question re: grad school personal statement
I'm hoping that the wise ladies of TE can help me with a dilemma that I'm having regarding my graduate school personal statement.
One of the questions that is to be answered as part of my personal statement is: "Are there any special circumstances related to your academic record that you feel we should know about?" The answer is most definitely yes, having been diagnosed with a chronic illness as a college freshman. However, during my professional career, I've made a point of not openly drawing attention to it, especially during the application and interview process. I'm willing to talk about it, and don't go out of my way to be secretive, but I don't want it to be the first thing that potential employers and co-workers know about me.
So what would you do? I have to address it on some level, considering how rotten my undergraduate record is those first couple of years. The second half of my record is much better and, IMO, a testament to my hard work and deidication in digging out of that academic hole. But I'm not looking for pity, and I don't want to be seen as "different".
Thanks in advance for your wisdom and insight.
Advice from a former college prof
I would absolutely address it.
Grad school is a test in perseverance as much as anything. And an admissions committee has no way to interpret your past academic performance unless you give them information. Without explanation the committee may assume you lack the academic rigor to make it through their program.
No need to give explicit details about the illness itself (you could even just refer to it as “a serious chronic illness”), but mention it as a means by which to explain the stressors that impacted your academic performance, with emphasis (as you already intended) on evidence of current passions, skills and successes.
Good luck!