Addressing difficult personal topics

[RTchill]

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Apologies in advance for the novel

A little background on me:

Went to an Ivy League undergrad, URM, 3.0 cgpa/ 2.8 sgpa/ 32 MCAT (not taking into account post-bacc courses).
I've had 70+ hours of shadowing a DO, and will have a LOR from a DO.
I've been doing clinical trials research for about the past 3 years-specializing in brain stimulation techniques for treatment resistant depression (DBS, TMS, etc.)
Was a nationally registered and NH licensed EMT for 4 years
Have been volunteering with a women/childrens crisis center for the past year helping women in crisis navigate the healthcare system and any legal issues they need to address.
Had a couple of leadership roles in undergrad through my sorority and mentors against violence.

I had a semi-rough freshman year of undergrad, but steadily improved until senior spring, my very last term. It was due to a very difficult personal situation--I was assaulted and was not pro-active in taking care of myself afterward, was depressed for about 6 months which kept me up at night and in bed all day, just wanted to GTFO (meaning I didn't ask for help when I know I should have). Long story short-ish: ended up failing a class my last term and getting a D in another one...which resulted in my falling one credit short of graduating (and ruining my already not stellar gpa). I went home and considered doing a transfer credit to get my degree, but decided that would not be fulfilling for me and instead went back to my original undergrad university to do one last (super-senior) term, which I did very well in. I feel like I learned quite a bit from this experience (i.e. when to ask for help, how to take care of myself, that I'm not willing to settle for anything that won't fulfill me), but i'm terrified that this failed class is going to keep me out of medical school and that I don't really have a chance? Does anyone have any advice on how to approach something like this in your personal statement/interviews (if I can get one)? I'm mainly concerned that bringing up an assault will make me look like I'm searching for sympathy or that I'm making up a story...

Since getting my undergrad degree I have been consistently working in a job I love, that is very intellectually stimulating for me. I have also continued to take classes. I have taken physics II, orgo I/II, and Genetics since graduating and managed to get an A/A- in all of those. I'm hoping that will help me out?

ps-applying for fall 2016

Thanks everyone!

 

[RTchill]

Just bumping...has anyone had to deal with explaining any kind of late in undergrad, gpa destroying blip?

🙂

 

[nontrad78]

My GPA woes came early. You've got a really heartbreaking, compelling life event that coincides w your grade dip, it appears. You've got more than enough time for retakes to boost your a GPA way back up. If you retake all your science courses that are lower than B's, you'll probably have a fantastic chance. A DO letter, 70 hours w DO, 32MCAT, are all excellent, excellent pieces to have in hand.
All the best.

 

[costales]

It's almost never a good idea to use your PS to explain your performance. If what you experienced resulted in your helping others or something similar, I guess you could mention it. Otherwise, save it for the interview.

 

[RTchill]

It's almost never a good idea to use your PS to explain your performance. If what you experienced resulted in your helping others or something similar, I guess you could mention it. Otherwise, save it for the interview.

Thanks for the feedback, both of you. I was thinking it probably wouldn't be a good idea to talk about it in the PS, as I know I could make a much better PS writing about something totally different. I think that I can interview well, but am just very nervous about how to bring this up. Is it typical in interviews to get asked something like "I see you failed this class, what happened there?"

I guess I'm just mostly worried that I won't be given secondaries and interviews based on my failed class and the fact that I didn't graduate on time. It IS possible for people to fail classes and still get into med school, riiiiiight? **crosses fingers**
ps-this was not one of my BCPM classes

 

[FutureDrB]

@RTchill I think you should certainly talk about the situation to the extent you feel comfortable. Something traumatic like an assault is a valid reason for your GPA woes. (If your dog died or something...not valid.) I too went through a life-altering event that I discuss in my PS that effected me for years throughout school. Plus, the what other people have stated, and I agree, is that if a school holds something against you like that, it's not a place I would want to attend anyway.

 

[nontrad78]

Thanks for the feedback, both of you. I was thinking it probably wouldn't be a good idea to talk about it in the PS, as I know I could make a much better PS writing about something totally different. I think that I can interview well, but am just very nervous about how to bring this up. Is it typical in interviews to get asked something like "I see you failed this class, what happened there?"

I guess I'm just mostly worried that I won't be given secondaries and interviews based on my failed class and the fact that I didn't graduate on time. It IS possible for people to fail classes and still get into med school, riiiiiight? **crosses fingers**
ps-this was not one of my BCPM classes

Very much so. you can still retake those also. you should work on retaking some of your BCPMs though so that your sGPA gets pulled up. i've got a ton of hours overall, and retakes really positively affected my GPA. I'm sure you have much fewer hours than I do, and have an even better chance at increasing yours. Your secondaries will offer you plenty of opportunity to bring this up in a natural and dignified way. you'll see.

