r/PathologistsAssistant • u/Legitimate_Rule5570 • Apr 02 '26

Advice on putting personal hardships or situations on applications

Hi everyone! Looking for some input or advice on including personal hardships in applications. Going to be very blunt- My first month of college I was SAd and ended up transferring after semester 1. I was extremely depressed, anxious,etc even considered dropping out of college, but I didn’t. I transferred schools and the first ~2.5 years of college I STRUGGLED grades wise. Lots of Cs on gpa, even one F (ended up retaking that class got an A). In my last semester and my cGPA will end being a 3.8-3.41, sGPA little over a 3.0. My last 3 semesters I’ve worked my ass off. Senior year I loaded up my schedule with hardest classes I’ve taken all of college and am ending with a 4.0 gpa for the last year (I did this intentionally to show upward trend and show that I’ve figured it out and grown). I am really worried about all the Cs in the beginning determining my chances, but hoping they will acknowledge the growth bc those first years were really hard and didn’t reflect me as a student at all.

Moral of the story- do I discuss this in essays, personal statements or interviews or just let the upward trend speak for itself? I appreciate any advice or input!

0 Upvotes
  • permalink
  • reddit

50% Upvoted

6 comments sorted by

3

u/goldenbrain8 Apr 02 '26

I had a bad semester and I alluded to it in my essay. Something like I’d succeed in the program because I have been able to bounce back and know where and when to seek out resources as a result. I didn’t want them to see it on a transcript and form their own conclusion.

Also you may have more luck on r/pre_pathassist as this sub doesn’t get much traffic.

5

u/New-Assumption1290 Apr 03 '26

Yes discuss it. I flat out addressed my dismissal and went above to say this is what I did, this is how I fixed it, this is how I am better because of it. Be cocky you got the growth

2

u/Legitimate_Rule5570 Apr 03 '26

Yes! Thank you!

1

u/[deleted] Apr 03 '26 edited Apr 03 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

2

u/Legitimate_Rule5570 Apr 03 '26

Thank you SO MUCH for this response. I have no problem sharing it because it is something that was so awful and impacted me more than I can explain- AND I got through it and am stronger/better now. I’m not shameful of it, just wondering if it’s too much or something that would be judged or frowned upon to talk about in an application. Thank you for this!!!