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Low GPA explanation


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Hi,

 

I was planning on giving a reason to my low science (2.9) and overall GPA (3.0) in my personal statement. Heres the paragraph that I want to insert in my statement. Is this a sound reason to share?

 

"During the majority of my undergraduate time, I pursued the career of an optometrist. However, after shadowing an optometrist for a day, I realized that I did not have a passion for treating patients just through their eyesight. My drive was gone after this realization, and my grades were not a priority anymore. During the rest of my undergrad time, I sought out volunteer and leadership positions to give me a purpose in my time in university. The PA profession was brought up to me at that time and while doing more research on the profession I finally found the profession that I was passionate to seriously pursue. After graduation, I excelled at my surgical technologist courses and my post grad classes, and I now know the low GPA that was caused by aimlessly living through college is history and made room for a stronger, more mature, and better student."

 

Personally, I think it's too long and I want to shorten it but I dont know what information is unnecessary. 

Also, you might ask why I was passionate now about the PA profession? This will be explained in the rest of my personal statement, but I just want to explain my low GPA here

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I think you do a good job of explaining your reasoning and then showing how you've changed. However, I would look to trim it down even more and make it as concise as possible. As others have advised me, anything more than one or two sentences brings too much attention towards it. I would also take out the part about shadowing an optometrist for "just one day." I would make it something like "after shadowing an optometrist it became clear to me that I desired a greater level of patient interaction..." Something along those lines to make sure it's clear that it was a concrete and informed decision, not something that you decided on a whim.

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I think you do a good job of explaining your reasoning and then showing how you've changed. However, I would look to trim it down even more and make it as concise as possible. As others have advised me, anything more than one or two sentences brings too much attention towards it. I would also take out the part about shadowing an optometrist for "just one day." I would make it something like "after shadowing an optometrist it became clear to me that I desired a greater level of patient interaction..." Something along those lines to make sure it's clear that it was a concrete and informed decision, not something that you decided on a whim.

 

Thank you,

yes my goal is it to cut out on unnecessary words in my paragraph but I have trouble summarizing it. But thanks for the input on changing the "one day" part. It makes sense!

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  • 1 year later...

Hi! You've done a perfect explanation of the reasons why you have low GPA. I hope you managed to trim it down a little and got into school! 

Also wanted to share article with Tips on Getting Into Medical School with a Low GPA

Best of luck to everyone who's applying.

This article focuses on medical school and isn't clear about how to address a low GPA directly.  Every situation is different. 

 

Ultimately you don't need to go into too much detail, but SHOULD show that, despite these former hiccups, you are ready and capable of handling PA school on an academic level.

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