Diagnosed with major depression and anxiety - how will this affect admissions?

[pduckworth]

I was recently diagnosed with major depression and severe anxiety. This isn't anything too new to me; the same thing happened about eight years ago. Part of my anxiety left me unable to leave my apartment for about a month due to an overwhelming fear of the unknown. Obviously, this affected my class performance. With the help of my family, I have been seeing a psychologist and a psychiatrist. I've been on antidepressants for a few weeks now and am noticing improvement in my mood. My highs aren't any higher, but my lows aren't as low as they used to be. Because of this, I have been able to salvage of my classes, but a couple of them are just not happening.

Earlier this semester, I was faced with getting: F, F, C, B, and A. Now I am looking at getting: F/D, C+/B-, B, B, and A. Clearly, I've tried to improve. However, I know that my GPA will take a hit and will go down to approximately a 3.5. This leaves me very concerned about applying to dental schools next year. I'm going to try and work with my university to do grade forgiveness, but I know that these grades will forever be on my transcript.

Honestly, this makes me feel like total and complete **** (for a lack of a better term). I'm constantly panicking and have no idea what to do. Tomorrow I'll be meeting with my advisor and I'm so scared to tell him what happened because I did so well all of my other semesters in school.

Will any schools take this into consideration? Especially if I am able to really pull things together and get good grades again next semester? I haven't taken the DAT yet. I was supposed to in January, but obviously that isn't happening right now. I was studying during summer and doing pretty well on my practice exams (scoring mid20s). At this point, what do I even do?

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[Candypaint]

I believe you should keep your depression/anxiety your little secret from the adcoms. Its hard enough to get into any professional school for people who don't have a history of depression. The adcoms want people who they believe can handle the stresses that come with dental school. So, naturally, telling them that you have an issue with anxiety isn't going to be beneficial for you. Keep in mind, schools want their students to be happy and positive; therefore, its best to acknowledge your positive attributes and experiences rather than focusing on the negative.
Also, a 3.5 is definitely not going to break you as far as getting in. Keep up the hard work and it will pay off.

 

[pduckworth]

I believe you should keep your depression/anxiety your little secret from the adcoms. Its hard enough to get into any professional school for people who don't have a history of depression. The adcoms want people who they believe can handle the stresses that come with dental school. So, naturally, telling them that you have an issue with anxiety isn't going to be beneficial for you. Keep in mind, schools want their students to be happy and positive; therefore, its best to acknowledge your positive attributes and experiences rather than focusing on the negative.
Also, a 3.5 is definitely not going to break you as far as getting in. Keep up the hard work and it will pay off.

Fair enough. Would I ever be asked why I randomly had such a bad semester? If so, what would I ever say? I don't want to lie, but I don't want them to think I am mentally incapable of handling dental school.

 

[RickCo]

Fair enough. Would I ever be asked why I randomly had such a bad semester? If so, what would I ever say? I don't want to lie, but I don't want them to think I am mentally incapable of handling dental school.

Just say you were going through a whole truck load of personal stuff that semester, and as such, your grades suffered. Say it in such a way that it's clear you don't want to elaborate. I'd be very surprised if anyone asked you to do so.

If your grades swing back up (since they were obviously good to begin with, at a 3.5), the adcoms likely won't bat an eye. Nail the DAT, and you're good to go. Good luck to you.

 

[pduckworth]

Just say you were going through a whole truck load of personal stuff that semester, and as such, your grades suffered. Say it in such a way that it's clear you don't want to elaborate. I'd be very surprised if anyone asked you to do so.

If your grades swing back up (since they were obviously good to begin with, at a 3.5), the adcoms likely won't bat an eye. Nail the DAT, and you're good to go. Good luck to you.

Great, thank you! That was so encouraging to hear. I had a friend get asked to explain all of his grades that were a C+ or lower when he was interviewing for medical school, so I'm not entirely sure if that is common thing for medical or dental schools or not.

My GPA now is a 3.7 (before this semester is factored in). I kept my leadership positions on campus and the other organizations, such as my sorority, that I was involved in. However, I had to quit my job and left my volunteer work because the thought of driving sent me into panic attacks (I drove again for the first time yesterday!) Hopefully I can start again fresh in January and adcom won't care too much about this semester. /sigh of relief.

