Need help with my explanation statement

[horsegirl]

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So I'm starting to do my application and need help with my explanation statement. I know I am a smart person, and a good student, but my GPA does not reflect that in the least bit - my cum is 3.2 and my major is 3.4. I want to tell vet schools why this is so, but I'm not sure what to write and keep out and I've gotten varying opinions from the professionals I know.

My first week of college, I got mono. I was in and out of the hospital getting IV fluids and medication. I was given the option to medically withdrawal from school but I felt that would set me back so I decided to stay. A couple other things my first semester were 2 suicides and a rapist breaking into my dorm, and my parents' divorce. All of this set my body into a frenzy, and I started having a dozen panic attacks a day (panic attacks are a problem I've been dealing with my entire life but these events seemed to put them into complete overdrive). A psychiatrist highly recommended taking anti-depressants. I said ok, thus starting my search. I tried about 10 different medications for a year and a half that completely altered my mental and physical state. I'd be awake for 3 days straight, asleep for 3 days straight, some made me terribly ill, or caused panic attacks, or made me have suicidal thoughts. It was awful, and even just attending class was difficult. My new college "friends" looked at me weird and saw me as a freak. They didn't understand and I shut myself out. I finally found a medication that worked for me, and after taking it for a while, last year I felt I was ok to stop. The past year has been amazing and I couldn't be happier with my decision, and my grades reflect this. Also in this time of medical disaster, my grandma passed away from cancer, and my uncle and dad discovered they have cancer and have been going through treatment. Point is.. It's been tough. But the hardest part was doing this while being on all these different medications. I feel like the vet school admissions won't understand why my grades were so poor without understand the whole situation.. but I also don't want them to think that I am a mentally unstable crazy person. I've been told to be as honest as possible, but I've also been told say everything except for the medications.Which parts do I put in, and which do I leave out? Do I risk being thought of as unstable in trying to honestly explain?

Sorry it's so long.. but thanks.

 

[Minnerbelle]

Sorry you had a rough time, and I'm sure people with weigh in, but there's been many many really really great threads about explanation statements in the past, so you might want to search for those. There are several out there about explaining medical/personal issues without sounding unstable.

I think the consensus usually is to keep it short and sweet, and not detail heavy. Don't ever make it a long laundry list of what sounds like excuses (not saying that's what your experience is, but it can sound like it depending on how you put it on paper). And to definitely end with a statement about how though you had a momentary dip in your performance (for whatever duration), you've learned X, Y, and Z, and how you've improved and how it shouldn't be an issue in vet school.

 

[LetItSnow]

Which parts do I put in, and which do I leave out? Do I risk being thought of as unstable in trying to honestly explain?

Sure, you risk it; offering up any information always exposes you to the risk that the reader will judge it negatively. The question is, is it a worthwhile risk?

I think the answer to that hinges on whether or not there is a definitive upward trajectory to your grades after you got things resolved. If your later grades are only modestly better than during the tough years, your explanation will sound hollow and all you'll do is draw attention to ugly stuff. If, on the other hand, you suddenly went from marginal/poor grades to doing exceptionally well, whatever explanation you offer for the earlier grades will have credibility and it will demonstrate that you moved past a significantly challenging time.

So assuming there's an academic line in the sand you can point to, then yes, I'd write something in the explanation box. I would not go into extensive detail - it will be tricky to find the sweet spot, but I think you need to convey just enough information for them to understand the depth of the issues you faced and how you resolved it. As an example, I wouldn't waste space talking about how many different medications you went through; I might just say something about seeking professional treatment, instead.

Last, focus on the positive even in your explanation. I had to explain why I had gotten thrown out of school twice (maybe technically 3 times; I'm not sure). In spite of that, 75% of my explanation statement actually focused on the positives, not the negatives. Remember that the takeaway message you want for them is "I am a capable human being right now and you can expect that to continue."

 

[nuevaburra]

Basically to second what LIS said.

