Failing Grade Addendum?

Graduate School Law School
1

<p>Hi all,</p>

<p>So I'm posting for a friend who refuses to make a post himself...forgive me if I don't totally understand the application process. I have a friend at Georgetown undergrad (3.4 GPA, 168 LSAT score) who received two failing grades while studying abroad. At Georgetown, study abroad grades do NOT factor into your overall GPA. </p>

<p>I know you send your transcript to a service that assembles a report summarizing your grades and your grade trends from year to year, in addition to sending a traditional transcript. My friend believes it's unlikely that these failing grades, which do not factor into his GPA, will appear on this report. If that's the case, the only issue will be how closely law schools look into the actual transcript itself-- and how much they care.</p>

<p>His pre law advisor told him to write an explanatory addendum saying he experienced personal problems while abroad that account for his bad grades. My friend is concerned that such an addendum would draw unnecessary attention to these grades, which may or may not even appear on the report. Should he write one, or not?</p>

<p>Help us out? Any information would be appreciated!</p>

2

<p>ALL grades must be reported. Your friend’s LSAC GPA – the service that compiles all grades – will take a HUGE hit with two failing grades. Since the LSAC GPA is the only one law schools care about, he definitely should write an addendum. However, it probably won’t help much for the T14, without a much higher LSAT score.</p>

<p>And btw: I hope the personal problems are a good story, and just not too much partying.</p>