I need advice- Pronto! regarding application essays

[KATS82md]

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ok, so i thought that i had this all planned out and i knew what to write. but now, after reading some things online about successfull essays, im not sure what to do and time is short.
one of the postbac schools im applying to has 2 essays. one about why i want to be a dr, and one that is open to anything i wish to convey. i was going to use this second opportunity to explain why i have crappy undergrad grades. the reason is because i had some trouble with anxiety and depression...
ive read, however, that 1)i shouldnt focus on my poor grades, and 2) that i should definitely not focus on depression. so, now im thinking that i should just add a sentence in my first essay that acknowledges my poor gpa but doesnt make any excuses for it and writing the 2nd essay on something else. is this good? i shouldnt write a whole essay about why i have poor grades and especially not because i was depressed, right?? please advise asap!! 😱

 

[relentless11]

ok, so i thought that i had this all planned out and i knew what to write. but now, after reading some things online about successfull essays, im not sure what to do and time is short.
one of the postbac schools im applying to has 2 essays. one about why i want to be a dr, and one that is open to anything i wish to convey. i was going to use this second opportunity to explain why i have crappy undergrad grades. the reason is because i had some trouble with anxiety and depression...
ive read, however, that 1)i shouldnt focus on my poor grades, and 2) that i should definitely not focus on depression. so, now im thinking that i should just add a sentence in my first essay that acknowledges my poor gpa but doesnt make any excuses for it and writing the 2nd essay on something else. is this good? i shouldnt write a whole essay about why i have poor grades and especially not because i was depressed, right?? please advise asap!! 😱

Yep you are correct about not focusing on negative things. However I cannot really suggest how you should write that sentence. Since it would be my opinion rather than your own personal statement. All I can really say is just put your situation in a positive light. You want to show results of improvement, rather than dwell on how events hindered your grades. How you put that into words is beyond what I can advise..since as stated its your own essay. Think of this as an exercise on communication. You want to be able to sell yourself on paper AND in person in this game. So its good practice to start now👍 Remember, all academic programs, whether they be med school, grad school or post-bacc, they want to see results, not excuses. Good luck!

 

[oneandonlylo]

I agree. However, I do think there is a way of using the second essay as a chance to address the issue by spinning it in a positive light. Talk about changes you have gone through in your life that make you feel like you have learned and grown as a person and how you feel this makes you more able to meet the challenges of a rigorous academic program than you might have been earlier in life. You could talk about being more organized, more focused, more sure of who you are as a person and what you want for your future. However you look at it, I would say that an attitude that accepts the past (good or bad as it may be) as a vital part of who you are today is admirable, and I think it could serve your purpose. Remember, the reason that med schools like postbacs is because they tend to have more life experience.