how to write about bad grades in personal statement

How to Explain a Bad Grade When Applying to College

I applied to college with a D minus minus in Algebra II on my high school transcript

Certainly, there’s enough material in that story to propel any little sister into therapy; nonetheless, there I was applying to college with a D minus minus on my high school record. There was nothing I could do but suck it up; after all, I had no excuse but my own negligence.

Some bad grades (like mine…) can’t be excused. Sometimes students just slack off in a course. But some bad grades are the result of situations beyond a student’s control. If that’s happened to you, it’s worth providing an explanation of the grade to the admissions offices at the colleges to which you apply.

how to write about bad grades in personal statement

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How to Explain Exceptional Personal Circumstances on Applications

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Your GPA and SAT don’t tell the full admissions story

Our chancing engine factors in extracurricular activities, demographics, and other holistic details. We’ll let you know what your chances are at your dream schools — and how to improve your chances!

Our chancing engine factors in extracurricular activities, demographic, and other holistic details.

Our chancing engine factors in extracurricular activities, demographic, and other holistic details. We’ll let you know what your chances are at your dream schools — and how to improve your chances!

What’s Covered:

What Does “Exceptional Personal Circumstances” Mean?”

College Applications and Exceptional Personal Circumstances

Tips for Writing about Low GPA, Disciplinary Record, etc.

Maximizing Your Chances of Admission

Where to get your additional info section reviewed.

If you’re a student with a less-than-perfect academic, extracurricular, or disciplinary history, filling out college applications can often be a nerve-wracking experience. As all colleges (not just elite private institutions ) become increasingly competitive each year, having a rough patch or two on your academic record can be extremely discouraging. It’s easy to feel as if a below-average GPA for your dream school or a history of disciplinary action will totally disqualify you, but the truth is, they might not.

What Does “Exceptional Personal Circumstances” Mean?

“Exceptional personal circumstances” is an intentionally broad term. College admissions teams want to give you the chance to talk about anything that may have impacted your ability to perform academically, or something that stands out on your record as a negative, like disciplinary action. What the term does not refer to, however, is something you just didn’t have space for in your personal statement, or excuses for poor academic performance.

Common topics for exceptional personal circumstances essays include natural disasters, long illnesses or injuries, legal or disciplinary action, or personal events that significantly disrupted the applicant’s life. You might also write about circumstances that were not single events, nor a significant change, but did represent an additional challenge to completing or engaging with schoolwork. Examples of this might include a time-consuming job to support your family financially, or poor wifi that prevented you from completing homework.

As you think about whether to write an exceptional personal circumstances essay, consider these questions.

Did the event or events in question affect your ability to attend school? Was school closed, or were you unable to go for any reason?
Were you unable to access the resources needed to fully engage with school? Perhaps at times you weren’t able to purchase books, consistently access wifi, or use a computer to research and write papers.
You may have been able to attend school and access resources, but unable to focus and fully participate due to distress or distraction. This could be from events inside or outside the classroom. Perhaps you were grieving a family member or battling chronic migraines.
Finally, are there negative items on your academic or legal record that are going to impact how colleges view you? While you shouldn’t deny or attempt to justify these events, this is a good chance to explain what happened, and how you’ve grown. For example, a student suspended for bullying should explain the events in her own words, taking responsibility and demonstrating that she understands the seriousness of the situation, as failing to address the suspension may show a lack of remorse

If your answer to these questions is “no,” don’t struggle to think of something that maybe could work. By definition, “exceptional personal circumstances” means most people won’t have anything to write about, so unless something immediately jumps into your mind, this opportunity probably isn’t relevant to you.

On the other hand, if you know your circumstances do require some additional explanation, we urge you to provide the admissions committee with all the context they need in order to fully understand your story.

What students often forget is that the admissions committee at your top-choice school is made up of humans — actual, real human beings — who know that the people whose applications they’re reviewing are humans, too. The admissions process at most private schools and many public schools is holistic — meaning they consider the candidate as a person, not as a set of numbers.

This year, the Common App offers 250 words to discuss how COVID-19 and natural disasters specifically impacted you, and 650 words to elaborate on any other circumstances that are relevant to understanding your high school story. Most other application platforms also provide about 500 words for you to provide any additional information you feel is important for admissions officers to have as they make a decision on your application.

It’s important, however, to keep in mind when choosing whether to write something in the additional information section that you should not simply be blaming your bad GPA on a particular teacher not liking you, or trying to downplay getting suspended for cheating. Whatever you choose to include should substantially enhance colleges’ understanding of you as an applicant, by offering a perspective on your record and you as a person that is not otherwise reflected in your essays.

Tips for Writing About Low GPA, Disciplinary Record, etc.

If you feel as though choosing to write a short essay for the additional information section would add significantly to your application, we have a few tips for how to make the most of this space and how to effectively describe exceptional personal circumstances on your college applications.

Firstly, it’s important to be candid and straightforward. For example, if you were subject to disciplinary action for cheating, it’s not in your best interest to try and downplay your own responsibility for your actions or divert the blame to someone else. This will likely strike admissions committees as a transparent attempt to avoid taking responsibility, and it’s doubtful they’ll be moved by that.

Instead, tell the truth about what happened (honestly and objectively), and emphasize what you learned from the experience rather than focusing on the negative consequences. Take the opportunity to draw a contrast between who you were when you made that mistake and who you are now, as that will demonstrate maturity and growth.

Reflect on Your Experiences

If you had several semesters where your GPA dropped below average, you may be concerned about whether this dip in your cumulative GPA will adversely affect your chances at your top choice schools. While grades are obviously extremely important, a 4.0 is not necessary to gain admission to a great school. If the dip was drastic enough that your chances of acceptance are likely to be substantially affected, however, the additional information section provides you with a space to assure admissions officers that you’re a strong candidate nonetheless.

Begin by trying to identify the reasons why your grades dropped. Did you have additional stressors at home that prevented you from doing your work, or from doing it as well as you could have? Did you suffer from an illness (physical or mental) that impeded your ability to perform to your highest ability at home and in class? If you can explain a clear and legitimate reason why your grades dropped, admissions officers will take that into account when considering your academic record.

Remember That Admissions Are Holistic

Although they are certainly not ideal, B’s and even C’s aren’t automatic disqualifiers from admissions, even at the most selective colleges, and the role of grades in admissions is not as black and white as some might assume. Your GPA, whether it is exceptional or less than stellar, is not the be-all and end-all of your application.

The holistic admissions process is personal to each applicant, and considers all dimensions of your application–including extracurriculars, essays, teacher recs, and, yes, exceptional circumstances–not just your academic performance. And admissions officers know some students are better set up for success than others. If you have had poor grades in the past, but there’s a legitimate reason why, providing a clear explanation can show maturity and resilience, two qualities admissions committees value highly in applicants.

Overall, what the holistic admissions process means is that schools aren’t looking for only academically strong candidates, but also those who will contribute to their overall campus environment. If you are able to characterize yourself as an applicant with the maturity to acknowledge past shortcomings and show how you’ve learned from your mistakes, it can work to mitigate poor grades or lackluster extracurricular involvement.

Show Your Growth

It’s also important to communicate how you’ve improved since your dip in grades/disciplinary action/etc., and how you plan to continue performing well for the remainder of high school and throughout college. If you have an upward grade trend, that can provide strong evidence to corroborate what you say in the additional information section.

This advice applies to applicants who may have less-than-stellar extracurricular profiles as well. Maybe you struggled with untreated anemia early in high school, and the exhaustion you experienced prevented you from dedicating yourself to after-school activities. In that case, explaining how you’ve made an effort to become more involved in extracurriculars since getting your anemia under control with medication can help reassure admissions officers that you will do your very best to be an engaged member of their campus community.

Also remember that in general, it’s better to display stronger academic habits over time, even if you initially struggled, than to have straight A’s initially but allow yourself to become lazy in your last few semesters. Your more recent academic performance is more indicative of the student you’ll be in college.

Have Realistic Expectations

However, it’s important to note that to be admitted to top schools, providing an explanation and having an upward trend in academic performance won’t completely cancel out a relatively low GPA. While, as mentioned before, GPA is not an absolute determinant of whether or not you will be admitted, it is still among the most important aspects of your application.

To be a strong candidate for top schools, your reason for poor performance must be extremely compelling, such as a serious illness, the death of a family member, or other exceptional family circumstances. The same applies for disciplinary records: while minor infractions are more excusable, major instances of academic dishonesty or repeated offenses will harm your application, regardless of how eloquently you write about them in the additional information section.

Be Direct and to The Poin t

Finally, as you’re writing your exceptional personal circumstances statement, remember that this is not a second common app essay, nor a supplemental essay where you demonstrate your writing talent. It’s best to keep these essays short and specific, and to state your circumstances as plainly as possible.

The admissions committee will not be thinking about the strength of your writing. Rather, they will be evaluating your story and its impact on your academic profile. With this in mind, it’s best to take some time to make sure you’re telling your story as clearly and effectively as possible, versus trying to flex your creative writing muscles.

If you choose to utilize the additional information section, it’s crucial that you highlight how learning from past actions has made you a stronger applicant, rather than focusing on the actions themselves and trying to excuse yourself for or otherwise diminish them.

So much of the application process is, essentially, self-marketing: presenting yourself in the best possible light, emphasizing your strengths, and demonstrating how your overall experiences, positive or negative, have made you into the person you are. A subpar GPA, disciplinary record, or lack of extracurricular involvement might seem like the death knell for your shot at admission to a top school, but this isn’t necessarily true. If you can frame that information in a positive way, its adverse impact on your application can be mitigated.

If you do have extenuating circumstances you want to explain, you’ll want to be sure your explanation is as clear and informative as possible. That’s why we created our free Peer Essay Review tool , where you can get a free review of this essay, or any other, from another student. You can also improve your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays.

If you want a college admissions expert to review your essay, advisors on CollegeVine have helped students refine their writing and submit successful applications to top schools. Find the right advisor for you to improve your chances of getting into your dream school!

Bad Personal Statement Examples and What to Do Instead

By Med School Insiders
April 20, 2022
Personal Statement

Bad personal statements—we’ve certainly seen many of those, and so have admissions committees. But what makes a bad personal statement, and how do you fix yours to ensure you don’t bore, undermine, or confuse the admissions committee members reviewing your medical school application? In this post, we’ll share bad personal statement examples to help you avoid the mistakes so many premeds make.

There are so many nuances to personal statement writing, and it only takes one wrong turn to derail an otherwise good essay. Below, we’ll outline common mistakes that lead to a bad personal statement, as well as what you should be doing instead. Look for specific examples in bold , including improved examples that show changes bolded as well.

After reading this article, we encourage you to read our complete Personal Statement Guide , which outlines 11 steps to writing a personal statement.

Bad Personal Statement Examples

Starting too many sentences with ‘i’.

Yes, your personal statement is about you from your perspective, but starting too many sentences with ‘I’ shows poor form. Your writing will suffer, and you’ll be more likely to list your accomplishments from your CV rather than establish a cohesive narrative. Watch for this poor form in your writing and double check for too many ‘I’s when you edit.

For example:

“ I continued to pursue my dream of practicing medicine when I volunteered in the Intensive Care Unit at the UC San Diego Thornton Medical Center, where I gained first-hand experience interacting with patients. I talked to a patient who only spoke Spanish while I was collecting laboratory samples from nurses. I was the only Spanish speaker in the unit, and I only had a basic grasp of the language. I asked the patient about her day and family, and I was able to lift her spirits. I learned the importance of making personal connections with patients through this experience.”

The word ‘I’ will certainly be used throughout your personal statement, but leading with it every time is redundant and shows simplicity in your writing. Instead, add context to the beginning of your sentences, shape each like a story, and add diversity to your sentence structure.

“I continued to pursue my dream of practicing medicine by volunteering in the Intensive Care Unit at the UC San Diego Thornton Medical Center, where I gained first-hand experience interacting with patients. While collecting laboratory samples from nurses, I talked to a patient who only spoke Spanish. As the interpreter had not arrived yet, I was the only Spanish speaker in the unit, and my Spanish was basic at best. I asked the patient about her day and family, which really lifted her spirits. This interaction taught me the importance of personal connections with patients.”

Overusing Flowery Language

You want a personal statement that’s dynamic and well-written, but that doesn’t mean taking a deep dive into a thesaurus. Use words that convey your message clearly and concisely; don’t search for flowery or complex language to impress admissions committees.

In the end, you won’t be impressing anyone, as your personal statement will be a jumble of difficult to read sentences filled with words many people don’t understand or use. More attention will be put on your strange word choices rather than the story you’re trying to tell.

“The foremost leading reason why I want to run after a career in medicine is because of a covenant vow I made to my sister when I was but a tender youth of eight . My sister, who was only an innocuous infant , was aware I had been shepherding her health while our parents were working late. Shielding her from harm gave me a feeling of responsibility I had never experienced before. When my sister arose from her slumber with a fever, I felt impotent . Her medical practitioner was able to take care of the most quintessential person in my entire existence by systematically ruling out possible causes for the fever while still helping my sister feel safe, allowing me to see the luminescent beauty of medicine.”

When editing your personal statement, think of how you can convey your point clearly and concisely. After all, 5000-5300 characters is not very much space to convince admissions committees of your passion and dedication to medicine. Simplicity in your language will allow the reader to focus on your story and the messages you are trying to get across.

“The main reason why I want to pursue medicine is because of a promise I made to my sister when I was eight years old . My sister, who was only a baby , was aware I had been taking care of her while our parents were working late. Caring for her gave me a feeling of responsibility I had never experienced before. When my sister woke up with a fever, I felt helpless . Her doctor was able to take care of the most important person in my life by systematically ruling out possible causes for the fever while still helping my sister feel safe, allowing me to see the beauty of medicine.”

Explaining Medicine to Doctors

Doctors understand how medicine works—you don’t need to explain it to them. Don’t try to impress admissions committees with your breadth of medical knowledge in your personal statement. This is not the time to show how much you know about medicine. Let your medical knowledge and skills shine through in your MCAT score, your clinical experiences, and your letters of recommendation.

