Help with 'Anything else' question on secondary

[dodoo123]

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Hey everyone,

Do you think it would be looked down upon if I mentioned that my younger sister experienced an overdose during my MCAT preparation? As a result, my performance was impacted, and I had to bring her to live with me on campus, which prevented me from retaking the exam. I've heard advice against mentioning mental health issues and situations like this, but this isn't about me?

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Hey everyone,

Do you think it would be looked down upon if I mentioned that my younger sister experienced an overdose during my MCAT preparation? As a result, my performance was impacted, and I had to bring her to live with me on campus, which prevented me from retaking the exam. I've heard advice against mentioning mental health issues and situations like this, but this isn't about me?

Because it's not about you, I think this topic is out of bounds of this prompt.

 

[Goro]

Hey everyone,

Do you think it would be looked down upon if I mentioned that my younger sister experienced an overdose during my MCAT preparation? As a result, my performance was impacted, and I had to bring her to live with me on campus, which prevented me from retaking the exam. I've heard advice against mentioning mental health issues and situations like this, but this isn't about me?

Do not do this. It comes across as making excuses.

 

[dodoo123]

Do not do this. It comes across as making excuses.

My point isn't to make an excuse. Usually, when schools discuss academic discrepancies or MCAT scores, I just thought mentioning that the period of time was difficult for me would be informative. Talking about a specific incident and how I grew from it—do you advise against that?

 

[Goro]

My point isn't to make an excuse. Usually, when schools discuss academic discrepancies or MCAT scores, I just thought mentioning that the period of time was difficult for me would be informative. Talking about a specific incident and how I grew from it—do you advise against that?

This prompt is not asking about that, and your answer also telegraphs that you make bad choices. The wise thing to have done would have been to cancel the MCAT, and not take a career deciding, high stakes exam when you were not at your best.