explaining illness-related drop in grades in primary app?

[sav_b1]

Hi All!

I was wondering if anyone could give me some advice regarding my situation. During the first few years of my unergrad career, I underwent a serious illness that impacted my ability to perform in class. I didn't include this in my personal statement, because it honestly was not the most important factor in my decision to pursue medicine-- I had other motivations that I felt were critical to detail.

I know that most secondary prompts include a space in which to explain this kind of inconsistency in grades. However, I am afraid that I will be screened out of candidacy (due to my gpa) even before I get the chance to explain in the secondary.

Any advice? Thanks so much!

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[maplecookie]

You say it was your first few years right? So your last 2 years or so have high grades? How does that balance out in your GPA? As long your overall GPA is decent and you have a upward trend it should be ok (obviously this is without taking into account your MCAT and ECs)

 

[Goro]

Hi All!

I was wondering if anyone could give me some advice regarding my situation. During the first few years of my unergrad career, I underwent a serious illness that impacted my ability to perform in class. I didn't include this in my personal statement, because it honestly was not the most important factor in my decision to pursue medicine-- I had other motivations that I felt were critical to detail.

I know that most secondary prompts include a space in which to explain this kind of inconsistency in grades. However, I am afraid that I will be screened out of candidacy (due to my gpa) even before I get the chance to explain in the secondary.

Any advice? Thanks so much!

It will just off as making excuses. Don't do it.

 

[Catalystik]

Hi All!

I was wondering if anyone could give me some advice regarding my situation. During the first few years of my unergrad career, I underwent a serious illness that impacted my ability to perform in class. I didn't include this in my personal statement, because it honestly was not the most important factor in my decision to pursue medicine-- I had other motivations that I felt were critical to detail.

I know that most secondary prompts include a space in which to explain this kind of inconsistency in grades. However, I am afraid that I will be screened out of candidacy (due to my gpa) even before I get the chance to explain in the secondary.

Any advice? Thanks so much!

If your GPAs are that low, best to redeem them through more A-level coursework so you'll be above the cutoffs. Don't apply prematurely.

 

[sav_b1]

Hi @Catalystik and @Goro , thanks for the input! It is not such a bad situation that I think merits holding off on applying; @Goro , do you think I should not mention it at all? @YJEL , thank you as well! It was not SUPER bad. My first few years I was getting mostly As and Bs (3.4-3.5), and towards the end of my undergrad career I was getting 3.8-4.0 level work, the last two semesters finishing with solid 4.0s. My MCAT is extremely strong, and my ECs are quite good. Do you think I should give a brief explanation in my secondaries and continue to apply this cycle? My cGPA ended up around 3.7 and my sGPA around 3.5.

 

[Catalystik]

Hi @Catalystik and @Goro , thanks for the input! It is not such a bad situation that I think merits holding off on applying; @Goro , do you think I should not mention it at all? @YJEL , thank you as well! It was not SUPER bad. My first few years I was getting mostly As and Bs (3.4-3.5), and towards the end of my undergrad career I was getting 3.8-4.0 level work, the last two semesters finishing with solid 4.0s. My MCAT is extremely strong, and my ECs are quite good. Do you think I should give a brief explanation in my secondaries and continue to apply this cycle? My cGPA ended up around 3.7 and my sGPA around 3.5.

No, you're definitley not in the "super-bad" range. You have no need to explain, and no reason to call attention to a slight blemish. An "extremely strong" MCAT will help adcomms overlook your slightly low BCPM GPA.

 

[Goro]

Hi @Catalystik and @Goro , thanks for the input! It is not such a bad situation that I think merits holding off on applying; @Goro , do you think I should not mention it at all? @YJEL , thank you as well! It was not SUPER bad. My first few years I was getting mostly As and Bs (3.4-3.5), and towards the end of my undergrad career I was getting 3.8-4.0 level work, the last two semesters finishing with solid 4.0s. My MCAT is extremely strong, and my ECs are quite good. Do you think I should give a brief explanation in my secondaries and continue to apply this cycle? My cGPA ended up around 3.7 and my sGPA around 3.5.

The PS is for "why Medicine?" and "Who am I"? Any attempt to explain things simply comes off as excuse making.

Best to save explanations for specific secondary prompts, or interviews.

 

[THEBACKANDFORTH]

It will just off as making excuses. Don't do it.

If your GPAs are that low, best to redeem them through more A-level coursework so you'll be above the cutoffs. Don't apply prematurely.

Not hard to see that most who ask this question have a 2.7 sGPA