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Istrata said:

Hello,

Over two years ago I was diagnosed with cancer that has a poor prognosis. It doesn't go away and there is no remission. If I got in to medical school there is a chance I wouldn't graduate. However, there are long term survivors and I plan to be one of them. It will certainly not stop me from pursuing my dreams.

Should this information be disclosed at all and if so, what is your opinion on the timing? PS, Interview, or Post-Acceptance? This is my first time applying so are we expected to disclose this type of information (I haven't found anything that affirms this but you never know).

The reason I bring this up is honestly if I do have a recurrence I want whatever institution I'm attending to be supportive and understanding rather than feeling like they got stabbed in the back and I'm "wasting" one of their precious spots in the med. class. The latter is obviously somewhere I do not want to be, but it's hard to estimate their potential reaction short of just asking the question point blank. I appreciate your input.

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First of all, I admire the hell out of you for pursuing your dreams in spite of your circumstances. If I were you, I'd address your condition off the bat in your personal statement so they're aware from the get go. They're more than likely going to then bring it up in the interview, which is your chance to let your personality and optimism shine through and fully win them over. I'd also recommend applying to a smaller school where you really get the feeling they'll take care of you from the interview and your visits. Best of luck to you and mad kudos 🙂

You've got serious determination. As someone who can understand what cancer is like first hand, I think you should continue doing what you're doing.

This experience has no doubt changed your life. So you should make a point of discussing it, in your motivation to pursue medicine.

I don't want to be the one to discourage you OP, but if there is a good chance you won't graduate or practice, you're hindering medicine and patient care by taking the spot from someone that will actually live to practice. Please reconsider doing medicine for selfish reasons. Even if a school is "supportive," it still falls on you to evaluate what you're doing for the future of medicine and potential patients in a country where there is a shortage.

I think you should cast up the LizzyM beacon for this one. You know she will be frank with you and give you good advice. I'm sure it's come up in the past. Personally, I think life holds no promises of tomorrow for any of us, so I think it is wise of you to follow your dreams. You can't live on the what if premise, just on the I'm here today and I will pursue my goals to the fullest. You have a lot to add to a medical school class. I think another possible way to approach it would be through the diversity essays most schools require, or overcoming adversity, etc. I would value your experience if you were in my class- as your perspective as a young person having gone through cancer treatment offers a lot to all.

no beans said:

I think you should cast up the LizzyM beacon for this one. You know she will be frank with you and give you good advice. I'm sure it's come up in the past. Personally, I think life holds no promises of tomorrow for any of us, so I think it is wise of you to follow your dreams. You can't live on the what if premise, just on the I'm here today and I will pursue my goals to the fullest. You have a lot to add to a medical school class. I think another possible way to approach it would be through the diversity essays most schools require, or overcoming adversity, etc. I would value your experience if you were in my class- as your perspective as a young person having gone through cancer treatment offers a lot to all.

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While I do believe the OP would add to the diversity, I think your other point is self-defeated. You are living in the "what if" scenario despite there being a poor prognosis. You buy lottery tickets every week expecting to win, don't you?

OP, I would not recommend mentioning this in your application or in the interviews unless it is the sole reason you are seeking a career in medicine. If you must mention it, call it a "chronic illness" or just "cancer" but do not provide any details.

First, your health history is none of our business. Our only concern should be that you meet the technical requirements for admission (ability to perform key functions). You will not be asked to provide any health information until you are ready to matriculate and then the bulk of the information is about vaccinations, etc.

Second, almost all medical schools are affiliated with teriary care centers, big referral hospitals that see the cases that couldn't be handled by local practitioners. So, many of the patients treated at med school med centers are at the far end of the spectrum (really sick) and this tends to make practitioners (the bulk of the adcom) a bit biased when it comes to how they view various illnesses. (it's called spectrum bias). You don't need that bias on top of everything else.

Medical schools are in the business of graduating matriculants, so they will work with you so that you can graduate. If this means a leave of absence for treatment, that will happen. If it means repeating a year because you missed too many classes to do well on the exams, you'll be allowed to repeat the year. That would be something to work out when the time comes (if you get sick) just as anyone who was sick for the first time would do.

If you need anything more, just call my name.

LizzyM said:

OP, I would not recommend mentioning this in your application or in the interviews unless it is the sole reason you are seeking a career in medicine. If you must mention it, call it a "chronic illness" or just "cancer" but do not provide any details.

First, your health history is none of our business. Our only concern should be that you meet the technical requirements for admission (ability to perform key functions). You will not be asked to provide any health information until you are ready to matriculate and then the bulk of the information is about vaccinations, etc.

Second, almost all medical schools are affiliated with teriary care centers, big referral hospitals that see the cases that couldn't be handled by local practitioners. So, many of the patients treated at med school med centers are at the far end of the spectrum (really sick) and this tends to make practitioners (the bulk of the adcom) a bit biased when it comes to how they view various illnesses. (it's called spectrum bias). You don't need that bias on top of everything else.

Medical schools are in the business of graduating matriculants, so they will work with you so that you can graduate. If this means a leave of absence for treatment, that will happen. If it means repeating a year because you missed to many classes to do well on the exams, you'll be allowed to repeat the year. That would be something to work out when the time comes (if you get sick) just as anyone who was sick for the first time would do.

If you need anything more, just call my name.

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LizzyM, I love you. Seriously. You don't have to hang around here and give out these amazing pieces of advice. But, you do. Just wanted to say thank you on behalf of SDN in case you haven't been thanked today. 🙂

TriagePreMed said:

I don't want to be the one to discourage you OP, but if there is a good chance you won't graduate or practice, you're hindering medicine and patient care by taking the spot from someone that will actually live to practice. Please reconsider doing medicine for selfish reasons. Even if a school is "supportive," it still falls on you to evaluate what you're doing for the future of medicine and potential patients in a country where there is a shortage.

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I agree, Medicine is ultimately about the patient population--It's an altruistic profession. What would happen to the debt if you passed?

LizzyM, like CodeBlu, I'd like to thank-you also for the time and heart you give to helping us day in and day out. I hope you know how much it is appreciated.

Istrata, I would urge you to heed LizzyM's advice. She provides an experienced insider's view to how it could work against you. This is obviously something you feel deeply about, but you have to weigh if divulging, having a good story and standing out is worth possibly giving away all chances of making your dream come true.

Istrata said:

Thank you for your reply LizzyM and your honesty.

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Please explain to me why you posted about being accepted at Tulane a year ago. Were you lying then or are you lying now?

I don't like being played for a fool.

Istrata said:

Actually neither. My fiancee last used this account over a year ago (who is now a second year at Tulane) and rather than just make a new one I just took over hers. Sorry for making you feel like a fool but if you look at the post history there is a significant gap in the dates with earlier posts being about interviews/acceptances and the later (11 months after) being about taking the MCAT and writing personal statements.

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Just make your own account. It's free. It seemed odd that someone who was rejoicing over an offer at Tulane a year ago was now writing about taking the MCAT. Just seemed trollish.

Don't use someone else's account!