Extenuating Circumstances, how do adcoms look at this...

[jules0328]

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I am a post bacc student, and I recently received my physics grade for this past semester. I did not do so great, I ended up with a C+. Anyway, my grades suffered somewhat this semester due to the fact that my father was diagnosed with mouth cancer and then he was laid off.

While I know I shouldnt be making excuses for myself, I realized that perhaps I was not absolutely totally focused. I did pretty well in everything else but not top notch as I wish I had.

I also had this horrific biology class that took up about 80% of my time. It was a brand new curriculum and our class were the guinea pigs. It was pretty awful. Funny part is, I ended up with an A in the class.

While I know that I shouldnt blame my father's cancer and my family's financial situation on my shortcomings in school, I cannot help but think, what if he had not gotten sick and lost his job? Perhaps I would have focused just a bit more on school.

Anyway, my question is, I plan on writing about my father and his cancer in my personal essay. Is this a good idea? Will they see this as an extenuating circumstance?

Oh and by the way, I have gotten a tutor for next semester for physics II. I am going to do everything in my power to pull my gpa higher.

I know that as a post bacc student, we are ALL supposed to achieve perfect grades. However, I feel awful and very discouraged. I feel like I failed myself and my family. I also feel like now, my school's committee will not recommend me for medical school. I just feel very discouraged.

 

[Sundarban1]

I plan on writing about my father and his cancer in my personal essay. Is this a good idea? Will they see this as an extenuating circumstance?
I know that as a post bacc student, we are ALL supposed to achieve perfect grades. However, I feel awful and very discouraged. I feel like I failed myself and my family. I also feel like now, my school's committee will not recommend me for medical school. I just feel very discouraged.

I've tried to tell this to you before, but you cannot try get opinions about what "adcoms" think. No one here is on an adcom, so everything is just a guess. Don't drive yourself crazy jules! Everyone is human, including adcoms. So if your fathers condition was as impacting as you say, then I think it would be wise to point out in your statement.

BTW you seriously need a break from SDN if you look in the mirror and see this image

Happy Holidays

 

[microgin]

I second that opinion Sundarban! Jules - I've seen several of your posts on various boards and I think that you're stressing out far too much over this grade. To help put things in perspective, I am a non-traditional student applying to MD/PhD programs four years post-attainment of my B.S. degree. I completed my pre-reqs as an undergrad and so never did a post-bac (but did do a Master's degree program). Anyhow, my sophomore year I ended up with a C+ and a C in my two semesters of Organic Chemistry. I have three interviews so far at great programs and no mention has ever been made about my orgo grades. We ARE all human, and I think your dad's cancer diagnosis would be enough to explain this grade without just seeming like an excuse... and it would make good fodder for a personal statement - especially if it is influencing your decision to become a doctor. My uncle's battle with melanoma served as the basis of my interest in medicine. In any case, try to relax about this one... I think as long as you go out of your way to improve next semester (get a tutor as you mentioned) that things will be fine. I know if I were on an ADCOM (which, remember I'm not, so take what I say with a grain of salt!!), I would be looking for well-rounded, compassionate, HUMAN individuals to be physicians- not a brain machine who just gets straight A's - there are qualities that are far more important in life!!
I wish you the best!

 

[jules0328]

Okay, guys, I am sorry to stress so much! Cant help it. But thank you both for your input and support at the same time.

I am aware that you are not adcom's. But thank you both just the same.

Sundarbarn, I know that I should take a break from SDN, but I love this site. It's just fun to be here.

Anyway, thank you again. Enjoy your holiday.

 

[NYCmed]

If it helps, extenuating circumstances happen a lot, and to everyone, whether in college or not. A good friend of mine died in a car accident over Spring Break my sophomore year in undergrad, and I didn't find out about it until I came to the class we shared together, holding the belated Christmas present I had promised to give her when we came back. "Destroyed" wouldn't begin to cover how I felt. If my advisor hadn't convinced me to stay, I would have dropped out of college altogether. As it was, I ended up with C's for the semester instead of the A's I knew I could get.

An explanation to the adcoms, either in your personal statement or in an interview, will go far. You won't be "blaming" your father or sudden financial difficulties, because they're valid reasons for becoming unfocused during the schoolyear. My prayers go out to your family.

