Should I tell adcom I played World of Warcraft?

[printer21]

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So one thing led to another and before I knew it, I got 2 bad grades (C's) one semester. These grades were in a Biology class and organic chem. Everyone says be truthful about explaining bad grades in your personal statement. So what should my reason be to explain my two C's? Should I make up something about an illness in the family or should I just be truthful and says I played an online video game? lol..

Or should I just avoid explaining the grades since they aren't THAT bad? (I'm planning to apply this June.)

 

[printer21]

Just a side note, I have since quit playing and my grades are much higher. :-O

 

[Ranelar]

No. You temporarily lost focus.

Also, definitely don't make up an illness, that's absolutely lame. I can't believe people actually consider that.

 

[Zubnaya Feya]

1) Don't address this (2 C's) in your PS, it is not a place to raise up negative things on your application.

2) If it comes up at an interview, say you "lacked focus" or "didn't take those 2 classes seriously enough" or smth.

3) To be safe, don't mention video games reasons at all...

Hope this helps.

 

[printer21]

Cool, thanks a lot.

 

[UCLAzy]

i think u should. Video games improve manual dexterity 🙂

 

[mx41]

1) Don't address this (2 C's) in your PS, it is not a place to raise up negative things on your application.

2) If it comes up at an interview, say you "lacked focus" or "didn't take those 2 classes seriously enough" or smth.

3) To be safe, don't mention video games reasons at all...

Hope this helps.

I don't know why you say that he shouldn't mention it in his PS. I've heard from an adcom that the PS is the ideal place to explain a negative in your application.

 

[Ranelar]

I don't know why you say that he shouldn't mention it in his PS. I've heard from an adcom that the PS is the ideal place to explain a negative in your application.

I'd say it's a perfect place for describing extenuating circumstances, life crises, etc. 2 C's because of WoW that the OP wants to make up an excuse for is probably not worth mentioning in the PS.

 

[Zubnaya Feya]

I don't know why you say that he shouldn't mention it in his PS. I've heard from an adcom that the PS is the ideal place to explain a negative in your application.

PS is for saying why you want to become a dentist, what motivates you, what you have accomplished and what your goals are... these kinds of things. It is not a place where you explain bad grades, unless those bad grades motivated you/you feel accomplished about /are the reason why you want to become a dentist.

 

[SatanicMonkey]

So one thing led to another and before I knew it, I got 2 bad grades (C's) one semester. These grades were in a Biology class and organic chem. Everyone says be truthful about explaining bad grades in your personal statement. So what should my reason be to explain my two C's? Should I make up something about an illness in the family or should I just be truthful and says I played an online video game? lol..

Or should I just avoid explaining the grades since they aren't THAT bad? (I'm planning to apply this June.)

I don't know.. depends on what level you reached

 

[jaypea65]

I don't know why you say that he shouldn't mention it in his PS. I've heard from an adcom that the PS is the ideal place to explain a negative in your application.

I just had a meeting with the dean at VCU. Trust me when I say the personal statement should have a positive tone to it. He really picked apart my PS. He told me to put a positive spin on anything negative.

 

[babyeater]

Put yourself into perspective. There will be other people there who have messed up a bit too. Yours will say "I messed up because I play a videogame for people with too much time on their hands" and others will say "I messed up because I had a legitimate family emergency."

Just saying.

 

[Aceofspades]

I would take a Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy on this one!

 

[purplepanda]

Just be yourself in the interview. If you see a funny opportunity to bring this up..why not? As for adding it in your application, call the dental schools and see how they respond to it. Or send an anonymous email to the admissions at a d-school.

 

[DrReo]

How many distractions will you find in dental school? Mind over matter.