Please explain any low grades?

[Attentive]

Hi all,

I had a question regarding some secondary applications that ask the question "please explain any extenuating circumstances, i.e. poor grades, class withdrawals, etc."

I graduated from a top 20 college, with a 3.25 cum, 3.11 BCPM. I had a straight upward trend in grades but from a 2.7 up.

I then graduated from a science heavy class (75 credits,) masters with a 3.95. Got a 33R on MCATs. A lot of ECs in research and volunteering with a few abstract publications and manuscripts on the way.

So my question is since I really did not have any excuses for this poor start, aside from being lackluster about my desire to pursue medicine which really isn't a valid excuse anyway should I leave this blank and let them figure out it was immaturity or address it?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

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[constructor]

like you said, don't tell them you were feeling lackluster. but you can say things like it was a tough adjustment for me, etc. and then mention your upward trend to show them that you did figure things out eventually.

 

[Psycho Doctor]

first semester or year away from college? use that to emphasize how difficult the adjustment was but show and demonstrate how you got your act together after one year/semester.

 

[Attentive]

Thanks for the advice guys. I think I'll just mention the trend, and use that first year which has been my bane, as a transitional period.

 

[morganlefay]

Hey, I have the same question on a secondary that asks to explain any grades lower than a B. I have three C's, in Calc II and in OChem 1 and 2. I wonder how I should explain them, beyond what's true for O Chem in that our prof was difficult, but everyone hears that. The reason for the C in Calc was that a lot of my time was taken up by my new position as a writer for my newspaper. But the Chem grades?? I'm lost on how to explain.....

 

[Will Ferrell]

They'll understand if you come from a top 20 undergraduate school. You put yourself at a disadvantage and you will be rewarded for it. Thank god you have a high MCAT score as well. Good luck

 

[deuist]

Let me guess, this question comes from the University of South Florida. When I saw that I wanted to write, "You're everyone's back up school. Don't make me explain my low grades to you."

 

[morganlefay]

Let me guess, this question comes from the University of South Florida. When I saw that I wanted to write, "You're everyone's back up school. Don't make me explain my low grades to you."

heheeh...Exactly!!! I have no idea what to do, and frankly feel a little insulted. I need them just in case, but I truly would rather not go there and don't want to make my essay sound that way. Le sigh. Let me know if you have any ideas.

P.S. I just read your pers. statement on your www site out of curiousity and just wanted to say that I spent this summer at UT-Memphis doing research (and have family there, and have lived there before), so it's nice to meet a fellow Florida-Memphian!