Personal Statement & Med problem

[mewtoo]

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I've tried searching SDN and google for advice given to people with a similar predicament to mine, but I've been having no luck so I've given up and decided to make a new thread.

I've written the majority of my personal statement. So far I've got a "catchy" opening (by catchy I just mean its opened by a narrative), stated my undying love for research, and now I'm trying to address my low-ish GPA. I've got a 3.46 cGPA so I thought it would be a good idea to address it.

The main reason my cGPA isn't stellar (besides getting a BS and minoring in biology) is because of heath issues that I didn't know I had for the first 3 semesters of college. I found out I had lupus (along with some other, fun autoimmune issues) and my liver was trying to jump ship and that's why I felt like I had to sleep 16 hours a day in order to semi-function like a human being. As you can imagine that wasn't conducive to academic life and my GPA was 2.9 at its lowest. My last 2 years GPA so far is a 3.68, showing how much I've improved.

I'm trying to figure out what might be the best way to add this in, but I'm also worrying about if POIs might be scared off by this. Although my disease is currently mild and controlled, I have no way of knowing what my body might do in the future. Basically, I'm afraid POIs might know this too and be turned off by this. I also don't want to hide this from anyone either, though, because inevitably I will have a problem stemming from my lupus that might interfere with my academic career (whether its missing a meeting for some kind of procedure or, unfortunately, having something not so mild happen).

I know the "drop a bomb and leave it" approach probably wouldn't go over very well and was advised against it during a grad school prep session at a conference I attended last year. I don't want to dwell on it, either. So, how would you navigate a situation like this? If any of you have tactfully done this before, I'd be especially appreciative of your input.

If you guys don't help me this is going to happen to me. -->

 

[MBellows]

First of all, I'm sorry to hear about the lupus and I'll avoid making any jokes about it to appease my own sick sense of humor that I use to cope with situations that are full of suck.

The fact that you minored in Biology will help out with your cGPA for several reasons, and a 3.46 isn't bad. It probably won't be a major positive, but it isn't near the lowest that they will get and the fact that your last 60 hours will be closer to 3.7 is definitely a good thing.

As someone in a rehab program though I have to generally advise against informing people of your health status. There's really not a good time in 2 pages that you can do it. If you lead with it, you run the risk of damaging your first impression with someone's health biases. If you do it too late, it will seem like you're trying to dodge the topic by mentioning it and leaving, kind of like a doorknob question/comment in therapy.

Hopefully one of the more senior members who have served on admission boards will be more helpful. I can just repeat what I've heard in my employment classes and wish you the best.

 

[Doctor Eliza]

I don't think it is low enough that you need to comment on it. If you are asked, you can refer to "undiagnosed health issues that are now under control.". Do not be specific and do not give more info than you need to. I do not think of this as hiding something. You are doing fine now and may do well throught school.

Also, after you get in, it will be very important to document your condition with your universitiy's office for students with disabilities in order to cover yourself in case you need to miss meetings etc due to a flare up. I had a really bad experience with lack of understanding due to a health condition and I believe that had I not had such documentation, I would not have been allowed to complete my degree.

Best,
Dr. E

 

[wigflip]

nothing to add, except mewtoo, I am pulling for you! best of luck with your apps!

 

[InNae]

Does one of your letter writers know about the lupus and its effect on your past academic performance? If yes, given that a 3.46 is not outrageously low, I highly recommend that you not mention it (or your health situation) in your statement at all. Instead, have a frank discussion with the letter writer about whether s/he will address it in the letter. It is quite common to have a writer mention that an applicant's GPA (or GRE) does not adequately reflect the applicant's ability, along with a very brief and straightforward statement of potential mitigating factors. In this way your statement remains entirely positive, and presumably the letter writer vouches for your ability and performance despite your health (or other, for any other applicants wondering about this) challenges. Good luck!

