How do I spin these things?

[BlindWillieMCT]

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I could use some advice on how to mention (or not mention) these things in my application

1) I majored in biochem and wanted to do research at first, decided on med school late; near the end of junior year. (I just finished my senior year)

2) My sophomore and 1st semester junior year grades were all about 3.2, honestly I was undecided about what to do, not very motivated, and never learned how to study. My final GPA was 3.53 so my other semesters averaged about 3.75.After deciding on med school my GPA was about 3.7.
Do I admit that I wasn't trying hard enough / hadn't needed to study before in my life?

3) I was in my school's Honors College and biochem is widely considered the hardest major at a school with hundreds of majors, do I mention this to make the GPA look better or does it come off as an excuse?

4) I was extremely ill second semester freshman year, missed the majority of my classes, and got a 3.9 because for the first time I was actually scared about grades. Do I mention this?

Sorry, I know this is a lot but any help would be greatly appreciated👍

 

[DrReo]

I could use some advice on how to mention (or not mention) these things in my application

1) I majored in biochem and wanted to do research at first, decided on med school late; near the end of junior year. (I just finished my senior year)

2) My sophomore and 1st semester junior year grades were all about 3.2, honestly I was undecided about what to do, not very motivated, and never learned how to study. My final GPA was 3.53 so my other semesters averaged about 3.75.After deciding on med school my GPA was about 3.7.
Do I admit that I wasn't trying hard enough / hadn't needed to study before in my life? Do not make excuses.

3) I was in my school's Honors College and biochem is widely considered the hardest major at a school with hundreds of majors, do I mention this to make the GPA look better or does it come off as an excuse? Excuse.

4) I was extremely ill second semester freshman year, missed the majority of my classes, and got a 3.9 because for the first time I was actually scared about grades. Do I mention this? No.

Sorry, I know this is a lot but any help would be greatly appreciated👍

Do not make excuses for your GPA. Instead, knock the MCAT out of the park and apply with strong research, volunteering and shadowing.

 

[Transmogrifier]

I could use some advice on how to mention (or not mention) these things in my application

1) I majored in biochem and wanted to do research at first, decided on med school late; near the end of junior year. (I just finished my senior year)

There's nothing wrong with this. I went from Computer Engineering to Bio and from there went from PhD to MD. I didn't hide that in my app at all. The more things you've done and the more experiences you've had the better.

Don't try to make excuses, don't come off as though you're defending yourself. You're not going into medicine in spite of your previous desires to do research, you're doing it because your interest in research and science ultimately led you to medicine. Just explain how your strengths and interests made you want to choose medicine. Tell about specific experiences you had that made you decide on health care.

 

[witness23]

in your personal statement, you can have one line that goes... with my new found interest in medicine after my junior year, i decided to place a greater emphasis on academics in my life. thats it

 

[nick_carraway]

I could use some advice on how to mention (or not mention) these things in my application

1) I majored in biochem and wanted to do research at first, decided on med school late; near the end of junior year. (I just finished my senior year)

2) My sophomore and 1st semester junior year grades were all about 3.2, honestly I was undecided about what to do, not very motivated, and never learned how to study. My final GPA was 3.53 so my other semesters averaged about 3.75.After deciding on med school my GPA was about 3.7.
Do I admit that I wasn't trying hard enough / hadn't needed to study before in my life?

3) I was in my school's Honors College and biochem is widely considered the hardest major at a school with hundreds of majors, do I mention this to make the GPA look better or does it come off as an excuse?

4) I was extremely ill second semester freshman year, missed the majority of my classes, and got a 3.9 because for the first time I was actually scared about grades. Do I mention this?

Sorry, I know this is a lot but any help would be greatly appreciated👍

[1] Mention this in some of your EC descriptions to explain your rationale for choosing your ECs

[2] Save this for secondaries that ask for additional comments/extenuating circumstances

[3] No. It'll come off as an excuse, but you can mention how excited you were about the major, which is why you chose it if it comes up in an interview.

[4] Tie this into #2. Inspiration is always good.