Reapplying - Surveying

Hi,

I'm about to apply (late) for Quantity Surveying but am really struggling to finish my PS...

Originally I applied to study Business and Accounting at Edinburgh. I had reasonable grades at Higher (AAABB) and received an unconditional offer. I scraped by first year with passes but after 2nd year I didn't have good enough grades to get in the honours course so I asked if I could take 2 of the required courses in 3rd year to achieve these grades. However I failed them both so I took 2 more in the second semester but failed them also. The university then put me into the normal BA course (which would normally be year 3 but as I had wasted a year trying to get onto honours I was on my 4th year at uni). I passed and failed some subjects in my final year and ended up with a Diploma of Higher Education instead of the BA.

I don't even have a good reason for all my poor grades. I didn't go to lectures and I didn't try. I know if I worked hard I could get decent grades. I think I just got stuck in a rut. I wasn't interested in the course but didn't do anything about it as I didn't know what to do. I'm quite an indecisive person and didn't really know what I wanted to do before. I don't know if I should say that in my statement though when I'm trying to show that I've got a stong interest in property and surveying!?

I really don't know how to explain this all in my PS. I know it looks very poor being at uni for 4 years and only having this to show for it. Especially when it only takes 2 years to get a diploma. I have to mention all the courses taken on my application, I don't want to look like I'm hiding anything. There are a few fails in there and a few B's. I've got really depressed at times but don't know if it would be sensible to mention that. I never went to the dr so wouldn't have any dr notes or anything to back it up and they might wonder why I didn't mention it to the uni. As I didn't go to lectures I didn't know anyone in my course so that also contributed to me not wanting to go to lectures. I felt quite alone.

Does anyone have any tips on how to explian my situation in a positive, concise way!? I don't think 'personal reasons' would be enough to justify those 4 years.

Surveying doesn't seem to be that popular so hoping there'll be some spaces left!

Thanks very much,
Vicki x

PS. I've also posted in the PS ask an assisant bit but I wanted ur opinions too