 

[predent12]

Remember, it's okay to struggle. In fact, schools often ask about a time that you faced a challenge and how you overcame it. So what is more important is how you recover.

You shouldn't be embarrassed or upset with yourself. Frankly, it's amazing that you have accomplished what you have. There are many people out there who struggle with depression but don't do anything about it. The fact that you are being proactive shows amazing tenacity in the face of hardship.

Frankly, it's no one's business but your own. You have time to think of a way to word it if asked about this during interviews- you don't need to lie, but you don't need to mention anything you aren't comfortable taking about. Be proud of yourself. You are doing an amazing job!!

 

[pduckworth]

Remember, it's okay to struggle. In fact, schools often ask about a time that you faced a challenge and how you overcame it. So what is more important is how you recover.

You shouldn't be embarrassed or upset with yourself. Frankly, it's amazing that you have accomplished what you have. There are many people out there who struggle with depression but don't do anything about it. The fact that you are being proactive shows amazing tenacity in the face of hardship.

Frankly, it's no one's business but your own. You have time to think of a way to word it if asked about this during interviews- you don't need to lie, but you don't need to mention anything you aren't comfortable taking about. Be proud of yourself. You are doing an amazing job!!

Thank you for the encouraging words It took me until I hit rock bottom to acknowledge that something was wrong. Kind of sucks how quickly its possible to lose everything, but in comparison, how long it takes to get everything back. Most of the people I have tried to talk to about this have just said to "get over it" and to "suck it up", so hearing/reading comments like yours restores a little bit more of my faith that I can get through this.

 

[ballyhoo]

That's unfortunate that some people have told you to "suck it up" as though it is a simple matter of a feeling or a mindset. I'm genuinely happy that you are doing better, and while it's not always going to be positive and happy all the time, I know what it feels like to battle the lows.

In any case, I would probably not mention depression/anxiety in your interviews or application. It is a medical condition and you have a full right to decide not to disclose your information. They might ask about your grades - I had one low grade that was very weird, since I had A's and a B otherwise for that semester, and I was asked at two places when I interviewed. If you say personal reasons, remember to focus on the positive always and talk about what you have learned or how you have grown from it, etc! I got accepted into both programs, so I think as long as it is not a consistent performance then it is okay.

good luck!

 

[scrambledgreggs]

Relax, you will be fine. You have an anxiety problem, not a getting into dental school problem - remember that.

The semester will look like ****. But as long as you can come back from it and spin it on your application/interview as one of those trying moments in your life and talk about how you overcame it, you will be fine.

As an anecdote, my sister had to withdraw her senior year at an ivy due to similar issues - she failed out the first semester so she received several F's towards her gpa. And then when she returned the next year, she still received some C's. She got herself together within a year or two of graduating and got accepted to a good US medical school recently, so it can be done. I believe her GPA was a 3.1 as well.

 

[charmingdds]

Dentist have the higher suicide rate.. You might consider another career..scroll down to #1
http://www.businessinsider.com/jobs-commit-suicide-2010-10?op=1

 

[UltimateHombre]

Dentist have the higher suicide rate.. You might consider another career..scroll down to #1
http://www.businessinsider.com/jobs-commit-suicide-2010-10?op=1

Why would you ever post this comment to someone who has depression?!

I am dumbfounded by your insensitivity.

 

[KittySquared]

Dentist have the higher suicide rate.. You might consider another career..scroll down to #1
http://www.businessinsider.com/jobs-commit-suicide-2010-10?op=1

It's all funny to an insensitive pr1ck like you for suggesting such a notion until you fall into an abyss of depression yourself. Karma's a *****


OP, you want to keep your condition under control. It takes time to find a med that really works for you, as I've dealt with family members who had major depressive disorders. But please have faith and surround yourself with healthy and positive people.

 

[jpark1800]

Why would you ever post this comment to someone who has depression?!

I am dumbfounded by your insensitivity.