 

[becomethelight]

I wouldn't worry about it too much, I only had a 3.26 cumulative GPA and I got into grad school. I think your research experiences and letters of reference are much more important. I don't think you need to mention your lupus in your personal statement, but if you do, I would weave it in as a challenging experience that you have grown from, in order to demonstrate your maturity. If you just say: "I got lupus and that's why my GPA is 3.46" it does not show that degree of maturity.

 

[mewtoo]

nothing to add, except mewtoo, I am pulling for you! best of luck with your apps!

Thanks! 😍

 

[mewtoo]

Thanks for the advice everyone. 🙂

I was under the impression that my GPA was low enough, especially considering I'm not one of those 1200+ GRE people. I got a 1040 when I took it more than a year ago, though I'm very hopeful that I'll have an 1100+ when I take it again in a few weeks because I got a 1110-1130 on an powerprep test. I'm glad to know that my GPA is not so huge of a detriment as I thought.

InNae, I like your suggestion of getting a letter writer to mention it. Now that I think about it, if I did want to mention it, that would be the place to do it. Though, after seeing what everyone has said, it might be better to just leave it as "undiagnosed health issues that are now under control" like Dr.E said. I've been really scared of triggering anyone's health biases and screwing myself over, though I'm still unsure of how I'd go about disclosing this sort of stuff later on. I guess I'll just figure it out when/if I get accepted somewhere.

I think I'll discuss this with my adviser further and see what she says and if she would be comfortable with discussing it covertly in my letter. I'm glad I asked you guys about this.

 

[PsychPhDone]

I agree with the others. I wouldn't waste your limited personal statement space on it. If one of your letter writers could delicately address it (such as how Dr. E suggested), I think that's your best bet. Good luck on your next round of the GRE!

 

[mewtoo]

I don't think it is low enough that you need to comment on it. If you are asked, you can refer to "undiagnosed health issues that are now under control.". Do not be specific and do not give more info than you need to. I do not think of this as hiding something. You are doing fine now and may do well throught school.

Also, after you get in, it will be very important to document your condition with your universitiy's office for students with disabilities in order to cover yourself in case you need to miss meetings etc due to a flare up. I had a really bad experience with lack of understanding due to a health condition and I believe that had I not had such documentation, I would not have been allowed to complete my degree.

Best,
Dr. E

I didn't realize that documenting my conditions with the disability office was even a thing. I've been very lucky and have had very understanding professors so far and haven't had any problems with missing the few times I've had to. I will definitely do this at my new school. Thanks for the heads-up.

 

[MBellows]

Thanks for the advice everyone. 🙂

I was under the impression that my GPA was low enough, especially considering I'm not one of those 1200+ GRE people. I got a 1040 when I took it more than a year ago, though I'm very hopeful that I'll have an 1100+ when I take it again in a few weeks because I got a 1110-1130 on an powerprep test. I'm glad to know that my GPA is not so huge of a detriment as I thought.

You may want to look into the changes that they made to the administration and scoring of the GRE.

 

[mewtoo]

You may want to look into the changes that they made to the administration and scoring of the GRE.

Oh, I know about the new scoring and changes to the test. 🙂 Most people on here (and myself included) are used to the old scoring system so I thought I'd just translate for them. That's partly why that score was 1110-1130, because the concordance tables aren't exact. New scale I got a V156 and Q147 on my practice test. I can't remember right now what ETS officially said my old score was in the new system.

 

[paramour]

I didn't realize that documenting my conditions with the disability office was even a thing. I've been very lucky and have had very understanding professors so far and haven't had any problems with missing the few times I've had to. I will definitely do this at my new school. Thanks for the heads-up.

I agree with the others regarding disclosure during your application process. I personally wouldn't bother with it (and my cumulative wasn't that great after transferring a few times with extended breaks between those transfers).

As for the quoted point, I would highly encourage you to do whatever you need to do in order to cover your arse upon your entry to grad school. My program has made repeated attempts to coerce me into a leave of absence for my current medical condition. You really don't want the hassle. Having someone else "on your side," so to speak, if your condition worsens for a bit while in in the program can only benefit you. Sometimes your dept may not have your best interests in mind (even though they may think so).

G'luck.