Dilemma please help Lizzy M or anyone else!: Did not add one of my parents on AMCAS

[booboobaby]

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So like the title says I did not add my father on my AMCAS application. 10 days before I submitted my application my father passed away from a terminal illness. At that time I had not added him to AMCAS as I did not know if he would be passing before submission. When it came down to putting him in the application after his death I just could not bring myself to write his name. I had not come to terms with his death and did not want to believe he was truly gone. My experience taking care of him through his illness had a large impact on my decision to practice medicine and I mentioned that in my personal statement. Now 5 months later I've come to terms with his death. I completely regret not adding him and know AMCAS will not update that info. I feel as though it may be a topic of discussion in my interviews. I need advice.

 

[Disciple of Sattar]

I don't think this is a big deal at all. If they ask, just answer honestly, there is no way to change it now anyways. So just relax! 🙂

 

[Catalystik]

So like the title says I did not add my father on my AMCAS application. 10 days before I submitted my application my father passed away from a terminal illness. At that time I had not added him to AMCAS as I did not know if he would be passing before submission. When it came down to putting him in the application after his death I just could not bring myself to write his name. I had not come to terms with his death and did not want to believe he was truly gone. My experience taking care of him through his illness had a large impact on my decision to practice medicine and I mentioned that in my personal statement. Now 5 months later I've come to terms with his death. I completely regret not adding him and know AMCAS will not update that info. I feel as though it may be a topic of discussion in my interviews. I need advice.

You are not obliged to provide information about both parents. It's OK to let this go.

 

[3toedsloth]

Hey there, sorry for your loss. 🙁

I think it's 100% understandable to not want to have to click a box that says "alive" or "deceased" while someone is actively dying or very recently deceased. No one would judge you for it.

 

[booboobaby]

Thank you for your responses. I feel much better about the situation now. I wish health and happiness upon you all.

 

[3toedsloth]

Thank you for your responses. I feel much better about the situation now. I wish health and happiness upon you all.

I went through a similar experience and wrote about it in my personal statement. One student interviewer asked me "how did you practice self care while caring for your terminally ill parent?" I told her the truth --- that due to financial restrictions, I was the sole care giver at home, and it often involved sleepless nights and days. She said that medical school is the hardest thing I'll ever do, and was comparing the situation of a dying parent to the rigors of medical school. It was super awkward, and in my opinion, showed her lack of experience.

Be prepared for clueless questions of this sort.

 

[person777]

I went through a similar experience and wrote about it in my personal statement. One student interviewer asked me "how did you practice self care while caring for your terminally ill parent?" I told her the truth --- that due to financial restrictions, I was the sole care giver at home, and it often involved sleepless nights and days. She said that medical school is the hardest thing I'll ever do, and was comparing the situation of a dying parent to the rigors of medical school. It was super awkward, and in my opinion, showed her lack of experience.

Be prepared for clueless questions of this sort.

It sucks that someone that out of touch was chosen to be an interviewer and ultimately part of the admissions process...

 

[fourandtwo]

I went through a similar experience and wrote about it in my personal statement. One student interviewer asked me "how did you practice self care while caring for your terminally ill parent?" I told her the truth --- that due to financial restrictions, I was the sole care giver at home, and it often involved sleepless nights and days. She said that medical school is the hardest thing I'll ever do, and was comparing the situation of a dying parent to the rigors of medical school. It was super awkward, and in my opinion, showed her lack of experience.

Be prepared for clueless questions of this sort.

Wow.......

 

[moisne]

Sorry for your loss.

In terms for you application, no one cares. You are fine. 100%


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