 

[Johnny_D]

I talked to a cardiologist I know at a major teaching institution about this subject. He said it depends on your whole situation. He did say that why should they admit someone with excuses when they can admit someone with no excuses. Not trying to burst your bubble, he was just telling me that it is very competitive out there.

Now, this was an MD program, and as the line under your name states, you want DO. DO schools tend to be more forgiving of "extenuating circumstances."

 

[Sundarban1]

I talked to a cardiologist I know at a major teaching institution about this subject. He said it depends on your whole situation. He did say that why should they admit someone with excuses when they can admit someone with no excuses. "

I agree. I would get tired of reading how aunt sally had toe cancer and how that impacted your bio grade. It is also fairly obvious to see someone who has consistently done poorly getting an F may be making "excuses" by grasping at straws. While someone who has done well consistently and experiences an unfortunate life expereice that truely impacts their grades is not an excuse, its a legit explanation for doing poorly. There is a distict difference, and the latter should not be looked upon unfavorably.

 

[twicetenturns]

I feel for you Jules, that is a totally legit reason to have your grades suffer. I would bring up the experience in your PS, but don't explicitly tie it to your grades there. If they care, they will make the connection. Plus, nobody is looking for a candidate that folds in the clutch. I am not saying that what happened to you is unreasonable, but things happen to a person in the medical field that are heart/mind/gutwrenching all the time. You can't explicitly state that this stuff rattles you. Motivates, yes. Rattles, no. Show your strength.

After getting a grade-altering-ton-of-points off a Physics final exam question for an arithmetic error, I complained to a confidant that I felt I was cheated. He said "Nobody wants a doctor that makes arithmetic errors" The gravity of that statement sunk in, and it has strengthened my resolve. I am sorry for your loss, but stay strong.

 

[jules0328]

Thank you for all of your comments. They really do help me a lot with this particular situation.

There is very little NOW that I can do about my lovely C+ in physics in a post bacc program. And I definitely understand the statement, why should schools admit a person with an extunating circumstance as opposed to someone who doesnt have any.

I am not going to lie to you, I have never been a straight A student, and henceforth, my grades throughout are not stellar. I have always been a B+ student, so while I never have gotten an F, I also have not gotten straight A's. Yes, I know, we are all human, and we arent perfect. I guess what I am trying to say is, I cannot worry about whether schools will admit me, I am just going to have to try my hardest next semester and keep going forward.

Do I stay up at night thinking about my grades, actually, I do...I am extremely hard on myself and hate the fact that I do stay up and think about them. But, I am trying not to. It's not healthy either.

Anyway, it helps to hear all of your opinions and thoughts. Thanks again!
And like I said, before, I plan on getting a physics tutor next semester and try to ace physics II to try to make up for my grade this past semester.

All I can do now is try and use every bit of resource I can get a hold of. Thanks again!

 

[medic170]

I am a post bacc student, and I recently received my physics grade for this past semester. I did not do so great, I ended up with a C+. Anyway, my grades suffered somewhat this semester due to the fact that my father was diagnosed with mouth cancer and then he was laid off.

While I know I shouldnt be making excuses for myself, I realized that perhaps I was not absolutely totally focused. I did pretty well in everything else but not top notch as I wish I had.

I also had this horrific biology class that took up about 80% of my time. It was a brand new curriculum and our class were the guinea pigs. It was pretty awful. Funny part is, I ended up with an A in the class.

While I know that I shouldnt blame my father's cancer and my family's financial situation on my shortcomings in school, I cannot help but think, what if he had not gotten sick and lost his job? Perhaps I would have focused just a bit more on school.

Anyway, my question is, I plan on writing about my father and his cancer in my personal essay. Is this a good idea? Will they see this as an extenuating circumstance?

Oh and by the way, I have gotten a tutor for next semester for physics II. I am going to do everything in my power to pull my gpa higher.

I know that as a post bacc student, we are ALL supposed to achieve perfect grades. However, I feel awful and very discouraged. I feel like I failed myself and my family. I also feel like now, my school's committee will not recommend me for medical school. I just feel very discouraged.

I would not write about it or even mention it unless they bring it up at your interviews. I had crap happen and had a few bad grades, I did not write about it and it never came up. You see, you should NEVER even elude to anything negative because then that is waht they will remember about you. Instead, write about all the positive things about you, and then if they ask, which I doubt they will, you can explain that you had a rough semester.

