Mentioning personal medical issues when applying to med school?

[Chelslen]

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This past year I was diagnosed with temporal lobe epilepsy, if you know what that is. I've had 5 different MRIs and the epilepsy is most likely due to a small lesion in the temporal lobe of my brain. However, its stable in size. I never had grand-mal seizures or anything like that -- complex partial seizures only, but often.

I started medication for it back in december, and it's working REALLY well. I used to have at LEAST one seizure per day, often 2, and I don't have ANY seizures anymore... though of course i have to take medication every day.

When you apply to med school, do you have to mention any major medical issues you have like this? 😕
Is there any way something like this could affect my chances of admission if i tell them or if they find out about it?


I had horrible grades for part of sophomore year, and while this issue definitely contributed to that more than anything else, i'm thinking i should keep it completely out of the picture when asked about my grades.. right? i'm just afraid it will lower my chances. plus, i take full responsibility and i don't like making excuses -- though i will need to come up with SOMETHING to say about my grades i guess.

 

[willen101383]

You can DEFINATELY tell them...and I would for sure. You have a valid medical reason for a group of poorer grades and this will help remove the "sting" from those grades. Assuming you are VERY controlled and you need to make sure they know that. You just want them to know that this wont affect your ability to function in school or not meet their physical requirements for matriculation. Hell, you even have ground to talk about how your seizure disorder has guided you toward medicine as a field (if it has).

The only thing I never advocate telling adcoms about is mental health related issues because of the stigma...but physical issues are a whole different ball game.

Others may disagree with me but I would 100 percent tell them if I were you...dont focus on it or anything but use it as a reason to explain those grades if anything.

 

[SisterDisco08]

This past year I was diagnosed with temporal lobe epilepsy, if you know what that is. I've had 5 different MRIs and the epilepsy is most likely due to a small lesion in the temporal lobe of my brain. However, its stable in size. I never had grand-mal seizures or anything like that -- complex partial seizures only, but often.

I started medication for it back in december, and it's working REALLY well. I used to have at LEAST one seizure per day, often 2, and I don't have ANY seizures anymore... though of course i have to take medication every day.

When you apply to med school, do you have to mention any major medical issues you have like this? 😕
Is there any way something like this could affect my chances of admission if i tell them or if they find out about it?


I had horrible grades for part of sophomore year, and while this issue definitely contributed to that more than anything else, i'm thinking i should keep it completely out of the picture when asked about my grades.. right? i'm just afraid it will lower my chances. plus, i take full responsibility and i don't like making excuses -- though i will need to come up with SOMETHING to say about my grades i guess.

You should disclose it. Would you really be happy at a school that isn't confident in you as an applicant without knowing an honest portrayal of you as a person? I wouldn't be. I have an "issue" that I disclosed on my applications, and yes, some schools have chosen not to consider me because of it, but I'd rather not be at one of those schools anyway. It's not an excuse if it's a valid reason, and I would definitely say epilepsy is a valid reason.

The only thing I never advocate telling adcoms about is mental health related issues because of the stigma...but physical issues are a whole different ball game.

I did research about this! Look up Depression, Stigma and Suicidal Ideation in Medical Students by Jonides in JAMA!!!

 

[willen101383]

You should disclose it. Would you really be happy at a school that isn't confident in you as an applicant without knowing an honest portrayal of you as a person? I wouldn't be. I have an "issue" that I disclosed on my applications, and yes, some schools have chosen not to consider me because of it, but I'd rather not be at one of those schools anyway. It's not an excuse if it's a valid reason, and I would definitely say epilepsy is a valid reason.

I did research about this! Look up Depression, Stigma and Suicidal Ideation in Medical Students by Jonides in JAMA!!!

It is too bad that things are the way that they are. And I will look up your paper!

 

[latrala2300]

It is too bad that things are the way that they are. And I will look up your paper!

Here's a link http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20841531.

Is it really the poster's paper? 😱

If it is, 👍

 

[Chelslen]

You should disclose it. Would you really be happy at a school that isn't confident in you as an applicant without knowing an honest portrayal of you as a person? I wouldn't be.

i understand what you're saying completely, and i respect you for that.
but because my grades really affected my GPA (brought my sGPA down to a 3.1 😱), and while I would never blatantly lie about it, I really don't want to do anything that could even possibly lower my chances if it isn't necessary to mention, since my stats are a pretty rough already (still have a year till applying though).

Its just a matter of

1. How much would it help me if I told them the real major reason for those grades (2.8 1st semester of sophomore year, along with 2 WPs sophomore year)
2. How much would it hurt me if a lot of the schools I'm applying to think there's a possibility I might not be the best student and would be limited by epilepsy (even though its under control, they might be afraid the meds would stop working or something since its a semi-new problem)

I don't know if the benefits outweigh the risks.
I wish I could say I'll mention it everywhere and let each school see every aspect of me, but honestly when I think about not getting in ANYWHERE I don't know that I have the courage to do that.
I guess I can see how I feel about it next year when I'm applying.

 

[SisterDisco08]

Here's a link http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20841531.

Is it really the poster's paper? 😱

If it is, 👍

Honestly did work on it, and have a LOR to prove it! Unfortunately as a lowly undergrad I was not listed as an author 🙁

 

[SisterDisco08]

i understand what you're saying completely, and i respect you for that.
but because my grades really affected my GPA (brought my sGPA down to a 3.1 😱), and while I would never blatantly lie about it, I really don't want to do anything that could even possibly lower my chances if it isn't necessary to mention, since my stats are a pretty rough already (still have a year till applying though).

Its just a matter of

1. How much would it help me if I told them the real major reason for those grades (2.8 1st semester of sophomore year, along with 2 WPs sophomore year)
2. How much would it hurt me if a lot of the schools I'm applying to think there's a possibility I might not be the best student and would be limited by epilepsy (even though its under control, they might be afraid the meds would stop working or something since its a semi-new problem)

I don't know if the benefits outweigh the risks.
I wish I could say I'll mention it everywhere and let each school see every aspect of me, but honestly when I think about not getting in ANYWHERE I don't know that I have the courage to do that.
I guess I can see how I feel about it next year when I'm applying.

I guess it boils down to what you're comfortable doing. The advice my premed advisor gave me: If it's an issue that would come up in an interview, it's best to lay it on the table. It shows more confidence in your own abilities and right to apply/be considered just as anyone else (and possibly integrity)

Mine was that kind of an issue, and they were undoubtedly going to ask about how a person goes from ~3.8 to ~3.5-6 in one or two semesters.

You should talk to your academic or premed advisor.

 

[LizzyM]

If I'm reading an application and I look at the AMCAS spreadsheet of gpa by year and I see a big drop and then I look to see the courses taken and the grades earned and I see whatever is there, my next stop is to the PS and the LORs to see if there is some explanation for the poor performance. AMCAS even suggests addressing this in the PS and some people just put a small paragraph at the end, separated by a couple of lines to show that it is not part of the rest of the essay.

Some people will say that they had a health issue or developed a chronic condition that is being well managed with medication (and/or lifestyle changes), and others will give detailed descriptions of diagnosis and/or symptoms. It is up to you how much you want to reveal. As long as you meet the technical requirements for admission, schools aren't supposed to discriminate on the basis of a disability so they shouldn't ask (just as they shouldn't ask if you are married or if you have kids) but if you open the door and bring up the subject, some will ask away. You could end up answering questions that may be boorish or uninformed such as whether you are able to drive and how you will travel to clinical sites.

In the end, it is up to you how much you want to reveal.