Give him a break. He is a complete idiot. From his prior posts:

"I had low AA14 TS14 PAT19, AA15 TS15 PAT19 -->NOW AA17 TS18 PAT21"

"Please give your honest opinion. Taking DAT again for fourth time according to my advisor is "not recommended" since some schools only accept up to three times."

 

[wowyourecool]

.

 

[pduckworth]

Thank you everyone for your replies! I had a talk with my advisor today which was a huge achievement for me. He suggested that I only take two science classes next semester along with some silly electives to focus on getting better. My sorority is going to put me on academic probation, but I now have several people who will be working with me weekly to ensure that I don't let things get out of control again.

And to the person who suggested that I think about changing my future career plans, no thank you. I'm not going to let depression define me and my goals. If anything, I am thankful that I am going through this now, as a junior in college, as opposed to later on in life when I'm in dental school or practicing dentistry.

 

[charmingdds]

Kkk

 

[Sal427]

You should not call anyone idiot!! You dont know what i went throught during times i took DAT!! Death related which is personal, work fulltime, support family of five, school full time and i still didnt go on depression!!. I believe people that get depress is because they need attention. Its completely up to the op to get out of it, if he/she cannot, then its going to be hard to keep up with dental school stressfull lifestyle!!

Wow. Keep taking those science classes until you actually learn something.

 

[alshin88]

Take some me time . Take a semester off. Have some fun and do the things you like for a while. Then when ur ready... head back and take care of business.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using SDN Mobile

 

[Dentalman11]

You should not call anyone idiot!! You dont know what i went throught during times i took DAT!! Death related which is personal, work fulltime, support family of five, school full time and i still didnt go on depression!!. I believe people that get depress is because they need attention. Its completely up to the op to get out of it, if he/she cannot, then its going to be hard to keep up with dental school stressfull lifestyle!!

Well, luckily you won't have to keep up with dental school's "stressful lifestyle," because you probably won't get in. Depression isn't anything to joke about, and it isn't for attention.

OP: I, too, suffer from anxiety, but it gets better! I think you're headed in the right direction by taking time off, which I've done recently.

 

[charmingdds]

Ok

 

[Toasted]

After what i went thru in life i should be depressed myself but i CANT..( i dont let myself)because if i go down, five others that i support go down!! I dont have parents to pamper me and hope that my story helps the op realize that he/she needs to be strong to embark on this journey! Something that helps me going is to think " everything is OK because out there there is always someone else that is going thru worse than me" and whatever reason is causing your depression " delete it from your brain" and be happy..
To everyone insulting " thank you, but because i am strong i am where i am today"

This is ridiculous. Depression doesn't work that way.

 

[charmingdds]

This is ridiculous. Depression doesn't work that way.

The op has to find out what triggets the depression..there must be a reason!! That is causing unbalance hormones secretion..period!!

 

[Toasted]

The op has to find out what triggets the depression..there must be a reason!! That is causing unbalance hormones secretion..period!!

The op IS actively seeking out help to deal with his/her depression. You, however, are not helping by telling them to consider another career and posting a link stating "dentists have the highest suicide rate". One cannot simply change their state of mind at the drop of a hat. I hope you come across as being more sensitive to the needs of others in person than you are here if you do get some interviews.

 

[rkhalil6]

The op has to find out what triggets the depression..there must be a reason!! That is causing unbalance hormones secretion..period!!

Look at you being all scientific now.. so if it is a "unbalance hormones secretion" then wouldn't that contradict your "looking for attention" theory?

You might be doing good things and supporting others, but the way you speak makes you come across as an ignorant human being..

 

[jpark1800]

You should not call anyone idiot!! You dont know what i went throught during times i took DAT!! Death related which is personal, work fulltime, support family of five, school full time and i still didnt go on depression!!. I believe people that get depress is because they need attention. Its completely up to the op to get out of it, if he/she cannot, then its going to be hard to keep up with dental school stressfull lifestyle!!

i apologize for that comment of mine.

I agree with you that ppl make depression, ADHD, and ADD a much bigger deal than it is, and people have some validity in saying that there have got to be at least some people who are doing it for attention. However, for you to say that everyone who gets depressed is seeking attention is completely stupid. In this case, this guy is clearly not doing it for show. He had a 3.5 and was and is obviously very capable.