The personal statement is about your journey. Show your passion for medicine but remain humble. Even if you are top of your class, you are still a premed and have a long way to go before you become a doctor.

“Walking into the office, I heard a most unsettling sound—a distinctive, screeching, painful yelp audible throughout the clinic. I instantly knew what case I would be seeing next: Whooping cough. When I saw Brody, a toddler, I knew exactly what was happening to him. Due to my vast and extensive research on the bacteria that caused the disease, I knew it was Bordetella pertussis, a Gram-negative, aerobic, pathogenic, encapsulated coccobacillus of the genus Bordetella . Describing all that I knew about the microbe’s pathogenesis and explaining how my research could improve vaccine efficacy was comforting to the family. My research experiences have ignited a passion to continue being at the cutting edge of medicine, always seeking to improve patient care.”

There’s no need to explain what a specific disease is to the admissions committee. This only uses up your valuable space, and it could sound like you are trying to prove how much you already know. Be careful about how you word your success. Remember, you are only at the very beginning of your medical journey. You still have much to learn, so be humble. Is it “my” research or “our” research?

“Walking into the office, I heard a most unsettling sound—a distinctive, screeching, painful yelp audible throughout the clinic. I instantly knew what case I would be seeing next: Whooping cough. When I saw Brody, a toddler, I knew exactly what was happening to him. I had spent the last two years performing research on the bacteria that caused the disease, Bordetella pertussis. Describing elements of the microbe’s pathogenesis and explaining how our research could improve vaccine efficacy was comforting to the family. My research experiences have ignited a passion to be at the cutting edge of medicine, always seeking to improve patient care so that in the future, I can come to a family like Brody’s with a better prognosis. ”

Negatively Calling Out a Previous Rejection

Use light language when talking about a previous rejection to medical school. You definitely need to address your reapplication and how you are an improved candidate, but you don’t need to say “since I failed last time” or “when I messed up my application and was rejected.”

“ Although I failed to gain admittance to medical school, I’ve remained steadfast in pursuit of

achieving my dream to be a physician. Instead of accepting failure , I continued to foster these kinds of meaningful experiences with my patients and develop the traits necessary to forge the desired relationships I hope to foster as a physician, like those my father had with his patients.”

Instead, acknowledge the past while focusing on the future. What have you learned? What are you doing differently now? Why are you continuing your pursuit?

For example, here’s a better way to loop in a previous rejection.

“Directly witnessing the eternal illumination my father left on the world has shown me the incredible impact physicians can achieve in patients’ lives and their communities. My struggles with his passing forced me to further develop the resiliency necessary to not give up on this path when faced with setbacks , and instead to redouble my efforts to be a pillar of luminosity as a future doctor.”

Not Understanding Nuance and Context

Avoid mentioning anything that could be seen as drug-seeking behavior or anything that may remind doctors of drug-seeking behavior.

You don’t want to spark negative feelings in admissions committee members. Even if what you’re saying is perfectly innocent, it’s much better to leave them with a lasting positive impression. The negative association may have nothing to do with the point of your story, but it will be there nonetheless.

“A short stint in the emergency room when I was a teenager showed me how exciting and fast paced a career in medicine can be. It was at this time that I experienced morphine for the first time due to the significant injury incurred during a biking accident. I saw the care everyone in the emergency room gave to me, and I knew I wanted to be a part of that care for other people.”

While the intention here is good, this story may set off alarm bells for admissions committee members. Even if it’s not the writer’s intent, the excerpt will remind doctors of drug-seeking behavior. It doesn’t matter if the morphine was administered correctly; the connection and reminder will be there.

In this case, you’re better off finding another story or turning that story upside down to focus on other elements. It’s best not to mention the drugs you received at all. When crafting your personal statement, put yourself in the admissions committee’s shoes. How are they going to feel after they read your personal statement? What other unwanted associations might they connect to your story?

Making General Spelling or Grammar Errors

Spelling and grammar errors are not a good look. They show carelessness and lack of dedication to your medical school application. You cannot rely on simple document spellcheck alone. This is a good start, and you will be able to find typos this way, but bots can miss the context of a sentence, and they won’t catch all comma errors.

Whether you’re a fan of commas or not, they are important. There’s a big difference between saying “Eat grandma” and “Eat, grandma.” The comma completely changes the context of the sentence. Making comma mistakes in your essay can make it difficult for people to read it the way you intend.

“Running has had a positive affect on my discipline to maintain a balanced life provided me the focus to succeed in med school , and given me the drive to work toward fulfilling my dreams. Most importantly I made a promise to my sister, creating an unshakey foundation of endless motivation that will encourage myself even throughout the most distressed moments of my journey to a physician . I won’t never give up nor surrender, because I always keep my promises.”

Utilize more sophisticated editing tools like Grammarly to edit your essay. Ensure you have real people editing your work, too. Real people will be able to catch contextual mistakes that bots will miss.

For example, here’s how the previous paragraph looks once edited:

“Running has had a positive effect on my discipline to maintain a balanced life, provided me the focus to succeed in medical school , and given me the drive to work toward fulfilling my dreams. Most importantly, I made a promise to my sister, creating an unshakeable foundation of endless motivation that will encourage me even through the most distressing moments of my journey to become a physician . I will never give up nor surrender because I always keep my promises.”

Additional Personal Statement Mistakes to Avoid

The bad personal statement examples shared in this article shed light on what not to do, but this is not an exhaustive list by any means. Here are some additional mistakes to avoid when crafting and editing your personal statement.

Not starting your personal statement early enough so that you have plenty of time for editing and revising.
Listing your accomplishments or rehashing your CV and extracurriculars. You need to show, not tell.
Choosing a bland topic that admissions committees see over and over again.
Overstating the obvious and using clichés. It’s very likely that the applicants you are competing with also like science and want to help people.
Lying or making up a personal story for your essay. You will be asked to elaborate on aspects of your application during interviews, so you need to have your stories straight. Plus, lying isn’t a great way to begin your medical career.
Making excuses for poor grades or a low MCAT score.
Negatively speaking about other premeds or physicians you’ve worked with.

Personal Statement Mistakes to Avoid list

Reviewing and Editing

After finishing your first draft, take some time away from your personal statement. After a few days, come back to it with a fresh perspective. Read your essay out loud. Doing so will reaffirm the parts of your essay you enjoy most and bring to light the weaker aspects.

Anticipate multiple edits. Avoid getting attached to a particular sentence or paragraph. Especially in the early stages, do not be afraid to restart. Just remember to save all of your rough work; you never know if it might come in handy later.

Seek out advice and editing help from friends, colleagues, and mentors—people that know your body of work and accomplishments well. These insights can be helpful in determining what items to emphasize and what to drop. Even better, ask experts to review your essay, ideally, doctors who have actually served on medical school admissions committees in the past.

From Bad to Great: Personal Statement Editing Services

Can’t tell if your personal statement is good or bad? We can. Med School Insiders offers unlimited, in-depth editing with a physician who will be there to advise you every step of the way.

View our range of personal statement editing packages and learn more about our Comprehensive Medical School Admissions Packages , designed by a team of top-performing doctors who have years of experience serving on admissions committees. With Med School Insiders, you’ll receive key insights from people who have been intimately involved with the selection process.

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13 Mistakes to Avoid in Your Personal Statement

Without question, your grades and test scores are the most important part of your grad school application. But stellar grades and a high GRE score are not enough to make you stand out from the thousands of other applicants with similar scores.

So how can you distinguish yourself? The answer: A unique and thoughtfully crafted personal statement.

Think about all the study sessions, missed parties and hard work you’ve put into maintaining good grades and achieving a score that made your mother cry tears of joy. Don’t throw all that away by writing a weak personal statement. This is a valuable opportunity for you to show the admissions department why they would be remiss not to accept you.

On the other hand, it’s important to not get too creative. I’m sorry, but you should probably save your Quentin Tarantino-style statement for another time. Trust me on that one.

Instead, it’s time to channel your inner Goldilocks and express who you are in a way that’s not too much and not too little, but is “just right” to catch the admission department’s attention.

To help you navigate through the writing process, we’ve compiled a list of 13 mistakes you should avoid when writing your personal statement.

Cliches can be hard to avoid. They’ve been lodged in our memory since the dawn of time. (See what I did there?) But they’re uninspiring, tired, and show a lack of creativity. Instead, come up with your own metaphors and similes to say in your unique way that you “have a thirst for knowledge,” and avoid clichés like they’re going out of style.

2. Redundancy

Don’t include your GPA in your personal statement. Let me say that again. Don’t include your GPA in your personal statement. In fact, avoid including any information – such as awards you’ve received, etc. – that can be found elsewhere in your application. It’s redundant. Think of your personal statement as valuable real estate and there’s only enough space for the best, most unique information.

3. Spelling or Grammatical Errors

This cannot be overstated. Admissions directors won’t be able to fully appreciate your powerful personal statement if they have to keep stumbling over spelling and grammar errors. Avoid errors by asking a friend or family member to help you proofread your statement. Another pair of eyes is more likely to catch if you misspelled “conscientious,” for example.

4. Profanity or Slang

This should go without saying, but some students forget to leave out certain inappropriate four-letter words. Just. Don’t. Do. It.

Quotes can be very inspirational, especially when they come from great writers and charismatic people like Martin Luther King, Jr. or E.E. Cummings. But they’re not YOUR words, and they don’t tell the admissions director who you are. Leave them out of your personal statement and post them on your Instagram instead.

6. Hyperboles

You want to show enthusiasm in your statement, but it’s not necessary to say that if you don’t get into grad school your “mother will kill you.” The admissions director will also likely not be impressed if you tell them you have studied no less than a million hours to get into their school. In fact, avoid any and all exaggerations.

7. Plagiarism

These days, it’s easy to find examples of great personal statements online. However, keep in mind that universities will be able to identify if you have copied any material from another source. It’s not worth the risk and, again, it doesn’t let the school see your uniqueness.

8. Other People

Remember, keep the focus of your statement on you and what makes you stand out. Avoid too much mention of mentors, family members, or other people who may have inspired your academic goals. Keep it all about you.

9. Negativity

Keep your personal statement upbeat and positive. Avoid talking about any past educational experiences. You should also avoid mentioning any personal circumstances that have caused you difficulty – unless you are able to highlight how you overcame the circumstances and what you learned from them.

Although you may be trying to secure a financial award from the school, you should leave out any mention of money in your essay. Period.

11. Arrogance

Of course you want to highlight what differentiates you from other students, but be sure to do so in a humbling way. Boasting about how awesome or great you are may be off-putting to those reviewing your application. Also, you should show , rather than tell how wonderful you are by describing certain unique experiences rather than listing superficial adjectives to describe yourself.

Often times, we immediately try to use humor to showcase what makes us unique. Being quirky, though, can be risky in an admissions essay. So proceed with caution. Keep in mind that those in the admissions department may not share your sense of humor, so it’s best to keep your weird jokes between you and your friends.

13. Confessions

This is an opportunity to describe your educational and professional goals in an intentional way. It is not an opportunity to reveal the deepest, darkest corners of your mind, so stay on point and avoid any irrelevant information.

About the Author:

Jennifer is here to help you navigate college and grad school while still maintaining your sanity. She is a graduate of the University of Florida (Go Gators!), with a major in Journalism and Communications and a minor in Psychology. She’s also a certified Montessori instructor and once witnessed a four-year-old correctly label all 54 countries on a map of Africa. She prefers to sing when not in the shower, and she’s not afraid of heights as long as she’s standing on something that is less than 15-feet tall.

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How to Write an Amazing Personal Statement (Includes Examples!)

Lisa Freedland is a Scholarships360 writer with personal experience in psychological research and content writing. She has written content for an online fact-checking organization and has conducted research at the University of Southern California as well as the University of California, Irvine. Lisa graduated from the University of Southern California in Fall 2021 with a degree in Psychology.

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Zach Skillings is the Scholarships360 Newsletter Editor. He specializes in college admissions and strives to answer important questions about higher education. When he’s not contributing to Scholarships360, Zach writes about travel, music, film, and culture. His work has been published in Our State Magazine, Ladygunn Magazine, The Nocturnal Times, and The Lexington Dispatch. Zach graduated from Elon University with a degree in Cinema and Television Arts.

Bill Jack has over a decade of experience in college admissions and financial aid. Since 2008, he has worked at Colby College, Wesleyan University, University of Maine at Farmington, and Bates College.

Maria Geiger is Director of Content at Scholarships360. She is a former online educational technology instructor and adjunct writing instructor. In addition to education reform, Maria’s interests include viewpoint diversity, blended/flipped learning, digital communication, and integrating media/web tools into the curriculum to better facilitate student engagement. Maria earned both a B.A. and an M.A. in English Literature from Monmouth University, an M. Ed. in Education from Monmouth University, and a Virtual Online Teaching Certificate (VOLT) from the University of Pennsylvania.

How to Write an Amazing Personal Statement (Includes Examples!)

The personal statement. It’s one of the most important parts of the entire college application process. This essay is the perfect opportunity to show admissions officers who you are and what makes you stand out from the crowd. But writing a good personal statement isn’t exactly easy. That’s why we’ve put together the ultimate guide on how to nail your personal statement, complete with example essays . Each essay was reviewed and commented upon by admissions expert Bill Jack. Let’s dive in!

Related: How to write an essay about yourself

What is a personal statement?

A personal statement is a special type of essay that’s required when you’re applying to colleges and scholarship programs. In this essay, you’re expected to share something about who you are and what you bring to the table. Think of it as a chance to reveal a side of yourself not found in the rest of your application. Personal statements are typically around 400 – 600 words in length.

What can I write about?

Pretty much anything, as long as it’s about you . While this is liberating in the sense that your writing options are nearly unlimited, it’s also overwhelming for the same reason. The good news is that you’ll probably be responding to a specific prompt. Chances are you’re applying to a school that uses the Common App , which means you’ll have seven prompts to choose from . Reviewing these prompts can help generate some ideas, but so can asking yourself meaningful questions.

Below you’ll find a list of questions to ask yourself during the brainstorming process. For each of the following questions, spend a few minutes jotting down whatever comes to mind.

