Help! Explaining GPA in EC description?

[krebse]

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Hey all-

I've got a crappy GPA (3.3 cum 3.0 BCPM), but that managed to get me cum laude at my school...I'm including the latin honor as an EC, but I don't really have any other honors to talk about in that entry, so I'm wondering what you all think of using those 510 charachters to talk about how I had to work all through school, mentioning hard family stuff that drug me down, etc? If I can do this, I can keep the whole PS positive and focused on the "why you should let me become a doctor" thing instead of dragging it down with mention of the low point of my app...anyone else doing this? know of someone who has? have any insight?

you're the best,
Liz

 

[stinkycheese]

Hey all-

I've got a crappy GPA (3.3 cum 3.0 BCPM), but that managed to get me cum laude at my school...I'm including the latin honor as an EC, but I don't really have any other honors to talk about in that entry, so I'm wondering what you all think of using those 510 charachters to talk about how I had to work all through school, mentioning hard family stuff that drug me down, etc? If I can do this, I can keep the whole PS positive and focused on the "why you should let me become a doctor" thing instead of dragging it down with mention of the low point of my app...anyone else doing this? know of someone who has? have any insight?

you're the best,
Liz

I wouldn't use the EC descriptor area as a mini-PS. Just write a description of the honor. Think of it as a resume: you wouldn't write personal stuff under a job description, would ya? 😉

 

[arivli]

I have that exact same problem!!!!!

 

[krebse]

why think of it as a resume? we've got 510 carachters for a reason, right? I didn't think there were guidelines as how to use it, and being I can't touch on what I got out of every significant EC I did in my PS then why not comment on the significance in the description spot?

 

[Kazema]

I addressed my low GPA (lower than yours) in my PS. Through talking with other students who have been in my situation as well as my advisor, I came to the conclusion that the best method is demonstrating that you understand why you did poorly early on in your career. Try not to give excuses for your performance, even if they are valid ones. Instead talk about what you have changed or realized such that it'll never happen again. It helps if your later performance is strong - you can mention this and (hopefully) they will look more closely at your transcript and see the turnaround. I think that part of being a doctor is the ability to overcome adversity, to face challenges and come out victorious at the end.

Instead of saying that having to work through school caused your GPA to suffer, maybe turn it around by saying that working while attending school challenged you to learn how best to organize your study time. Something like that.

I think that if you can get it to mesh with your PS it may be a better idea to address it there. I just think it might be strange for an adcom to look at an entry "Graduated Cum Laude" and see a short description talking about family difficulties.

 

[krebse]

I see what you're saying...what if it's just describing the conditions the GPA was earned under, no family crap...any thoughts on this:

I graduated Cum Laude from Carleton College with a Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art. Due to financial constraints I completed my degree a term short of four full years and achieved this honor while working an average ten hours/week for the first two years and twenty hours/week the concluding two.

 

[Kazema]

That looks good to me. I don't know your exactly situation, but I'll just repeat my advice that if you can work an explanation into your PS (one that's not defensive and not making excuses) that addresses, directly or indirectly, any concerns that adcoms may have about your being able to handle med school coursework due to your BCPM GPA, it may be a good idea to do so.

But your cumulative GPA isn't terrible at all; a 3.3 is slightly below most schools' averages but I think that if the rest of your app is strong you can definitely make up for it.

 

[UT-Frank]

hey. that sounds good to me.... i personally wouldn't try to put any explanations or excuses for low gpas, rather try to express your love for medicine..

btw, i'm not pre-med so i was wondering...wat is BCPM gpa?

 

[Kazema]

Biology Chemistry Physics Math

After thinking about it some more I think you should be fine GPA-wise, I guess from your MCAT scores the problem was physics and/or math? 3.3 cum. GPA and a 30 MCAT score should get you interviews, so you probably can leave the issue out of your PS as you planned.

 

[krebse]

That looks good to me. I don't know your exactly situation, but I'll just repeat my advice that if you can work an explanation into your PS (one that's not defensive and not making excuses) that addresses, directly or indirectly, any concerns that adcoms may have about your being able to handle med school coursework due to your BCPM GPA, it may be a good idea to do so.

But your cumulative GPA isn't terrible at all; a 3.3 is slightly below most schools' averages but I think that if the rest of your app is strong you can definitely make up for it.

see, I don't know how to do this honestly because I don't really have an excuse for not doing well in the BCPM's...the truth is that I have trouble caring about things I can't directly apply - Biochem, from the chem dept, was all mechanisms and the absolute minutae of biological processes - I knew the whole time that I should study harder, but I was enjoying the EC's and crap I was doing so much more that I didn't make myself...how can I explain, and not instill more doubt in an adcoms collective mind, that I just didn't care about it enough to make myself work hard enough to get an A? Please, spare me the posts about how maybe I'm really not cut out to be an MD because I feel this way, but I'd love to hear about anyone else that dealt with/is dealing with similar feelings and how they explained themselves...

 

[krebse]

hey. that sounds good to me.... i personally wouldn't try to put any explanations or excuses for low gpas, rather try to express your love for medicine..

btw, i'm not pre-med so i was wondering...wat is BCPM gpa?

thanks...you're not premed? what are you doing here? stalking premed? trying to get a read on the premed psyche? 🙂

 

[Kazema]

I'm sorry about implying that you may not be able to handle med school coursework due to your BCPM, I really worded that post poorly; that's not what I meant to say.

I think UT-Frank and your initial plan are right; use your PS to express why you want to be a doctor and why they should give you the chance to become a doctor. Your MCAT score should help make up for your BCPM. In other words, ignore what I said earlier 😉.

 

[Keberson]

hey...just a question...
does graduated from undergrad early (like in 3 years) look bad or okay or good?
of course doing this will have an effect on GPA because taking 19 hours is different from taking 12

what do you think?

 

[krebse]

hey...just a question...
does graduated from undergrad early (like in 3 years) look bad or okay or good?

I'm no adcom, I have no real idea, but, as you described, it seems logical that graduating early would look good...

Liz