 

[DoctorKrieger]

Failing one class will not keep you out (that's why there is grade replacement). I would not mention the difficult circumstances in your PS. If asked in interview, I would personally keep it vague. Something like 'I was going through a difficult time in my life.' There's still a good chance you won't be asked about it in the interview (some schools do closed interviews, others do open). Don't worry too much about not getting in. Calculate your gpa with the retakes and determine if you need to retake a couple more. Every school wants to have an Ivy student, I bet you get plenty of interviews just because of that.

 

[RTchill]

Thanks everyone, this really helped calm some nerves 🙂

 

[hallowmann]

Thanks everyone, this really helped calm some nerves 🙂

You're fine. Check your GPA with retakes. Retake enough BCP courses (M doesn't count towards sGPA in AACOMAS) to get your GPAs above a 3.0 and apply broadly and early. You'll get in.

People have failed courses for all types of reasons. If you get asked say whatever you feel comfortable with saying. There is nothing wrong with being specific. I would steer clear of being too vague (i.e. just saying "difficult time") if you are explicitly asked it, but you don't need to say everything if you don't want to and would rather spend more time on your interview getting past it. Try to focus on how you overcame the experience (again though, only if you're asked about it).

 

[dcguthrie7]

Apologies in advance for the novel

A little background on me:

Went to an Ivy League undergrad, URM, 3.0 cgpa/ 2.8 sgpa/ 32 MCAT (not taking into account post-bacc courses).
I've had 70+ hours of shadowing a DO, and will have a LOR from a DO.
I've been doing clinical trials research for about the past 3 years-specializing in brain stimulation techniques for treatment resistant depression (DBS, TMS, etc.)
Was a nationally registered and NH licensed EMT for 4 years
Have been volunteering with a women/childrens crisis center for the past year helping women in crisis navigate the healthcare system and any legal issues they need to address.
Had a couple of leadership roles in undergrad through my sorority and mentors against violence.

I had a semi-rough freshman year of undergrad, but steadily improved until senior spring, my very last term. It was due to a very difficult personal situation--I was assaulted and was not pro-active in taking care of myself afterward, was depressed for about 6 months which kept me up at night and in bed all day, just wanted to GTFO (meaning I didn't ask for help when I know I should have). Long story short-ish: ended up failing a class my last term and getting a D in another one...which resulted in my falling one credit short of graduating (and ruining my already not stellar gpa). I went home and considered doing a transfer credit to get my degree, but decided that would not be fulfilling for me and instead went back to my original undergrad university to do one last (super-senior) term, which I did very well in. I feel like I learned quite a bit from this experience (i.e. when to ask for help, how to take care of myself, that I'm not willing to settle for anything that won't fulfill me), but i'm terrified that this failed class is going to keep me out of medical school and that I don't really have a chance? Does anyone have any advice on how to approach something like this in your personal statement/interviews (if I can get one)? I'm mainly concerned that bringing up an assault will make me look like I'm searching for sympathy or that I'm making up a story...

Since getting my undergrad degree I have been consistently working in a job I love, that is very intellectually stimulating for me. I have also continued to take classes. I have taken physics II, orgo I/II, and Genetics since graduating and managed to get an A/A- in all of those. I'm hoping that will help me out?

ps-applying for fall 2016

Thanks everyone!

I have based my personal statement on overcoming addiction and how it lead me to where I am today, and how I have learned from it. I have a few arrests as an adult, all misdemeanors but not great ones either. Not everyone will understand, but I just got two interview invites this week- so obviously some schools do. I think it is worth mentioning because they like to see that you have overcame difficulties, it is what they are looking for in terms of diversity, they want to know that you can bring unique characteristics to the school. I was afraid when using my past, it would seem like I was seeking sympathy as well. But don't make it a sob story, stick with the facts and what you've learned from it and you will be fine.

 

[dcguthrie7]

but also I used mine on my personal statement because it was one of the most life changing events I have been through. Many times the school will ask you on secondaries if you have anything you need to explain, or if there's anything else you want them to know about you. Perhaps if they ask what qualities you have, you can express resilience and use your experience as an example.

 

[Goro]

Concur. Many secondaries will have a prompt for this sort of thing. Don't try explaining it int he PS...that's for "Who am I"? and "Why Medicine"? Save explanations for interviews. You'd be most likely asked something like (your SR year is very unlike the rest of your transcript...what happened?"

@RTchill I think you should certainly talk about the situation to the extent you feel comfortable. Something traumatic like an assault is a valid reason for your GPA woes. (If your dog died or something...not valid.) I too went through a life-altering event that I discuss in my PS that effected me for years throughout school. Plus, the what other people have stated, and I agree, is that if a school holds something against you like that, it's not a place I would want to attend anyway.

 

[Prncssbuttercup]

If the assault doesn't pertain to why you are choosing to go into medicine, it should not be in the personal statement. You can put it in the 'do you have other comments' type sections in secondaries, but it does NOT belong in your PS unless it directly relates to why you are choosing to go into medicine.