As far as details, my instinct would be to group the physical/mental health stuff into as general an explanation as possible- even though I've been through some very similar stuff and can definitely empathize, on reading your post my first gut reaction was negative, because you were talking only about negative things. Though I'm very open to discussing with friends my mental health/medication history, I would be wary of mentioning it in a professional setting just because there is still a stigma out there. In general I would refer to something like that as a period of disruptive health problems compounded by personal losses, and the adcoms don't need to know that some of it was mono and some of it was panic attacks. And definitely focus on the positive and how you are doing great now!

 

[breenie]

A cum of 3.2 does not need an explanation statement, even if the grades from that semester were particularly poor, IMHO.

If it comes up, when Dr. Interviewer asks, "Horsegirl, why did you mess up so bad your first semester?" You reply with, "I went through some tough personal issues that challenged my ability to juggle school and personal life. I have worked through these issues, learned from them, and don't see them being a problem again. As the rest of my application shows, that semester was not illustrative of my true ability."

People have gotten in with sub 3.0, and while 3.2 isn't ideal I think you'll come off as trying to excuse away something that doesn't really need a big explanation. Also, trying to explain all of that does carry risks. Keep it short and sweet only if it comes up.

 

[StormWater]

I would agree that a 3.2 doesn't really need an explanation. But, how did that first semester or first year GPA compare with the remainder of your time in school? If that first semester/year GPA is much lower than the rest, it might warrant a simple explanation that medical issues resulted lower than anticipated grades (but keep it short and sweet).

 

[Howister]

Okay, so I was just thinking about this section and I am wondering if I should put add an explanation.

For financial reasons I've had to live at home and because I also had to transfer to a four year university from a junior college, my commute increased quite a bit. As well, living at home is fairly difficult recently as my mom who has been sick all of my life (disabled,etc), has become increasingly hard to deal with etc. and other familial issues. The reason I'm concerned about adding this in is because my grades went down a bit when I transferred due to the stress of commuting and the stress of living with family (which really unfortunately has increased my anxiety). My last 45 hr GPA is lower than my cumulative, which I know that schools don't really like and I don't want them to think I have lost the ability to handle stress...but I do feel like it's important that leaving these stressors will be a huge burden off my shoulders. Is it reasonable to talk about this, or should I wait until interviews to maybe offer an explanation?

 

[StartingoverVet]

Okay, so I was just thinking about this section and I am wondering if I should put add an explanation.

For financial reasons I've had to live at home and because I also had to transfer to a four year university from a junior college, my commute increased quite a bit. As well, living at home is fairly difficult recently as my mom who has been sick all of my life (disabled,etc), has become increasingly hard to deal with etc. and other familial issues. The reason I'm concerned about adding this in is because my grades went down a bit when I transferred due to the stress of commuting and the stress of living with family (which really unfortunately has increased my anxiety). My last 45 hr GPA is lower than my cumulative, which I know that schools don't really like and I don't want them to think I have lost the ability to handle stress...but I do feel like it's important that leaving these stressors will be a huge burden off my shoulders. Is it reasonable to talk about this, or should I wait until interviews to maybe offer an explanation?

Well, in my mind, you have to explain why your last 45 gpa is lower as that is a bad trend. These reasons you listed are acceptable EXCUSES for why your GPA went down, and if that is all you have, then you will have to go with it. It would be preferable if you could show how if this happened again, you now know how to deal with it better. Maybe the last few classes you improved, or you learned to prioritize something or whatever. It is always best to show you overcame a problem or learned from a problem than to just show you have/had a problem.

 

[LetItSnow]

My last 45 hr GPA is lower than my cumulative, which I know that schools don't really like and I don't want them to think I have lost the ability to handle stress...but I do feel like it's important that leaving these stressors will be a huge burden off my shoulders. Is it reasonable to talk about this, or should I wait until interviews to maybe offer an explanation?

Three thoughts:

1) I don't think anyone can give you really solid advice without more info. Did your last 45 go down from a 4.0 to 2.5? Or did it go down from a 3.5 to a 3.4? If the decline was really noticeable, you probably have to find a way to address it. If it was a few tenths or something .... I'd let that sleeping dog lie.

