2nd leave of absence - any chance of still matching?

[hopeful_IM]

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[hopeful_IM]

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[minheasy]

bump, any input would be appreciated including advice regarding how program directors view a medical leave of absence (do they even bother interviewing applicants with one).

1) what if I tell you that a PD don’t interview applicants with LoA, would you stop med school altogether??? The answer should be NO because
2) One PD’s opinion can vastly differ from another PD, whether same specialty or not. Some look at LoA as an obstacle and wanna know how the applicant persevere. Others will see your LoA and immediately reject you.
3) you were correct by saying that there’s much to your applications to be completed. Do well on your steps and we go from there. Asking for PD’s attitude toward LoA now will not change your gameplan, which is to do as well as you can up until residency applications time.
Good luck. Keep working hard.

 

[NotAProgDirector]

As mentioned in the post above, there isn't going to be a single answer. A medical LOA is usually not a huge deal, especially if it's for an acute issue that's resolved. PD's might be concerned about an illness with frequent recurrences, or something that might require marked accommodations. Theoretically it's illegal to consider things like this, but it happens. You don't have to disclose the nature of your illness in your application, but people may infer their own interpretation.

The LOA for academic issues is a problem that some programs will overlook, and others won't. It's not the LOA -- it's the academic issues.

The biggest predictor of how you'll do in the match would be your future performance. Put this behind you, score well on the USMLE, do well on your clinicals, and many programs may see this as "a thing in the past". Struggle with any of those and your story suggests ongoing problems which programs may want to avoid.

 

[NotAProgDirector]

It' similar. Some programs will simply disqualify you because of it. Others will see an improved performance and not worry. Continue on the same path, and there could be problems. It's not the end of your career, esp if you can turn it around.