 

[wowyourecool]

.

 

[UltimateHombre]

I believe people that get depress is because they need attention.

That's funny, i also feel the same way about dental caries. People go to the dentist because they need attention and are not really sick. I also feel the same way about the flu and most other common diseases... just a call for attention, no actual symptoms or disease.

 

[charmingdds]

The hormone level can be control by us!! Well, some hormones...specially sympathetic and parasympathetic which increases/decreases depends on what we are doing at the time. I am not trying to be scientific nor endocrine specialist, but different situations in life can cause depression such as dead of family, losing job, money issues, divorce,etc...all are cause of depression that some people experience. I am sorry about the suicide stuff but it can happen to any of us if we can not master how to deal with stress!!

 

[jpark1800]

If you haven't personally dealt with any of those three things you mentioned, you are in no position to say that people make them a bigger deal than they are.

um, no. i've actually talked to several psychiatrists who are much more qualified to speak on the matter than you are, and several of them have expressed shock and disgust as some doctors are quick to overdiagnose and dole out medicines from the pharm companies. some of them have also expressed anguish over the fact that they have to give medicine to some kids who they know are lying.

As i said in my previous post "SOME people" are doing it for attention. i didn't say "ALL people" are doing it for attention, like this charmingdds guy did. My position of saying some people make them a bigger deal than they are is not my opinion; it is the opinion of several medical professionals with vast experience. Whatever, I am not going to argue this anymore. There is no point. I am trying to get charmingdds to tone down his view, but then I get attacked.

As I've said earlier, this guy is not doing it for attention and I hope he gets better.

 

[howaminow]

Heres the thing, some people do lie just to get the meds; however, some people really do feel that way and if the doctors do feel they are lying, but they actually do have issues the person could continue to suffer or even worse.

Personally, my best friend in high school always claimed she always felt sad when she woke up plus most of the day. She needed help and once she got on medication she was fine after, no more issues.

Some people need the meds to function, so they don't suffer in school. Plenty of people are like this. The issues most doctors face is if some people lie, but some people need help even if they think they are lying.

 

[II H5 II]

The hormone level can be control by us!! Well, some hormones...specially sympathetic and parasympathetic which increases/decreases depends on what we are doing at the time. I am not trying to be scientific nor endocrine specialist, but different situations in life can cause depression such as dead of family, losing job, money issues, divorce,etc...all are cause of depression that some people experience. I am sorry about the suicide stuff but it can happen to any of us if we can not master how to deal with stress!!

just stop..

 

[pduckworth]

Definitely not a guy (at least the last time I checked) btw.

Anyway, I hope you, charmingdds, certainly do not go into a profession where you need to work with others because you clearly do not have respect for other people. To say that people who have depression are doing it for attention is rather sickening. The LAST thing that I want is attention. In fact, the reason I spent a month hiding in a corner of my bedroom was to stay away from people.

Plus, even after having a legitimate medical excuse for missing classwork, I am choosing to take the poor grades in my classes because I don't want to view myself as getting "special treatment" from my professors or my university. Trust me, this is the last thing that I want to be going through. I had over a 3.7GPA and I just watched it drop to a 3.5. I'm facing academic probation in my sorority and I feel like I let my parents and friends down.

In addition, yeah. Some people do lie to get medication. However, that doesn't make a disorder or a disease any less credible. Personally, I think lying to get on antidepressants isn't worth it. The side effects are horrible (I've slept nine hours in the past THREE days, plus dizziness and nausea almost all of the time) and they are almost impossible to stop taking. Also, they aren't designed to make good moods better. Antidepressants are there to help normalize "bad" moods to the point where the person can continue to be a functioning human being again. They won't take somebody who is generally content with life and make them absolutely love everything. That's not how it works.

 

[lemoncurry]

I would recommend you make sure your depression is under control as much as possible before trying to get into dental school. Dental school is extremely trying and can leave you very depressed at times. There were plenty of days that I felt as low as I have ever felt and I was on antidepressants the whole time.