Many people have tough times. You want the ADCOM to know you for alkl the great things you have accomplished, not for the bad grade you got and the excuse (even if its a good one) you have for it. You see, you can be either 1. a great candidate who emphasises his accomplishments or 2. a good candidate that points out his bad grades and the excuse he has for them.

 

[jules0328]

I would not write about it or even mention it unless they bring it up at your interviews. I had crap happen and had a few bad grades, I did not write about it and it never came up. You see, you should NEVER even elude to anything negative because then that is waht they will remember about you. Instead, write about all the positive things about you, and then if they ask, which I doubt they will, you can explain that you had a rough semester.

Many people have tough times. You want the ADCOM to know you for alkl the great things you have accomplished, not for the bad grade you got and the excuse (even if its a good one) you have for it. You see, you can be either 1. a great candidate who emphasises his accomplishments or 2. a good candidate that points out his bad grades and the excuse he has for them.

Thanks, Medic. That is really good advice. Thank you so much!

Thank you to everyone, actually!

 

[rpost3]

I am a post bacc student, and I recently received my physics grade for this past semester. I did not do so great, I ended up with a C+. Anyway, my grades suffered somewhat this semester due to the fact that my father was diagnosed with mouth cancer and then he was laid off.

While I know I shouldnt be making excuses for myself, I realized that perhaps I was not absolutely totally focused. I did pretty well in everything else but not top notch as I wish I had.

I also had this horrific biology class that took up about 80% of my time. It was a brand new curriculum and our class were the guinea pigs. It was pretty awful. Funny part is, I ended up with an A in the class.

While I know that I shouldnt blame my father's cancer and my family's financial situation on my shortcomings in school, I cannot help but think, what if he had not gotten sick and lost his job? Perhaps I would have focused just a bit more on school.

Anyway, my question is, I plan on writing about my father and his cancer in my personal essay. Is this a good idea? Will they see this as an extenuating circumstance?

Oh and by the way, I have gotten a tutor for next semester for physics II. I am going to do everything in my power to pull my gpa higher.

I know that as a post bacc student, we are ALL supposed to achieve perfect grades. However, I feel awful and very discouraged. I feel like I failed myself and my family. I also feel like now, my school's committee will not recommend me for medical school. I just feel very discouraged.

Don't write about your dad. A C+ isn't that bad as long as you get A's in the rest of your classes. Just write a small blog on your application like "I't took a bad first exam in Physics to get me adjusted to the difficult prereq's, but (then say how your current science bcmp gpa proves you can cut it in med school, etc etc etc). Just an opinion. Don't write about your dad, because someone you love can get cancer or die or whatever while you're in med school, during your intern year, when your a resident, or an attending, and you still have to perform

 

[jules0328]

Don't write about your dad. A C+ isn't that bad as long as you get A's in the rest of your classes. Just write a small blog on your application like "I't took a bad first exam in Physics to get me adjusted to the difficult prereq's, but (then say how your current science bcmp gpa proves you can cut it in med school, etc etc etc). Just an opinion. Don't write about your dad, because someone you love can get cancer or die or whatever while you're in med school, during your intern year, when your a resident, or an attending, and you still have to perform

yes, this is true as well. Thanks. I will keep that in mind.

 

[scrubs09]

yes, this is true as well. Thanks. I will keep that in mind.

By all means, you can mention your father if that is a driving force in your decision to apply to medical school but don't dwell on the fact of that's why you lost focus. It's ok to mention it briefly in your PS because we're all human not superhuman. I was in a similar situation as you. In high school, I was a good student. In college, I was a B+ student but didn't do so well my soph yr b/c I lost my focus like you (my dad was sick as well) and my gpa slid to a 3.0 science... and plus, the class was difficult too which didn't help much. I got Cs and B-s which made me stress out. I, like you, thought about my grades a lot..many sleepless nights thinking about what post-bac to go to....even wondering whether this was the right career choice for me. Eventually, I did a masters in the sciences. Kick a$$ in your program. Physics may have slid a bit to a C+ but make sure to do well in the 2nd half of it. Med schools look at upward trends and your overall situation. There are med schools out there that look at the entire applicant, thank God! I had ok grades in college and an upward trend in post bac. I was recently accepted into med school outside of boston because of my determination. If you want it badly, you've got to fight for it. Don't blame any situation but rather grow from it. Best of luck to you and DON"T give up!!!