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Joined: 22 Apr 2004
Posts: 1117
Given Kudos: 59
Location: Southern California
Schools:Kellogg MBA 2004
[#permalink]
19 Apr 2006, 17:49
You definitely want to explain the grade somewhere in your application. Just briefly explain what happened, and then emphasize the positive (the fact that you earned much better grades later on). You can use the optional essay for this.
However, if you've got something else that you really want to use theoptional essay for (e.g., writing about an important hobby or achievement that didn't fit neatly into another essay), then use the optional essay for the "positive" story that will help make your app more interesting. In this case, you can submit the explanation for your grade in a separate, BRIEF letter.
Scott