Question About Personal Statement

[MC1910]

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I was involved in a situation that caused me a lot of grief, emotional stress, and much PTSD. I had to withdraw from an entire semester of classes to resolve the ongoing situation and since I finished my bachelors (a year's worth of classes) with a 4.0. My cummulative was a 3.9.

I was wondering how and if I should even tie this in with my personal statement. I think it might be bad to talk about emotions because it may sound like I am unfit to complete the program. What do you think, should I just leave it out and talk about something else? I want to go into psychiatric pharmacy.

I just don't want to sound like I'm unstable

 

[Rouelle]

I was involved in a situation that caused me a lot of grief, emotional stress, and much PTSD. I had to withdraw from an entire semester of classes to resolve the ongoing situation and since I finished my bachelors (a year's worth of classes) with a 4.0. My cummulative was a 3.9.

I was wondering how and if I should even tie this in with my personal statement. I think it might be bad to talk about emotions because it may sound like I am unfit to complete the program. What do you think, should I just leave it out and talk about something else? I want to go into psychiatric pharmacy.

I just don't want to sound like I'm unstable

Use it to your advantage if you can. The personal statement is a place for you to explain your drive to enter and succeed in the pharmacy profession and to explain any discrepancies in your application. If this event can be used to show that you have overcome some significant obstacle that made you a stronger person, then you should definitely include it. This is assuming, of course, that the event can be spun in a positive light...

 

[owlegrad]

PharmCAS used to have a place you can explain discrepancies. I would use that area if it still exists and you really feel you need to address it.. I would not use the PS as a vehicle to explain one withdrawn semester. Your PS is your chance to sell yourself and show them why you are such a good fit for pharmacy, their school, etc. Do not waste characters on anything that does not accomplish that goal. Of course if talking about that experience does so, then go for it. Personally, I wouldn't.

 

[Corpseman]

I would only use the situation if it made you a stronger person afterwards.

 

[PharmacyWarrior]

You can mention your struggles and how they helped you to become what you are today. It's ok to mention your struggles for 1-2 sentences, but don't go into details cause you will have the chance to explain them in the supplemental materials.

 

[xtsukiyox]

Agree with above advice.

Rather than saying "it was a horrible situation because of xyz" perhaps you could spin it as "through the process of dealing with (general term), I learned a lot about myself. This experience drew me closer to my family and reaffirmed the necessity of a work-family balance in my eventual career." (Just off the top of my head, change to fit your situation.) Try to focus on what you learned or how the experience helped you grow rather than on the negative experience itself.

PS, owle, there is no separate section any more for explaining discrepancies. The personal statement is it.

 

[owlegrad]

Agree with above advice.

Rather than saying "it was a horrible situation because of xyz" perhaps you could spin it as "through the process of dealing with (general term), I learned a lot about myself. This experience drew me closer to my family and reaffirmed the necessity of a work-family balance in my eventual career." (Just off the top of my head, change to fit your situation.) Try to focus on what you learned or how the experience helped you grow rather than on the negative experience itself.

PS, owle, there is no separate section any more for explaining discrepancies. The personal statement is it.

Maybe there never was and I am misremembering. I thought there was a supplemental section though. Maybe I am thinking of the individual schools. Who knows?

I would still be skeptical of putting anything in a PS that did not 100% sell me as the best imaginable pharmacist/pharmacy student. One semester of W's is not a red flag in my book. If the adcoms want to know, they will ask. I don't think anyone with a 3.9 is going to go without interviews regardless of what goes in the PS to be honest though.

 

[Pharm Phiend]

I got sexually assaulted in my 3 rd year of undergrad and it affected my grades. I have over 90+ credits with a 2.67 cGPA from a 4 year university, that is with retakes (4 F's , 2 D's). I withdrew eventually and returned to school 10 years later. I have taken 50 credit hours (38 hrs are just science courses) at a CC in the past 3 semesters and have a 3.86 cGPA and 3.89 s/mGPA. I have lots of pharmacy experience, many honors since returning to school, and a PCAT score of 51 which I am planning to retake in January because I didnt study the first time because I was overwhelmed with my course load. I had 3 sciences with labs plus calculus in the fall....got a 3.75 though! I have alot of concerns;

1. I mentioned in my PharmCas personal statement that I had a personal difficulties in the past and that I am a better student as a result and it is demonstrated in my present academic performance but didnt elaborate on the actual reason. However I am doing my supplementals and they ask to explain any W's, F's, D's whatever or any academic hardships .....dont even know how to begin to explain this. I dont really want to disclose this information. Dont want a pity party!
2. My pharmcas cGPA is a 2.72 which is the cut off point for many schools.
3. How will Admissions view me? Will they even give me any consideration? Will they even look at my file or just toss it to the side.
4. I have applied to schools that don't take math or science grades over 6-10 years, 1 non PCAT school, 3 non PharmCas schools and 4 PharmCas schools
5. I just submitted my PharmCas in mid December, the money just wasnt there to apply early. I am funding school on my own right now and not working.....saved over those years so I could focus on school especially since I have been taking 15-17 credits every semester.
I am feeling pretty discouraged and dont know how to go about this