What experiences have shaped who you are?
What’s special or unique about you or your life story?
Who or what has inspired you the most?
What accomplishments are you most proud of?
What are your goals for the future? How have you arrived at those goals?
If your life was a movie, what would be the most interesting scene?
What have been some of the biggest challenges in your life? How did you respond and what did you learn?

The purpose of these questions is to prompt you to think about your life at a deeper level. Hopefully by reflecting on them, you’ll find an essay topic that is impactful and meaningful. In the next section, we’ll offer some advice on actually writing your essay.

Also see: How to write a 500 word essay

How do I write my personal statement?

Once you’ve found a topic, it’s time to start writing! Every personal statement is different, so there’s not really one formula that works for every student. That being said, the following tips should get you started in the right direction:

1. Freewrite, then rewrite

The blank page tends to get more intimidating the longer you stare at it, so it’s best to go ahead and jump right in! Don’t worry about making the first draft absolutely perfect. Instead, just get your ideas on the page and don’t spend too much time thinking about the finer details. Think of this initial writing session as a “brain dump”. Take 15-30 minutes to quickly empty all your thoughts onto the page without worrying about things like grammar, spelling, or sentence structure. You can even use bullet points if that helps. Once you have your ideas on the page, then you can go back and shape them exactly how you want.

2. Establish your theme

Now that you’ve got some basic ideas down on the page, it’s time to lock in on a theme. Your theme is a specific angle that reflects the central message of your essay. It can be summarized in a sentence or even a word. For example, let’s say you’re writing about how you had to establish a whole new group of friends when you moved to a new city. The theme for this type of essay would probably be something like “adaptation”. Having a theme will help you stay focused throughout your essay. Since you only have a limited number of words, you can’t afford to go off on tangents that don’t relate to your theme.

3. Tell a story

A lot of great essays rely on a specific scene or story. Find the personal anecdote relevant to your theme and transfer it to the page. The best way to do this is by using descriptive language. Consult the five senses as you’re setting the scene. What did you see, hear, taste, touch, or smell? How were you feeling emotionally? Using descriptive language can really help your essay come to life. According to UPchieve , a nonprofit that supports low income students, focusing on a particular moment as a “ revised version of a memoir ” is one way to keep readers engaged.

Related: College essay primer: show, don’t tell

4. Focus on your opening paragraph

Your opening paragraph should grab your reader’s attention and set the tone for the rest of your essay. In most cases, this is the best place to include your anecdote (if you have one). By leading with your personal story, you can hook your audience from the get-go. After telling your story, you can explain why it’s important to who you are.

Related: How to start a scholarship essay (with examples)

5. Use an authentic voice

Your personal statement reflects who you are, so you should use a tone that represents you. That means you shouldn’t try to sound like someone else, and you shouldn’t use fancy words just to show off. This isn’t an academic paper, so you don’t have to adopt a super formal tone. Instead, write in a way that allows room for your personality to breathe.

6. Edit, edit, edit…

Once you’re done writing, give yourself some time away from the essay. Try to allow a few days to pass before looking at the essay again with fresh eyes. This way, you’re more likely to pick up on spelling and grammatical errors. You may even get some new ideas and rethink the way you wrote some things. Once you’re satisfied, let someone else edit your essay. We recommend asking a teacher, parent, or sibling for their thoughts before submitting.

Examples of personal statements

Sometimes viewing someone else’s work is the best way to generate inspiration and get the creative juices flowing. The following essays are written in response to four different Common App prompts:

Prompt 1: “Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.”

When I was eight years old, I wanted a GameCube very badly. For weeks I hounded my dad to buy me one and finally he agreed. But there was a catch. He’d only get me a GameCube if I promised to start reading. Every day I played video games, I would have to pick up a book and read for at least one hour. At that point in my life, reading was just something I had to suffer through for school assignments. To read for pleasure seemed ludicrous. Needless to say, I wasn’t exactly thrilled about this proposed agreement. But I figured anything was worth it to get my hands on that shiny new video game console, so I bit the bullet and shook my dad’s hand. Little did I know that I had just made a life-changing deal.

At first, the required hour of reading was a chore — something I had to do so I could play Mario Kart. But it quickly turned into something more than that. To my complete and utter surprise, I discovered that I actually enjoyed reading. One hour turned into two, two turned into three, and after a while I was spending more time reading than I was playing video games. I found myself captivated by the written word, and I read everything I could get my hands on. Lord of the Rings , Percy Jackson , Goosebumps — you name it. I was falling in love with literature, while my GameCube was accumulating dust in the TV stand.

Soon enough, reading led to writing. I was beginning to come up with my own stories, so I put pen to paper and let my imagination run wild. It started out small. My first effort was a rudimentary picture book about a friendly raccoon who went to the moon. But things progressed. My stories became more intricate, my characters more complex. I wrote a series of science fiction novellas. I tried my hand at poetry. I was amazed at the worlds I could create with the tip of my pen. I had dreams of becoming an author.

Then somewhere along the way my family got a subscription to Netflix, and that completely changed the way I thought about storytelling. My nose had been buried in books up until then, so I hadn’t really seen a lot of movies. That quickly changed. It seemed like every other day a pair of new DVDs would arrive in the mail (this was the early days of Netflix). Dark Knight, The Truman Show, Inception, Memento — all these great films were coming in and out of the house. And I couldn’t get enough of them. Movies brought stories to life in a way that books could not. I was head over heels for visual storytelling.

Suddenly I wasn’t writing novels and short stories anymore. I was writing scripts for movies. Now I wanted to transfer my ideas to the big screen, rather than the pages of a book. But I was still doing the same thing I had always done. I was writing, just in a different format. To help with this process, I read the screenplays of my favorite films and paid attention to the way they were crafted. I kept watching more and more movies. And I hadn’t forgotten about my first love, either. I still cherished books and looked to them for inspiration. By the end of my junior year of high school, I had completed two scripts for short films.

So why am I telling you all this? Because I want to turn my love of storytelling into a career. I’m not totally sure how to do that yet, but I know I have options. Whether it’s film production, creative writing, or even journalism, I want to find a major that suits my ambitions. Writing has taken me a long way, and I know it can take me even further. As I step into this next chapter of my life, I couldn’t be more excited to see how my craft develops. In the meantime, I should probably get rid of that dusty old GameCube.

Feedback from admissions professional Bill Jack

Essays don’t always have to reveal details about the student’s intended career path, but one thing I like about this essay is that it gives the reader a sense of the why. Why do they want to pursue storytelling. It also shows the reader that they are open to how they pursue their interest. Being open to exploration is such a vital part of college, so it’s also showing the reader that they likely will be open to new things in college. And, it’s always fun to learn a little bit more about the student’s family, especially if the reader can learn about how the students interacts with their family.

Prompt 2: “The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?”

I remember my first impression of Irvine: weird. It was foggy, stock-full of greenery and eucalyptus trees, and reminded me of my 5th grade trip to a “science camp” which was located in the San Bernardino mountains. Besides Irvine, that was one of the few places in Southern California where you’d find so many non-palm trees.

Of course, perhaps my initial impression of Irvine was biased, motivated by a desire to stay in my hometown and a fear of the unknown. While that was true to an extent, Irvine was certainly still a little peculiar. The city itself was based on a “master plan” of sorts, with the location of each of its schools, parks, shops, and arguably its trees having been logically “picked” before the foundation was poured. Even the homes all looked roughly the same, with their beige, stucco walls almost serving as a hallmark of the city itself.

Thus, this perfectly structured, perfectly safe city seemed like a paradise of sorts to many outsiders, my parents included. I was a little more hesitant to welcome this. As I saw it, this was a phony city – believing that its uniformity stood for a lack of personality. My hometown, although not as flawlessly safe nor clean as Irvine, was where most of my dearest memories had occurred. From the many sleepovers at Cindie’s house, to trying to avoid my school’s own version of the “infamous” cheese touch, to the many laughs shared with friends and family, I shed a tear at the prospect of leaving my home.

Moving into the foreign city, remnants of the hostility I held towards Irvine remained. Still dwelling in my memories of the past, I was initially unable to see Irvine as a “home.” So, as I walked into my first-ever Irvine class, being greeted by many kind, yet unfamiliar faces around me, I was unable to recognize that some of those new faces would later become some of my dearest friends. Such negative feelings about the city were further reinforced by newer, harder classes, and more complicated homework. Sitting in the discomfort of this unfamiliar environment, it started to seem that “change” was something not only inevitable, but insurmountable.

As the years went on, however, this idea seemed to fade. I got used to my classes and bike racing through Irvine neighborhoods with my friends, watching the trees that once seemed just a “weird” green blob soon transform into one of my favorite parts of the city. While I kept my old, beloved memories stored, I made space for new ones. From carefully making our way over the narrow creek path next to our school, to the laughs we shared during chemistry class, my new memories made with friends seemed to transform a city I once disliked into one I would miss.

Through this transformation, I have come to recognize that change, although sometimes intimidating at first, can open the door to great times and meaningful connections. Although Irvine may have once seemed like a strange, “phony” place that I couldn’t wait to be rid of, the memories and laughs I had grown to share there were very real. As I move onto this next part of my life, I hope I can use this knowledge that I have gained from my time in Irvine to make the most of what’s to come. Even if the change may be frightening at first, I have learned to embrace what’s on the other side, whether green or not.

One huge plus to writing an essay that focuses on a place is that you might have it read by someone who has been there. Yet, what’s really helpful about this essay is that even if someone hasn’t been there, a picture is painted about what the place is like. Admission officers have the hard task of really understanding what the student sees, so the use of adjectives and imagery can really help. It’s also really clever to see that the green that’s mentioned at the beginning is mentioned at the end. It’s a nice way to bookend the essay and tie it all together.

Prompt 6: “Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?”

I like getting lost. Not literally, of course, but figuratively. Whether it be in the story of a love song by Taylor Swift, or in the memories brought back by listening to my favorite childhood video game’s background music, I’ve always appreciated music’s ability to transport me to another place, another time, another feeling.

Alas, I cannot sing, nor have I practiced an instrument since my middle school piano class days. So, perhaps Kurt Vonnegut was right. As he puts it, “Virtually every writer I know would rather be a musician.” While I cannot speak for others, I have certainly not debunked his theory. Writing allows many, including myself, to attempt to mimic the transformative power of music – even if our singing voices aren’t exactly “pleasant.” Just as you can get lost in music, you can do so in a story. Whether it is in George Orwell’s totalitarian Oceania, or Little Women’s Orchard House, the stories outlined in novels can provide an amazing look into the lives and worlds of others, and an escape from the worries and problems of those in your own.

While I am certainly not claiming to have the storytelling abilities of the Orwells or Alcotts before me, I’ve had fun trying to recreate such transformative feelings for others. When I was nine, I attempted to write a story about a little girl who had gotten lost in the woods, only managing to get a couple pages through. As I got older, whenever I was assigned a creative writing assignment in school, I wrote about the same pig, Phil. He was always angry: in my 8th grade science class, Phil was mad at some humans who had harbored his friend captive, and in my 9th grade English class, at a couple who robbed him.

Thus, when I heard about a writing club being opened at my school in 11th grade, I knew I had to join. I wanted to discern whether writing was just a hobby I picked up now and then, or a true passion. If it was a passion, I wanted to learn as much as possible about how I could improve. Although my high school’s writing club certainly wasn’t going to transform me into Shakespeare, I knew I could learn a lot from it – and I did. The club challenged me to do many things, from writing on the spot, to writing poetry, to even writing about myself, something that’s hopefully coming in handy right now.

From then on, I started to expand into different types of writing, storing short ideas, skits, and more in appropriately-labeled Google Drive folders. At around the same time, I became interested in classic literature, which largely stemmed from a project in English class. We had been required to choose and read a classic on our own, then present it to the class in an interesting way. While my book was certainly interesting and unique in its own right, nearly everyone else’s novels seemed more captivating to me. So, I took it upon myself to read as many classics as I could the following summer.

One of the books I read during the summer, funnily enough, was Animal Farm, which starred angry pigs, reminiscent of Phil. I had also started going over different ideas in my head, thinking about how I could translate them into words using the new skills I learned. While the writing club helped reaffirm my interest in writing and allowed me to develop new skills, my newfound affinity for classics gave me inspiration to write. Now, I am actually considering writing as part of my future. In this endeavor, I hope that Phil, and the music I inevitably listen to as I write, will accompany me every step of the way.

Admission officers might read 70 (or more!) essays in one day. It’s not uncommon for them to start to blend together and sound similar. This essay might not make you laugh out loud. But, it might make the reader chuckle while reading it thanks to the subtle humor and levity. Being able to incorporate a little humor into your essay (if it is natural for you to do… do not force it), can really be a great way to shed additional light into who you are. Remember, the essay isn’t merely about proving that you can write, but it should also reveal a little bit about your personality.

Prompt 5: “Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.”

I learned a lot of things during the summer I worked at Tropical Smoothie. I discovered the value of hard work. I figured out how to save money. I even mastered the art of the Mango Magic smoothie (the secret is lots of sugar). But most importantly, I learned the power of perspective. And I have Deja to thank for that.

Deja was my shift supervisor, and one of Tropical Smoothie’s best employees. She was punctual, friendly, and always willing to lend a helping hand. She knew the store from top to bottom, and could handle pretty much any situation thrown her way. She made everyone around her better. On top of all that, she was four months pregnant! I was always impressed by Deja’s work ethic, but I gained an entirely new level of respect for her one day.

It was a Friday night, and Deja and I were working the closing shift together. It was very busy, and Deja and I were the only ones on shift. We managed to get by, but we were exhausted by the end of the evening. After wiping down the counters and mopping the floors, we closed up shop and went our separate ways. I was eager to get home.

I walked a couple blocks to where I had parked my car. Well, it wasn’t my car actually. It was my dad’s ‘98 Chevy pickup truck, and it was in rough shape. It had no heat or A/C, the leather seats were cracked beyond repair, and the driver’s side door was jammed shut. I sighed as I got in through the passenger side and scooted over to the driver’s seat. The whole reason I was working at Tropical Smoothie was to save up enough money to buy my own car. I was hoping to have something more respectable to drive during my senior year of high school.

