Brainstorming Questions to expect about Leave of Absence

[fakepseudonym]

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I didn't apply for residency during fourth year and am taking a leave of absence this year while I am applying for the match. I've read a lot on how to present this in the personal statement, MSPE and ERAS but talking about this in person is still a weakness in my otherwise decent application.

The reason I'm having difficulty is because it's ultimately a pretty personal and hard to explain situation. I was doing fine in school, I wasn't depressed or suffering any other medical condition and it eventually resolved. There were just events that happened last summer, around the time I needed to be planning my future, and they sapped me of the energy I needed to do anything beyond do well in rotations and keep myself fed.

I want to keep personal details off the internet, but here's a rough sketch; my mother was admitted to hospital for a flare up of a chronic condition, I moved in with her when she was discharged, I broke off a serious relationship, I had to call the police to finally stop contact from another person who had engaged in some persistent borderline stalker behavior over the last year. Another problem I have: no issue is really that significant reason to take a year off by itself. It's not like I found out a family member only had six months to live, it's not like I was got into a major car accident, its not like I got a divorce or had a miscarriage.

So I have a stock response that's along these lines: "Last year, there were a number of discrete events in my personal life that occurred within close proximity of each other that I wanted to give my attention to before committing to residency in medicine." But, I'm worried if a program director probes my reason for time off in depth, or asks me about it in an unexpected manner, that my stock response will seem overly vague or evasive. I'm not ashamed of anything that happened and I don't want to seem like I'm hiding a dark secret, but at the same time I don't want to go into detail because (a) who cares and (b) some of the stuff still bums me out and I get bummed when I talk about it.

So, I want help thinking of all the different, uncomfortable ways programs will probe me about this leave of absence. My goal, basically is just to avoid coming across as unprepared or caught unexpected by any random question that a PD might throw at me.

So, if you had a leave of absence what questions did you get during interviews? If you're an attending what questions might you pose? Try and be unexpected and uncomfortable as possible!

 

[fakepseudonym]

Some questions to expect that have already been suggested by advisers:

"Why did you take time off?"

"What are the personal events that you alluded to?"

"Why should we expect this won't happen again during residency?"

"What did you do during your year off?"

"This residency is far away from your mother/family, are you going to want to be close to her/them if there is another health event?"

 

[DrAwsome]

I didn't apply for residency during fourth year and am taking a leave of absence this year while I am applying for the match. I've read a lot on how to present this in the personal statement, MSPE and ERAS but talking about this in person is still a weakness in my otherwise decent application.

The reason I'm having difficulty is because it's ultimately a pretty personal and hard to explain situation. I was doing fine in school, I wasn't depressed or suffering any other medical condition and it eventually resolved. There were just events that happened last summer, around the time I needed to be planning my future, and they sapped me of the energy I needed to do anything beyond do well in rotations and keep myself fed.

I want to keep personal details off the internet, but here's a rough sketch; my mother was admitted to hospital for a flare up of a chronic condition, I moved in with her when she was discharged, I broke off a serious relationship, I had to call the police to finally stop contact from another person who had engaged in some persistent borderline stalker behavior over the last year. Another problem I have: no issue is really that significant reason to take a year off by itself. It's not like I found out a family member only had six months to live, it's not like I was got into a major car accident, its not like I got a divorce or had a miscarriage.

So I have a stock response that's along these lines: "Last year, there were a number of discrete events in my personal life that occurred within close proximity of each other that I wanted to give my attention to before committing to residency in medicine." But, I'm worried if a program director probes my reason for time off in depth, or asks me about it in an unexpected manner, that my stock response will seem overly vague or evasive. I'm not ashamed of anything that happened and I don't want to seem like I'm hiding a dark secret, but at the same time I don't want to go into detail because (a) who cares and (b) some of the stuff still bums me out and I get bummed when I talk about it.

So, I want help thinking of all the different, uncomfortable ways programs will probe me about this leave of absence. My goal, basically is just to avoid coming across as unprepared or caught unexpected by any random question that a PD might throw at me.

So, if you had a leave of absence what questions did you get during interviews? If you're an attending what questions might you pose? Try and be unexpected and uncomfortable as possible!

I know my response is not exactly what you asked, but figured that I'd suggest that if you have an otherwise decent application, I would not worry about it too much. I personally took some time and it was not a big deal and I did two of the most competitive residencies out there. I would try to not dwell on it too much. While they may ask you why, if you have a decent explanation I think it should be fine. I certainly would not go into it in depth. Btw-what specialty are you going into?

 

[NotAProgDirector]

I'll agree with the above -- I think you're worried more about this than is necessary.

Most of the above questions are really not legal to ask, other than "what did you do with your year off?". That doesn't mean that they are not going to be asked, but they shouldn't.

I would recommend being open and honest about your reasons. Taking a year off to help a family member with a chronic illness is a GREAT explanation. The relationship issue is perhaps a bit TMI, but is also fine. You are downplaying these as less important that someone with a fatal illness, divorce, etc, but really if it meant that much to you, it wasn't.

The question I would ask you is: "What did you learn about yourself from these experiences?"