2) You're in a tough situation because any explanation you offer will carry an inherent "but I can't really prove this" caveat in the minds of the reader, because there's no upward turn after the situation to support your explanation.

3) I wouldn't count on your interviews as a chance to bring up any old topic you want. You may not get the opportunity, depending on the school and how they do their interviews. If you are 100% certain you want to address something, you should make sure it's in your application somewhere.

 

[Cautionary Tail]

Three thoughts:
3) I wouldn't count on your interviews as a chance to bring up any old topic you want. You may not get the opportunity, depending on the school and how they do their interviews. If you are 100% certain you want to address something, you should make sure it's in your application somewhere.

This is very true. 👍

My second interview ran (significantly) over and I had the opportunity to spend a decent amount of time discussing more personal topics with my interviewers... including some of what was in my explanation statement. The first was pretty much all business. There were more questions (ten versus three), and the interviews were scheduled back to back with little room to go over. Even with a more relaxed schedule, there's no guarantee your interviewers are going to be receptive to discussing whatever you want.

FWIW, I didn't particularly want to bring up my early academic career... one of the interviewers did it for me. He assumed I was younger than I am, and wanted to know why I considered myself a "somewhat non-traditional" applicant when I was (in his estimation) the same age as everybody else. Again, you're not always in control of what does or doesn't come up.

If we're talking about a significant drop, I think it's worth mentioning it in the ES. My situation was different from yours (I had several years of very poor performance early on and finished on a strong note), but I doubt I'd have even made it to the interview process if I hadn't addressed what happened. Sometimes, it's better to be open than it is to leave them guessing.

 

[Howister]

It went down about .4, which seems pretty substantial. I am going to take a summer class (Medical parisitology), so that will affect my GPA a little bit and hopefully bring it up slightly, maybe that is a way to show that I have overcome it and learned from it. And I think I saw that some schools will factor in Fall grades, so maybe there is an opportunity to prove I've improved in that way.

Three thoughts:

1) I don't think anyone can give you really solid advice without more info. Did your last 45 go down from a 4.0 to 2.5? Or did it go down from a 3.5 to a 3.4? If the decline was really noticeable, you probably have to find a way to address it. If it was a few tenths or something .... I'd let that sleeping dog lie.

 

[Howister]

This is very true. 👍


If we're talking about a significant drop, I think it's worth mentioning it in the ES. My situation was different from yours (I had several years of very poor performance early on and finished on a strong note), but I doubt I'd have even made it to the interview process if I hadn't addressed what happened. Sometimes, it's better to be open than it is to leave them guessing.

This is why I am concerned about my application, because I think it comes off very poorly that my grades have shown a decline since I transferred to a University (that is known for grading harshly). I don't want them to think that it is because I can't handle difficult material, because I don't think that is the case. I think that the trend they life to see is an increase rather than a decline for the last 45 :/

But, I think I have come to the decision to mention it and if it does come up in interviews I will be able to talk about it.

 

[Howister]

It went down about .4, which seems pretty substantial. I am going to take a summer class (Medical parisitology), so that will affect my GPA a little bit and hopefully bring it up slightly, maybe that is a way to show that I have overcome it and learned from it. And I think I saw that some schools will factor in Fall grades, so maybe there is an opportunity to prove I've improved in that way.

Well to be more specific, my last 45 include a C in ochem, a C+ in genetics and a C+ in biochem, which brought my science GPA down to about a 2.9 from a 3.3 and my cum gpa down from a 3.5 to a 3.3.

 

[Cautionary Tail]

Well to be more specific, my last 45 include a C in ochem, a C+ in genetics and a C+ in biochem, which brought my science GPA down to about a 2.9 from a 3.3 and my cum gpa down from a 3.5 to a 3.3.

Is it possible for you to retake any of those classes this summer or fall (if you're applying to schools that take fall grades into consideration)?

Not only would that boost your GPA, it might also help the adcoms see that the issue was more circumstantial/temporary, as opposed to a matter of the material being too difficult.

