What to do??- Personal Statement/low gpa help

[dweji16]

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Hey Everyone!

So... I need a bit of advice here. In the process of writing my PS, and I've been told so many different things on what to do that I need some help.

I want to explain why my grades are less than stellar in my PS, but I've been told not to do so at all, and I've also been told that I should do some explaining. What do you think?

A little background info:

I started undergrad as a music major, had to switch out due to some injuries I had and went through physical therapy all throughout college. Meanwhile, I picked up a philosophy major, and decided I wanted to do something in healthcare, and met with a college advisor who said I needed to do all my science pre-reqs during my undergrad, and only at my university (UCLA, which OF COURSE has the easiest science classes... -_-). All of them.... regardless of what field of health I wanted to do, and that I was overunits and had to complete a whole philosophy major and all those science classes within 2 years. So yes.. i did them all, and really not very well, but I wasn't even set on med school so I didnt think it was a big deal. Then I went and got an MPH (which I didnt need to take all those science classes for.. grrr) and while learning public health, decided to pursue medical school. I wanted to do a masters in biomed or something along those lines, but was told that since I wasn't a science major, that wouldnt work. I dont care if I go to a MD or a DO school.

So... should I explain myself on my PS? I know grad school grades dont matter, but I did maintain a 3.85 and am retaking my science classes from undergrad, and also maintaining a 3.8 this time around, since I care now. Any opinions?

 

[Morsetlis]

Retake -> DO.

Your personal statement should focus less on grades and more on the experiences that shaped your desire to become a physician. It should demonstrate familiarity with the profession. It should demonstrate preparation.

However you do need to explain a little about your redemption process. That could be half a paragraph or so, in the same paragraph as your MPH experience.

 

[dweji16]

Hmm okay. So I guess it is good to elaborate on it a little bit, not to heavily though, rather than ignore it all together which is what I was told to do by someone once.

 

[MilkmanAl]

A general rule of thumb is that you don't talk about your numerical credentials in your PS. There are exceptions, but you're best off using what little space you have to describe why you want to be a doctor.

 

[Empress D]

check out this thread for inspiration

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=125347

 

[Tippyboat]

There really isn't that much room allowed for the PS. Given your winding story, I think you'll find it challenging to tell it WELL in the given amount of space as it is. If you do tell the story well, I think it could provide a valuable context in which they can evaluate your grades later, which indirectly helps you anyway.

So I would say don't mention it directly in your PS, if only because there are smarter ways to "explain" your grades just by having a very well-written and compelling story about your road to medicine.

 

[dweji16]

Hmm okay... so I really shouldnt blatantly mention it, but sort of give a whole picture story that maybe incorporates it.

I wrote draft 1 around a month ago. I purposely made it as long as possible so I could work on shaving it down.. (single spaced, 4 pages... bringing it down to a page is gonna be a lot of fun). But at least now I know what parts to take out.