Secondary essay + low science GPA

[NeuroSpeare]

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Would a very low science GPA (3.0 - 3.1) be a relevant topic for a secondary essay?

I have an upward trend.

I worked a part-time job (Resident Assistant) for three years of college.

I double majored in non-overlapping fields (Neurosci/English)

I didn't really become comfortable with and truly interested in the sciences (i.e. I didn't learn how to study) until later in college.

2 quarters of C's are dragging me down...

My cGPA is a 3.5. MCAT a 37S.

Is this the time to talk about the elephant in the room or should I hold off recognizing my sad science GPA as long as I can? I know LizzyM has long recommended the latter...but I can't help but feel like an exception, considering just how disjunct my application is.

Thanks for the help 😳

 

[carnelian]

Would a very low science GPA (3.0 - 3.1) be a relevant topic for a secondary essay?

I have an upward trend.

I worked a part-time job (Resident Assistant) for three years of college.

I double majored in non-overlapping fields (Neurosci/English)

I didn't really become comfortable with and truly interested in the sciences (i.e. I didn't learn how to study) until later in college.

2 quarters of C's are dragging me down...

My cGPA is a 3.5. MCAT a 37S.

Is this the time to talk about the elephant in the room or should I hold off recognizing my sad science GPA as long as I can? I know LizzyM has long recommended the latter...but I can't help but feel like an exception, considering just how disjunct my application is.

Thanks for the help 😳

Depends on the secondary question. Some specifically ask about grade fluctuations, which I think is an appropriate place to address this. Just clarify the situation and don't make excuses; you'll be fine.

 

[NeuroSpeare]

Thanks for the response!

I guess a "anything not previously discussed in your application" question should be kept for bigger and better things?

 

[carnelian]

Thanks for the response!

I guess a "anything not previously discussed in your application" question should be kept for bigger and better things?

If possible, I'd recommend writing something positive for that question. Give med schools more examples of how awesome you are and why they should accept you! Not what's keeping you from being perfect 😉 Just my opinion though

 

[ShenanigansMD]

Well you have a 37S... so I feel like discussing your grades in your secondary would be sort of cliche (or whatever the right word is) because a lot of people explain this with the same things a lot of the time. If you have something more interesting to write about, then I would use that. Your MCAT score proves you're smart enough for med school.

But you might want adcoms opinion on this, not my SDN pre-med's opinion.

 

[LizzyM]

The ultimate goal with each of these essays is to make the reader say, "I"d like to meet this applicant!" That emotion makes it much more likely that the reader will recommend you for interview. That same curiosity and excitement about the topic of your essay will drive the conversation in an open file interview.

Finally, the decision makers need to figure out if you will be a good fit with their school. Being someone who they'd find interesting to have lunch with for every day of a four week rotation is how some people sum that up.

I hope this inspires you to write an interesting and exciting secondary!

 

[NeuroSpeare]

Thanks, LizzyM!

I'm off to write 🙂