Personal Statement or Explanation Essay

[HealthE]

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I have a question fo you all. I am not applying yet but I just wanted to bounce my issues off of someone else.

So, I went to a tough ugrad. Had a hard time with some science courses. I went to office hours all the time and even sought out a tutor. My professors unfortunately weren't very helpful in telling me what I was doing wrong. I seriously had no clue why I was doing poorly. I had a couple of teachers that suggest I try a tutor because they didn't have the time to figure out where I was going wrong with my studying. So, I went to an on campus tutor. I explained my frustrations to the tutor. I had no clue where I was going wrong with my studies. (This is all about 10 years ago mind you. I was 18-19) She told me I had a learning disability and I should just quit premed. I was really shy and didnt speak up or defend myself when I was this age.

I took what she said at face value that I had some sort of learning defect and basically my self esteem plummetted. I dropped my premed courses when that was the only thing I ever wanted to do. I began taking other college courses but I never quite had that fire I once had. I just thought I was stupid and did awful the rest of undergrad. Looking back, I know I shouldnt have internalized what this person said but I did at 18/19. Now, I am about 10 years older. I know it was complete BS. I am doing great in my classes I just didnt know my learning style for these tough classes. I am glad I am at a place now where if someone gives me awful advice I just find another person thatll help and I dont let mean people get to me.

When I go to write why my grades were so low in ugrad. What should I say? I was basically demotivated after someone within the schools administration told me I had a learning disability and I believed them. Idk how this will sound to adcoms. I have recovered from this now. But this is the reason why, it may sound silly to adcoms but it is what it is.

I have spoken to other people from my ugrad that had some premed professors say some crazy stuff to them that discouraged them from applying to med school. (ie maybe you arent made for college - even though they were trying hard) Now, 10 years later they are trying to apply for the first time.

 

[dmf2682]

I remember my aerodynamics professor once told me that some people don't have what it takes and not everyone can be an Aero engineer. What did I do? Buck up, work hard, and get an A in the class.

You are who you are now because of your past. While you should embrace your journey you should not dwell on it, instead focus on how you've improved and what you've learned about yourself.

 

[Deekle]

How low are we talking? What're your stats?

 

[HealthE]

How low are we talking? What're your stats?

like below 3.0
went to a top 5 school
non ivy though
i know adcoms wont care either way though

I remember my aerodynamics professor once told me that some people don't have what it takes and not everyone can be an Aero engineer. What did I do? Buck up, work hard, and get an A in the class.

You are who you are now because of your past. While you should embrace your journey you should not dwell on it, instead focus on how you've improved and what you've learned about yourself.

Everyone responds to things differently. I had a lot going on and I just couldnt figure things out at the time even though I was trying. I just don't want adcoms to think I was being a bum in undergrad. I was really trying until I got really discouraged and basically gave up on myself. It wasnt like I was out partying or anything. I am just worried about how to explain this since I know its going to come up.

 

[Deekle]

like below 3.0
went to a top 5 school
non ivy though
i know adcoms wont care either way though.

True, they won't. I'm guessing you're working on GPA repair right now? What's your best case scenario for cGPA at time of application?

 

[HealthE]

True, they won't. I'm guessing you're working on GPA repair right now? What's your best case scenario for cGPA at time of application?

Well since I gave up only after 4 or 5 science classes. I only did bad in half of them ..my science GPA should be in great shape since I am taking a full course load. Overall GPA will probably be in the low 3s when I am done. Overall science gpa will definitely be over a 3.5. I can rock the MCAT though. I have started taking practice tests and I am doing well with what I have covered so far. Always have been a good test taker. I have good ECs too and publications.

 

[DrMidlife]

1. build up a substantial counterexample (such as straight A's in a 2nd bachelors in biochem, maybe more) to give yourself academic legitimacy
2. kill the MCAT, such as 31+, to add to your new academic legitimacy
3. build up a great narrative that makes adcoms believe you should be a doctor (that's your personal statement)
4. when you get secondaries, look for the place where you explain any academic anomalies, and explain them. Hint: take responsibility and don't point fingers.

Best of luck to you.

 

[HealthE]

1. build up a substantial counterexample (such as straight A's in a 2nd bachelors in biochem, maybe more) to give yourself academic legitimacy
2. kill the MCAT, such as 31+, to add to your new academic legitimacy
3. build up a great narrative that makes adcoms believe you should be a doctor (that's your personal statement)
4. when you get secondaries, look for the place where you explain any academic anomalies, and explain them. Hint: take responsibility and don't point fingers.

Best of luck to you.

Sounds like the generic advice everyone gets. 1. I think I will be able to get in after a year of full time classes. So, the second bachelors is out for me. 2. Not worried about that. 3&4 Is what I am worried about...which is what the post is about....how do you explain it in a way that adcoms dont look at me funny. I am serious.

 

[Deekle]

Ok, forgive the questions, wanted to make sure you weren't in for some tough love if your end cGPA was going to be below 3.0

Really what the adcoms want to know is what happened? Why did it happen? What has changed since you had trouble? More than that, they want it all to make sense.

A couple of pointers:

1. Lots of people go through tough times, but not everyone screws up their grades when it happens, so this has got to be about you. Dr. Midlife is not giving you generic advice, that's practical experience talking. The only place you should point a finger as far as the adcoms are concerned is at yourself. It's ok to explain circumstances, but I guarantee you if you get to the interview stage, they are going to push you to explain why you had trouble.

2. Take the negatives and turn them into positives. When we screw up, we learn and we don't make the same mistakes again. (Hopefully). After you've pointed the finger at yourself, really hammer home how your experience changed you and what a different person you are now.

