Grade Trend Report?

[sunshine02]

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My premed committee asks each applicant to explain any bad grade trends before they write the committee letter. There was one semester in which I got a couple of B's (they also weren't my first), and that semester was bad for me because my classes were hard, I had not developed my own study plan for college yet, and I was going through a friend crisis. These are certainly not excuses, and I know everyone hits rough patches in life. However, I'm debating whether or not I should mention this at all? If I do, will they mention it in the committee letter? I don't want that one bad semester brought up unless admissions committee ask for it, but I'm also wondering if it's good to have the committee explain that bad semester upfront?

Thanks for any suggestions.

 

[Goro]

Saying "the classes were hard" is the written equivalent to pouring gasoline on your LOR and setting it on fire.

Medical school will be harder.

My premed committee asks each applicant to explain any bad grade trends before they write the committee letter. There was one semester in which I got a couple of B's (they also weren't my first), and that semester was bad for me because my classes were hard, I had not developed my own study plan for college yet, and I was going through a friend crisis. These are certainly not excuses, and I know everyone hits rough patches in life. However, I'm debating whether or not I should mention this at all? If I do, will they mention it in the committee letter? I don't want that one bad semester brought up unless admissions committee ask for it, but I'm also wondering if it's good to have the committee explain that bad semester upfront?

Thanks for any suggestions.

 

[sunshine02]

Saying "the classes were hard" is the written equivalent to pouring gasoline on your LOR and setting it on fire.

Medical school will be harder.

Ok thanks for your response.

I wasn't actually going to tell them that, but should I even include an explanation for those grades or should I just leave it blank (it's optional)? My debating reasons are in the first post.

 

[Goro]

A couple of Bs are NOT a bad grade trend!

 

[TexasSurgeon]

A couple of Bs are NOT a bad grade trend!

Goro: Keeping premeds sane

 

[Samir Desai]

Goro's right. A couple of Bs in a semester would not be considered a bad grade trend. Based on what you've shared with us, I don't see a need to bring this up to the premed committee. Unless, of course, the committee says you must address it. I'd be surprised if that were the case.

 

[sunshine02]

It just said to address any grade trends. I did have a downward dip that semester (like about a 3.3 gpa for that semester if I remember correctly) as well as other semesters but those weren't so bad as the semester I mentioned.