Illness before Grad School

[JuniperTree]

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This is entirely theoretical.

What happens if someone gets mono, or cancer, or some other serious illness, and ends up taking a year off of undergrad or doing any type of research experience? Would it impact their chances of getting into a good, research oriented, funded grad school?

 

[Existenz]

This is entirely theoretical.

What happens if someone gets mono, or cancer, or some other serious illness, and ends up taking a year off of undergrad or doing any type of research experience? Would it impact their chances of getting into a good, research oriented, funded grad school?

No.

 

[CharmedDiamond]

As long as that person HAS research experience, a year off due to illness shouldn't affect anything. Just make sure it's mentioned in the personal statement.

 

[aventurine]

This is entirely theoretical.

What happens if someone gets mono, or cancer, or some other serious illness, and ends up taking a year off of undergrad or doing any type of research experience? Would it impact their chances of getting into a good, research oriented, funded grad school?

I had two back-to-back serious illnesses starting early in the fall of my senior year. I got terrible grades in the fall semester because I was financially coerced to press on instead of taking time off (big mistake, but I had no choice) and then had to take the spring semester off to recover. When I returned the following fall, I was on academic probation for the first and only time in my life, because of the terrible grades I got when I was frankly too ill to be able to function in my classes. So, if you are seriously ill, I strongly advise taking time off so that you can recover.

After I got my B.A., I got a research job and also took a couple of grad-level courses, just to demonstrate that I could excel in them.

When I applied to grad school, I did mention my illness in my essay (didn't go into great detail, though) and included medical documentation and a note from my doctor indicating that I had fully recovered and prognosis was excellent (these were not the type of illnesses likely to recur).

I was accepted into several NYC doctoral programs and wait-listed at two more. So, I don't feel that my illness or time off were significant impediments, though I did occasionally need to explain my situation even later in grad school, while applying for externships and internship. Again, it was not a significant impediment. I matched at a solid internship program in NYC....wasn't my top choice, but also wasn't my last choice.