Fluctuations in GPA - no need to mention in Primary?

[907914]

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So I have a pretty odd GPA trend that I have not mentioned in my primary application at all. It goes from 40 credits of 3.4 average to 20 credits of 3.85 to 25 credits of 3.2 to 60 credits of 3.99. It is pretty obvious that the first 60 credits were in a military setting, but the second low GPA section is the 2 quarters that I had my newborn while working full time (subsequently took a year and a half off of school once I noticed "Oh hey. 3.2 is no good") I have since had 2 years of 3.98 GPA and got a 521 MCAT, plus ADCOMs will see that I am 24 and have 2 dependents, so I shouldn't need to mention these fluctuations in the primary right? This will be the topic of any adversity essays, but otherwise no one will really care? Just wanting to confirm my suspicions a few days before submission!

@Goro @LizzyM @gonnif @gyngyn

Edit: No Ws and the lowest grade is a B-

 

[LizzyM]

Your application is one that may make people say, "There's a story here" and then feel curious enough to find out what it is. It is a different ballgame than a rising senior undergrad who is 20 years old. If it isn't a integral part of your road to becoming a doctor story, leave it for the secondaries.

 

[907914]

Your application is one that may make people say, "There's a story here" and then feel curious enough to find out what it is. It is a different ballgame than a rising senior undergrad who is 20 years old. If it isn't a integral part of your road to becoming a doctor story, leave it for the secondaries.

Hopefully not too curious, I can only afford like 6 interviews lol

Thank you for the positive feedback.

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

You're fine. No need to mention unless they ask in an interview. I had a similar situation, and I was asked about it in one interview. The others didn't care because I ended strong. You're solid.

 

[Goro]

So I have a pretty odd GPA trend that I have not mentioned in my primary application at all. It goes from 40 credits of 3.4 average to 20 credits of 3.85 to 25 credits of 3.2 to 60 credits of 3.99. It is pretty obvious that the first 60 credits were in a military setting, but the second low GPA section is the 2 quarters that I had my newborn while working full time (subsequently took a year and a half off of school once I noticed "Oh hey. 3.2 is no good") I have since had 2 years of 3.98 GPA and got a 521 MCAT, plus ADCOMs will see that I am 24 and have 2 dependents, so I shouldn't need to mention these fluctuations in the primary right? This will be the topic of any adversity essays, but otherwise no one will really care? Just wanting to confirm my suspicions a few days before submission!

@Goro @LizzyM @gonnif @gyngyn

Edit: No Ws and the lowest grade is a B-

Do NOT do this! No matter how well you may think that you write it, it always comes off as excuses. You can get around this by somehow mentioning your time in the military, and any astute reader will see that your grades were affected by service, and cut you some slack.

Let your excellence in the transcript do your talking for you.

 

[907914]

Do NOT do this! No matter how well you may think that you write it, it always comes off as excuses. You can get around this by somehow mentioning your time in the military, and any astute reader will see that your grades were affected by service, and cut you some slack.

Let your excellence in the transcript do your talking for you.

So they won’t just see the trend of “3.4 —> 3.7 —> 3.2 —> 3.98” but will take the time to skim the transcript?

Sorry, I just don’t know how In depth the review goes and I am worried that whatever computer software schools use for initial screening will assign me a lower priority due to a lower cGPA.

 

[deleted972488]

I am worried that whatever computer software schools use for initial screening will assign me a lower priority due to a lower cGPA.

It’s not low enough for that.

 

[907914]

It’s not low enough for that.

I know I won’t get filtered out, just worried I won’t be in the bracket that gets early interview invites or initial screening and so on.

 

[907914]

mentioning it in your personal statement won’t change that

True that. Thanks for the reinforcement!