<p>I'm applying for graduate school sometime next semester (or in January). Several people (professors and others) have told me that I should write a short addendum to my application about the semesters that were affected by illness (four semesters, but three semesters mainly-- the three after my first freshman semester). The first two semesters I tried to tough it out (not a good idea), and my grades suffered...then that third semester I got so bad that I had to withdraw completely and have emergency surgery. (The withdrawals show up on the transcript.) </p>
<p>Other than the terrible grades in those two semesters, I've made only one C since then (if I remember correctly)...but the bad semesters were such that I can only recover so much (my gpa), even if I make all A's until I apply. I'm still very ill, but I'm trying to manage/plan my classes better to accommodate the disorders (they're pain disorders). </p>
<p>I'm not sure how I'm supposed to word it, and what to put in/leave out. Is there a site that can give me some tips, or have any of you done one?</p>
<p>This belongs in your statement of purpose. Keep it brief, mentioning that you had an illness that was eventually addressed by surgery. That's all.</p>
<p>This should be in your personal statement or statement of purpose depending on what the school asks for. As recommended you should keep this very very brief, I addressed a similar situation in one sentence! If you talk about it too much you sound defensive. You should emphasize your positives in your statements! You should also have your recommenders address your illness and your subsequent recovery and better progress in school in their letters. This backs up what you said in your statement, but again sounds less defensive than when coming from you. Like I said I had a similar situation, but my grades were not affected badly I mostly had lots of withdrawals and I have already had interview invites at top schools.</p>
<p>I have to write an addendum also. I got my associates at one school and didn’t get the best grades whereas when I finished school I graduated with a way better gpa. I didn’t have an illness it was really just being young and stupid but I sought help at my second school and that’s why I did better. Does anyone know how I should word “being young and stupid” for an addendum?</p>
How do they know about your illness? Did they know you before you had the illness?</p>
<p>Just wondering, since I’m in the same situation (except that I had untreated ADD that ravaged my GPA, and treatment got it up to a respectable range). But I’m not sure what to ask of my pressors.</p>
<p>I wrote an addendum as well. My reasoning, and the reasoning of others as well, was that you want to keep your SOP as positive as possible and outline your achievements. My addendum stated the difficulties I had gone through and how I overcame those difficulties.</p>
<p>My GPA is only 3.01 because of my poor 3 semesters, but I’ve been invited to 3 interviews at pretty good schools. The addendum demonstrated how I am able to rise above challenges, which is what grad school is all about.</p>