Mention Sexual Assault in Secondaries?

[that kid]

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I was sexually assaulted and as a result, I failed a course. I retook the course the following semester and passed it and have not failed any other courses. Should I mention this in secondaries that ask me to explain a discrepancy in my grades? I don't want to come negatively in case there are any ultra-conservative adcoms who believe in victim-blaming or would think that I am weak as a result. I also don't have proof that this happened since, like most victims, I did not file a police report and the only treatment I sought was an STD test at my school and the morning-after pill, so my medical records don't indicate that I was sexually assaulted. Even if we assume adcoms are decent people who don't victim blame and would understand my situation, would I be asked to prove this happened?

 

[ChymeofPassion]

I was sexually assaulted and as a result, I failed a course. I retook the course the following semester and passed it and have not failed any other courses. Should I mention this in secondaries that ask me to explain a discrepancy in my grades? I don't want to come negatively in case there are any ultra-conservative adcoms who believe in victim-blaming or would think that I am weak as a result. I also don't have proof that this happened since, like most victims, I did not file a police report and the only treatment I sought was an STD test at my school and the morning-after pill, so my medical records don't indicate that I was sexually assaulted. Even if we assume adcoms are decent people who don't victim blame and would understand my situation, would I be asked to prove this happened?

Yes, no

 

[Goro]

Yes, no

Yes.

 

[Catalystik]

I was sexually assaulted and as a result, I failed a course. I retook the course the following semester and passed it and have not failed any other courses. Should I mention this in secondaries that ask me to explain a discrepancy in my grades? I don't want to come negatively in case there are any ultra-conservative adcoms who believe in victim-blaming or would think that I am weak as a result. I also don't have proof that this happened since, like most victims, I did not file a police report and the only treatment I sought was an STD test at my school and the morning-after pill, so my medical records don't indicate that I was sexually assaulted. Even if we assume adcoms are decent people who don't victim blame and would understand my situation, would I be asked to prove this happened?

You have the option to decrease the amount of personal information provided and just refer to it as "assault." You will not be asked to prove it. But if you mention it on an application, it may be brought up at an interview. You can give more details, or not, as you choose, at that point.

 

[LizzyM]

You have the option to decrease the amount of personal information provided and just refer to it as "assault." You will not be asked to prove it. But if you mention it on an application, it may be brought up at an interview. You can give more details, or not, as you choose, at that point.

Correct, but if the OP is a reapplicant who had a different explanation for poor grades in an earlier cycle, will this revised explanation be believable?

 

[Catalystik]

Correct, but if the OP is a reapplicant who had a different explanation for poor grades in an earlier cycle, will this revised explanation be believable?

I didn't pick up on the fact that she is a reapplicant from this thread, but from reviewing her backposts, she is (for just two schools, though). Hopefully, it won't be an issue for those two schools.

 

[that kid]

I didn't pick up on the fact that she is a reapplicant from this thread, but from reviewing her backposts, she is (for just two schools, though). Hopefully, it won't be an issue for those two schools.

I didn't have this come up last cycle because I didn't get a secondary from either of the two schools, which is why I'm asking about it now.

 

[that kid]

Thanks everyone!