Hey Chautauqua - we agree with your admissions counselor, you need to explain this, to offset this significant weakness in your profile. Where you're falling down is that you haven't offered an explanation; it sounds more like excuses. There's nothing here that shows us why this should be a non-issue for the adcoms in reviewing your candidacy. It DEFINITELY doesn't read like a "turnaround" story, as you characterized it in your post title (no offense, but it just doesn't).
We have a bunch of posts on the
EssaySnark blahg about
low GPA and
optional essay - we point you specifically to this one to start with:
Low GPA + lots of leadership = optional essay?We also do free essay reviews here on GMAT Club - you may want to
submit an actual essay for consideration (what you posted here is not an essay, it's a dump of info).
(And sorry, have to ask: If you're using an admissions counselor, why are you also posting here for advice? They're supposed to be guiding you on this stuff.)
EssaySnark