7 year old daughter

[natroncb]

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I am in dental school. I post occasionally in the dental forum. My wife is planning on medical school once I finish (about the same time she finishes undergrad). We are PA residence. We have a 7 year old daughter that my wife raised. She took her first 60 credits over 3 1/2 years (my daughter was 3-5 years old)... since, she has taken a full load each semester. We are only having ONE child. I will work flexable hours so I can be there for my daughter.

My questions:
1. will the fact that she did not go full time during the first 60 credits be a problem when she applies?

2. is it a bad idea to state in a personal statement that she stayed home for the first couple of years to raise our daughter? Maybe the adcoms will think she is too devoted to her family and will have a hard time with the demands of medicine?

3. Could we actually use this experience to her advantage and make her stand out!??!

Thanks

 

[DrMom]

1. Shouldn't make a difference b/c she has semesters of a full load

2. If this matters to a particular school, she doesn't want to attend there. There are many places that'd see parenting experience as a non-issue or even as a plus.

3. Anything that makes an applicant different from the masses can be helpful. Find a way to make it look good to them

I started med school when my daughter was 7. I was very clear that I had been a SAHM up to that point, doing any schoolwork or regular work on a very part-time basis. I never got any flack for that.

 

[Jaguar]

I applied to school when my children were 3, 5, and 7. I had been a SAHM with them for about 7 years, with a totally non-medical career prior to that. I did do some consulting during my SAHM years, and the last two years before applying I went back to school to take sciences. But I was upfront with them that I had felt it was most important for me to have stayed at home with them for the majority of those 7 years, to get them "grounded and give them a good start in life". I don't think anyone in the medical field could argue against someone making that choice.

Good luck and keep us posted.

 

[natroncb]

It is refreshing to hear others have similar experiences. I will take your advice to my wife. Thanks!

 

[sistahnik]

I think that your family circumstance shows a level of commitment from your wife. I believe every doctor should possess this quality and more. If a committee looks at this as negative, then I would question what type of person they are looking for anyway. If she was able to put her career goals on hold and let you finish your program while raising your daughter, she is what I consider to be selfless. I hope that everything works out for you all and good luck to both of you on your careers. 😍