Personal Issues in PS?

[goodie]

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Hey guys,

I am working on my personal statement and am not sure if this is the place to include the fact that my parents had infidelity issues during my freshman year which caused me to have to to go back home every week to be with my younger brother and sister & figure out our family situation. This is why my 1st yr grades are so low, (in combination with living away for the first time) and id like a chance to explain that so they dont simply overlook my application, but is this the place to put it? Or is it better off being mentioned in another part of the application?

I appreciate any advice.

 

[UndergradGuy7]

Hey guys,

I am working on my personal statement and am not sure if this is the place to include the fact that my parents had infidelity issues during my freshman year which caused me to have to to go back home every week to be with my younger brother and sister & figure out our family situation. This is why my 1st yr grades are so low, (in combination with living away for the first time) and id like a chance to explain that so they dont simply overlook my application, but is this the place to put it? Or is it better off being mentioned in another part of the application?

I appreciate any advice.

Which other part of the application would you put it in? Coursework, volunteering?

Yes, this is the place. The point of the personal statement is to show why you are interested in dentistry and some personal stuff that affected you and can't be mentioned anywhere else. Remember the focus is, why dentistry? So don't write about your problems for the whole thing and mention I want to be a dentist because xxx in 1 sentence. Just my opinion.

Don't talk about grades, since they have that in the rest of the application. Watch the character limit though.

 

[iralex801]

Personally, I think a personal statement should be about "Why you want to be a dentist?" I don't think it should be a place where you explain why your grades were low. I don't see how you could tie your personal problems you stated into why you want to be a dentist.

However, I do see where your coming from when you say where are you suppose to put it then. I think it would be best to explain your situation if they ask you why your grades were low at your interview. However, if they do overlook you, you won't get a chance to explain. So I don't really know what you should do, but I just wanted to say that I think the PS should be about why you want to be a dentist.

 

[molar3]

you should say ,that despite ur family issues (insert ur probs) u stayed passionate about dentistry and stayed focused and tried your best--ie---your grades got better throughout college or w/e, and then say that throughout ur issues u still managed to complete x-y-z-- list ur extracurriculars that have to do with dentistry etc

 

[WiscoStudent]

Hey guys,

I am working on my personal statement and am not sure if this is the place to include the fact that my parents had infidelity issues during my freshman year which caused me to have to to go back home every week to be with my younger brother and sister & figure out our family situation. This is why my 1st yr grades are so low, (in combination with living away for the first time) and id like a chance to explain that so they dont simply overlook my application, but is this the place to put it? Or is it better off being mentioned in another part of the application?

I appreciate any advice.

"Has your education ever been interrupted or affected adversely for reasons other than deficiencies in conduct or academic performance?"

That's under background info