 

[ballyhoo]

After what i went thru in life i should be depressed myself but i CANT..( i dont let myself)because if i go down, five others that i support go down!! I dont have parents to pamper me and hope that my story helps the op realize that he/she needs to be strong to embark on this journey! Something that helps me going is to think " everything is OK because out there there is always someone else that is going thru worse than me" and whatever reason is causing your depression " delete it from your brain" and be happy..
To everyone insulting " thank you, but because i am strong i am where i am today"

I know you are trying to be supportive, but statements like these only further highlight the ignorance some people have about depression and mental disorders. It is a REAL medical condition. You can't just "fall into/out of it" as easily as you describe. Some people have more resilient personalities, perhaps, but depression isn't so controlled as you might think. Perhaps in the future, you should consider how your words may effect the OP when you reply about things like this. Because really, I know this from personal experience, one of the worst things you can do is tell someone to get over their depression because it is a choice (it is NOT that simple) and that others are suffering more. Well of course others are suffering - we are all suffering. What gives any one individual the right to say that one person's suffering is greater than another's? It is just not possible. Finally, yes if you have gone through much in life I'm sorry that it has happened that way. Depression is not something that anyone "should" have because of X and Y circumstances though.

Hope this cleared some things up.

 

[ballyhoo]

The hormone level can be control by us!! Well, some hormones...specially sympathetic and parasympathetic which increases/decreases depends on what we are doing at the time. I am not trying to be scientific nor endocrine specialist, but different situations in life can cause depression such as dead of family, losing job, money issues, divorce,etc...all are cause of depression that some people experience. I am sorry about the suicide stuff but it can happen to any of us if we can not master how to deal with stress!!

Also it is ridiculous to claim that all those with depression are doing it for attention. Doesn't that kind of thinking indicate a fundamental flaw in your understanding of what mental disorders are? I really hope you have a change in attitude before you go into dentistry. Compassion is great, but you are not being very sensitive at all. Stress can be managed yes, and depression can be triggered by certain things - and yes, there are hormonal changes that occur with depression. Controlling hormone levels is what drugs help people do. And learning how to deal with stress does not necessarily make depression magically disappear.

 

[charmingdds]

Definitely not a guy (at least the last time I checked) btw.

Anyway, I hope you, charmingdds, certainly do not go into a profession where you need to work with others because you clearly do not have respect for other people. To say that people who have depression are doing it for attention is rather sickening. The LAST thing that I want is attention. In fact, the reason I spent a month hiding in a corner of my bedroom was to stay away from people.

Plus, even after having a legitimate medical excuse for missing classwork, I am choosing to take the poor grades in my classes because I don't want to view myself as getting "special treatment" from my professors or my university. Trust me, this is the last thing that I want to be going through. I had over a 3.7GPA and I just watched it drop to a 3.5. I'm facing academic probation in my sorority and I feel like I let my parents and friends down.

In addition, yeah. Some people do lie to get medication. However, that doesn't make a disorder or a disease any less credible. Personally, I think lying to get on antidepressants isn't worth it. The side effects are horrible (I've slept nine hours in the past THREE days, plus dizziness and nausea almost all of the time) and they are almost impossible to stop taking. Also, they aren't designed to make good moods better. Antidepressants are there to help normalize "bad" moods to the point where the person can continue to be a functioning human being again. They won't take somebody who is generally content with life and make them absolutely love everything. That's not how it works.

You seem like a nice girl and strong.. The first step is " LOVE yourself so you can start loving others and things in life"...You have to change the way you see life in order to get out of depression. You can do it, It's up to you..It takes one person to tell you the truth and make you understand how bless you are to be alive!!( did you ever think of that?) I am sorry for the harsh comments previously but if you want to be in the profession you need to be strong and can not let this happen again. So I recommend go OUT of that bedroom and do stuff...enjoy the world that if full of excitements and try to stay out of medication...
To: everyone in this forum, Thanks for all your wishes that I Do not get to dental school, I will be reapplying with low stats but I haven't let anyone tell me I CANT do something because I can and I will make it to DS. It's people like me or others that make someone get into depression but its up to us decide to who we let hurt us!! Good luck to everyone on next cycle and I really hope the OP gets better