Talk about upward trend in personal statement?

[On_The_Way_Up]

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Is it a good idea to talk about an upward trend in gpa in your personal statement? I know you shouldn’t highlight any negatives so won’t talk about bad start. Or should I address that? Since becoming premed got a 3.9+ gpa. Overall 3.7.

 

[ciestar]

Does your upward trend answer the question “why medicine?”

 

[Goro]

Does your upward trend answer the question “why medicine?”

Or "Who am I?"

 

[On_The_Way_Up]

Does your upward trend answer the question “why medicine?”

True. Just read somewhere that says to address grade disparities and being a non traditional. Guess this was bad advice.

 

[SR71BLK]

True. Just read somewhere that says to address grade disparities and being a non traditional. Guess this was bad advice.

You're not wrong. AAMC lists that under their personal statement suggestions (AMCAS Applicant Guide pg 54). However, the majority of individuals on SDN, including adcom, tend to suggest leaving that for secondaries since most secondary applications have a space to explain those grade disparities.

 

[kuzy]

An overall GPA of 3.7 with a 3.9 in recent semesters isn't exactly what I'd consider an upward trend.

To answer the general question, though, I had a pretty decent upward trend (3.75 for about 90 hours to wind up with a 3.2 overall after a 2.0 freshman year), and it was something that I mentioned in my personal statement. It was purely in abstract terms though i.e. I was in shock/disappointed in myself after past failings, which I connected to how I felt during my own experiences as a patient during a run of bad injuries and subsequent rehab, which I then further connected to my motivation to practice medicine. I think it's really just about making a compelling narrative, and if your redemption story is part of that then there are ways to include it. This is just n=1 though, but I did actually have a few of my interviewers bring up that they really liked my personal statement...also one of my proofreaders said it made them cry so there's that too

 

[On_The_Way_Up]

An overall GPA of 3.7 with a 3.9 in recent semesters isn't exactly what I'd consider an upward trend.

To answer the general question, though, I had a pretty decent upward trend (3.75 for about 90 hours to wind up with a 3.2 overall after a 2.0 freshman year), and it was something that I mentioned in my personal statement. It was purely in abstract terms though i.e. I was in shock/disappointed in myself after past failings, which I connected to how I felt during my own experiences as a patient during a run of bad injuries and subsequent rehab, which I then further connected to my motivation to practice medicine. I think it's really just about making a compelling narrative, and if your redemption story is part of that then there are ways to include it. This is just n=1 though, but I did actually have a few of my interviewers bring up that they really liked my personal statement...also one of my proofreaders said it made them cry so there's that too

Well I'm a nontraditional student. My first 4 semesters of college I had a 2.6 GPA in which I failed 3 classes and had some C's. Thankfully none of these were prereqs because I wasn't premed at the time. Bunch of gen ed courses. The last 4.5 years of being in school I've gotten a 3.9+ after becoming premed. So it hasn't been just a couple of semesters. Its pretty apparent on my app I'm a different student now.

Thanks for the feedback of how you incorporated it into your PS. I've been a patient myself and have had surgeries and rehab that took years to get through. It's one of my reasons for why medicine.

 

[On_The_Way_Up]

To discuss an upward trend in PS here are my rules of thumb.
1) the vast majority of students: NO! I get people who got a B, B- or, god forgive C and want to plead their case. Just shut up and move on
2) those who had a rough freshman year: mention solely in passing, in a phrase, in less than a sentence Something about improving maturity and study discipline. Anything more, NO!
3) a rough middle semester: as above or if with brief reasonable cause again less than a sentence
4) nontrad with old mediocre work. Maybe a sentence or two if that much
5) really poor work followed by upward trend and/or postbacc-smp. Depending on story no more than 2-3 sentences
6) highly unusual circumstances such domestic abuse, sexual attack, death of parent, serious illness etc may need more

All of these would always, always, always, lead the positive growth in the same sentence or following sentence

Again, most applicants shouldnt be mentioning anything. This OP would seem to have nothing to say on this issue

Would I fit number 4? I am a nontraditional student. My first 4 semesters I had a 2.6 GPA. I failed 3 classes and had some C's. I had some terrible grades lol. The last 4.5 years I've gotten 3.9+ since becoming premed.