Health Issue affecting Application?

[WorldWiz]

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Last year I applied to many medical schools, but didn't get any interviews, so I was wondering if my prior health issue could have been a factor, and if I need to take additional steps to redress that if I apply again, now that it hasn't been a problem anymore?

I've had partial complex epilepsy for over ten years, and it has never seriously debilitated me in college. Irregardless of all the stories of medical schools giving opportunities to applicants with disabilities, is this health issue something that is likely to hurt my application? If so, since I'd felt like I was getting better for the past several years and am now 2 months without any seizure, should I get a note from my doctor to corroborate my condition and somehow attach that to my application? Thanks.

 

[Catalystik]

Last year I applied to many medical schools, but didn't get any interviews, so I was wondering if my prior health issue could have been a factor, and if I need to take additional steps to redress that if I apply again, now that it hasn't been a problem anymore?

I've had partial complex epilepsy for over ten years, and it has never seriously debilitated me in college. Irregardless of all the stories of medical schools giving opportunities to applicants with disabilities, is this health issue something that is likely to hurt my application? If so, since I'd felt like I was getting better for the past several years and am now 2 months without any seizure, should I get a note from my doctor to corroborate my condition and somehow attach that to my application? Thanks.

Schools wouldn't know about your seizure disorder unless you mentioned it. And if you mentioned it, I would hope you had already addressed, or provided evidence via transcript and activity list, that it had no effect on your ability to perform academically and socially.

Having a doc send a letter will distract from whether you are a good med school candidate according to the usual and customary parameters.

 

[Lollygag]

Schools wouldn't know about your seizure disorder unless you mentioned it. And if you mentioned it, I would hope you had already addressed, or provided evidence via transcript and activity list, that it had no effect on your ability to perform academically and socially.

Having a doc send a letter will distract from whether you are a good med school candidate according to the usual and customary parameters.

+1 agreed, and if you didn't mention it then I don't see a reason in you bringing it up either, because as you stated, it has never seriously debilitated you that it would have an effect on your application. If you did mention it, then this time.. don't mention it lol it doesn't seem necessary to be something to talk about unless you're using as part of your personal statement about why you became interested in medicine.

I think you should consider other parts of your application that may have been weaknesses. Did you lack clinical experience? Did you apply in September? Did you have a low GPA or MCAT score? Did you possibly have a bad LOR? I think you need to focus on these aspects and work toward revamping your app for another cycle.