If you think you'd be able to bring any of those C's up, I would strongly consider swapping out the parasitology class in favor of a retake... but that's just me. 🙂

 

[Howister]

Is it possible for you to retake any of those classes this summer or fall (if you're applying to schools that take fall grades into consideration)?

Not only would that boost your GPA, it might also help the adcoms see that the issue was more circumstantial/temporary, as opposed to a matter of the material being too difficult.

If you think you'd be able to bring any of those C's up, I would strongly consider swapping out the parasitology class in favor of a retake... but that's just me. 🙂

Can't retake classes that have a C or better in :/

 

[twelvetigers]

(if you're applying to schools that take fall grades into consideration)?

Most do not, FYI. The only one that did for me was OKSU, because I was IS. Western only looked at the class I had listed as a UD science in the supplemental.

Can't retake classes that have a C or better in :/

I dunno why schools do that. It's lame.

 

[Cautionary Tail]

Most do not, FYI. The only one that did for me was OKSU, because I was IS. Western only looked at the class I had listed as a UD science in the supplemental.

Apart from making sure I hadn't failed any prereqs, I'm pretty sure that most of the schools I applied to weren't interested in my fall grades... which I was a little bummed about, because I did far better than I'd anticipated and I wanted all the GPA-boosting goodness I could get my hands on. Minnesota didn't even want to see my fall transcript unless they made an offer of admission and there was a prerequisite on there.

VMRCVM did want fall transcripts, but I don't know if they actually incorporated the grades into my GPA or if they just wanted proof that I hadn't failed any required courses.

 

[Howister]

Apart from making sure I hadn't failed any prereqs, I'm pretty sure that most of the schools I applied to weren't interested in my fall grades... which I was a little bummed about, because I did far better than I'd anticipated and I wanted all the GPA-boosting goodness I could get my hands on. Minnesota didn't even want to see my fall transcript unless they made an offer of admission and there was a prerequisite on there.

VMRCVM did want fall transcripts, but I don't know if they actually incorporated the grades into my GPA or if they just wanted proof that I hadn't failed any required courses.

May mercy be taken upon me

 

[Cautionary Tail]

May mercy be taken upon me

Other schools may well operate differently. TBH, I didn't pay much attention to the protocol for fall grades when I applied... I just operated on the assumption that they were going to be counted, and was kind of shocked and dismayed when I realized that (in some cases) they wouldn't.

I didn't research things quite as heavily as some of the posters here before I jumped into the fray. 😳

Even if you aren't thrilled with your GPA, remember that people have been admitted with lower stats... and there are still other important parts of your application (like the GRE, your PS/ES, letters of recommendation, and any supplemental essays you'll have to write) that are still totally up in the air and within your control at this point. 👍

And (on the GPA front) you've got that summer class that could potentially boost things and help show the adcoms evidence of improvement.

 

[Howister]

Other schools may well operate differently. TBH, I didn't pay much attention to the protocol for fall grades when I applied... I just operated on the assumption that they were going to be counted, and was kind of shocked and dismayed when I realized that (in some cases) they wouldn't.

I didn't research things quite as heavily as some of the posters here before I jumped into the fray. 😳

Even if you aren't thrilled with your GPA, remember that people have been admitted with lower stats... and there are still other important parts of your application (like the GRE, your PS/ES, letters of recommendation, and any supplemental essays you'll have to write) that are still totally up in the air and within your control at this point. 👍

And (on the GPA front) you've got that summer class that could potentially boost things and help show the adcoms evidence of improvement.

I take the GRE tomorrow morning at 8 and have been studying my butt off. I'll retake it if I have to. I have great letters of rec and quite a bit of experience. I have a list of schools I want to apply to, but haven't decided which ones to narrow it down to. So far Davis (#1), Colostate, Edinburgh, and 5 others.

