explaining leave of absence

[spiffy1]

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I left school midway through my 3rd year due to health problems (was having high anxiety and panic attacks). Grades/step 1 very strong. I'm having trouble deciding how to explain this in my PS and section in the application to explain leaves of absence. If I'm honest it could be a big hit for my residency application, if not it's a big question mark. Someone told me that you should either explain it fully in your application or say leave for personal reasons and talk about it at the interview. What is the best way to approach this?

 

[atsai3]

I left school midway through my 3rd year due to health problems (was having high anxiety and panic attacks). Grades/step 1 very strong. I'm having trouble deciding how to explain this in my PS and section in the application to explain leaves of absence. If I'm honest it could be a big hit for my residency application, if not it's a big question mark. Someone told me that you should either explain it fully in your application or say leave for personal reasons and talk about it at the interview. What is the best way to approach this?

You should restrict your PS to the purpose of the PS (unless your health problems during 3rd year figured into your narrative about 'why psychiatry'). There are other opportunities in the application process to discuss why you took a leave of absence.

-AT.

 

[spiffy1]

Bump for any other advice.

 

[Still Kickin]

Have you been to the ERAS/NRMP forum to see if there is any relevant advice over there?

(But I'm guessing you are going into Psych and specifically wondered about the way *Psych* programs would view this on your app, and how they might feel about your mental health history?)

 

[psychattending]

Question marks are not good. If an obvious issue is not addressed in the application, I assume the worse. At a minimum you should address it in the question about whether you medical school training was prolonged. I look for the dean to discuss it in his/her letter. Whether you discuss it or not in your PS depends on what your dean is saying at what your record looks like. If your level of functioning was good before and after the LOA then there should be minimal consequences.

 

[wolfvgang22]

Are you mainly just concerned about leaves of absence if they delayed graduation? I had an official LOA for the birth of my son, and then one between rotations due to scheduling conflicts. Still graduating on time.

 

[psychattending]

I pick up on LOAs by looking at the time spent in medical school, your transcript, and the Dean's Letter (there is a specific question that they must answer). All LOAs should be explained. Yours sound straightforward and simple and should not need much in the way of explanation by you and your dean.