bdfhjl

I'm a high school junior and my first semester I had an awful GPA of 2.5 uw! My other semesters I averaged at 3.5uw. I've been thinking of writing an essay based on why I got that grade to explain myself.
At the beginning of the year my mother advised me to go see a psychologist ( It was just because we were getting into small arguments and she over analysed the situation figuring their must be something wrong) Anyway I did and after the first session my psychologist said I had OCD so I was put on all this prozac which just made me apathetic and lack any energy for school.
By the time I quit the medicatoin the semester was coming to a close and their would be no recovery for my grades. I'm doing far better now with all A's and just one B.
My question is, if the question fits this idea for an essay would this be an okay topic. If you were a college admissions officer would this just sound like a dumb kid trying to make an excuse for bad grades? because I would hate to sound like that.

ADad

You could allow your GC to explain in his/her letter.

You could explain by submitting a supplemental statement.

I would not recommend using your personal essay to delve into this. The point of the personal essay is to let them find out more about you, about what sets you apart from other applicants. Using that precious opportunity to draw attention to, and explain, a semester of bad grades would not be advisable imo.

For good advice on essays, see

U.Va. Office of Admission Essays

bdfhjl

Thank you, if I did the supplemental statement would I need any other person to write something or sign it, because I feel like it sounds like I'm making an excuse if I just write that.

ADad

You would not need someone else to sign it. Your GC could confirm it in his/her letter.

What do you see as the difference between an "excuse" and an "explanation"?

bdfhjl

I guess it would be an excuse, but I mean, I feel like they would think I was making it up, or that I'm not taking responsibility for the grades I got.

ADad

Suppose that you broke your leg and could not participate in gym. Would you think of the note about it to be an "excuse" or an "explanation"?

hewey

The note would provide an explanation as to why he/she couldn't participate in gym.

An excuse is generally seen as an attempt to lessen or wipe out the blame or responsibility attached to a fault. An explanation is used for clarification where an excuse is used as a form of defense, most often when being accused of a wrongdoing and an honest explanation cannot be provided.

SkyHigh

Explanation for your bad grades shouldn't be in your essay. I agree with the people above me.

hewey

The essay should be conveying who you are as a person. Aside from perhaps linking it to one of your EC's it shouldn't have anything to do with your stats. When they pick up your essay they want to learn about YOU, not why your grade was so low in this year compared to that one.