Explanation Statement Question

[onisteverina]

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So I have a question about the explanation statement. I understand that this is an optional section and to be used to explain special circumstances and breaks in study/work.... so here is my situation.

I started my undergraduate at a 4 year university.. after a quarter, I moved back home (only 30 minutes away) and went to a community college for approximately 1 year before going back to the same 4 year university to completely my undergrad degree. I left in the first place for multiple reasons... financial issues, unsure about my path and wanting to find some direction, etc etc. There were no breaks longer than 3 months in my studies, so I'm wondering if I should include anything in my explanation statement or not. Any thoughts on this would be greatly appreciated!

 

[LetItSnow]

So I have a question about the explanation statement. I understand that this is an optional section and to be used to explain special circumstances and breaks in study/work.... so here is my situation.

I started my undergraduate at a 4 year university.. after a quarter, I moved back home (only 30 minutes away) and went to a community college for approximately 1 year before going back to the same 4 year university to completely my undergrad degree. I left in the first place for multiple reasons... financial issues, unsure about my path and wanting to find some direction, etc etc. There were no breaks longer than 3 months in my studies, so I'm wondering if I should include anything in my explanation statement or not. Any thoughts on this would be greatly appreciated!

Were your grades generally stable? (One or two low grades don't count as unstable.)

If so, I wouldn't feel any need to give any details about it. I think you just risk raising red flags.

 

[that redhead]

If there weren't any big gaps (3 months sounds like typical winter/summer breaks) and your grades weren't all over the place, I'd don't think it's necessary to explain.

 

[onisteverina]

Thanks guys. My grades were stable throughout that time, so I'm thinking it is all good. Thanks for the responses.

 

[onisteverina]

So, when I posted this message I also sent the same question to be advisor. I'm currently in a post-bacc program and I am the only pre-vet this admission cycle. I get the impression that they have pretty minimal experience with pre-vet (main focus in pre-med), so I've had a hard time taking advice from them.

Here is his response, "I would simply explain what you have told me, emphasizing that in reality there was no interruption, but you did want to comply with an explanation regarding changing schools for that brief period."

I don't think he really understands the instructions.. or I don't. I think by not saying anything, I'm still complying with the instructions since there isn't any interruptions in study/work. My personal statement (still in progress) is going to mention I am a career changer, so I think I am addressing the changes in my career paths (undergrad was psych and then changed to pre-vet in a post bacc). GAAHHH such overthinking..

 

[LetItSnow]

So, when I posted this message I also sent the same question to be advisor. I'm currently in a post-bacc program and I am the only pre-vet this admission cycle. I get the impression that they have pretty minimal experience with pre-vet (main focus in pre-med), so I've had a hard time taking advice from them.

Here is his response, "I would simply explain what you have told me, emphasizing that in reality there was no interruption, but you did want to comply with an explanation regarding changing schools for that brief period."

I don't think he really understands the instructions.. or I don't. I think by not saying anything, I'm still complying with the instructions since there isn't any interruptions in study/work. My personal statement (still in progress) is going to mention I am a career changer, so I think I am addressing the changes in my career paths (undergrad was psych and then changed to pre-vet in a post bacc). GAAHHH such overthinking..

In the big picture, taking advice from some unknown person over the Internet probably shouldn't trump advice from a real, live "expert" (in quotes because in my experience many/most pre-vet advisers really don't have ANY actual useful knowledge .. they just work in student advising and the school needed someone to do pre-vet advising and they got handed the gig whether they like it or not) ...

... but that said, I believe you got bum advice.

There was no break in school and you didn't have some major life event that impacted your performance negatively that you need to talk about with the admissions people. So there's nothing to explain. Yer just another candidate with multiple schools on the application like many of the rest of us.

If you put some explanation in there, it's just going to possibly raise a red flag and make some committee wonder "why did she feel she needed to explain this?" (She... He... whatever.)

If it's really nagging at you, then the very best thing to do would be to call one or two of the schools to which you plan to apply and ask to talk to the Director of Admissions. Give them the same info you gave us and ask their advice/opinion. Don't be too intimidated to call; they are just normal people. 🙂

Don't feel bad about overthinking it. The application is a one-shot, big-deal kinda thing, so you want to get it right. Nothing wrong with that.

 

[Pomona2006]

If you put some explanation in there, it's just going to possibly raise a red flag and make some committee wonder "why did she feel she needed to explain this?"

I disagree.

The explanation area of the application is there for applicants to have an area to put in a few words that makes an application make more sense. Though the OP did not have any significant gaps or unstable grades, I still think it would be beneficial to explain the temporary change in schools as an admissions committee may be wondering what was going on at that time and would be left wondering that without any explanation. I personally think it will only benefit an applicant to provide an explanation.

