How Do You Explain Poor Grades In A Personal Statement?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Start this paragraph with a positive (reminding the reader of the candidate’s dedication to the PA profession). Then,

sneakily slip in the “bad stuff”

…the low grades. Give reasons for the grades without making excuses, and discuss how the grades were improved.

How do you explain low grades in statement of purpose?

Another way to explain your low GPA in the personal statement can be

related to financial problems

. For example, you had to study and work at the same time to make ends meet. In trying to do so, you were not able to entirely focus on your studies, and this would go in your favor.

How do you explain a bad grade?

  1. Something you could say is “I had a hard time understanding the material,” or “I didn’t study for the test, which led to me doing poorly on it.”
  2. Be honest with yourself about why you made a bad grade. …
  3. If accurate, tell them about how you know you should have studied more.

How do you explain a low GPA?

On your resume, rather than listing your overall GPA,

list your GPA in your major instead

– if it’s considerably higher. For instance: “3.5 GPA in accounting coursework.” Or, if you had a low GPA the last year of college, but higher ones in the earlier years, than put the average over your four years in school.

How do you justify bad grades?

Do explain when a drop in grades is because of extreme hardship: You shouldn’t hesitate to mention if

your grades are lower

because of extraordinary circumstances, such as needing to work part time because a parent lost a job, experts say.

Do grades show how smart you are?


While grades don’t show how smart someone is

, they still play a huge factor in many aspects of a person’s life, such as what colleges they can get into and what their GPA is. However, grades have nothing to do with how smart a person is.

Is AA a bad grade?

Some students view an a

minus grade

as a near miss from a perfect score. Some students think an A minus is a bad grade, while others are pleased with it. … In some schools, though this is not always the case, an A minus lowers the overall grade point value of a grade, making it count for less than four points.

Does low GPA ruin your life?


A low GPA doesn’t necessarily ruin your future

, and you can pull bad grades up with hard work. However, a very low GPA can have serious consequences both for your academic life and after graduation.

Is a GPA of 1.0 good?

Is a 1.0 GPA Good? Considering the US national average GPA is a 3.0, a 1.0 is far below average. Generally,

a 1.0 is considered a dismal GPA

. Raising a 1.0 GPA to an acceptable number is extremely difficult, but possible with diligence and determination.

Is a GPA of 2.7 good?

Is a 2.7 GPA good? This GPA means that you’ve

earned an average grade of a B- across all of your classes

. Since a 2.7 GPA is lower than the national average of 3.0 for high school students, it will limit your options for college. … You have a low chance of getting into with a 2.7 GPA.

Should you talk about grades in a personal statement?

The Princeton Review in “Topics to Avoid on Your Personal Statement” advises prospective law students

not to write

about low test scores or grades, “A low LSAT score speaks for itself. … Being a bad test-taker is not a good start to a successful law school career, so it’s not a point you should hammer home.”

How do you explain a bad GPA in an interview?

On your resume, rather than listing your overall GPA,

list your GPA in your major instead

– if it’s considerably higher. For instance: “3.5 GPA in accounting coursework.” Or, if you had a low GPA the last year of college, but higher ones in the earlier years, than put the average over your four years in school.

Do grades really matter in life?


Grades do matter

. There may be flaws in many grading systems, sometimes in the education system itself, but letters and numbers do still hold value. It may be a tough truth to swallow, but you’re only hurting yourself if you pretend like grades don’t matter.

Why am I smart but get bad grades?

In some cases,

when students aren’t challenged enough by the material it can actually lead to poor grades

. If your child isn’t being challenged enough, he or she may find class boring. … Some students simply don’t test well, no matter how smart they are. Many of these students suffer from what’s called test anxiety.

Carlos Perez
Author
Carlos Perez
Carlos Perez is an education expert and teacher with over 20 years of experience working with youth. He holds a degree in education and has taught in both public and private schools, as well as in community-based organizations. Carlos is passionate about empowering young people and helping them reach their full potential through education and mentorship.