Low GPA - Disclose ADHD

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Low GPA - Disclose ADHD [#permalink]

28 Jan 2013, 09:22

I graduated from undergrad in 2007 with around a 2.7 GPA. I very much would like to attend a top-10 MBA Program, if at all possible. Would it be worth mentioning that I recently discovered that I have ADHD, which is a substantial reason for my poor grades? My hesitancy is that if I include an addendum about ADHD, I don't want my application to be labeled as "another underachiever who is trying to explain away their grades using ADHD."

When I discovered I had ADHD my last year of undergrad, I was able to earn a 3.7 GPA for that year. Furthermore, I will be graduating from law school (top-40 school) cum laude this semester; I was able to pull cum laude even though I was working full-time throughout school and co-founded a company that has raised $2MM in venture capital. These facts demonstrate great improvement, much of which is due to symptom management.

Lastly, I do have a "fall-back" - I was a two-sport varsity athlete (Track and Football) at a major D-1 university. My thought is that if ADHD should not be mentioned, at least I can say I used to be a dumb jock; good or bad idea?

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Re: Low GPA - Disclose ADHD [#permalink]

29 Jan 2013, 10:01

It's a very good question. On the one hand, it is certainly something which can explain things well, on the other hand, my feeling is that sometimes the reaction may be a bit of eye-rolling. I do like however your story about how things changed once you discovered (I assume you mean you began to take medication or perhaps taking some other action), and I think that if you weave that narrative, it may be a good idea to go ahead and write that. Just be wary of "making excuses" and even if you DO have a good reason, it's always a good idea to be courageous and take the blame fully upon your shoulders. (As well as proving your amazing potential for intellectual and academic success through other ways)
_________________

Jon Frank
Founder, Admissionado
http://www.admissionado.com
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Low GPA - Disclose ADHD

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Low GPA - Disclose ADHD

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