explanation statement?

[airrick16]

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Found this on the VMCA application. I know what the personal statement is, but this caught me by surprise. I got a job out of college so there was never really an "interruption" to travel the world, nor have I been disciplined. My parental information isnt that interesting either. So what 2000 words am I suppose to write here that isnt going in my personal statement? Should I write a rationalization for low GPA? 3.2 instead of 3.8

Explanation Statement
Use the explanation statement to record information that could not be listed within the web application, such as missing parental information, and disciplinary action(s) which require detailed explanation. This section can also be used to provide the admissions committee(s) additional information that you consider vital to your application. Your explanation statement should be clearly and succinctly written - 2000 characters (including spaces) have been allotted for this purpose.

Examples of pertinent information might include explanations about interruptions in your studies or experiences, unique circumstances you have faced, or reasons for decisions you have made.

 

[PrimalMU]

There are no rules that say you have to put something in the explanation statement. If you don't have anything to say then leave it blank. It is NOT a place to try to explain why your GPA is low, unless for instance extenuating circumstances affected a specific semester and resulted in you doing more poorly than you normally would have. And even then, I would try to word it in such a way as to avoid making it sound like an excuse.

 

[rileyroo]

the explanation statement is optional.

 

[jpeterman13]

This should help if you decide to write one:
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=653422&highlight=explaination+statement
and a fairly recent one: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=664897&highlight=explaination+statement

 

[twelvetigers]

Good job, jpeterman! I'm not sure I would have been able (or willing, really) to search the forum from an iPhone. 😛