Low GPA:

If you still have at least one semester left, the solution to a low GPA is simple (if not always easy): get better grades in your last few semesters!

If you’re planning on going straight into law school out of college, and therefore applying at the beginning of your last year, keep in mind that your final year grades will likely not be considered in your application. If you think you’ll do better in your final year, it could be worth pushing your application and taking a gap year to have those grades count.

If your grades are set in stone, it might make sense to write a GPA addendum to explain anything that may have impacted your academic performance. The GPA addendum is a very optional statement - you should only write one if you have a specific, significant situation to explain. It should be as brief and direct as possible.

Some strong topics for a GPA addendum:

• Medical issues

• Family tragedies

• Learning differences

• Major personal challenges

Less strong topics:

• “I didn’t take school seriously before but now I do”

• Minor academic disagreements (“I thought I deserved a B+ but the professor gave me a B”)

• Any challenge or obstacle you could have easily avoided

Low LSAT Score:

9 times out of 10, I only have 1 piece of advice for people in this situation: take the test again. Even a couple extra points can make a massive difference in your admissions and scholarship outcomes. Because law schools mostly only care about your highest score, you’re risking very little with a retake.

If you find yourself stuck, you may be eligible for accommodations, which can take a lot of the pressure off for those who struggle with standardized tests.

If you’ve taken the LSAT at least 3 times, tried different study approaches, applied for/received accommodations, and still find yourself unable to break through, only then should you consider closing the book on your LSAT journey and writing an LSAT addendum.

Similar principles apply to the LSAT addendum as the GPA addendum: it should be brief, to-the-point, and should discuss the specific and unique challenges that made your LSAT score a less-than-accurate representation of your abilities.

Want to find out how your GPA and LSAT score will affect your admissions odds?