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just trying to get this all together
- Thread starter kikiu
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It will look far worse if you don't take a LOA and continue to underperform. A skillset expected of a physician is recognizing problems, coming up with an appropriate strategy to solve them, and being realistic about limitations. Driving oneself beyond one's capabilities and causing someone to suffer due to poor judgement (whether it's you or a patient) is a recipe for disaster. Do the right thing. Get your head together. Come back strong.
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IMHO, you need to take a leave of absence and see a therapist. Nothing in this world is worth your sanity. Sometimes you just need time to get yourself together. There is absolutely no shame in that. Take a leave of absence, get healthy, and go back to school.
I'm sorry to hear that you have been met by these circumstances and wish the best for you.
I'm sorry to hear that you have been met by these circumstances and wish the best for you.
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Your 3.64 is perfectly acceptable. You, unlike the kid who merely partied too hard, have a diagnosed medical condition. Certainly you can broach this (as you feel comfortable) in your personal statement and in interviews. Maintaining your GPA as you have is pretty impressive actually.
That said, take the time off. Get healthy. No one is going to find fault in this. You will get asked about the time off, but you have a perfectly reasonable explanation.
Lastly, and don't take this the wrong way, but medical school is 100% not worth your health (physical or mental). If giving up your dream of med school is what's required to get you healthy, I wouldn't think twice about it. Your well-being and ability to function day to day is infinitely more important, and if you can't function at a reasonable level, you're not going to be an effective physician anyways. I know it's easy for me to say that as an outsider, but I really feel strongly about it.
That said, take the time off. Get healthy. No one is going to find fault in this. You will get asked about the time off, but you have a perfectly reasonable explanation.
Lastly, and don't take this the wrong way, but medical school is 100% not worth your health (physical or mental). If giving up your dream of med school is what's required to get you healthy, I wouldn't think twice about it. Your well-being and ability to function day to day is infinitely more important, and if you can't function at a reasonable level, you're not going to be an effective physician anyways. I know it's easy for me to say that as an outsider, but I really feel strongly about it.
Thank you all SO MUCH for your replies. It really means a lot to me...I'm actually surprised that I got 4 genuine ones. Thanks, guys.
Catalystik- I know I can't keep under performing. At this point, I'm willing to do whatever I can to help myself reach my full potential, again. I found it very helpful, and accurate, of your description of a physician: "recognizing problems, coming up with an appropriate strategy to solve them, and being realistic about limitations". I think I really need to shift the focus and work on taking care of myself, instead of keep trying to ignore it all. Thanks.
2sk0ol4c0ol- I'm already getting help for everything. I think I just need to keep reminding myself that "nothing in this world is worth my sanity", as you said. Instead, I think I keep having the, delusion?, that med school will be "worth it". It's just really difficult for me to let the idea/goal of med school go. At this point, I don't know if that is because of my long-held internal expectations of that is what I am "supposed to do"...or if this is really what I want to do. I suppose I need to do more soul-searching, but I think I can really only be able to really do that when I'm in a better place. Thanks for the reply.
Fattyslug- (nice username, by the way! 😉) thank you for the support. I'm definitely considering your advice.
BigRedBeta- Thank you for your reply. It was very thought-provoking to read. If I do end up applying to medical school, I am planning on addressing it discreetly. Ultimately, I want to reach out to others and inspire others as a result of my experiences. I didn't take your advice the wrong way at all. I have well been entertaining the thought that med school isn't worth my happiness and health. At this point where I am at now, it is very hard to picture myself being able to balance the intense stress/time commitment with a well-balanced healthy lifestyle. Your opinion was very helpful, since I have been entertaining the thought of going into another profession where it will be "easier" to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Likewise, it has been incredibly difficult for me to do so, which just makes me wonder if it is right for me, deep down. I suppose time will tell, and, right now, I just need to focus on getting myself in a better spot. Thanks again for your wise perspective.
Catalystik- I know I can't keep under performing. At this point, I'm willing to do whatever I can to help myself reach my full potential, again. I found it very helpful, and accurate, of your description of a physician: "recognizing problems, coming up with an appropriate strategy to solve them, and being realistic about limitations". I think I really need to shift the focus and work on taking care of myself, instead of keep trying to ignore it all. Thanks.
2sk0ol4c0ol- I'm already getting help for everything. I think I just need to keep reminding myself that "nothing in this world is worth my sanity", as you said. Instead, I think I keep having the, delusion?, that med school will be "worth it". It's just really difficult for me to let the idea/goal of med school go. At this point, I don't know if that is because of my long-held internal expectations of that is what I am "supposed to do"...or if this is really what I want to do. I suppose I need to do more soul-searching, but I think I can really only be able to really do that when I'm in a better place. Thanks for the reply.
Fattyslug- (nice username, by the way! 😉) thank you for the support. I'm definitely considering your advice.
BigRedBeta- Thank you for your reply. It was very thought-provoking to read. If I do end up applying to medical school, I am planning on addressing it discreetly. Ultimately, I want to reach out to others and inspire others as a result of my experiences. I didn't take your advice the wrong way at all. I have well been entertaining the thought that med school isn't worth my happiness and health. At this point where I am at now, it is very hard to picture myself being able to balance the intense stress/time commitment with a well-balanced healthy lifestyle. Your opinion was very helpful, since I have been entertaining the thought of going into another profession where it will be "easier" to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Likewise, it has been incredibly difficult for me to do so, which just makes me wonder if it is right for me, deep down. I suppose time will tell, and, right now, I just need to focus on getting myself in a better spot. Thanks again for your wise perspective.
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