over my time. Would this low GPA in my graduate degree warrant an addendum? Will explaining the family issues– even in a matter-of-fact way– still be viewed as making an excuse? How would you suggest approaching that– if at all? Thank you so much for the insight!
Dave Killoran says
Hi Jena,
Yes, I’d write one since you have a viable excuse as to your grades there. The good news: they don’t care much about grad school grades, and once they see a viable explanation, they will focus almost solely on your undergrad GPA, which is excellent. So a win for you in this case!
Good luck!
Nasharra says
I’m wondering if I should write a GPA Aaddenda . My GPA is a 2.57 from LSAC (2.67 non-LSAC) but i was a biology major at the beginning of college so i had a lot of C’s, D’s and a few F’s that i didn’t retake upon changing my major due to no longer needing the classes as well as dual credit i took in high school . I do have a masters degree with a 3.69 GPA. So is this something i should explain ?
Dave Killoran says
Hi Nasharra,
This is a tough question to answer, in part because how you execute an addendum here and what you say will fully determine the impact. and that impact could be good or bad. On the one hand, you are drawing attention to a negative, but this is also a negative that likely needs explaining. That’s a point for writing one. That said, you need to have a good explanation for what happened aside from the classes didn’t interest (because “what if law doesn’t interest you?” is what the schools will think). Schools will expect a compelling explanation for low grades, and that can be very difficult when there are multiple low grades like this. So that’s a point against writing one.
Overall, I think it needs explaining but you need to do an excellent and engaging job of telling the law schools why they should downplay your GPA. That should be your focus.
Good luck!
Rebecca says
Hi! Thanks for this post. I think I have a solid undergrad gpa- 3.7-from an Ivy League school and I’m currently in a grad program with a 4.0 average. I’m taking the LSAT in a week and, although I can’t fully predict what I’m going to get (hoping for the best!) I’ve been consistently scoring about 8 points below what I think I need to be comfortably in the range of my top school. Do you think they would appreciate and addendum to explain that I’ve been studying for the LSAT while also fully enrolled in a graduate program and teaching? Or is that too much of an excuse?
PowerScore Test Prep says
Hi Rebecca!
While the answer here will really depend on your LSAT score, working while being enrolled in school full-time will not be seen as an extenuating circumstance and may instead reflect poorly on your time management skills. If your LSAT score does turn out to be relatively low compared to your GPA, it may be best to explain why your GPA is a better reflection of your academic abilities and indicator of you being successful in law school. For example, you could point out substantial research and writing experiences you gained during your time in undergraduate and graduate school.
Thank you!