Do I mention my hardships on my personal statement?

[arbor_yves]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Hi all!

So I am currently a 3rd year undergrad, and I've realized I'm running out of time. There are a few things I need advice on. I have a GPA below 2.5 (yes I know this is very BAD) but at the rate I'm going now, I'll probably graduate just under a 3.0 or at a 3.0. What I mostly need to figure out is whether I should mention why I have been doing as bad as I am on my personal essay. I'm a recovering rape victim and also come from a "difficult" family background. I've had to deal with CPS before, my dad is literally mental, my mom is on and off suicidal, I depend on loans etc. I normally don't talk about this...ever, but I really want to become a doctor and I know there are other options besides applying as soon as I finish my undergrad. However, I am dedicating the entire summer to having a stellar MCAT score, and am hoping that plus all the usual volunteering/shadowing/work will help my GPA not be weighted as heavily. So, do I tell the admissions committee about what I'm going through, or stick it out and just do really well on everything else? I just really need some advice.

Thanks.

 

[Silverflash]

The personal statement is about your motivations (and, to a degree, qualifications) to be a doctor. If those hardships have heavily affected your desire to go into medicine, by all means mention them. Otherwise, there will always be a place to write about personal struggles and hardships on other essays (supplementary and secondary essays), and the issues you mentioned are great for such essays.

However, you shouldn't be worrying about your personal statement; you should be worried about your GPA. No explanation in a personal statement can make up for a 2.5, and a sub-3.0 GPA will get you screened out at most schools. I highly recommend that you retake classes you got a C or below on, get A's, and apply to DO schools. This may require entering into an SMP or post-bacc, but it's the most realistic option for you.

 

[Mad Jack]

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but adcoms tend to be leery of mental health issues. It's sad that such biases could exist in the medical profession, but they are a reality that you (and all of us who have non-physical health issues) must deal with. You're going to likely have to do a SMP. You shouldn't take your MCAT too early, as they expire and you won't have a good shot at admittance to a school until you have brought your GPA over a 3.4 (MD) or 3.2 (DO with grade replacement). Good luck.