I cranked the old thing up and started on my way home. But soon enough, I spotted Deja walking on the side of the road. There was no sidewalk here, the light was low, and she was dangerously close to the passing cars. I pulled over and offered her a ride. She got in and explained that she was on her way home. Apparently she didn’t have a car and had been walking to work every day. I couldn’t believe it. Here I was complaining about my set of wheels, while Deja didn’t have any to begin with.

We got to talking, and she confessed that she had been having a tough time. You would never know from the way she was so cheerful at work, but Deja had a lot on her plate. She was taking care of her mother, her boyfriend had just lost his job, and she was worried about making ends meet. And of course, she was expecting a baby in five months. On top of all that, she had been walking nearly a mile to and from work every day. The whole thing was a real eye opener, and made me reconsider some things in my own life.

For one, I didn’t mind driving my dad’s truck anymore. It was banged up, sure, but it was a lot better than nothing. My mindset had changed. I appreciated the truck now. I began to think about other things differently, too. I started making mental notes of all the things in my life I was thankful for — my family, my friends, my health. I became grateful for what I had, instead of obsessing over the things I didn’t.

I also gained more awareness of the world outside my own little bubble. My encounter with Deja had shown me first-hand that everyone is dealing with their own problems, some worse than others. So I started paying more attention to my friends, family members, and coworkers. I started listening more and asking how I could help. I also gave Deja a ride home for the rest of the summer.

These are all small things, of course, but I think they make a difference. I realized I’m at my best when I’m not fixated on my own life, but when I’m considerate of the lives around me. I want to keep this in mind as I continue to grow and develop as a person. I want to continue to search for ways to support the people around me. And most importantly, I want to keep things in perspective.

Too often we can be focused on our own problems that we fail to realize that everyone has their own things going on in their lives, too. This essay showcases how it’s important to put things in perspective, a skill that certainly will prove invaluable in college… and not just in the classroom. Another reason I like this essay is because it provides deeper insight into the student’s life. Sure, you might have mentioned in your activities list that you have a job. But as this essay does, you can show why you have the job in the first place, what your responsibilities are, and more.

A few last tips

We hope these essay examples gave you a bit of inspiration of what to include in your own. However, before you go, we’d like to send you off with a few (personal statement) writing tips to help you make your essays as lovely as the memories and anecdotes they’re based off of. Without further ado, here are some of our best tips for writing your personal statements:

1. Open strong

College admissions officers read many, many essays (think 50+) a day, which can sometimes cause them to start blending together and sounding alike. One way to avoid your essay from simply fading into the background is to start strong. This means opening your essay with something memorable, whether an interesting personal anecdote, a descriptive setting, or anything else that you think would catch a reader’s attention (so long as it’s not inappropriate). Not only might this help college admissions officers better remember your essay, but it will also make them curious about what the rest of your essay will entail.

2. Be authentic

Perhaps most important when it comes to writing personal statement essays is to maintain your authenticity. Ultimately, your essays should reflect your unique stories and quirks that make you who you are, and should help college admissions officers determine whether you’d truly be a good fit for their school or not. So, don’t stress trying to figure out what colleges are looking for. Be yourself, and let the colleges come to you!

3. Strong writing

This one may seem a little obvious, but strong writing will certainly appeal to colleges. Not only will it make your essay more compelling, but it may show colleges that you’re ready for college-level essay writing (that you’ll likely have to do a lot of). Just remember that good writing is not limited to grammar. Using captivating detail and descriptions are a huge part of making your essay seem more like a story than a lecture.

4. Proofread

Last but not least, remember to proofread! Make sure your essay contains no errors in grammar, punctuation, and spelling. When you’re done proofreading your essay yourself, we would also recommend that you ask a teacher, parent, or other grammatically savvy person to proofread your essay as well.

Final thoughts

With those in hand, we hope you now have a better sense of how to write your personal statement. While your grades and test scores are important when it comes to college admissions, it’s really your essays that can “make” or “break” your application.

Although this may make it seem like a daunting task, writing an amazing personal statement essay is all about effort. Thus, so long as you start early, follow the advice listed above, and dedicate your time and effort to it, it’s entirely possible to write an essay that perfectly encapsulates you. Good luck, and happy writing!

Also see: Scholarships360’s free scholarships search tool

Key Takeaways

It may take some people longer than others to know what they want to write about, but remember that everyone, including you, has something unique to write about!
Personal statements should be personal, which means you should avoid being too general and really strive to show off what makes you “you”
Time and effort are two of the most important things you can put into your personal statement to ensure that it is the best representation of yourself
Don’t forget to ask people who know you to read your work before you submit; they should be able to tell you better than anyone if you are truly shining through!

Frequently asked questions about writing personal statements

How do you write a powerful personal statement, what makes an amazing personal statement, how do you start an amazing personal statement, scholarships360 recommended.

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How to explain poor grades in Personal Statement

Explaining poor grades in a personal statement can be a challenging task, but it’s an opportunity to demonstrate your honesty, self-awareness, and resilience.

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Although a personal statement is an opportunity to showcase your academic background, professional experience, and personal qualities to the admissions committee you can also use it as a medium to explain poor grades you have had in your academics.

If you do not already know how to write a Personal Statement, read this guide “ Example Personal Statement for Graduate School ” to grasp the tips on writing a Personal Statement.

Here are some tips to help you explain poor grades in your personal statement:

Explain the circumstances that led to your poor grades. Did you have to work part-time while studying? Did you face any family issues or personal struggles that affected your academic performance?

Show self-awareness

Take responsibility for your poor grades and show that you understand the reasons behind them. Explain how you have learned from your mistakes and what steps you have taken to improve your academic performance.

Highlight your strengths

Use your personal statement to showcase your strengths and achievements in other areas of your life, such as extracurricular activities, volunteer work, or employment. This can demonstrate your ability to balance multiple responsibilities and overcome challenges.

Discuss any challenges you have overcome

If you have faced any significant challenges, such as a health issue or a difficult family situation, explain how you have overcome them and how they have made you stronger and more resilient.

Provide evidence of improvement

If you have improved your grades over time, provide evidence of this in your personal statement. For example, you could include your most recent transcript or highlight any academic awards or achievements you have received.

Sample: How to explain poor grades in Personal Statement

Let us take a look at this Personal Statement Sample where the writer explains his poor grades in school:

“During my first two years of college, I struggled to balance the demands of my coursework with my involvement in extracurricular activities and part-time work. As a result, my grades suffered, and I received several C’s and even a few D’s.

However, I didn’t let these setbacks define me. Instead, I took proactive steps to improve my academic performance. I met with my professors and sought their guidance on how to study more effectively and stay on track with assignments. I also made use of campus resources like tutoring and academic coaching to strengthen my understanding of difficult subjects.

As a result of these efforts, my grades improved steadily over time, and by my senior year, I was able to maintain a GPA of 3.5. I learned valuable lessons about the importance of time management, prioritization, and seeking help when needed, which I know will serve me well as I pursue further academic and professional goals.

While my early academic record may not be perfect, I hope that my dedication and growth mindset will demonstrate my potential to succeed in the future.”

The conclusion of the Personal Statement is very crucial and it must be concise, memorable and original. Read an article on “ How to Conclude a Personal Statement “.

By following these tips, you can ensure that your personal statement ends on a high note and stands out from the crowd.

Remember, the goal of explaining poor grades is to show that you are capable of succeeding in college despite past academic struggles. Be honest, take responsibility, and showcase your strengths and resilience.

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Your chance of acceptance, your chancing factors, extracurriculars, advice on explaining bad grades to colleges.

Hello everyone! I had some personal issues during my sophomore year which caused me to have relatively bad grades. I want to explain this to colleges in my application, but I'm not sure how to do it without sounding like I'm just making excuses. Any tips or advice?

Hello! I understand how you might be concerned about addressing your sophomore year grades in your college application. It's important to give colleges context about what was happening during that time, so they can see the bigger picture.

Firstly, be honest and straightforward when explaining the circumstances. You don't need to go too deep into details, but make it clear what was influencing your performance back then. For instance, you could write something like 'During my sophomore year, I faced family challenges that affected my academics.'

Then, highlight steps you took to overcome those issues and emphasize your growth since then. Show how you've learned from the experience and your performance has improved as a result.

Lastly, don't forget to showcase your strengths and the dedication you have to your academics to help the admission officers see beyond your sophomore year. Best of luck to you!

About CollegeVine’s Expert FAQ

CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.

Sep 1, 2022

How to explain your low GPA in the MBA optional essay

Updated: Feb 1

I speak to hundreds of MBA applicants every year. One of the most common questions I get asked is, “How do I justify my low undergrad GPA in my MBA applications?”

The good news is that a low GPA isn't a death sentence for your application. But you MUST be able to clearly explain it. Most likely, you’ll explain it in the optional essay of the MBA application portal.

This is how Yale SOM phrases the prompt:

Optional Essay: If any aspect of your candidacy needs further explanation (unexplained gaps in work experience, choice of recommenders, academic performance, promotions or recognition, etc.), please provide a brief description here. (200 words maximum)

In this blog we will address how you can justify your low undergrad GPA through your optional essay. Along with this, we’ll discuss other aspects of your profile that you can discuss in the optional essay.

Every year, top business schools publish details regarding their class profiles. These reports include average GPA, GMAT/GRE score, years of experience, demographics and industry information for the incoming class. So, for prospective applicants, this report becomes a useful blueprint for identifying how they compare to their would-be classmates and whether they stand a chance of getting into this school.

From this report, we know for example that the undergrad GPA range for the Chicago Booth class of 2023 is 2.7 - 4, with the average being 3.54. The undergrad GPA range for the Northwestern Kellogg class of 2023 is 2.4 - 4, with the average being 3.7.

This means that candidates who made it to the Booth class of 2023 had undergraduate GPAs between 2.7 and 4.

So I get lots of questions from applicants whose GPA is at the very bottom of the range asking whether they have a chance. And honestly, most often the answer is No, unless your profile is absolutely exceptional.

If you belong to an overrepresented group such as an Indian male or north american investment banker, you won’t be successful if your GPA is at the bottom of the range unless you’ve got an exceptional GMAT score and an incredible story.

Applicant: “Can I get into Booth with a 2.8 GPA?”

Sam: “Not unless you threw javelins in the Olympics or distributed polio vaccines in Afghanistan.”

To get in with a lower GPA, you need an exceptional story. One like Raveena ’s, who got into Wharton with a low GPA, a below-average GMAT score in Round 3 and (drum roll) with $160,000 of scholarships.

How to explain a low GPA

Points to bear in mind while writing your optional essay as you discuss your low GPA:

1. Valid reasons for having a low GPA: Some reasons for having a low GPA are more valid than others. Partied to hard and failed exams? Nope. Better reasons include health issues, family issues such as parents getting divorced, or entering the course academically underprepared.

2. How to explain it: Focus very clearly on what happened, how you rebounded, and what you learned from the experience.

3. Avoid using long-winded stories. Storytelling can be super effective for the rest of your MBA essays, where you’re trying to demonstrate a strong narrative. However , that’s not the case with optional essays. Since this is not a mandatory part of the application, the Adcom is “doing you a favor” by reading it. So be short, tight and direct.

4. Steer clear of incorporating any stories or fluff. Instead, be direct in putting your point across to the Admissions Committee. If you have a low undergrad GPA, that’s a fact. So, say it like it is, add the reason behind it and discuss what you’ve done to compensate for it.

5. Don’t fill up space for the word limit. If you can explain a low GPA in 150 words, do it. As an extreme example, Rice Jones’ optional essay has a limit of 750 words. Unless you have something to say about every single possible optional essay topic, you won’t need anything like 750 words!

6. Don’t add repetitive content. Make sure nothing you write about in your optional essay has been repeated from any other part of the application. Repetition here is punishable by DING!

7. Don’t make excuses! Instead, highlight the reasons for this gap in your profile objectively and spin it positively. For example, if you have a low GPA because of your parents’ divorce, discuss how you handled it. If you have an employment gap in your profile, point to extracurriculars or a side hustle you pursued during that time.

8. Don’t be tempted to demonstrate the fit. The school has already offered you space to discuss your alignment with the school and/or program in your MBA application. So don’t ignore their instructions and include unnecessary detail in your optional essay.

9. Don’t brush your gaps under the rug. It might seem enticing to take the risk and not address your weaknesses in the hope that the AdCom miss it. In my experience, adcoms don’t miss these things. So don’t leave it to chance. If your focus wavered because of a lack of prioritization, or poor time management, or a genuine personal issue, admitting it will demonstrate maturity.

Example: Yale SOM

I don’t believe my GPA of 2.7 is representative of my academic abilities. My parents got divorced during my undergraduate studies. Since the rest of my siblings had left the country, I was forced to manage their divorce negotiations and my academic performance suffered heavily as a result.

After the divorce was settled, I attended extra classes to catch up on missed material and my grades rebounded. My final year GPA was 3.4, with my last semester being 3.6, which I believe better demonstrates my academic ability.

Unsatisfied with my poor grades, I took on additional academic challenges after my undergraduate studies were complete. For example, diving straight into the CFA level 1.

When should you write an MBA optional essay?

Aside from explaining your GPA, these are the other points you may want to address in your optional essay:

Educational or Professional Gap

Usually, candidates have an educational or professional gap because -

They wanted to figure out their passion

They were preparing for a certain exam

They had a physical or mental health condition

Extenuating personal circumstances

So, if you had to take a gap or got laid off and found yourself in this situation, use this space to offer your explanation to Adcom. Focus on how you used your time productively.

If you were running a side hustle during school or worked two jobs or did night shifts through your undergrad due to some financial issues, that’s something worth discussing in your optional essay. Otherwise, an outsider won’t be able to make sense of it just by looking at your resume.

Masters or Management degree in your home country

Many candidates go for a Masters in a specific subject or a Masters in Management (MIM) degree immediately after their undergrad. However, to pivot into senior executive roles, they need a formal management degree and apply for an MBA. If you fall into that category, you should offer context in your optional essay.

If you think your current score is an inaccurate representation of your profile, provide evidence of how you can add value to your target school’s MBA class. For example, if you’ve got your GMAT booked for a specific date post the deadline, you can say,

“My current GMAT score doesn’t reflect my academic ability aptly, and I have booked the exam for a specific date.”

