What Reviewers Look For in the Graduate — Academic Addendum
This rubric looks at whether your addendum clearly explains the specific part of your academic record the reader needs to understand. If the written question also asks about current preparation, it looks for a concrete basis for that claim, such as an action and what you learned or achieved. Keep the response focused on the field’s question rather than turning it into a full statement of purpose or personal history.
Graduate — Academic Addendum review
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What We Check
Whether the answer resolves an identifiable question about the applicant’s academic record or academic path.
Current academic preparedness only when the supplied question requests it.
Mistakes We Flag
- Leaving the affected record unclear
- Saying that your GPA does not reflect your ability does not tell the reader which part of your academic record needs context.
- Giving context without linking it to academics
- A difficult-period narrative may not help unless it explains the academic event or record it is meant to clarify.
- Replacing clarification with a generic growth story
- The field may ask for factual context about the academic record, not a broad account of personal growth.
- Claiming readiness without support
- When the question asks about current preparation, saying you are ready without a stated basis does not show how you are prepared.
- Listing titles without explaining their relevance
- A course or job title alone may not show the task, learning, or result that supports your preparation.
How this rubric reads your essay
- Built from published reader guidance — the sources are listed below.
- Scored per section against defined criteria, not general impressions.
- Calibrated for consistent scoring, so a better draft shows up in the score.
References
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to explain a hardship or write a recovery story?
No. An academic addendum is not automatically an adversity or recovery narrative. You may give bounded personal context if it is relevant, but the written question governs what you need to address.
Do I need to provide private details, a diagnosis, or supporting documents?
No. The review does not require you to identify a diagnosis, provide proof, or submit supporting documents. If the written question asks for context, answer that requested context without assuming you must disclose more personal detail than the question requires.
Should I discuss current readiness for graduate study?
Discuss current preparation only when the written question asks for it. In that case, an action and its learning or result can provide a basis; a future plan is not evidence already completed.
Is there a standard length or required format for every academic addendum?
No. There is no general word count or required recovery narrative for these responses. Follow the current instructions for the specific field; a page instruction alone does not establish a word limit.
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