Academic Probation

[gibsonkent]

To the PowerScore family;

I had a question regarding the applications as well as my addendum. I have a decent GPA and some academic achievements, yet due to personal matters, fell into academic probation for one quarter. It shows on my undergrad transcript, but did not translate over to my LSAC transcript.

Here is the question: Should I disclose that I was in academic probation on the college applications even though it is not on my LSAC transcript? And, if so, should this be something I address on my addendum?

Thank you in advance!

[Nikki Siclunov]

Hello,

Thanks for your question!

You are required to disclose any disciplinary action against you, including (and especially) something like an academic probation. Even if the probation did not "translate" over to your LSAC transcript, you must disclose it. Failure to do so poses significant short-term and long-term risks, and can even jeopardize your ability to pass the character and fitness test down the road when you take the Bar.

To answer your second question, yes - you need to explain why you were placed on academic probation. This is usually done by writing a short addendum, which is no longer than 2 paragraphs. Be brief and to the point: the goal is to give an account of the events that led to the probation, and - perhaps more importantly - dissuade any fears that this could happen again.

Hope this helps! Let me know