 

[lionking101]

it seems like the biggest thing is not to make excuses.

i went to rehab the summer after my sophomore year (19 y/o) and suffered severe depression. since then, i have stayed clean for almost 2 years, spoken at several high schools about substance abuse/addiction, spoken with several government officials about how to make treatment programs better suited for young people. i have started support groups on my campus to help support young people dealing with addiction and other mental illness. i have been on antidepressants for 2+ years and don't foresee getting off of them any time soon.

that is part of the reason why my cum. gpa is currently around 3.2, but the real reason is that i just didn't do well. i am not going to try to explain a low gpa with the reasons above.

instead, i'm going to put down my volunteer experiences as a public speaker/mentor to high school aged students, being an advocate for young people with addiction, and working with government officials to create a better treatment option for the community. also, i'm gonna work my ass off the next couple years to show them that though i started off poorly, i finished strong.

use your personal obstacles as a reason to show them that you are capable. i won't tell them my personal experience with addiction unless they ask how i got involved speaking at high schools. im not going to make excuses, i'm done making excuses. its time to show them i'm worth their time, money, and effort.

 

[breenie]

it seems like the biggest thing is not to make excuses.

i went to rehab the summer after my sophomore year (19 y/o) and suffered severe depression. since then, i have stayed clean for almost 2 years, spoken at several high schools about substance abuse/addiction, spoken with several government officials about how to make treatment programs better suited for young people. i have started support groups on my campus to help support young people dealing with addiction and other mental illness. i have been on antidepressants for 2+ years and don't foresee getting off of them any time soon.

that is part of the reason why my cum. gpa is currently around 3.2, but the real reason is that i just didn't do well. i am not going to try to explain a low gpa with the reasons above.

instead, i'm going to put down my volunteer experiences as a public speaker/mentor to high school aged students, being an advocate for young people with addiction, and working with government officials to create a better treatment option for the community. also, i'm gonna work my ass off the next couple years to show them that though i started off poorly, i finished strong.

use your personal obstacles as a reason to show them that you are capable. i won't tell them my personal experience with addiction unless they ask how i got involved speaking at high schools. im not going to make excuses, i'm done making excuses. its time to show them i'm worth their time, money, and effort.

I don't know the details of your addiction issues... but I'd be very careful about mentioning any sort of drug use. Remember, we have access to controlled substances as a veterinary student/veterinarian.

 

[chubbybunny4]

Hello everyone,
I am applying this cycle and have a personal statement written, but after reading some advice on here I am conflicted as to whether or not I should include it.
I had a 4.0 my first 2 1/2 years of school. Spring semester I received 2 B+'s and a B, giving me a GPA of 3.4 that term. I know that is not a bad GPA.. however I do feel like considering my past GPA they might wonder why it dropped that semester.
Part of the reason it dropped was because I was having some serious family issues, and needed to be home (1 1/2 hours away from school) a lot in the couple of weeks before finals... in my explanation statement I talk about how I learned how to focus more and become more driven in my studies because of that experience.
Should I include it or not?
Thanks!

 

[that redhead]

No, don't include that. The explanation statement is, in my opinion, for serious academic discrepancies or overall weak performance. Going from 4.0 to a couple of B's doesn't fit the bill, at least in my opinion.

 

[LetItSnow]

No, don't include that. The explanation statement is, in my opinion, for serious academic discrepancies or overall weak performance. Going from 4.0 to a couple of B's doesn't fit the bill, at least in my opinion.

👍

I feel like people are using the explanation statement more and more, for lesser and lesser deals.

Maybe that's perfectly fine with the schools (it would be if I were them because hey, it gives you more insight into the applicant), but... meh....

 

[BlackDog17]

No, don't include that. The explanation statement is, in my opinion, for serious academic discrepancies or overall weak performance. Going from 4.0 to a couple of B's doesn't fit the bill, at least in my opinion.

I agree. If you're really worried about it, call the admissions offices for the schools you're applying to and ask for their opinions. But honestly, everyone has at least one bad semester during undergrad, and a few B's doesn't even count as "bad". The fact that you actually had a life outside of school for a single semester doesn't require an essay to explain, in my opinion.