 

[PharmacyWarrior]

I got sexually assaulted in my 3 rd year of undergrad and it affected my grades. I have over 90+ credits with a 2.67 cGPA from a 4 year university, that is with retakes (4 F's , 2 D's). I withdrew eventually and returned to school 10 years later. I have taken 50 credit hours (38 hrs are just science courses) at a CC in the past 3 semesters and have a 3.86 cGPA and 3.89 s/mGPA. I have lots of pharmacy experience, many honors since returning to school, and a PCAT score of 51 which I am planning to retake in January because I didnt study the first time because I was overwhelmed with my course load. I had 3 sciences with labs plus calculus in the fall....got a 3.75 though! I have alot of concerns;

1. I mentioned in my PharmCas personal statement that I had a personal difficulties in the past and that I am a better student as a result and it is demonstrated in my present academic performance but didnt elaborate on the actual reason. However I am doing my supplementals and they ask to explain any W's, F's, D's whatever or any academic hardships .....dont even know how to begin to explain this. I dont really want to disclose this information. Dont want a pity party!
2. My pharmcas cGPA is a 2.72 which is the cut off point for many schools.
3. How will Admissions view me? Will they even give me any consideration? Will they even look at my file or just toss it to the side.
4. I have applied to schools that don't take math or science grades over 6-10 years, 1 non PCAT school, 3 non PharmCas schools and 4 PharmCas schools
5. I just submitted my PharmCas in mid December, the money just wasnt there to apply early. I am funding school on my own right now and not working.....saved over those years so I could focus on school especially since I have been taking 15-17 credits every semester.
I am feeling pretty discouraged and dont know how to go about this

Awww I'm really sorry for what you have been through, but keep your chin up. Schools will look at all factors so you should feel discouraged. I really hope you will get invitations and acceptances cause you sound determined in what you want to do. Good luck to you Phiend

 

[Pharm Phiend]

Thanks ....I hope I do too, I ve been studying my butt off for the January PCAT!

 

[xtsukiyox]

I would still be skeptical of putting anything in a PS that did not 100% sell me as the best imaginable pharmacist/pharmacy student. One semester of W's is not a red flag in my book. If the adcoms want to know, they will ask. I don't think anyone with a 3.9 is going to go without interviews regardless of what goes in the PS to be honest though.

👍

 

[Nelcovp]

I got sexually assaulted in my 3 rd year of undergrad and it affected my grades. I have over 90+ credits with a 2.67 cGPA from a 4 year university, that is with retakes (4 F's , 2 D's). I withdrew eventually and returned to school 10 years later. I have taken 50 credit hours (38 hrs are just science courses) at a CC in the past 3 semesters and have a 3.86 cGPA and 3.89 s/mGPA. I have lots of pharmacy experience, many honors since returning to school, and a PCAT score of 51 which I am planning to retake in January because I didnt study the first time because I was overwhelmed with my course load. I had 3 sciences with labs plus calculus in the fall....got a 3.75 though! I have alot of concerns;

1. I mentioned in my PharmCas personal statement that I had a personal difficulties in the past and that I am a better student as a result and it is demonstrated in my present academic performance but didnt elaborate on the actual reason. However I am doing my supplementals and they ask to explain any W's, F's, D's whatever or any academic hardships .....dont even know how to begin to explain this. I dont really want to disclose this information. Dont want a pity party!
2. My pharmcas cGPA is a 2.72 which is the cut off point for many schools.
3. How will Admissions view me? Will they even give me any consideration? Will they even look at my file or just toss it to the side.
4. I have applied to schools that don't take math or science grades over 6-10 years, 1 non PCAT school, 3 non PharmCas schools and 4 PharmCas schools
5. I just submitted my PharmCas in mid December, the money just wasnt there to apply early. I am funding school on my own right now and not working.....saved over those years so I could focus on school especially since I have been taking 15-17 credits every semester.
I am feeling pretty discouraged and dont know how to go about this

Keep in mind that medical professionals will be reading your information. I understand not wnating to disclose info but these people are going to want to know why you have an entire semester filled with Fs and Ds. If they see a 2.72 gpa with nothing substantial to tell them why, your application might end up in the trash.

I wouldn't be afraid to mention that while in school you were the victim of a crime (these are humans reading this). You don't need to go into detail. I then think you need to focus on what you have been doing for the 10 years after. Did you grow and become strong or go into seclusion? The latter is bad. I would attempt to write your personal statement with the help of your counsellor (I'm going to assume you have one).

However, this assault should not be the main focus or your personal statement. A paragraph at best of what caused you to leave school and how your are now a better student (candidate) as a result. Perhaps you were majoring in something else and now you may be able to use the experience as a reason why pharmacy is right for you.

The best personal statements are unique stories.