Personal Statement Help: Addressing Transcript Disparity

[Desielmo4]

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Hey, I've written two versions of my personal statement and I can't seem to reconcile this issue I'm having: I have a very bad freshmen year at college because I was majoring in something I didn't really have an interest in and was overwhelmed by the environment. Those are the real reasons behind my bad grades, there was no death in the family or emotional trauma or anything. I got my act together my sophomore year and have done well ever since, and I know I have to address that freshmen year in my personal statement, but how much space should I devote to explaining why it's so bad (academic probation bad)? And as far as why I want to study medicine, it's not one or two particular events or epiphanies or anything from volunteering as much as it was a slow, gradual realization day by day, which doesn't make for a good personal statement, right? I really appreciate any help you guys could give me.

 

[samo1998]

bump

 

[Desielmo4]

If you don't address it in your PS, where will you explain what happened/why it happened?

 

[MiesVanDerMom]

I explained my bad grades in the section where it asks if you had academic probation and gives you room to explain. Also, on the secondaries there is room to explain it. I'm using the PS to sell myself.

 

[Desielmo4]

what section asks you to explain academic probation?

 

[naru]

i would mention it briefly. ps is meant to sell yourself, but adcomms do expect to see some explanation for the bad grades. so 2 or 3 sentences maximum.

you can always explain yourself in more detail on secondaries and especially in the interview.

good luck

 

[MiesVanDerMom]

what section asks you to explain academic probation?

it's under "institutional action" in the.. schoools attended scetion i think. there was a discussion about this a month or two ago here on SDN and the consensus was to leave it out of the PS. maybe you could search for the thread...

 

[risnwb]

I also had a bad freshman year. I didn't explain in my ps and I was only asked about it in 2 of 5 interviews. I think adcoms are used to people doing poorly freshman year and i'd only explain if there WAS some terrible event in your life that caused the crappy grades...

 

[bubabugster]

Unless you can weave it into your PS, save it for the secondaries. 😉

 

[BradenDO]

Hey, I've written two versions of my personal statement and I can't seem to reconcile this issue I'm having: I have a very bad freshmen year at college because I was majoring in something I didn't really have an interest in and was overwhelmed by the environment. Those are the real reasons behind my bad grades, there was no death in the family or emotional trauma or anything. I got my act together my sophomore year and have done well ever since, and I know I have to address that freshmen year in my personal statement, but how much space should I devote to explaining why it's so bad (academic probation bad)? And as far as why I want to study medicine, it's not one or two particular events or epiphanies or anything from volunteering as much as it was a slow, gradual realization day by day, which doesn't make for a good personal statement, right? I really appreciate any help you guys could give me.

I think that your poor grades show how right medicine is for you. Adcoms will see the raise in your GPA and see that you actually enjoy (and do well in) the prereqs. I wouldn't mention it in your PS...I agree with the others and mention it on your application. Plus, they may ask about it during your interviews so you'll be able to explain it more.

 

[kevster2001]

I'd save it for teh secondaries

 

[jbrice1639]

Hey, I've written two versions of my personal statement and I can't seem to reconcile this issue I'm having: I have a very bad freshmen year at college because I was majoring in something I didn't really have an interest in and was overwhelmed by the environment. Those are the real reasons behind my bad grades, there was no death in the family or emotional trauma or anything. I got my act together my sophomore year and have done well ever since, and I know I have to address that freshmen year in my personal statement, but how much space should I devote to explaining why it's so bad (academic probation bad)? And as far as why I want to study medicine, it's not one or two particular events or epiphanies or anything from volunteering as much as it was a slow, gradual realization day by day, which doesn't make for a good personal statement, right? I really appreciate any help you guys could give me.

You stated the problem in your question...you don't want to tell the admissions people that you were "overwhelmed" because they will have no reason to assume the same thing won't happen to you in med school, which is far more overwhelming than undergrad.

On your app, your grades will be broken down by year and your upward trend will show. It will be obvious that you turned things around. Use your personal statement to talk about the good stuff...don't use it to give them a reason not to accept you.

 

[saffronrain]

Hey, I'm also in the same boat. I had a crappy frosh year, but I actually transferred schools and did well later on. So you guys aren't using your PS to explain what happened? I kinda did... now I'm not so sure......... .. 😕