worth explaining?

Any input on this would be super helpful! I'm debating whether or not to write an explanation statement about my academic performance.

So... my GPA was consistently around a 3.4 from firstyear through junior year, while working about 5-10 hrs a week. I think I've only had one B during that time, so my grades aren't bad or anything, but I was going through quite a bit of medical issues at that time. I had to be in bed a majority of the day, and I didn't get to go to a majority of my lectures for big chunks of my semesters.

I resolved said medical issue at the beginning of my senior year, and my GPA averaged almost a 3.9 for my last 2 semesters. This was while I was taking a heavier course load, and working about 18-20 hrs/wk. (AND job searching big time!)

My medical issue is completely resolved now, so though I don't want to disclose in my apps what that medical issue was, I don't think it should really raise any red flags (or will it?). I know my grades were totally fine during my first 3 years of college, but there was a marked improvement after I was treated and I think it's more reflective of what I'm capable of.

Should I mention this at all? My pre-health advisor says it might be better not to since it might just raise more questions since I didn't really have anything I had to explain away. I totally see her point, but I worked reeeaaally hard to get to where I was senior year and kind of wanted to highlight it. Do you think it's just something that only I really care about and that I should just let it go?

nyanko said:

That's a difficult situation, because a 3.4 is still a decent GPA, so trying to explain it could make you look a little bit...I don't know, pre-allo*, I guess? Then again a .5 jump in GPA is nothing to sneeze at, no matter what the scale of it is. Personally I agree with your adviser and think that your academic record will speak for itself, since schools do calculate the last 45/30 credits GPA as well. Particularly if you aren't inclined to directly disclose the nature of the medical issues to the adcom, it could raise more questions than it's worth.

Either way, good luck! Kudos for overcoming that kind of thing and doing so well. 🙂


*I use that as a descriptor here far too often.

Edit: How did you get a 3.4 with only 1 B??

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Thanks Nyanko! That's super helpful. I just really needed another pre-vetter's input on this one. I won't be writing an explanation statement (I was feeling too lazy to anyway... but I thought I'd ask everyone and do it if people felt strongly that I should).

How did I get a 3.4 with only 1 B?
It was because my transcript looked for the first 3 years like I was "the girl who just could not get an A." Lots and lots and lots of A- (3.67) and B+ (3.33).

jpeterman13 said:

I have the same problem. Even though they say that they don't discriminate, all of my doctors advise me NOT to write anything about my medical condition because it is resolved (even though I will be treated for the rest of my life). I think that people can subconsciously judge people based on condition "X". Once my condition became less severe, my grades increased from a 'B' average (like a 3.2 for my junior year) to all A's (3.93 my senior year). If it gets brought up in an interview, I will have to explain it and explain why I didn't write it in my app. Hopefully, if it does get brought up, it will look like I don't offer excuses. Which I don't really, I'm not writing anything in my explanation statement as of right now but that may change. I am hoping that the fact that I brought my GPA up from a 2.6 to a 3.26 with almost exclusively science/math courses will speak for itself.

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Well they can't ask you what exact condition you had. I think that's illegal. As long as you say that it's been resolved, and show that you are capable of doing well in vet school, that's all that matters.

Personally though, if I were in your position I would write an explanation statement. Otherwise, they'll just wonder why you had a 2.6 (and come up with watever wild theories they want to... though I'm sure you can clear it up later, but in terms of bias that might not be a good thing).

Had my GPA been lower than a 3.0 I definitely would have written an explanation statement given my particular circumstance. Like nyanko says, I just don't want to seem pre-allo-ey. No one likes pre-allo peeps. I cringe at the thought of being compared to one!😛

twelvetigers said:

Yes, pre-allos are a bit anal retentive, but I would like my doctor to be a bit anal retentive, wouldn't you? Let's not pick on them too much, lol. They freak out about tiny things just like we do.

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yep, that was a bit of a cheap shot at pre-allos. that was not very nice. and i definitely freak out about little things all the time... but i always share notes and try to be helpful... (can you tell i've had ssome carring experiences? even with some of my good friends who are pre-allo)

sumstorm said:

maybe it is differnces in schools you apply to. a 3.4 excludes you from NCSU as an OOS. So, for me, an explanation was necessary for a 3.4...also, you can get a 3.4 just as easily by having C's and A's, rather than B's and A's. If a school uses a GPA cut off they may not even check to see if your 3.4 was based on what combo of grades. I am also not certain every school examines last 45.

Actually, if the 3.4 was in the first 3 years, and the 3.9 was in the last year, hsouldn't the GPA be closer to a 3.5/3.6?

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Yep, my cumulative GPA was 3.58... which is why i feel really awkward explaining. Even if I didn't have any medical issues, I don't think anyone would've batted an eye at my transcript.

i've thought this out, and i think i'm going to leave the explanation out because the pros and cons of putting it there would be:

pros: adcoms might go "kudos for overcoming whatever **** you had going and for working hard" (but they be just as impressed without the explanation)

cons: adcoms might go "um... what issues could this girl have that she can't disclose? why did she not disclose???" and/or "how premed-ish. explaining away A- and B+ grades. not the type of character we'd want to accept"