Post-grad fail
January 7, 2010 7:40 AM Subscribe
After receiving my undergraduate degree, I tried taking some online english classes at a local community college while starting a job. Bad idea.
Due to underestimates about the time I would end up needing, I ended up failing one, and withdrawing from another. I was applying to medical school at the time, and had already disclosed that I was going to take these classes on my AAMCAS application. I sent the transcript in and was rejected from my schools. I am thinking about reapplying to medical school and applying to graduate school. Am I screwed? Do I have to disclose these grades to my schools again? My academic record is otherwise pretty good.
Due to underestimates about the time I would end up needing, I ended up failing one, and withdrawing from another. I was applying to medical school at the time, and had already disclosed that I was going to take these classes on my AAMCAS application. I sent the transcript in and was rejected from my schools. I am thinking about reapplying to medical school and applying to graduate school. Am I screwed? Do I have to disclose these grades to my schools again? My academic record is otherwise pretty good.
I would retake the courses and get a good grade. I would then apply, with a letter explaining the instances of bad grades. Sucks, but there it is.
posted by zia at 8:07 AM on January 7, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by zia at 8:07 AM on January 7, 2010 [1 favorite]
Yes, you need to disclose these grades. Most applications will allow for an additional, optional personal statement in which you can explain any bumps in your academic history. You should use one to write a tactful explanation of why you did poorly in these classes. Tread carefully though, med school takes crazy time management skills and you don't want to sound like you just totally could'nt handle a full time job and taking classes (because many many people can handle this and you will look bad in comparison).
I understand that you likely have other circumstances involved in your inability to perform in your classes (family issues, a big move, breakup, whatever) and such issues should also be dealt with in any sort of statement you write to explain this slump in post-grad grades. Just be sure to revise and proofread any statement to make sure it doesn't come off as "whine-y".
posted by WeekendJen at 8:16 AM on January 7, 2010
I understand that you likely have other circumstances involved in your inability to perform in your classes (family issues, a big move, breakup, whatever) and such issues should also be dealt with in any sort of statement you write to explain this slump in post-grad grades. Just be sure to revise and proofread any statement to make sure it doesn't come off as "whine-y".
posted by WeekendJen at 8:16 AM on January 7, 2010
Response by poster: So what about graduate school apps? Same?
posted by wayofthedodo at 12:41 PM on January 7, 2010
posted by wayofthedodo at 12:41 PM on January 7, 2010
I work in graduate admissions for a nursing school, and we see situations like this often. For us, your best approach to rectifying the recent failures and withdrawals would be to continue to take prerequisite classes, stay in them, and earn good grades. We'd be looking for you to demonstrate by action that you're prepared for full-time graduate study. Practially, this probably means that you're going to have to be in school for awhile longer - a 2nd application may not be successful if grades were the determining factor in the decision.
I'd caution not to omit any academic background. It becomes an honesty/academic integrity issue if such an omission is discovered. My University would simply deny your application as incomplete without further consideration if we discovered that any academic history had been skipped.
Some schools allow for you to write an explanatory letter if there were unusual circumstances that resulted in sub-par performance, but this should never be a substitute for an otherwise excellent application. Grades are one thing, but probably only a piece of any given decision. I'm willing to be that you'll want to spend a significant amount of additional time working on essays, recommendation letters, resume, etc. for the program. Spend the time to consider whether this piece of your application could also use some additional work.
posted by owls at 1:35 PM on January 7, 2010
I'd caution not to omit any academic background. It becomes an honesty/academic integrity issue if such an omission is discovered. My University would simply deny your application as incomplete without further consideration if we discovered that any academic history had been skipped.
Some schools allow for you to write an explanatory letter if there were unusual circumstances that resulted in sub-par performance, but this should never be a substitute for an otherwise excellent application. Grades are one thing, but probably only a piece of any given decision. I'm willing to be that you'll want to spend a significant amount of additional time working on essays, recommendation letters, resume, etc. for the program. Spend the time to consider whether this piece of your application could also use some additional work.
posted by owls at 1:35 PM on January 7, 2010
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You also need to disclose whether you previously applied to any medical programs, so they'll look back in your file to confirm why they rejected you last time. If the two applications are inconsistent, I expect they'll catch it.
Good luck.
posted by Admiral Haddock at 7:54 AM on January 7, 2010