Should I explain my declining GPA trend?(Plz help!)

[bvan95]

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Hi everyone,

First off, thank you so much for your help with my first thread! I'm gearing up to apply this coming cycle (!) and I have a question about my GPA.
My stats: cGPA: 3.79, sGPA:3.7, MCAT: 516, 500hrs+ research, 700hrs+ clinical shadow+volunteer, ~350 hrs non clinical. I am an international student from Vietnam.

-Quick back story: I graduated a year ago as a Nutrition major, biology and chemistry double-minor. Did not intend to do medical school until junior year so ended up taking the harder science classes (Biochemistry, Organic, Chemical Analysis,etc) my 2nd junior semester/senior year.

==>During late fall (November) of my senior year, I was told my dad was dx with end-stage lung cancer. That was kinda where things took a rough turn for me emotionally as I couldn't be there for him (since he was in Vietnam). I tried my best to finish my senior year but my grades took a hit: I had an overall GPA of 3.59 for the whole year (took 19 credits and then 17).

-June after graduation, I pulled myself together to study for the MCAT and got that score. Can this off-set the unlucky trend in my GPA?
ALSO:
1)Should I explain the dropping trend?
2) Is my situation "legit" enough?
3) Are my stats bad for an international? 🙁
THANK YOU EVERYONE!!!

 

[PreMedMissteps]

No, do not make any attempt to explain your the minor declining trend on a primary AMCAS app. If a secondary asks about any grade issues, then you can discuss this in 1-3 sentences (no more).

Agreed...

And as noted, the downward trend is slight, not alarming. It’s not as if you got a 3.0 that year.

I don’t think it’s a good idea to purposely address this. Med schools want students with strong cores. Life has ups and downs and sorrow and loss. It’s scary to think that one’s doctor will be subpar while going thru something in his/her personal life.

I’m sorry to hear about your father.

 

[Goro]

Hi everyone,

First off, thank you so much for your help with my first thread! I'm gearing up to apply this coming cycle (!) and I have a question about my GPA.
My stats: cGPA: 3.79, sGPA:3.7, MCAT: 516, 500hrs+ research, 700hrs+ clinical shadow+volunteer, ~350 hrs non clinical. I am an international student from Vietnam.

-Quick back story: I graduated a year ago as a Nutrition major, biology and chemistry double-minor. Did not intend to do medical school until junior year so ended up taking the harder science classes (Biochemistry, Organic, Chemical Analysis,etc) my 2nd junior semester/senior year.

==>During late fall (November) of my senior year, I was told my dad was dx with end-stage lung cancer. That was kinda where things took a rough turn for me emotionally as I couldn't be there for him (since he was in Vietnam). I tried my best to finish my senior year but my grades took a hit: I had an overall GPA of 3.59 for the whole year (took 19 credits and then 17).

-June after graduation, I pulled myself together to study for the MCAT and got that score. Can this off-set the unlucky trend in my GPA?
ALSO:
1)Should I explain the dropping trend?
2) Is my situation "legit" enough?
3) Are my stats bad for an international? 🙁
THANK YOU EVERYONE!!!

Your stats are fine. But keep in mind that US MD schools matriculate very few internationals in the aggregate.

 

[PreMedMissteps]

Your stats are fine. But keep in mind that US MD schools matriculate very few internationals in the aggregate.

Very true. I overlooked that very important point.

Where do you plan on applying and what is your Plan B?

 

[bvan95]

Very true. I overlooked that very important point.

Where do you plan on applying and what is your Plan B?

I'm making my list right now but my plan B options include Semmelweis (hungary), Jagiellonian (poland), Duke-NUS (Singapore) and some German schools (I'm learning German right now). The crazy competitiveness for international student is what is worrying me the most and I can't find any data on accepted international student profile 🙁

 

[LizzyM]

I'd suggest working your father's date of diagnosis into your PS in some way. That will be all the explanation anyone will need who wants to connect the dots between your poor semester and your personal struggle.
But don't talk about how it affected your grades, use it to make some reflection on the perspective it gave you as a family member or what you learned about the human condition or how you learned to compartmentalize and keep working even when things elsewhere are going badly.