Recommender

If you don’t have a recommendation from your current manager, it’s worth highlighting why. Maybe because you can’t tell your current company. Maybe because you haven’t been at your current company very long. Simply offer a crisp explanation and get your point across to the Admissions Committee.

Struggling to write your optional essay? Get in touch.

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How to Discuss Poor Academics on Medical School Applications

Medical schools want applicants to reflect on bad grades and explain them in a way that is effective and compelling.

Poor Grades on Med School Applications

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When discussing bad grades you should avoid blaming others and always end on a positive note.

Strong academic performance is key to successfully getting into medical school . All schools want to know that an applicant to their program has the capability to handle the rigors of the medical school curriculum . Undergraduate and graduate academic performance prior to medical school can provide clues to an applicant's ability.

That being said, many applicants to medical school have less than stellar academic performance. Some start off not doing very well and others may struggle in one course or a semester, while others have difficulty with a certain subject area.

The good news is none of these scenarios has to be a deal breaker for getting into medical school. Admissions committees are more forgiving than most applicants assume, especially when the applicant has made up for poor academic performance in one area by doing well in other areas.

Equally importantly, schools want to see that where there was poor academic performance, the applicant is able to reflect on it and explain it in a way that is effective and compelling. Applicants should consider the following pointers when explaining poor academics in their medical school application:

Only address major weaknesses.
Don't blame others.
End on a positive note.
Highlight strengths that could make up for the weakness.

Only address major weaknesses. We recently worked with an applicant who had devoted an entire paragraph of his medical school personal statement to explaining a C+ in a freshman-level chemistry course. While the grade is less than ideal, it does not constitute a major flaw. Applicants are better off leaving minor shortcomings out of the application.

Chances are, a C in a freshman-level course may go unnoticed if the overall GPA is strong. By bringing it up in the application, you may be drawing unnecessary attention to it. In addition, you will waste precious space that could be used toward reflecting on more important topics.

It is difficult to clearly define what an admissions committee will consider a major weakness and where to draw the line between addressing something or not. This requires judgment on the part of the applicant and potentially some help from a counselor.

However, in our experience, one or two grades of C or withdrawals on a transcript are not worth an explanation, unless asked at an interview. A grade of D or F may warrant an explanation, especially if it occurred later in the premedical years. More extensive weaknesses in academic performance, like a semester of bad grades, should be explained.

Don't blame others. Too often, we come across essays where the applicant looks to explain bad grades by saying the professor was exceptionally hard, the exams were graded unfairly or other reasons that suggest the negative outcome was beyond the applicant's control. This approach should be avoided in the medical school application. You want to show the admissions committee that you take full responsibility for poor academic performance.

To achieve this, it helps to be honest and give the reader the real reason for why you did not do well. It shows sincerity and openness when an applicant says, for example, that poor performance in a class was because he or she did not have proper study skills, or he or she underestimated the demands of the course.

End on a positive note. Any time you explain a setback or negative experience in a medical school personal statement or secondary essay , it is wise to turn it into a positive and reflect on it in-depth. This applies to explanations of poor academic performance as well.

One of our recent students was an art major and only became interested in medicine after a semester of poor academic performance following extenuating family circumstances. He described in his essay how these circumstances required him to get a job in order to pay the bills.

As it turns out, the first job he found was at a medical front office, where he learned more about the medical profession and decided he wants to be a medical doctor. He talked about how he struggled balancing the job with his coursework and performed poorly in his courses as a result.

After acknowledging the difficulties, he gave his essay a positive spin by explaining that despite the negative impact of these events on his academics, he was grateful that the events exposed him to the medical profession and ignited his interest in medicine.

Highlight strengths that could make up for the weakness. If there are weaknesses in a particular area of your application, but you have performed well in related areas, you should highlight the achievement in the related area.

For example, if a student performed poorly on organic chemistry classes but did well in biochemistry and had a strong score on the chemistry sections of the MCAT , these strengths in biochemistry and the MCAT should be mentioned. It is wise to use these achievements to argue that the poor performance in organic chemistry does not reflect one's overall abilities in the discipline of chemistry.

When all is said and done, remember that most medical school applicants have some areas of relative deficiency in their application. Keeping this in mind, do not be ashamed of sharing your shortcomings and reflecting on them in mature and sincere way. In doing so, you will help the admissions committee understand the reasons for any blemishes on your academic record and you will display openness and honesty, both of which are highly valued qualities in an aspiring physician.

Medical School Application Mistakes

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Tags: education , medical school , graduate schools , students , academics

About Medical School Admissions Doctor

Need a guide through the murky medical school admissions process? Medical School Admissions Doctor offers a roundup of expert and student voices in the field to guide prospective students in their pursuit of a medical education. The blog is currently authored by Dr. Ali Loftizadeh, Dr. Azadeh Salek and Zach Grimmett at Admissions Helpers , a provider of medical school application services; Dr. Renee Marinelli at MedSchoolCoach , a premed and med school admissions consultancy; Dr. Rachel Rizal, co-founder and CEO of the Cracking Med School Admissions consultancy; Dr. Cassie Kosarec at Varsity Tutors , an advertiser with U.S. News & World Report; Dr. Kathleen Franco, a med school emeritus professor and psychiatrist; and Liana Meffert, a fourth-year medical student at the University of Iowa's Carver College of Medicine and a writer for Admissions Helpers. Got a question? Email [email protected] .

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Things to Avoid in a Grad School Personal Statement? Ultimate Guide with Examples

by Talha Omer, MBA, M.Eng., Harvard & Cornell Grad

In personal statement tips & advice.

In my earlier post, I shared an ultimate guide on how to write an effective graduate school personal statement and introduced an 8-point framework to guide you in evaluating your personal statement. Building on that foundation, in this post, I’ll delve into the things you should avoid when crafting your graduate school personal statement.

Additionally, I’ll provide you with a 7-point framework that you can use to circumvent the common pitfalls often encountered in personal statements. By following these guidelines, you’ll be able to create a compelling and polished statement that effectively communicates your unique qualities, experiences, and aspirations, ultimately enhancing your chances of securing a spot in your desired program.

In this Article

1) Being too General or Vague

2) using clichés, 3) providing a lengthy autobiography, 4) overemphasizing your weaknesses, 5) being overly emotional or dramatic, 6) excessive use of jargon, 7) submitting a generic statement, 8) ignoring the prompt or requirements: , 9) plagiarism, 10) poor proofreading, sample 1: evaluate and rate a sample personal statement on the 7-point framework, sample 2: evaluate and rate a sample personal statement on the 7-point framework, sample 3: evaluate and rate a sample personal statement on the 7-point framework, what should you avoid in a grad school personal statement.

In a graduate school personal statement, you want to present yourself in the best possible light and demonstrate your suitability for the program. To avoid undermining your application, here are 10 things you should NOT do in your personal statement:

Summary: Make sure to provide specific examples, experiences, or goals related to your chosen field of study. Avoid generic statements that could apply to any candidate.

A vague statement lacks detail and might apply to many candidates, which doesn’t set you apart or demonstrate your unique qualifications.

To avoid being vague, you should:

Clearly articulate your academic and research interests, ensuring they align with the graduate program’s focus.
Highlight relevant experiences , such as research projects, internships, or volunteer work, that demonstrate your skills and passion for the field.
Discuss your specific goals for your graduate studies and how the program will help you achieve them.
Provide examples of accomplishments or experiences that showcase your potential for success in the graduate program.

By being specific, you make it easier for the admissions committee to understand your background, interests, and goals, which can significantly improve your chances of being accepted into the program.

Let’s look at an example from an applicant to a psychology graduate program to illustrate a vague/general statement (bad) and a specific statement (good).

Bad (vague/general):

“Ever since I was young, I have always been interested in psychology. My love for psychology has grown over the years, and now I am excited to pursue my passion at the graduate level. I believe that obtaining a graduate degree will allow me to make a difference in the world.”

This statement is generic and could apply to almost any applicant. It lacks specific details about the candidate’s experiences, skills, or goals in the field of psychology.

Good (specific):

“During my undergraduate studies in psychology at Columbia University, I became fascinated with the cognitive-behavioral approach to therapy. My involvement in a research project examining the efficacy of CBT for patients with anxiety disorders allowed me to develop strong analytical and research skills. I also volunteered at a local mental health clinic, where I co-facilitated a weekly CBT-based support group for individuals struggling with anxiety. These experiences have solidified my interest in pursuing a graduate degree in psychology, with a focus on CBT, to contribute to the development of more effective therapeutic interventions.”

This statement clearly communicates the applicant’s specific interest in cognitive-behavioral therapy and highlights relevant experiences that demonstrate their suitability for the program. It also shows a clear understanding of the field and a well-defined goal for their graduate studies.

Summary: Stand out by avoiding overused phrases and being original in your writing. Show your personality, unique perspective, and genuine motivations for pursuing your degree.

Clichéd statements often rely on overused phrases and generic sentiments that don’t set you apart from other applicants.

To avoid clichés and be original, you should:

Reflect on your personal experiences , motivations, and interests that led you to pursue a graduate degree in your chosen field. Authentic insights can help you stand out.
Avoid overused phrases and sentiments , such as “ever since I was a child” or “I want to make the world a better place.” Instead, use your unique voice and perspective.
Provide specific examples or anecdotes that showcase your personality, creativity, and critical thinking skills, which can help the admissions committee see you as a distinct candidate.
Focus on what makes you different from other applicants, such as your unique background, experiences, or perspective on the field.

By being original and avoiding clichés, you can make your personal statement more engaging and memorable, which can significantly improve your chances of being accepted into the graduate program.

Let’s consider an example from a hypothetical applicant to a graduate program in environmental science to illustrate a clichéd statement (bad) and an original statement (good).

Bad (clichéd):

“Ever since I was a child, I have always loved nature and wanted to make the world a better place. I believe that by pursuing a graduate degree in environmental science, I can help save the planet for future generations.”

This statement relies on overused phrases, such as “ever since I was a child” and “make the world a better place,” which don’t set the applicant apart from others. It lacks originality and personal insight into the candidate’s motivations and experiences.

Good (original):

“Growing up in a rural community that faced water scarcity, I developed a deep appreciation for the importance of sustainable water management. As an undergraduate, I focused on hydrology and conducted research on groundwater recharge in my region. My experiences ignited a passion for understanding the complex interplay between human activities and water resources. I am eager to pursue a graduate degree in environmental science to develop innovative solutions for water management challenges that communities like mine face.”

This statement provides a unique perspective, avoiding clichés and offering a personal connection to the field. It demonstrates the applicant’s genuine motivations, specific interests, and relevant experiences that make them a strong candidate for the graduate program.

Summary: Focus on the most relevant experiences and achievements that demonstrate your suitability for the program. Avoid sharing your entire life story or including irrelevant information.

Providing a lengthy, unfocused autobiography can make it difficult for the admissions committee to identify the most relevant information and may weaken the overall impact of your statement.

To be concise and focused, you should:

Prioritize your experiences , achievements, and interests that are most relevant to the graduate program you’re applying to. Focus on the aspects that showcase your suitability for the program.
Use clear and concise language , avoiding unnecessary details and overly complex sentences.
Create a logical structure for your statement, with each paragraph building upon the previous one and leading to a clear conclusion that reinforces your main points.
Edit and revise your statement multiple times, eliminating redundancies and ensuring that every sentence contributes to the overall purpose of your statement.

By being concise and focused, you can create a powerful personal statement that effectively communicates your qualifications and passion for the graduate program, which can significantly improve your chances of being accepted.

Let’s look at an example from a hypothetical applicant to a graduate program in business administration to illustrate a lengthy, unfocused autobiography (bad) and a concise, relevant statement (good).

Bad (lengthy autobiography):

“I was born and raised in a small town where my parents owned a local grocery store. As a child, I would often help out at the store, stocking shelves and assisting customers. In high school, I became involved in various clubs and organizations, such as the debate team and the student council. When I started college, I initially pursued a degree in political science but later switched to business administration after taking an inspiring economics course. During my time in college, I also took up tennis and played on the school team, which taught me valuable lessons about teamwork and perseverance.”

This statement provides a broad overview of the applicant’s life but fails to focus on the most relevant experiences and achievements related to the business administration graduate program. It includes extraneous information, such as childhood experiences and hobbies, which dilute the overall impact of the statement.

Good (concise and relevant):

“While pursuing my undergraduate degree in business administration, I interned at a fast-growing startup where I gained hands-on experience in marketing and project management. This experience sparked my interest in the intersection of innovation and business strategy. I also completed a capstone project analyzing the competitive landscape for sustainable packaging solutions, which deepened my understanding of strategic decision-making in the face of evolving market demands. I am eager to build on these experiences by pursuing a graduate degree in business administration, focusing on entrepreneurship and innovation to drive sustainable growth in today’s dynamic business environment.”

This statement highlights the applicant’s relevant experiences and achievements in the field of business administration, demonstrating their suitability for the graduate program. It avoids an extensive recounting of the applicant’s life story and instead focuses on the most pertinent details that showcase their qualifications and interests.

Summary: While it’s important to acknowledge any challenges you’ve faced, focus on how you’ve overcome them and grown as a person. Don’t dwell on negative aspects or make excuses for your shortcomings.

While it’s crucial to be honest about your challenges and setbacks, dwelling too much on them can create a negative impression and cast doubt on your ability to succeed in the program.

To avoid overemphasizing your weaknesses, you should:

Maintain a balanced perspective: Discuss both your strengths and accomplishments, as well as any challenges you’ve faced. This helps create a well-rounded representation of your experiences and growth.
Focus on resilience and growth: If you mention a weakness or setback, emphasize the steps you took to overcome it and what you learned from the experience. Show how you’ve grown and developed as a result.
Be strategic about addressing weaknesses: Choose which weaknesses to mention carefully, and only include those that are relevant and demonstrate your ability to learn from your mistakes. Avoid discussing weaknesses that might raise red flags about your ability to handle the rigors of the graduate program.
Keep a positive tone: When discussing weaknesses, maintain an overall positive and confident tone. Focus on your determination, adaptability, and commitment to improvement.

