Advice: School reached out wanting grade explanation...

[medmed21]

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Current applicant for this cycle. I'm sitting a no II and plenty rejections.
Anyways I sent in updates to schools I'm still in the running for. A school reached out thanked me for the update and asked me to explain some not so good past grades.
Is this a good sign?
I do have a compelling reason for the bad semester which I explained.
Are they considering me or am I reading to much into it?

 

[Nommonnom]

Current applicant for this cycle. I'm sitting a no II and plenty rejections.
Anyways I sent in updates to schools I'm still in the running for. A school reached out thanked me for the update and asked me to explain some not so good past grades.
Is this a good sign?
I do have a compelling reason for the bad semester which I explained.
Are they considering me or am I reading to much into it?

I've never heard of a school doing that, but they are definitely considering you. What were the grades, the rest of your grades (generally) and what school or type of school asked for this? You might want to post your explanation here or some paraphrasing of it if you want to run it by some people.

 

[Goro]

You're a pre-med, and thus always reading too much into it.

Just give what they want and hope for the best. At least they haven't rejected you outright, so you're still alive.

Current applicant for this cycle. I'm sitting a no II and plenty rejections.
Anyways I sent in updates to schools I'm still in the running for. A school reached out thanked me for the update and asked me to explain some not so good past grades.
Is this a good sign?
I do have a compelling reason for the bad semester which I explained.
Are they considering me or am I reading to much into it?

 

[medmed21]

I've never heard of a school doing that, but they are definitely considering you. What were the grades, the rest of your grades (generally) and what school or type of school asked for this? You might want to post your explanation here or some paraphrasing of it if you want to run it by some people.

it is a US MD school.
But the grades were D, C-, C in a math and 2 science classes. for one semester
My reasoning was a sudden death of a close family member and resuslting personal issues.
I have since done a DIY post bacc with 3.5 science and cumulative GPA

 

[medmed21]

Instead of worrying, speculating, hoping, dreaming, on their motivation, intention, and alike, just answer the question in a coherent, concise, and compelling way, and above all in a professional manner.



Schools will do this with applicants who have reached some priority level and/or have piqued the interest of an adcom who is trying to decide should they offer an II to. It isnt that common, but it happens on occasion

thanks for you input. I responded to the email within the hour of receiving the inquiry. Now that I'm in the waiting stage was just wondering others thoughts.

 

[Papa Oso]

I wouldn't sit too long on this. Have a well written letter why so as soon as possible.

 

[Nommonnom]

it is a US MD school.
But the grades were D, C-, C in a math and 2 science classes. for one semester
My reasoning was a sudden death of a close family member and resuslting personal issues.
I have since done a DIY post bacc with 3.5 science and cumulative GPA

It would be helpful to include specific things that negatively affected you, perhaps missing class for funeral time, supporting others in your family during the difficult time--particularly since this evidences a quality desirable in a physician, etc.

 

[medmed21]

It would be helpful to include specific things that negatively affected you, perhaps missing class for funeral time, supporting others in your family during the difficult time--particularly since this evidences a quality desirable in a physician, etc.

the email asked me to be very specific so I did include all of those details and what I've learned from that time period about myself and limitations etc.

 

[Goro]

I think that the gentleman from TX who made the quote actually used an earthier description.

Its better than a rejection. Anything else is pure speculation that has as much value as a bucket of warm spit (identify that quote from american history)

 

[Catalystik]

Current applicant for this cycle. I'm sitting a no II and plenty rejections.
Anyways I sent in updates to schools I'm still in the running for. A school reached out thanked me for the update and asked me to explain some not so good past grades.
Is this a good sign?
I do have a compelling reason for the bad semester which I explained.
Are they considering me or am I reading to much into it?

Someone is interested enough in the rest of your application to reach out for an explanation about the one semester that doesn't fit. I think it's a good sign, but it doesn't come with a guarantee just because one person goes to bat for you.