Addendum + optional essays

[Nfontes93]

Hello,

I am working on applications now and I have a couple of questions:

1. Is it worth writing an addendum for LSAT scores in the low 160s? My GPA is much higher and I am concerned that my LSAT score will hold me back on some apps. What score is low enough? Also I am concerned about writing one and having it sound like an excuse rather than an explanation. Do you have any advice for how I should approach this statement if I do write one?

2. For the optional essays/addenda, are those generally recommended? I imagine that putting in the extra effort shows more interest, but please correct me if I'm wrong


3. For schools that ask for a diversity statement, should that essay be tailored to each school? For example, if I'm applying to BU and I submit a ds, does this need to be specialized for BU?

Thanks!

[Nikki Siclunov]

Hi Nfontes93,

Thanks for your questions. Let me address them one by one:

1. Is it worth writing an addendum for LSAT scores in the low 160s? My GPA is much higher and I am concerned that my LSAT score will hold me back on some apps. What score is low enough? Also I am concerned about writing one and having it sound like an excuse rather than an explanation. Do you have any advice for how I should approach this statement if I do write one?

If you have a high GPA and a low LSAT score, you'd be considered a Reverse Splitter. As we write on our blog:

A reverse splitter is a person with a low LSAT score and a high GPA. This is initially more problematic because high GPAs are relatively common, and each school has a different grading curve, so a high GPA at one school may not be equal to a high GPA elsewhere. The good news is that you can attempt the LSAT up to three times in any two-year period, so you can change this designation much more easily than if you are a traditional splitter.

I wouldn't write an LSAT addendum unless there are specific, extenuating circumstances that explain why your LSAT score is lower than expected, and not indicative of your potential to excel in law school. However, even if such circumstances do exist, admissions officers expect you to retake the LSAT. After all, there is no penalty for taking it multiple times. For this reason, LSAT addenda generally have little impact on your admissions chances. You are much better off re-taking the test and increasing your score, even by a few points.

2. For the optional essays/addenda, are those generally recommended? I imagine that putting in the extra effort shows more interest, but please correct me if I'm wrong

Applications differ in terms of what they ask you to do - many invite submission of additional essays, some actually require it. Typically, optional essays might ask you to articulate why you are applying to that school, or they might invite you to discuss parts of your background that would contribute to the diversity of the incoming class. (Michigan holds the record, I think: they offer eight optional essay topics, although you are restricted to picking two.)

No matter what the optional essay topics are, submit optional essays only if the following two conditions are both met: (1) you have something interesting to say on the subject and (2) you can write a persuasive story about it. You are much better off showing them one really great required essay on its own, than sending them a bunch of essays that detract from your application and from the impression you're trying to make.

3. For schools that ask for a diversity statement, should that essay be tailored to each school? For example, if I'm applying to BU and I submit a ds, does this need to be specialized for BU?

If people tailor a portion of their application to each school, they generally do that on the Personal Statement. Usually, 3/4 of the essay is the same for all schools; the last paragraph can be tailored to each individual school. If you do that, it’s imperative to explain precisely why you’re interested in XYZ school, and not generalize. Keep in mind that you don’t HAVE to tailor any section of your statement to the individual schools - I’ve worked with plenty of students who were able to get in having submitted the same exact essay to all schools.

As far as the diversity statement is concerned, this is an optional essay so see my response to your second question (above).

Hope this answers your questions!

Thanks,

[Nfontes93]

Thanks for your quick reply!

I actually did take the LSAT multiple times and with little luck in increasing my score further. I understand that my LSAT score will be a weaker component on my application, but I'm unsure how negatively my entire application will look as a result. Would you suggest that I don't write one? I don't have any particular explanation for it though I do have a history of weaker test scores on the SATs that were not indicative of my undergraduate performance.

[Nikki Siclunov]

Yeah, I see no reason to write about it. It won't be terribly helpful at all, and if anything it will draw more attention to a potentially red flag. Focus on the positive aspects of your application!

Thanks,