By carefully addressing your weaknesses without overemphasizing them, you can demonstrate your resilience and ability to learn from your experiences, which can create a favorable impression on the admissions committee.

Let’s look at an example from a hypothetical applicant to a graduate program in computer science, illustrating a statement that overemphasizes weaknesses (bad) and a statement that acknowledges challenges while focusing on growth and resilience (good).

Bad (overemphasizing weaknesses):

“In my first semester of college, I struggled with programming and received a C in my introductory computer science course. I was overwhelmed by the complexity of the material and the pace of the course. I often felt discouraged and questioned my abilities to succeed in the field. Despite these early setbacks, I still want to pursue a graduate degree in computer science.”

This statement highlights the applicant’s struggles and negative emotions, which may cast doubt on their ability to handle the rigors of a graduate program. While it’s important to address challenges, it’s crucial to avoid dwelling on them in a way that undermines your application.

Good (acknowledging challenges and focusing on growth):

“During my first semester of college, I encountered initial challenges in my introductory computer science course. However, I recognized the need to develop stronger problem-solving and programming skills to excel in the field. I sought out additional resources, such as tutoring and online courses, and joined a study group to improve my understanding of the material. By the time I completed my undergraduate degree, I had earned consistently high grades in my computer science courses and even served as a teaching assistant for the introductory course. This experience taught me the value of perseverance and adaptability, which I am confident will serve me well in a graduate computer science program.”

This statement acknowledges the applicant’s early challenges but shifts the focus to their growth and resilience. It demonstrates how they took initiative to overcome obstacles and ultimately succeeded, which can leave a positive impression on the admissions committee.

Summary: Share your passion for your field, but avoid excessive emotional language or melodrama. Maintain a professional tone and focus on conveying your ideas clearly and effectively.

While it’s essential to convey your passion and motivation, striking a balance between personal experiences and maintaining a professional tone is key.

To avoid being overly emotional or dramatic, you should:

Stay focused on your academic and professional goals: While sharing personal experiences can provide context for your motivation, make sure to connect these experiences to your academic and career objectives.
Use a measured and balanced tone: Convey your passion and enthusiasm for your chosen field without resorting to excessive emotion or dramatic language. Aim to maintain a professional and mature tone throughout your statement.
Be mindful of your audience: Remember that your personal statement will be read by an admissions committee composed of academics and professionals. They will likely appreciate a statement that is clear, concise, and focused on your qualifications and goals.
Show, don’t tell: Instead of relying on emotional language to convey your passion, demonstrate it through examples of your accomplishments, experiences, and commitment to your field.

By avoiding excessive emotion or drama, you can present yourself as a serious and professional candidate for the graduate program, which can enhance your chances of being accepted.

Let’s look at an example from a hypothetical applicant to a graduate program in public health, illustrating a statement with excessive emotion or drama (bad) and a statement with a balanced and professional tone (good).

Bad (overly emotional or dramatic):

“I will never forget the tragic day when my beloved grandmother passed away due to inadequate medical care. Her loss left a gaping hole in my heart, and I vowed to dedicate my life to ensuring that no one else would suffer such a devastating fate. I am determined to fight for better healthcare access, and I believe that earning a graduate degree in public health will give me the power to change the world and save countless lives.”

This statement relies heavily on emotions and dramatic language, which can detract from the overall professionalism of the application. While it’s important to convey your passion, maintaining a balanced tone is key to presenting yourself as a serious candidate.

Good (balanced and professional tone):

“The loss of my grandmother due to inadequate medical care deeply affected me and sparked my interest in healthcare access and equity. As an undergraduate, I volunteered with a local health advocacy organization, where I contributed to community outreach initiatives and policy recommendations to improve healthcare access in underserved areas. I also conducted research on the impact of socioeconomic factors on health outcomes. Pursuing a graduate degree in public health will enable me to develop the skills and knowledge needed to create meaningful change in healthcare policy and practice.”

This statement conveys the applicant’s personal connection and passion for public health while maintaining a professional tone. It focuses on relevant experiences and goals, demonstrating the candidate’s commitment to their field without relying on excessive emotion or drama.

Summary: While it’s essential to demonstrate your knowledge in your field, avoid using technical terms excessively or without proper context. Remember that the admissions committee may not be experts in your specific area of interest.

While it’s essential to demonstrate your knowledge and expertise in your field, relying too heavily on technical terms can make your statement difficult to understand, especially for readers who may not be experts in your specific area of research or study.

To avoid excessive use of jargon, you should:

Use clear and concise language: Aim to communicate your experiences, knowledge, and research interests in a way that is accessible to a broad audience, including admissions committee members who may have a different area of expertise.
Provide context for technical terms: If you must use technical terms, ensure that you provide enough context and explanation to make their meaning and relevance clear to the reader.
Balance technical knowledge with personal insights: While demonstrating your expertise is important, your personal statement should also convey your passion, motivations, and goals. Strike a balance between showcasing your technical skills and providing a personal perspective.
Seek feedback from a diverse audience: Share your personal statement with friends, family, or mentors from different backgrounds to ensure that it is comprehensible and engaging to a variety of readers.

By avoiding excessive jargon and focusing on clear and accessible language, you can make your personal statement more engaging and easier to understand, which can improve your chances of being accepted into the graduate program.

Let’s consider an example from a hypothetical applicant to a graduate program in biotechnology, illustrating a statement with excessive jargon (bad) and a statement that effectively communicates the applicant’s knowledge without overusing technical terms (good).

Bad (excessive jargon):

“During my undergraduate research, I employed CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing, qPCR, and next-generation sequencing techniques to analyze the role of non-coding RNAs in the TGF-B signaling pathway and their implications in epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and tumor metastasis. My research elucidated the complex interactions between miRNAs and lncRNAs in modulating cellular response to TGF-B stimulation.”

This statement is heavy on technical terms and jargon, which can make it difficult for an admissions committee member who is not an expert in the specific area of research to understand the applicant’s experiences and accomplishments. It’s essential to provide context and explain the relevance of your work in a more accessible language.

Good (communicating knowledge without overusing jargon):

“In my undergraduate research, I investigated the role of specific RNA molecules in cancer progression, using advanced genetic editing and sequencing techniques. By studying how these molecules interact with a key cellular signaling pathway, I was able to contribute to our understanding of how cancer cells undergo changes that enable them to spread throughout the body. This research experience not only honed my laboratory skills but also deepened my passion for exploring cutting-edge biotechnologies to develop novel therapeutic strategies.”

This statement conveys the applicant’s knowledge and experiences in the field without relying on excessive jargon. It provides context and explains the relevance of the research in a way that is accessible to a broader audience, including admissions committee members who may not be experts in the specific area of research.

Summary: Customize your personal statement for each program you apply to, demonstrating your understanding of the program’s unique features and explaining why you would be a good fit. Avoid using a one-size-fits-all approach.

A generic statement lacks specificity and personalization, which can make it difficult for the admissions committee to understand your unique qualifications, interests, and fit for the program.

To avoid submitting a generic statement, you should:

Tailor your statement to the program: Demonstrate your understanding of the specific graduate program and its unique features, such as faculty, research opportunities, or curriculum. Explain why the program aligns with your academic and career goals.
Highlight your individual experiences: Share experiences, accomplishments, and insights that are unique to you and showcase your distinct background and perspective.
Demonstrate your passion: Convey your genuine enthusiasm for the program and your chosen field, using your own voice and experiences to express your motivations.
Research each program: Spend time researching each program you’re applying to, noting key aspects that attract you and set the program apart. Incorporate these findings into your statement to demonstrate your commitment and interest.

By avoiding a generic statement and creating a tailored, personalized personal statement, you can effectively convey your unique qualifications and demonstrate your genuine interest in the graduate program, which can significantly improve your chances of being accepted.

Let’s look at an example from a hypothetical applicant to graduate programs in creative writing, illustrating a generic statement (bad) and a tailored statement that addresses the specific program and institution (good).

Bad (generic statement):

“I have always loved writing and telling stories. Throughout my undergraduate studies, I have honed my writing skills through various workshops and classes. I am eager to pursue a graduate degree in creative writing to further develop my craft and become a successful author. I am confident that a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing will provide me with the tools and mentorship necessary to achieve my goals.”

This statement is generic and could apply to any creative writing program. It lacks specific details about the applicant’s interest in the particular program they are applying to and does not demonstrate an understanding of the program’s unique features.

Good (tailored statement):

“I am excited to apply to the Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing program at XYZ University because of its strong emphasis on the craft of writing and its interdisciplinary approach, which encourages collaboration between writers and artists in other fields. I am particularly drawn to the program’s distinguished faculty, whose work I have long admired, such as Professor Jane Doe, whose innovative storytelling techniques have inspired my own writing. Furthermore, the program’s commitment to fostering a supportive writing community and its annual Writer-in-Residence program make XYZ University an ideal environment for me to grow as a writer and make valuable connections within the literary world.”

This statement is tailored specifically to the creative writing program at XYZ University, demonstrating the applicant’s understanding of the program’s unique features and explaining why they would be a good fit. It shows that the applicant has done their research and is genuinely interested in the particular program and institution, which can make a stronger impression on the admissions committee.

Summary: Carefully read the instructions and make sure to address all required aspects in your statement. Tailor your personal statement to the specific program and institution you are applying to.

Failing to address the specific questions or guidelines provided by the program can create a negative impression and suggest that you’re not genuinely interested in the program or haven’t taken the time to understand its expectations.

To avoid ignoring the prompt or requirements, you should:

Carefully read and analyze the prompt: Make sure you understand what the program is asking for and address each aspect of the prompt in your statement. Take note of any specific topics, questions, or themes you need to cover.
Follow the guidelines: Pay close attention to any specific guidelines provided, such as word count, formatting, or submission instructions. Adhering to these guidelines demonstrates your attention to detail and respect for the application process.
Tailor your statement to the program: Customize your personal statement for each program you’re applying to, demonstrating your understanding of the program’s unique features and explaining why you’re a good fit. Avoid submitting a generic statement that could apply to any program.
Review and revise: After writing your personal statement, review it to ensure that you’ve addressed all aspects of the prompt and followed the guidelines. If necessary, make revisions to better align your statement with the program’s expectations.

By addressing the prompt and adhering to the requirements, you can demonstrate your genuine interest in the graduate program and showcase your ability to follow directions, which can significantly improve your chances of being accepted.

Let’s look at an example from a hypothetical applicant to a graduate program in urban planning, illustrating a statement that ignores the prompt or requirements (bad) and a statement that addresses the specific prompt and program (good).

Suppose the prompt asks applicants to discuss their reasons for pursuing a graduate degree in urban planning, their long-term career goals, and how the specific program they are applying to will help them achieve these goals.

Bad (ignoring prompt or requirements):

“My passion for urban planning began during my undergraduate studies in geography, where I learned about the complex relationships between cities and their natural environments. I conducted research on urban heat islands and their impact on energy consumption, and I presented my findings at a regional conference. I have also volunteered with a local non-profit organization focused on creating more sustainable urban spaces.”

This statement provides an overview of the applicant’s background and experiences but fails to address the specific requirements of the prompt. It does not discuss the applicant’s reasons for pursuing a graduate degree, long-term career goals, or how the specific program will help them achieve these goals.

Good (addressing prompt and requirements):

“I am eager to pursue a graduate degree in urban planning to develop innovative and sustainable solutions to contemporary urban challenges. My long-term career goal is to work as a consultant, helping cities implement policies and strategies to mitigate the impacts of climate change and enhance the quality of life for their residents. The urban planning program at XYZ University offers a unique focus on sustainable design and policy, which aligns with my career objectives. Moreover, the program’s strong connections to local government agencies and non-profit organizations will provide valuable networking and internship opportunities that will help me gain practical experience and advance my career.”

This statement directly addresses the prompt by discussing the applicant’s reasons for pursuing a graduate degree, their long-term career goals, and how the specific program at XYZ University will help them achieve these goals. It demonstrates a clear understanding of the program’s unique features and the applicant’s suitability for it.

Summary: Never copy or borrow content from other sources. Your personal statement should be an original piece of writing that reflects your own voice and experiences.

To avoid plagiarism, you should:

Write in your own words: Express your thoughts, ideas, and experiences using your unique voice and perspective. Resist the temptation to copy phrases or sentences from other sources or personal statements.
Attribute sources when necessary: If you mention a quote, statistic, or idea from someone else, make sure to give proper credit to the original source. This is not common in personal statements, but if needed, ensure you follow appropriate citation guidelines.
Be authentic: Be genuine in sharing your experiences, goals, and motivations. Plagiarism is not just about copying words; it also involves presenting someone else’s experiences or ideas as your own. Focus on what makes you unique as an applicant.
Use plagiarism detection tools: Before submitting your personal statement, run it through plagiarism detection software to ensure that you haven’t unintentionally copied content from other sources. This will help you identify any issues before submitting your application.

By avoiding plagiarism, you can ensure that your personal statement is an authentic representation of your experiences and aspirations, which can make a positive impression on the admissions committee and increase your chances of being accepted into the graduate program.

Summary: Thoroughly proofread and edit your personal statement to ensure it is free from grammatical errors, typos, or awkward phrasing. Consider asking someone else to review your work for additional feedback.

Grammatical, spelling, and punctuation mistakes can create a negative impression and detract from the professionalism of your application.

To proofread your personal statement effectively, you should:

Review your statement multiple times , checking for spelling, punctuation, and grammatical errors. Read it out loud, as this can help you catch mistakes you might miss when reading silently.
Use writing assistance tools , such as grammar checkers or spell checkers, to identify errors, but do not solely rely on them, as they may not catch every mistake.
Share your statement with a trusted friend, family member, or mentor who can provide feedback and help you identify any errors or inconsistencies in your writing.
Set your statement aside for a day or two and then revisit it with fresh eyes. This can help you spot errors and make improvements more effectively.

By carefully proofreading your personal statement, you can ensure that it is polished and free of errors, which can create a positive impression on the admissions committee and enhance your chances of being accepted into the graduate program.

