<p>I'm applying to University of Iowa, and currently fall slightly below the Academic Index score of 100. I"m currently at 92, and Iowa has told me that if you fall between 90-99, they will look at your application under individual review. I'm to submit two teacher recs and a personal statement. What should I include in my personal statement?</p>
<p>Litlte about me: 3 varsity sports, GPA 2.3 freshman year, 3.5 senior year with 5 honors, distict vice president of club, organizing 5k run/walk, won some academic awards and more.</p>
<p>Just out of curiosity: why Iowa when you would be in-state for Illinois?</p>
<p>Sorry, I don't know what the Academic Index is. </p>
<p>However, your personal statement should include: why you want to go there and what you want to do either during college or afterwards (as well as you know; most students have not chosen a major or definite career path when they apply so that's okay - but if you do know, then be sure to describe that), and your accomplishments/why they should want you (not just a list of what you've done, but how what you've done highlights your most attractive personal qualities). </p>
<p>You also need to explain your low grades, but put this in a very positive tone and don't make the low grades the subject of the essay. You have a relatively good situation to work with, after all: while your early grades were bad, you showed improvement and ended up doing well. Was there a reason your early grades were poor? It would be great if there were a specific explanation for the problem (parents got divorced, you moved to a new school, sibling died, you were in the hospital for a length of time, etc.) but even without that you should be okay.</p>
<p>The rules for explaining past academic difficulties are:
-keep it positive at all times
-don't come across as blaming anyone else for the problems you encountered
-show how the problem is completely in the past. If you didn't take school seriously back then, show them how excited you are about it now. If you were depressed or addicted to some substance back then, explain how you overcame that obstacle and are now completely free of it. Etc.
-finish the description of the problem by turning to your hopes and plans for the future</p>