Academic discrepancies/extenuating circumstances

[snakeplantzz]

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Hey y'all, I know iterations of this have been asked a lot, but I just want to make sure. For secondaries that have a prompt regarding academic discrepancies or extenuating circumstances (like UTSW) should I respond? I have one "W" that was my first semester freshman year. I had to drop because I quite literally exhausted all resources available to students until a tutor told me that his questions were truly above the course level at which time I decided to drop. I re-took the next semester and got an A and I don't have any other grades lower than a B to discuss. I also received an IA the same semester for something very benign (nothing academic, no drugs/alcohol, stealing). This is already addressed in the primaries when they ask of course, but would I use this space to go more in depth about the IA or just leave it blank? Thank you so much!

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Welcome to the forums.

Could you be more specific with the prompts? When you said you discussed this in your primary application/s, can you be more specific how you did this: personal statement? TMDSAS essays?

 

[snakeplantzz]

Welcome to the forums.

Could you be more specific with the prompts? When you said you discussed this in your primary application/s, can you be more specific how you did this: personal statement? TMDSAS essays?

Yes! UTSW's prompt says: Please explain any academic discrepancies or extenuating circumstances that you feel the Admissions Committee should know. (Optional)
Or, McGovern's includes:
Please discuss one of the following:

• Any academic road bumps in your academic career (low academic performance, failing course, dropping/retaking of courses)

Basically any prompt asking about academic discrepancies or extenuating circumstances!

I addressed this in the primaries for TMDSAS/AMCAS in their Educational History sections where they each ask if you have ever been the recipient of any IA. I included the date, specific conduct violation, sanctions, and a brief reflection; however, I could certainly expand on it in a new essay with more words. It's not mentioned anywhere else in my applications, personal statement or otherwise.

 

[Goro]

Hey y'all, I know iterations of this have been asked a lot, but I just want to make sure. For secondaries that have a prompt regarding academic discrepancies or extenuating circumstances (like UTSW) should I respond? I have one "W" that was my first semester freshman year. I had to drop because I quite literally exhausted all resources available to students until a tutor told me that his questions were truly above the course level at which time I decided to drop. I re-took the next semester and got an A and I don't have any other grades lower than a B to discuss. I also received an IA the same semester for something very benign (nothing academic, no drugs/alcohol, stealing). This is already addressed in the primaries when they ask of course, but would I use this space to go more in depth about the IA or just leave it blank? Thank you so much!

This is NOT what the prompt is asking for

 

[Med Ed]

Agree with @Goro on this.

Applicants sometimes have bad semesters (or years) because of circumstances beyond their control. That is what these prompts are for. "My second semester of sophomore year I had to unexpectedly withdraw from all my classes because my father was sent to prison for pilfering opioids from the local orphanage."

Show that you understand this and leave them blank.