Use of Explanation Statement on VMCAS

[Lemming3]

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I read that you can use the explanation statement (somewhere I think I read this on the VMCAS) to further explain some of your experiences. My experience with 4-H is quite vast and I definitely had to use some & symbols and consolidation to include what I felt most important. Do they want you to explain further in the explanation statement? Or should I leave it blank and rely on some more information about my 4-H experience to come out in my supplemental essays/personal statement etc.

Is it ok to leave the explanation statement blank in general?

 

[lei325]

The explanation statement is more for applicants to give adcoms an explanation for poor performance due to personal issues, emotional strain, etc etc. At least that's what my understanding of it is. But if don't need the section to explain poor grades, I don't see a problem with going into further detail about you experiences.

 

[cmeowb]

It's totally fine to leave it blank. VMCAS instructions say that it is for "information you consider vital to your application." However, I think it is more for what it says--explaining things. I used mine to write about why I transferred out of a school, got a totally different degree, then transferred back to the original school and got another degree; the second part was about how I had to have emergency surgery one summer and that was why my classes were pushed back/taken in a weird order, etc.

Sorry if this did not help at all..lol.

Good luck on all your apps!