 

[LetItSnow]

I disagree.

The explanation area of the application is there for applicants to have an area to put in a few words that makes an application make more sense. Though the OP did not have any significant gaps or unstable grades, I still think it would be beneficial to explain the temporary change in schools as an admissions committee may be wondering what was going on at that time and would be left wondering that without any explanation. I personally think it will only benefit an applicant to provide an explanation.

That's a fair view, even though I disagree. I think if I'm looking at their application I'm going to see steady grades coming from a few locations and think "Eh, whatever, the grades stayed strong." Then if they go to try and explain it I'm going to think "Oh wait... is there really something going on here I want to know about?" So suddenly I'm negatively focused (wondering what was wrong) instead of positively focused (hey look at these great grades).

But yeah, I think your position is reasonable, too.

I know when I applied the admissions director at UMN warned me to avoid bringing too much attention to things that could be perceived as negative (I had some pretty *outstandingly* bad historical grades - worse than anyone I've ever read about at SDN - and I had asked her how to approach it) or that could change the focus of the person reading the application. She said there's a balance between explaining something that genuinely needs explanation and raising red flags. I took that to heart, and I guess I pass that on as advice.

In my own experience hiring and firing people I find it to be true, too. If there's something the reviewer will notice as a problem, then you need to explain it. if it's not going to grab their attention (negatively), then you don't want to do it for them. If that makes sense.

 

[Pomona2006]

I agree that you don't want to draw attention to things that are negative regardless of the context (vet school applications, job applications, etc.). However, you must consider that these applications get scrutinized more than most job applications and things are not going to just slip under the radar.

A red flag would be raised if I saw a student, who just started college, left that college to go to a CC. I would wonder what prompted that change. If the reason that you changed was because your significant other went to the another school and you wanted to be with him/her or you just didn't like living away from home, then explaining that would be drawing attention to a negative, because those are not reasons that will get you into vet school as the admissions committee might be afraid of you pulling the same move should they let you in. If, however, you can explain what happened and show that they were good, mature decisions given the circumstances, then great -- that can only help your application!

 

[onisteverina]

Thanks again for all of your responses. So, I have a lot to think about because I see both sides. I am a career changer (undergrad was psychology and was planning to do a masters.. decided it wasn't for me after working in a social work type of setting... and decided to try to do the *scary* route of seeing If I could get the grades to get into vet school. Previously never thought it would be attainable, but didn't want to live my life with "what ifs") and plan to address this in my personal statement, so I feel like I can leave that part out of the explanation statement. Now I need to think more about the freshman school change... It is my understanding that the explanation statement is pretty straight forward?.... Like "I originally started undergrad at a 4 year university, wasn't sure about my major.. decided to go to CC to give myself time to explore my options/take different classes before investing in tuition costs at a UC"..

 

[onisteverina]

Just reading my own post.. I'm wondering if that isn't enough of an explanation.. because then I would like "well why didn't she start off at a CC to begin with?".

I grew up in an area where CC out of high school is kind of looked down upon.. and everyone goes to a 4 year right off the bat. I got into a 4 year, went, was feeling pretty confused about the path that I wanted to go in and didn't like the idea of spending a ton of money for me to figure it out.. my parents were paying for college at the time and I was offered very minimal student loans.. while on winter break, I found out that my parents were in a huge financial hole and could not justify going back to the 4 year at that time.. I was too late to sign up for the next semester at the CC, so I started working and then signed up for the Spring.. so minimal time off.

So, if I did decide to explain this situations, would I need to include the financial stuff.. because I feel like that is really personal.. and I don't know if that seems negative on multiple aspects.

 

[Pomona2006]

Now I need to think more about the freshman school change... It is my understanding that the explanation statement is pretty straight forward?.... Like "I originally started undergrad at a 4 year university, wasn't sure about my major.. decided to go to CC to give myself time to explore my options/take different classes before investing in tuition costs at a UC"..

Money is a reason that everyone can understand. You do not need to outright give numbers or anything of the sort, but just about everyone gets that community colleges are generally less expensive than 4-year schools. Saving yourself money while allowing yourself to figure out what you want to do, sounds like you made a mature decision.

 

[vhsu12]

So i did pretty poorly in my classes my first two years at school. Not really bad, just like B minuses, one C. At the time, I was working two jobs. Do you think I should write an ES? There is a clear upward trend of my grades, but I have heard before that many schools don't look at grades in chronological order.

 

[onisteverina]

Money is a reason that everyone can understand. You do not need to outright give numbers or anything of the sort, but just about everyone gets that community colleges are generally less expensive than 4-year schools. Saving yourself money while allowing yourself to figure out what you want to do, sounds like you made a mature decision.

Thank you for your input. I definitely have a lot to think about!