My Dad's Been Deported — Should I Attach Documentation to My GPA Addendum?
Hi Anna, During my sophomore year my dad was arrested by the United States immigration and deported which affected my focus and therefore my gpa during that period. I wrote about this in a gpa addendum, should I also try to get a letter from ICE if possible as proof of his deportation, for admission to the bar? Or is it not necessary?
I'm sorry to hear about your dad. That's rough for you, too. I wouldn't attach documentation to your applications — it should suffice that you explain what happened in your own words in your addendum. If admissions officers want more information or documentation (which is unlikely), they'll follow up with you to ask for it. Do hang onto the documentation for your own records, though. You never know when you might need it.
I hope that helps.
Former Dean of Admissions at the University of Chicago Law School and a recovering lawyer, Anna Ivey founded Ivey Consulting to help college, law school, and MBA applicants navigate the admissions process. You can find more admissions tips in The Ivey Guide to Law School Admissions, downloadable as an e-book. Join the conversation here in the blog comments and on Twitter and Facebook, or email us a new question for the blog.