question about how to address one bad semester in primaries/secondaries/interview

[MyOdyssey]

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[907914]

understand that the primary has a question that allows applicants to bring up issues not addressed elsewhere

I do not believe the Primary has an area for this. At least it didn’t this cycle. Additionally, it is not uncommon but it is definitely not the majority of secondaries where this will be a question.

ask for an explanation for any academic discontinuities.

If this is a secondary question, simply say you had difficulty transitioning to having a roommate but then you figured it out. Less details then you even included in this post.

That semester's GPA ended up a 3.5

You are 100% fine. A 3.5 is not bad at all and “difficulty adjusting” will make them just glance over this semester.

All my other semester GPAs were mid 3.8 to mid 3.9. My cGPA ended up as 3.88. I had a final sGPA of 3.86.

A 3.5 semester in the context of a 3.88/3.86 applicant won’t even make them bat an eye. I have 40 straight credits of 3.4 average and 2 quarters of 3.1 and I have been successful thus far. Your GPA and ‘trend’ is better than mine - MCAT aside, I think you will be fine.

went to a T20 undergrad if that matters.

It likely does not matter.

feel this will come up because that one semester resulted in a much lower GPA and I ended up with far fewer credits that semester as well.

It won’t come up. Only if asked in a secondary or if the interviewer asks you a “particularly difficult class” then just tell them the class was difficult and why, don’t blame the roommate or an illness even if that is the cause.

How and where (primary, secondary, interview) should I address this? I'd especially appreciate feedback from the ad coms.

Only address it if asked - it will almost guaranteed NOT matter. I am not an ADCOM, but @Goro is likely just gonna come in with the Xanax, @Moko will likely give you some gnarly advice and tell you that you are fine, @gonnif will likely swing in and diagnose you with PREMED, and @LizzyM will just come through and like everyone else’s posts before saying a useful and insightful piece of advice or quip that is tangentially related to the topic at hand.

You are good bruh, don’t stress.

 

[993444]

Additionally, it is not uncommon but it is definitely not the majority of secondaries where this will be a question.

I really wish every secondary did have an "Anything else you'd like us to know?" question. I feel like the only reason not all of them do is because many applicants will turn it into a "diversity" or "why us?" essay.

 

[907914]

I really wish every secondary did have an "Anything else you'd like us to know?" question. I feel like the only reason not all of them do is because many applicants will turn it into a "diversity" or "why us?" essay.

Most do have an ‘anything else’ essay, but it is usually best to leave it blank. If they cared about diversity or “why us” they would’ve asked or will ask in the interview.

 

[premed20172017]

Most do have an ‘anything else’ essay, but it is usually best to leave it blank. If they cared about diversity or “why us” they would’ve asked or will ask in the interview.

Now I read this?! Gah oh well

 

[907914]

Now I read this?! Gah oh well

Note* that has just been my interpretation

 

[Engrailed]

Most do have an ‘anything else’ essay, but it is usually best to leave it blank. If they cared about diversity or “why us” they would’ve asked or will ask in the interview.

Now I read this?! Gah oh well

I did a gap year plans essay for schools that already had a diversity essay

 

[MyOdyssey]

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[Goro]

Thanks for clarifying what the primary asks and what secondaries typically ask for.

I had roommates every year in college but junior year was the first time I had a roommate who had a habit of socializing until 4 am in the common area.

The consistent theme when I read ad com posts on SDN is for applicants to be honest. Here, my roommate's nocturnal activities kept me from being able to sleep, which disrupted things. Why not mention it?

@gyngyn @gonnif @LizzyM @Catalystik @Moko @Goro

What is so hard about simply telling the truth?

 

[MyOdyssey]

What is so hard about simply telling the truth?

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[Catalystik]

-semester's GPA ended up a 3.5. All my other semester GPAs were mid 3.8 to mid 3.9. My cGPA ended up as 3.88. I had a final sGPA of 3.86.

-I feel this will come up because that one semester resulted in a much lower GPA and I ended up with far fewer credits that semester as well.

-how and where (primary, secondary, interview) should I address this? I'd especially appreciate feedback from the ad coms.

-The AMCAS application displays GPAs year-by-year, not term by term. So that 3.5 is not going to be highlighted.

-I doubt this dip will come up in interviews.

-There is no need to address it at all unless you have a Secondary prompt about "A challenge you overcame" or "A stress and how you managed it," in which case I'd suggest addressing the sleep deprivation and not the grades. I would not bring it up if the prompt is "Is there anything else you want the committee to know."

 

[Catalystik]

I am not an ADCOM, but @Goro is likely just gonna come in with the Xanax, @Moko will likely give you some gnarly advice and tell you that you are fine, @gonnif will likely swing in and diagnose you with PREMED, and @LizzyM will just come through and like everyone else’s posts before saying a useful and insightful piece of advice or quip that is tangentially related to the topic at hand.

Feeling a bit snarky today are you?

 

[Select All That Apply]

@MyOdyssey Just for clarification, you attribute your poor scores to poor roommates? But, on the other hand the semesters you've had of good scores are due to your good character and mental constitution.

Spoiler

In all likelihood this interview question will not come up due to your ability to perform in subsequent semesters, but I think that an interviewer may ask it if they are interested in seeing how you respond under pressure. How introspective are you when it comes to this narrative? How much stock does this person put into attributing it to the roommate and place themselves as a non-factor? Is the candidate able to internally overcome challenges? Are they flexible and adaptable when it comes to learning barriers or are they a perfectionist who can't macgyver a solution?

 

[LizzyM]

@MyOdyssey Just for clarification, you attribute your poor scores to poor roommates? But, on the other hand the semesters you've had of good scores are due to your good character and mental constitution.

Yes, And a lack of sleep deprivation.

 

[Select All That Apply]

@LizzyM True.

 

[ciestar]

That's what I would do if asked in an interview.

If a secondary asks about academic difficulties, should I bring up the roommate issue? I'm leaning toward yes.

You won’t find many adcoms who will think a 3.5 is an “academic difficulty”. You’re worrying too much. If it came up at an interview, be honest, but don’t draw attention to an outlier like that on your app. Not worth it

 

[Moko]

Obligatory 'you're fine'

 

[WildWing]

@MyOdyssey, SDN just last week published an article discussing this topic:

Redemption Awaits: Let Your Medical School Interview Transform Liabilities into Assets | SDN

Despite more than a dozen years in medical school admissions consulting, I still clearly recall one bright advisee. She had improved her grades

www.studentdoctor.net

 

[MyOdyssey]

but a single term of 3.5 isnt a deficiency! But you keep insisting it is. Stop it!

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[Goro]

Understood. There's no way to know without asking.

A couple of caveats. That 3.5 term was also a term where, because of the 2 Ws, I took very few credits (fewer than 11). I'm also a resident in a state (TX) where medical schools seem to really like high GPAs.

You can't focus on a single semester! This doesn't define you as a human being or define your self-worth. So stop acting like it's a stain on your character.

 

[premed20172017]

You can't focus on a single semester! This doesn't define you as a human being or define your self-worth. So stop acting like it's a stain on your character.

I wish someone had told me this years ago when I took a break from my premed post bacc after getting 2 B+! Listen to @Goro!!