3. It's going to come up over and over throughout the process, but your real chance to "explain" is going to be your interviews. As Dr. Midlife said, you want to build a narrative. That narrative needs to include what is interesting and unique about you, why you are on this path, and somehow also mention the difficulties you have had and how you have overcome them. Set the hook, get them interested and then use your interview to really hammer home how much you've grown.

I personally would not write a seperate essay. If I was an adcom I would not want to read a second document. I would figure if you couldn't weave it into the narrative of your PS then it's probably not worth reading.

The reality is that you may have a difficult road ahead. Be prepared for rejection. Be ready to re-apply at least once. That way if you do get in first try, it'll be a nice surprise.

I overcame a 1.37 freshman GPA to make it into med school. It was a tougher row to hoe because of it, but in the end I made it. You can do it too.

 

[HealthE]

Ok, forgive the questions, wanted to make sure you weren't in for some tough love if your end cGPA was going to be below 3.0

Really what the adcoms want to know is what happened? Why did it happen? What has changed since you had trouble? More than that, they want it all to make sense.

A couple of pointers:

1. Lots of people go through tough times, but not everyone screws up their grades when it happens, so this has got to be about you. Dr. Midlife is not giving you generic advice, that's practical experience talking. The only place you should point a finger as far as the adcoms are concerned is at yourself. It's ok to explain circumstances, but I guarantee you if you get to the interview stage, they are going to push you to explain why you had trouble.

2. Take the negatives and turn them into positives. When we screw up, we learn and we don't make the same mistakes again. (Hopefully). After you've pointed the finger at yourself, really hammer home how your experience changed you and what a different person you are now.

3. It's going to come up over and over throughout the process, but your real chance to "explain" is going to be your interviews. As Dr. Midlife said, you want to build a narrative. That narrative needs to include what is interesting and unique about you, why you are on this path, and somehow also mention the difficulties you have had and how you have overcome them. Set the hook, get them interested and then use your interview to really hammer home how much you've grown.

I personally would not write a seperate essay. If I was an adcom I would not want to read a second document. I would figure if you couldn't weave it into the narrative of your PS then it's probably not worth reading.

The reality is that you may have a difficult road ahead. Be prepared for rejection. Be ready to re-apply at least once. That way if you do get in first try, it'll be a nice surprise.

I overcame a 1.37 freshman GPA to make it into med school. It was a tougher row to hoe because of it, but in the end I made it. You can do it too.

I am not worried about getting in. I am willing to go anywhere or DO. I don't want to go DO but I have accepted any and all possibilities at this point. I think the rest of my application will be fine just the grades are the most important thing at this point. If I keep doing what I am doing now, I will be fine. The things that worries me next is just explaining the situation.

I guess my theme will have to be believing in yourself then. Lol. sigh. This sucks how I responded to things at 19 but it is what it is. Going into depression after deaths and bad grades and being in an unsupportive environment is going to be tough to explain.

 

[Deekle]

As I said, people go through those same difficulties and do just fine grade wise. You're not the first or last person to have to deal with a crap situation. Don't overthink this. It should be less about the specifics of the situation and more about how you handled it poorly, realized such, and made changes to compensate. If you can establish a good track record with the GPA repair, then you will also establish credibility.

I'd caution you about being too cocky as well. You're making a lot of assumptions about your credentials that are ultimately in the hands of individuals who are going to be a heck of a lot more picky than you know. I didn't advise you to prep for rejection because it was a remote chance. I guarantee you will experience it. Hopefully, if you apply broadly, you won't have to deal with re-application.

Best of luck to you regardless


Sent from my iPhone using SDN Mobile app. Blame Siri if the spelling or grammar are bad.

 

[HealthE]

As I said, people go through those same difficulties and do just fine grade wise. You're not the first or last person to have to deal with a crap situation. Don't overthink this. It should be less about the specifics of the situation and more about how you handled it poorly, realized such, and made changes to compensate. If you can establish a good track record with the GPA repair, then you will also establish credibility.

I'd caution you about being too cocky as well. You're making a lot of assumptions about your credentials that are ultimately in the hands of individuals who are going to be a heck of a lot more picky than you know. I didn't advise you to prep for rejection because it was a remote chance. I guarantee you will experience it. Hopefully, if you apply broadly, you won't have to deal with re-application.

Best of luck to you regardless


Sent from my iPhone using SDN Mobile app. Blame Siri if the spelling or grammar are bad.

I am sure I will experience rejection as well. I am not living under a rock. I just think if I apply to DO and I keep up what I am doing now I will be fine. This is of course after my mdapplicants.com research. I don't make assertions like this out of no where.

 

[Deekle]

Keep the 'tude. If this is how you respond to folks trying to offer you the wisdom of hard-earned experience, you'll be lucky if you even get to the interview stage. Just tell the interviewer that your mdapps research said they should accept you.


Sent from my iPhone using SDN Mobile app. Blame Siri if the spelling or grammar are bad.

 

[HealthE]

Keep the 'tude. If this is how you respond to folks trying to offer you the wisdom of hard-earned experience, you'll be lucky if you even get to the interview stage. Just tell the interviewer that your mdapps research said they should accept you.


Sent from my iPhone using SDN Mobile app. Blame Siri if the spelling or grammar are bad.

huh? what tude? Something must be getting lost through the internet. No attitude here. Have a good day.

 

[Deekle]

Sorry if I misinterpreted some sarcasm. The internet is bad for that kind of thing...


Sent from my iPhone using SDN Mobile app. Blame Siri if the spelling or grammar are bad.

 

[HealthE]

Sorry if I misinterpreted some sarcasm. The internet is bad for that kind of thing...


Sent from my iPhone using SDN Mobile app. Blame Siri if the spelling or grammar are bad.

Lol its k. Communication skills is one of those things I need to work on. I am joking around and people don't get it sometimes. But I appreciate the advice.