A 7-point Framework for Things to Avoid in your Grad School Personal Statement

Based on the above key pitfalls that you should avoid in a grad school personal statement, now I will present a 7-point framework of the things that you should never do in your personal statement. By steering clear of these common pitfalls, you can create a powerful and persuasive statement that truly captures your strengths and ambitions, setting you on the path to success in your graduate studies.

Let’s break down each point to ensure that you have a thorough understanding of what they entail:

Being too general or vague: Stay specific and focused on your academic and research interests, relevant experiences, and specific goals.
Using clichés: Avoid overused phrases and sentiments; be original and authentic in expressing your motivations and experiences.
Providing a lengthy autobiography: Keep your statement concise, focusing on the most relevant experiences and qualifications pertaining to the graduate program.
Overemphasizing your weaknesses: Maintain a balanced perspective, addressing weaknesses strategically and emphasizing resilience and growth.
Being overly emotional or dramatic: Convey your passion without resorting to excessive emotion or drama; maintain a professional tone throughout your statement.
Excessive use of jargon: Use clear and concise language, providing context for technical terms, and balance technical knowledge with personal insights.
Submitting a generic statement: Tailor your statement to the specific graduate program, highlighting your unique experiences, and demonstrating your genuine interest.

By avoiding these common pitfalls in your personal statement, you can effectively showcase your qualifications, passion, and fit for the graduate program, increasing your chances of being accepted.

Here is a sample personal statement that was written by a grad school applicant to get admission into the JHU graduate program. Based on the 7-point framework, here’s how the personal statement rates:

Being too general or vague: The statement does a good job of being specific, detailing the writer’s personal experiences, research background, and motivations.

Using clichés: The statement mostly avoids clichés, but phrases like “staggering number of deaths” and “significant difference in the health of our society” could be rephrased to sound less generic.

Providing a lengthy autobiography: While the statement delves into the writer’s background and experiences, it could benefit from a tighter focus on relevant experiences and achievements that directly relate to the field of breast cancer research.

Overemphasizing your weaknesses: The statement does not dwell on weaknesses, which is a positive aspect.

Being overly emotional or dramatic: The statement opens with a personal story that has emotional resonance, but it does not become overly dramatic. However, some readers might perceive the narrative as slightly emotional, so it’s important to maintain a balanced tone throughout.

Excessive use of jargon: The statement avoids excessive jargon and technical terms, making it accessible to a wider audience.

Submitting a generic statement: The personal statement is tailored to the writer’s experiences and goals, focusing on breast cancer research. However, it could be improved by mentioning specific programs or institutions and explaining why they would be a good fit for the writer’s goals.

Overall, the personal statement is strong in its specificity, focus on relevant experiences, and avoidance of jargon. To improve, the writer might consider refining some phrasing to avoid clichés, focusing even more on experiences directly related to breast cancer research, and tailoring the statement to specific programs or institutions.

Here is a sample personal statement that was written by a grad school applicant to get admission into the education graduate program at TUFTS. Based on the 7-point framework, here’s how the personal statement rates:

Being too general or vague: The statement has a mix of specific experiences and general sentiments, which could be improved by providing more concrete examples of accomplishments and goals related to special education.

Vague: “I believe this will give me tranquility and a realm of my own.”

Improvement: Explain how providing access to education for the less fortunate will specifically contribute to your sense of fulfillment or purpose.

Using clichés: While there are some clichés (e.g., “count my blessings” and “wisdom lies in knowing what to do next”), the overall content is unique and personal. Reducing clichés and replacing them with original insights will further strengthen the statement.

Cliché: “Wisdom lies in knowing what to do next.”

Improvement: Provide a unique insight or lesson learned from your experiences that will guide your future actions.

Providing a lengthy autobiography: The statement covers a wide range of experiences, which can be a strength, but also risks becoming unfocused. Streamlining the narrative to focus on the most relevant experiences related to special education will improve clarity.

Irrelevant detail: “Last year, while ascending Adams peak during a voluntary AIESEC internship at Colombo University, Sri Lanka…”

Improvement: Focus on experiences directly related to special education and how they influenced your decision to pursue graduate studies in the field.

Overemphasizing your weaknesses: The statement doesn’t overemphasize weaknesses, although it could better highlight the author’s growth and resilience in the face of challenges.

Being overly emotional or dramatic: The statement occasionally leans into emotion and drama, particularly in the opening anecdote. The author could consider revising these sections to maintain a more consistent professional tone.

Dramatic: “How lucky I am to have everything on my plate.”

Improvement: Maintain a professional tone by stating how you acknowledge your privileges and want to use them to contribute positively to society.

Excessive use of jargon: Jargon is not an issue in this statement, as it uses clear language and avoids excessive technical terms.

Submitting a generic statement: The statement is personalized with unique experiences and goals. However, it would benefit from more specific details about the graduate program of interest and how it aligns with the author’s ambitions.

Generic: “I believe everyone has a share in shaping the world (no matter how small or big)…”

Improvement: Describe specific ways in which the graduate program will support your goals and enable you to contribute to the field of special education

Here is a sample personal statement that was written by a grad school applicant to get admission into the MSW program. Based on the 7-point framework, here’s how the personal statement rates:

Being too general or vague: This personal statement contains specific experiences, anecdotes, and examples that effectively demonstrate the applicant’s background, interests, and goals.

Using clichés: The statement mostly avoids clichés, presenting unique insights and experiences that make it stand out.

Providing a lengthy autobiography: The statement covers a wide range of experiences, but it is focused on the theme of gender, sexuality, and policy. The content is relevant and effectively demonstrates the applicant’s background and interest in the graduate program.

Overemphasizing your weaknesses: The statement does not overemphasize weaknesses. Instead, it showcases the author’s resilience and determination in the face of challenges.

Being overly emotional or dramatic: While some emotional elements are present, they are appropriate given the topic and contribute to the overall narrative.

Excessive use of jargon: The statement avoids excessive jargon and technical terms, making it accessible and easy to understand.

Submitting a generic statement: The statement is personalized and tailored to the applicant’s unique experiences and goals, effectively illustrating why they are a strong candidate for the graduate program.

In conclusion, crafting a powerful graduate school personal statement is an essential part of your application process. By avoiding these common pitfalls and adhering to the 7-point framework, you’ll be well on your way to creating a captivating and persuasive statement that showcases your strengths, passions, and goals.

Remember to stay focused, genuine, and professional in your writing, and always tailor your statement to the specific program you are applying to. With careful planning, self-reflection, and attention to detail, you’ll not only enhance your chances of securing a spot in your desired program but also embark on an exciting journey of self-discovery and personal growth.

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How to explain a low GPA in MBA application

Featured Expert: Hassan Awan, MBA

How to Explain Low GPA in MBA Application

Are you looking to find out how to explain a low GPA in MBA application? If you have learned how to get into an MBA program with low GPA , you will realize it isn’t an impossible task – you will just need to work a bit harder.

We will have a look at how you can leverage two main components of your MBA application – essays and interviews – to get accepted to your dream MBA program.

>> Want us to help you get accepted? Schedule a free strategy call here . <<

Article Contents 8 min read

What is low gpa vs competitive gpa.

When it comes to the top business schools – we’re talking about getting accepted to the likes of Harvard University and Kellogg Business School – a GPA score of 3.4 and below becomes a “low GPA.”

MBA admissions officers at these schools are looking for candidates who not only demonstrate originality, charisma, initiative, and grit necessary to become business titans, but also have what it takes to complete their intensive curriculum.

Although they primarily select candidates with high GPA scores, it is possible to get into an MBA program with a GPA of around 3.4 if the rest of your application is outstanding!

What application components can you use to address a low GPA?

Let us have a look at how to explain a low GPA in an MBA application using two methods: essays and MBA interview questions . It’s important to note that while we give several ideas of where and how to talk about your low grades, choose only 1 of these options. You do not want to mention and explain your low GPA in every single application component. This means that if you choose to briefly address your low grades in the MBA personal statement, do not do so in your cover letter or statement of purpose.

The first step you need to take is to take responsibility for your low GPA and admit your reasons for it being lower than average. There is nothing worse than dealing with someone who blames everyone else for their setbacks. It is only after admitting this fact that you can move on to remediating the problem. ","label":"Note","title":"Note"}]" code="tab1" template="BlogArticle">

One way you can offset a low GPA score is by scoring high on your GMAT or GRE exams. GPA and standardized test scores are usually reviewed in tandem, so a high score can compensate for a low GPA.

Have a look at the average GMAT scores of candidates accepted to your chosen schools. Make sure to score the same or higher on your test. According to the latest statistics, many of the top MBA programs accept candidates with a score of 724 and above. ","label":"Tip","title":"Tip"}]" code="tab2" template="BlogArticle">

As for which exam is better, the GMAT has always been considered to be the gold standard for the specific academic skills needed in graduate business schools. It is more expensive than a GRE and is offered in fewer locations worldwide.

Meanwhile, the GRE is considered the exam of choice for prospective graduate students of the arts and sciences. But, many top business schools say they want to diversify their applicant pool by accepting the GRE as an alternative in the admissions process.

Your MBA cover letter should tie together all of the pieces of your application, so the committee can get a clear picture of your overall qualifications for the program. Most importantly, your MBA cover letter must showcase right away that you are the perfect candidate for your chosen MBA program.

While your cover letter should not be solely focused on your low GPA, it can briefly mention any extenuating reasons your grades were jeopardized, such as an illness, a program change, or some other external circumstances. Remember not to play a victim. Instead, showcase what you did to overcome your setbacks. Example:

And while my grades suffered greatly at the end of my junior year of college due to my family's finical situation, I worked hard to complete that difficult year with an average of B- while working a part-time job to support myself and my younger sister.

Remember, a good cover letter won’t make up for a mediocre application packet, but it can still get the admissions committee on your side and make them want to look at the rest of your application.

This component of your MBA application is more important – when compared to other factors like your GPA and work experience. It is the one piece of application document where you can talk about who you are. It is basically where you get to answer the question “Tell us about yourself. Who are you?”

Talk about the details surrounding the cause and effect of your low GPA. Give the admissions committee a glimpse into what it was that made you fail, how you coped with the issue, and what you did to alleviate it. Once again, do not make this the focus on your statement, but briefly incorporate the setback that led to lower grades.

Most importantly, showcase how you emerged a stronger or wiser person from the experience. What steps did you take to get your grades up? What did you do to compensate for the lower GPA? What skills and lessons did you learn from the experience? Did you learn how to organize your time by buying a weekly planner? Did you learn how to ask for help and hired a tutor?

Showcase how thanks to the experience you are now the perfect candidate for the school. W Transform this setback into gains that will help you master the MBA too.

You can go through some MBA personal statement examples to get an idea of what to write in your version.

MBA statement of purpose

Your MBA statement of purpose (SOP) is a short essay of approximately 600 to 800 words. It is often a requirement for graduate school applications. It summarizes your intent behind applying to a particular university.

The SOP is a way for the admissions committee to understand more about you on a more personal level. Remember, they already have your accompanying documents to learn about your academic performance.

In the SOP, you can demonstrate that you are capable of attending and exceling in an MBA program despite your low GPA. Therefore, avoid blaming your college or professors for the low GPA. Instead, let them know about other achievements that can balance out the low score. Did you score exceptionally well on the GRE? Did you take additional certifications or courses after you graduated from college? Did you learn a new language? In other words, demonstrate what experience and knowledge you bring with you into the incoming class, what your colleagues can learn from you, and what you can contribute to the school’s on-campus culture.

Working on your statement of purpose? Check this out:

Most business schools ask for MBA admissions essays or MBA essay questions and answers as part of their application processes. And although they make them optional, you – as an MBA candidate with a low GPA score – should consider it as a critical component of your application where you can tell your side of your story.

You can use the essays to demonstrate your analytical and communication skills, which can definitely offset your low GPA score. Some MBA essay questions may directly ask you about setbacks, obstacles, and hardships you faced in your journey – use this as a chance to explain your low grades and how you compensated them via other avenues, like test scores, work experience, and so on!

To the Admissions Office at [INSERT SCHOOL NAME],

I would like to thank you for taking the time to consider my application. I know that the application process is extremely competitive and that each candidate is carefully considered as per their achievements.

I understand that grades and previous academic performance are important in the process of assessing the ability of an applicant to succeed in the challenging coursework and academic environment of an MBA program. My GPA may be lower than that of other applicants, but I believe that I can continue to succeed despite the setbacks that were the cause of my low grades.

I would like to explain this situation and my low GPA in the hopes that it can be considered as part of my application.

During my freshman year of college, my parents and I had just moved to this country. The language barrier was the biggest obstacle in my studies. Though I knew colloquial English, studying in English was a total novelty to me. I struggled with completing my assignments and exams, and therefore received very low grades in my first two years of college.

But, thankfully, one of my professors noted this fact and suggested that I participate in the university’s cultural club for newcomers like me. I found my passion there and also made new friends with similar interests. The club helped ease the process of integration by introducing me into an environment of volunteering at soup kitchens, participating in fundraising events, helping each other with homework or interview preparation, hosting networking events, and providing me with a lively and warm community to flourish in.

My grades began to improve immediately and, more importantly, I learned that it takes time, patience, and applying myself to make – and see – a change in myself as well as in others.

Ever since I have had an outstanding track record and achieved academic excellence – as you can see from my GMAT scores.

I hope that you will be able to understand my situation and also know that I have become wiser from this experience.

Thank you very much for your consideration and I hope I will become a part of the student body in your esteemed institution.

Just remember that if you think it doesn’t convey your story as well as you wish it would, you should find the best MBA essay consultant to help you create that perfect essay.

How to explain a low GPA in MBA during an interview

If you have a low GPA and are invited to an interview, this means that the admissions committee most likely does not mind your lower grades. This means that you must learn how to prepare for your MBA interview and get ready to answer some of the most common MBA interview questions. Be prepared to talk about your lower grades and any other potential red flags.

When asked about your lower grades, always be truthful but try to end your answer with how you have made up for lower academic performance. Mention your high GMAT or GRE score, discuss any additional training you have partaken in, and discuss your work awards or publications. Offset your bad grades with your achievements.

