Impact of academic probation on residency applications

[tww49]

I'm a first year medical student. I failed a class at the beginning of 2nd semester due to medical reasons and am put on academic probation because of that. My school board told me I must be put on probation and cannot be excused for medical reasons, because I took the exams and failed instead of having asked for an extension. Well, I've been in good academic standing since and the probation is going to be lifted after I pass the re-take of the class. I am worried this academic probation will account negatively towards residency applications.

Would anyone with similar experience or relative knowledge clue me in on how much this failed class would impact my career path in the future?

Thanks a bunch~

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[Buzz Me]

Moving to Allo as this is a medical school topic.

If you do a search there you'll find many others in your same situation.

 

[Longer Road]

Would anyone with similar experience or relative knowledge clue me in on how much this failed class would impact my career path in the future?

Thanks a bunch~

I had to repeat a class and was placed on probation as well and ended up getting a very competitive specialty. It is very much harder, but not impossible.

Depending on your school it may or may not be reported in the Dean's Letter. Make sure you know beforehand if it is. You will be asked, regardless, about having to repeat the course, so have a well thought out response to justify what happened. Programs want to know whether it is a liability, a pattern of events, or an anomaly; it is your job to do the leg work to show them which it is.

Feel free to PM me if you have specific questions.

 

[Gheorgia]

I'm a first year medical student. I failed a class at the beginning of 2nd semester due to medical reasons and am put on academic probation because of that. My school board told me I must be put on probation and cannot be excused for medical reasons, because I took the exams and failed instead of having asked for an extension. Well, I've been in good academic standing since and the probation is going to be lifted after I pass the re-take of the class. I am worried this academic probation will account negatively towards residency applications.

Would anyone with similar experience or relative knowledge clue me in on how much this failed class would impact my career path in the future?

Thanks a bunch~

Do you have to repeat the year? I know a large proportion of the MS1 and MS2 class fail at least a class and end up remediating it over the summer or later in the year. Usually it doesn't matter unless they end up having to repeat the 1st year.

Also I guess a large count depends on how well you do on the USMLE. A good score can do wonders for academic difficulties in 1st and 2nd year.

 

[qmcat]

Failing a class will not look good, but it probably won't have much impact as long as you don't fail anything else from now on.

As far as residency applications, make sure to apply broadly. If you get an interview, most of the time you won't be asked about the class, since getting an interview means you look at least acceptable on paper. If you do get asked on an interview, you need to have a good explanation, like what Longer Road mentioned.

For now, just focus on one thing at a time and make sure to pass your re-take and don't fail anything else.

 

[Longer Road]

If you get an interview, most of the time you won't be asked about the class, since getting an interview means you look at least acceptable on paper.

This is not true. Interviews are granted based on a screening (scores, letters, grades, AOA, publications). Programs absolutely do not have time to vet every single application for every possible thing.

You WILL be asked about it, likely at every interview. Address the issue now. If possible have the Dean's Letter reflect you've corrected the issue and have your letter writers attest to it as well.

 

[qmcat]

This is not true. Interviews are granted based on a screening (scores, letters, grades, AOA, publications). Programs absolutely do not have time to vet every single application for every possible thing.

You WILL be asked about it, likely at every interview. Address the issue now. If possible have the Dean's Letter reflect you've corrected the issue and have your letter writers attest to it as well.

I'm not sure if it's different for different specialties, but I stand corrected. You should take Longer Road's advice over mine, since he's been through the process.