update with below average grades

[lebron]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Sorry the search function isnt working otherwise i would search for this.

Anyways, i wanted to send an update letter out but my fall grades were less than spectacular. I ended up getting just below a 3.5, which is a couple points below my average, but I had a medical problem towards the end of the fall when i was on pain pills a lot and eventually required surgery in december. I had to miss a few classes for doctor appointments and such and couldnt make up some assignments/was usually out of it from the pain pills to study a lot so my grades suffered a bit.

The question is, should I send an update letter including my grades with this explanation (i did get an A in a science class but not in the non science ones) or just the update letter without the grades at all. Thanks!

 

[scapermoya]

no hard and fast rule. no need to include the grades unless they are good!

(FYI google with "site:forums.studentdoctor.net query" usually works better than the built in search anyway)

 

[illegallysmooth]

Sorry the search function isnt working otherwise i would search for this.

Anyways, i wanted to send an update letter out but my fall grades were less than spectacular. I ended up getting just below a 3.5, which is a couple points below my average, but I had a medical problem towards the end of the fall when i was on pain pills a lot and eventually required surgery in december. I had to miss a few classes for doctor appointments and such and couldnt make up some assignments/was usually out of it from the pain pills to study a lot so my grades suffered a bit.

The question is, should I send an update letter including my grades with this explanation (i did get an A in a science class but not in the non science ones) or just the update letter without the grades at all. Thanks!

Hmm. I might include these circumstances in an update letter, but not neccessarily say "my GPA is __ because _____." I would just explain the issue and leave out the grades, so as not to sound like I'm making excuses. I might also include some things you learned in the process, or how the process affected your decision to go into medicine.

 

[illegallysmooth]

By the way, I'm saying this as someone who worked full-time during undergrad (with travel to my hometown on weekends), and also experienced such wonderful circumstances as my boyfriend attempting suicide and then stalking me, my dad being arrested, etc. My grades were not particularly awe-inspiring. I talked about my work experience during my secondary but not the other stuff. MD schools, at this point, are not beating down my door, to say the least.

 

[Bernoull]

Sorry the search function isnt working otherwise i would search for this.

Anyways, i wanted to send an update letter out but my fall grades were less than spectacular. I ended up getting just below a 3.5, which is a couple points below my average, but I had a medical problem towards the end of the fall when i was on pain pills a lot and eventually required surgery in december. I had to miss a few classes for doctor appointments and such and couldnt make up some assignments/was usually out of it from the pain pills to study a lot so my grades suffered a bit.

The question is, should I send an update letter including my grades with this explanation (i did get an A in a science class but not in the non science ones) or just the update letter without the grades at all. Thanks!

I don't think a ~3.5 needs to be explained, it's close to an A- average.. It's good grades and a lot of people matriculate with a 3.5..

 

[Morsetlis]

A 3.5 is the product of equal part A's and B's.

B's are Bad! 😉

 

[boaz]

If it's only a few percentage points below, I think it's not a big deal.