A lower GPA is not the end of your MBA dreams! Grades and scores are not the end all be all of the admissions. What the admissions committee wants to see, when it comes to your lower grades, is that you can take responsibility and remedy your mistakes with action. Use your MBA application components and the interview to show that you are a mature, responsible adult who can be accountable for past mistakes and setbacks. This will impress them more than an A+ on your academic essays and exams!

Yes, you can get an MBA with a low GPA. But, you will need to try harder than your fellow candidates to prove that you are worth that seat in the business school. The best way to do it is to leverage opportunities like essays and interviews.

The best strategy is to opt for a two-pronged attack: write a great essay and prepare to explain the gap in an interview. You should aim to explain in clear words – both written and spoken – how you have become a better person from the experience. The lessons, qualifications, and personal growth should be the core message you need to get across to the admissions committee.

Yes, make sure to check how many MBA recommendation letters are required by your schools of choice.

The best time to apply is during Round 1 of applications.

When applying for an MBA with a low GPA, you need to improve your chances of landing that seat by applying during the first round. That is when the business schools still have a lot of available spaces in their classes. They tend to accept more during the first rounds of applications than during the second or third rounds when the spaces are more scarce and they tend to lean towards the highest qualified candidates.

The best place to describe your volunteering and extracurricular activities is to include them in the personal statement or other admissions essays, as well as your MBA resume .

Yes, it can, but you need to remember that the admissions committee looks at your application as a whole. They don’t make their decisions on one set of qualifications or certifications. And so, the high GMAT or GRE scores will contribute to increasing your chances of getting that MBA seat as part of the total package that includes your essays, personal statements, resume, work experience, letters of recommendation, and the low GPA, of course.

The GMAT is an exam that was specifically designed for business school applicants. The GRE, meanwhile, is a test that can gain students admittance to graduate programs across almost all subjects – including the MBA.

Although traditionally the GMAT has taken precedence over the GRE you should research your business school of choice to find out if they have a preference or tradition of accepting one over the other.

Some leading universities – like the University of Massachusetts Boston – offer their MBA programs online. If you feel that an online degree program will help you meet your professional and personal goals you can choose to join a business school with an online program that will support your ambitions.

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4 Common UCAS Personal Statement Issues and How to Resolve Them

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The pressure is on, and it’s not helped by the fact that there are a few common problems making things more difficult for some students. We’ve previously given you some tips on how to write an effective personal statement , but in this article, we tackle some of the common issues head-on and show you how to make sure your personal statement still shines.

1. Writing a personal statement for a joint honours course

It’s notoriously tricky to write a personal statement for a joint honours course – that is, a course on which you study two different subjects. Those two subjects may be fairly similar – such as history and archaeology – in which case it should be fairly straightforward to talk about the two subjects and how they work effectively together. However, if the two subjects are very different – such as Birmingham’s Economics with Italian, or Oxford’s Computer Science and Philosophy – you face the challenge of trying to talk equally about your interests in both. It can be hard to know how to structure a personal statement that needs to cover two very different subjects, and it can also be difficult to explain your equal enthusiasm for both and how it came about. Many students writing joint honours personal statements end up talking too much about one and not enough about the other, or talking more naturally and enthusiastically about one than the other. The key points you need to get across when applying for a joint honours course are:

Your interest in both
Your aptitude for both, and what you’ve done to develop your interest in them
Why you want to study them together, and how the two might complement each other
How you see these two subjects fitting in with your longer-term aims

Rather than trying to talk about both at the same time, you might find it more straightforward to begin by talking about one subject, then the other, and then perhaps adding a line or two about why you think it would be beneficial to study them alongside each other. A slightly different way of doing it would be to talk about the first subject (what motivates you to study it, what aspects particularly interest you, and so on), and then discuss the second in relation to the first, immediately discussing why you think it complements the first and why you think a joint honours course is for you.

Image shows a laptop that someone is coding on.

To write an effective personal statement, you’ll need to make sure that you’re applying for the same combination of subjects at all your university choices. Your personal statement might sound great if you’re applying for Computer Science and Philosophy at University A, but it will make no sense to University B if you’re applying only for Philosophy. Alternatively, some students choose to write about just one of their joint honours subjects. This leaves them the flexibility to apply for different combinations of subjects, with one in common (such as English and French or English and Spanish). Approaching it this way has the advantage of allowing you to talk in more depth about the main subject; if you’re trying to talk about two subjects in a very limited amount of space, you may not be able to say everything you want to say. On the other hand, if you can show how keen you are on both subjects, and even talk about why you think it makes sense to study both, then your personal statement may come across stronger than that of a student who only talks about one subject, with no explanation as to why they have applied for the joint honours course rather than that one subject on its own.

2. Writing a personal statement for several subtly (or very) different courses

Image shows a scene from an Anglo-Saxon manuscript.

Unless you’re applying for a joint honours course, you’re not going to be able to choose two wildly different subjects, because your personal statement simply won’t work if you try to appeal to admissions tutors from different courses or departments. However, you can choose closely related subjects, and of course some courses are called different things at different universities and cover some different topics. The key here is to look for overlaps in the course content and talk about those. You’ll need to scrutinise the course content closely for each university and draw up a list of the topics that are covered by all of them. Don’t fall into the trap of stating your enthusiasm for studying a particular module if it’s not provided at all your university choices, because it will look odd to the universities who don’t cover it (and may be enough to lose you a potential offer). Avoid specifically naming any course in particular, as this is another dead giveaway to admissions tutors that another university may be your first choice. If you’re writing with your first choice university in mind, be careful that you don’t let slip any information that may reveal this; for example, if you know that the English course at your first-choice university places great emphasis on early English, but your other choices have less of a focus on this aspect, they may be able to tell that your heart lies elsewhere!

3. Explaining a bad grade (or many)

Whether it’s a below-par GCSE grade, or many, or a less-than-brilliant predicted A-level grade, or many, the ease with which you’ll be able to explain this shortfall on your personal statement depends very much on the circumstances surrounding it. Nevertheless, easy or not, it’s definitely worth acknowledging it in your personal statement, because the admissions tutor will have noticed – so it’s no use pretending it’s not the case and hoping they won’t notice. Let’s look at some of the possible reasons for low grades and consider each in turn.

Illness or family problems

Image shows a student asleep in a pile of cushions and duvets.

This may be a sensitive issue and it’s probably best not to dwell too much on in your personal statement; you don’t want to look as though you are angling for the ‘sympathy vote’. However, genuinely extenuating circumstances that explain a bad grade should be mentioned in passing, along with an explanation of what you’re doing to make up for it and, ideally, evidence to back up your claim that you’re trying to do better. For example, you might say something like: “Although my GCSE English grade was lower than I’d been aiming for due to my falling ill for several weeks during the term before exams, I’ve worked hard to make up for this at A-level, as you can see from my strong AS and predicted grades in this subject.” If you do have extenuating circumstances, your teachers will almost certainly mention them in your references , so you’ll have those to back up what you say. If you’re concerned about how your grades may look, talk to your teachers about it and remind them of the circumstances – this should jog their memory so that they remember to mention it in their references.

You didn’t work hard enough

This is clearly something you can’t admit to in your personal statement, as it will give a very poor impression to admissions tutors. It’s difficult to explain, though, and you may be at a disadvantage even if you’ve since got your act together and improved your grades ; there will be many other candidates whose grades are just as good as yours – and better than yours. You certainly can’t feign illness or personal problems as an excuse, because your personal statement then wouldn’t corroborate what your teachers say in your references, and that would arouse suspicion. Your best bet is to try to show what you’re doing to improve, rather than focusing on the reasons.

Image shows two students studying in the library together.

Acknowledge – briefly – that your grade(s) aren’t as good as you’d like, but tell them what you’re going to improve your forthcoming grades, and prove to them with your intelligent remarks in your personal statement that you are academically gifted. Explain that you’re taking on extra classes to bring your grades up to scratch, or that you’re reading around the subject even more in an effort to improve. Evidence of original thinking in your personal statement – for example, in your comments about what you’ve been reading – may be enough to counter the detrimental effect of a poor grade or grades. If you can provide some evidence that you’ve improved, even better; for instance, if your GCSE grade in Physics wasn’t as good as you were hoping for, but you’re predicted an A in A-level Physics, this is evidence that you are capable of doing better. Without this kind of evidence, you may find that it’s more difficult to win them over; but if the rest of your application is strong, you may just be able to do it.

You’re not academically up to it

This is the hardest reason to account for poor grades, because there isn’t really much you can do about it. If your grades are generally lower than the typical offers of universities you’re applying to, you should be questioning whether or not these universities are actually right for you. There’s nothing wrong with aiming high, within reason; but if you’re going to struggle academically, you’re probably not going to have a particularly enjoyable university experience. This is an issue that you should talk to your teachers about; you need a frank and objective opinion from someone who knows your academic standard. It’s a hard thing to face up to, but you’ll thank yourself in the long run.

4. Not enough extra-curricular activities

Many students worry that they don’t have enough extra-curricular activities to talk about on their personal statements. This needn’t necessarily be a hindrance to you, as personal statements are there primarily to assess your academic interest in and suitability for the subject for which you are applying. In fact, students often make the mistake of devoting too much of their personal statement to talking about extra-curricular activities, which is worse than not having enough to talk about. Hobbies are useful for showing that you’re a well-rounded person, and they’re especially helpful if they have some relevance to your course (for instance, you play in an orchestra and you’re applying to read Music), but for universities in the UK, they’re not the be all and end all that you may have heard they are (American universities may place more importance on them, however). You certainly don’t need a huge long list of them. Here are some of the things you could do about this if you really feel it’s an issue:

Devote more of your personal statement to talking about aspects of your A-level courses you’ve enjoyed.
Discuss books you’ve read on the subject, and perhaps towards the end mention what kind of books you enjoy reading in your spare time (they don’t have to be relevant to the course in the context of general comments about your hobbies).
Spend more time highlighting aspects of the subject that you’re most looking forward to learning more about, and why.
Talk about the extra-curricular things you’re planning for the summer: you don’t necessarily have to be doing them now. For example, “I’m planning to spend the summer developing my French skills whilst touring France”.
Take up a new extra-curricular activity right now! They don’t need to know that you’ve only just started it. If you are going to do this, you could score extra brownie points by making it something that not only demonstrates key attributes such as teamwork, but that also has some relevance to the course you’re applying for. It could even be a blog dedicated to something related to your subject.

These are four of the most common issues students encounter when writing personal statements, but as we’ve seen, there is almost always a way around them. If you’re in need of extra advice, don’t be afraid to seek the help of a teacher who knows you and your work. Personal circumstances have a big part to play in university applications (that’s why they’re called ‘personal’ statements!); although it may not seem like it, universities aren’t looking for a generic ‘cookie cutter’ student, and your personal statement probably isn’t as bad as you fear.

Image credits: banner ; flag ; coding ; Anglo-Saxon ; asleep ; studying ; parachute .

152. How Do I Explain the Bad Grades On My Transcript?

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It’s time to open the mailbag once again to answer YOUR questions.

First, we read a couple of emails from listeners who have put Hello PhD advice to work in their training, and they’re already starting to see the benefits.

Nadia writes:

Thank you so much for your podcast. I discovered Hello PhD at the beginning of the pandemic and have listened to every single episode since. I have learned a lot and it has changed my perspective about my program and supervisor tremendously. Since listening to Hello PhD I feel less lonely and feel like there is a light at the end of the tunnel. I have joined multiple student groups and other organizations to work on my soft skills.

Kudos to Nadia! We want everyone to realize: YOU ARE NOT ALONE! Whatever you’re going through, there are others just like you, struggling on parallel paths. Reaching out and telling your story is the only way those fellow travelers can be encouraged by your experience.

SciCom Opportunity

We also received a note from previous guest Dr. Mónica Feliú-Mójer, who chatted with us way back in Episode 92 . At the time, she talked about her work in science communication, and particularly her work with iBiology .

Well, that work has produced an opportunity for other scientists to improve their communication skills:

I wanted to share that iBiology has a new and improved courses platform and that you can now sign-up for “Share Your Research” , our free, self-paced course focused on effective communication to help you give a good research talk. I was one of the course directors for SYR. The course focuses on providing scientists with practical research communication advice and as you go through it, the course helps you build a plan to help you craft a good research talk. Feel free to share with trainees and colleagues.

Thanks Mónica! Consider it shared!

What is a Research Statement?

A listener shared this question about their application:

Could you do an episode on writing a research statement? I just stumbled upon this as a requirement for one of my applications and I don’t know where to start. I am not THAT deep into the subject, but I already included in my cover letter a brief summary of my latest research, why I want to do research and where I want to go with my research in the future and how this project would fit into that (very briefly). I don’t want to repeat what I wrote in my cover letter but I feel it is the same information.

Josh describes the expected elements of a research statement, and we attempt to untangle the types of information you’d want to include there, versus the more personal or motivational profile you might include in a cover letter.

No need to repeat yourself, just carve up the information and put it in its proper place.

How Do I Explain a Bad Semester?

Finally, we answer this email from Frances:

I am a first generation college student currently doing a Post Bac on a Diversity Supplement. I worry that my undergraduate grades will negatively impact my entire application. I know you both have mentioned how one bad grade in isolation won’t hold much weight, however what about a whole semester due to personal issues that could be explained? Would taking graduate level courses and doing well in them help show admission committees that I am capable of handling graduate level courses and my undergraduate performance was not indicative of my potential or is my past low performance detrimental to my application?

It’s a really common question – so Frances, you’re not the only person with a less than perfect transcript! We recommend addressing the ‘bad’ semester directly, in whatever detail you feel comfortable with.

Life happens to everyone, and the faculty reviewers understand that grades can suffer when you experience a trauma. Sometimes, that’s an extended illness, the death of a loved one, or a bad breakup. Mental health episodes are common and occur for many reasons, so do what you can to express that the circumstances were difficult, and you’re ready to move forward.

It can also be helpful to have your research mentors address the issue in their letters of recommendation. Having a faculty member acknowledge you may not have perfect grades, but you work hard and get results in the lab, will go a long way toward impressing the admissions committee.

Well, that’s it from the mailbag. Until next time, keep sending your thoughts, ideas, and questions to [email protected] . Let’s keep the conversation going!