Two extra years - how do I address this?

[Primula]

Hello everybody.

I've already read topics about how people should not make excuses when they have low GPA or lack of research experience. But I think that my situation is a bit different. It took me five years to finish my Bachelor degree, instead of three years. And I've received pretty miserable marks (except for final exams).

I cannot put in my CV anything (at least a little) explanatory, like a big research project or valuable work experience. I actually don't want to make any excuses or explain anything, but I think that it's just too unusual and should be addressed somehow. Or not?

The real story is incredibly whiny - drug addicted sibling in the same household, no financial support from parents (to move to some other place without having to work too much), no student loans in my country (because parents are obliged to support you). Yes, I do know that many people managed to study and work at the same time and were just fine, so I know it's no real excuse, I'm just giving you the background. Obviously I don't have the highest EQ ever, because for three years parents kept promising me how they are going to put the troubling sibling in the rehab / boarding school / anywhere (simply away) at the end of the semestr... okay, the next one... okay, the next one, and I believed them.

There was too much attendance in the school, and I thought my issue is just temporary, so I refused to sign up for easier courses with less attendancce and / or less studying required. Stupid, I know. Then I decided to take Master degree in bioinformatics (finally seeing that the issue is NOT temporary), just because the work would be flexible and I would be able to do some part time job. Well bioinformatics are pretty terrible, I did not finish the thesis, took several months off the school (thought about never coming back at the moment), but then a new law was passed and I was able to get a loan, so I wrote a good thesis on physiological topic & applied for Master in physiology (which is pretty time-consuming) and since then everything was okay. Maybe I could mention that I wasted time trying the wrong specialization? Though that would be a lie, but it would make some sense. One school advisor thinks maybe I should put in something about taking care of a sick relative, stating that alcoholism and drug addiction are diseases, so what. I don't like this one, and it's definitely a lie.

FYI: everything went smooth during my Master studies, top marks on everything so far, nice project, lot of results, maybe publication during summer 2013. Also, I'm Eastern European and applying for Western European schools.

Shall I just leave it as it is, unusually long studies, no comment? Put some note about "family issues" somewhere (where?)? Mention that "I wanted to give up my studies due to family difficulties, but then I realized that..."? Write something about the mistake with bioinformatics? Ask professor to put something in the LoR? I don't know what is best, and career advisors are undecided as well. Any ideas appreciated.

[iowaguy]

I personally wouldn't mention "family issues". I would just ignore it. It is what it is, if you mention it & try to explain it away it might just draw more attention to it & raise a red flag IMHO... You say you have good marks and a nice project so just focus on your strengths...