Narcolepsy and Application

[NonTrad935]

I was recently diagnosed with narcolepsy, which explains why my undergrad was so difficult. I graduated with a 3.3 cGPA and no sGPA, and am currently working on my prereqs as a post bac (4.0 so far). I was a collegiate athlete and had practice at 5:00 am every day as well as in the evening throughout college, which did not help the narcolepsy situation.

Is it worth disclosing my narcolepsy diagnosis on my application to medical schools in regards to my lower cGPA? I imagine I'll have around a 3.5 cGPA and a 4.0 sGPA once I'm done, if everything goes according to plan, but I definitely struggled throughout undergrad without my diagnosis and treatment. I'm worried that my grades won't be competitive enough.

Thanks!

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[Crayola227]

that GPA is not so bad that it justifies outing yourself as narcoleptic to schools

 

[esob]

med school = Don't ask, don't tell. As a veteran with a disability I've read countless times that the general advice is to not disclose any disability unless you absolutely need accommodation for it.

 

[Crayola227]

med school = Don't ask, don't tell. As a veteran with a disability I've read countless times that the general advice is to not disclose any disability unless you absolutely need accommodation for it.

QFT

 

[futuremdforme]

How will you handle narcolepsy on long shifts, in surgery, etc? I don't know anything about it and want to make sure you have made sure it's feasible to make it through med school/residency before a huge investment.

 

[PathoTurnUp1865]

How will you handle narcolepsy on long shifts, in surgery, etc? I don't know anything about it and want to make sure you have made sure it's feasible to make it through med school/residency before a huge investment.

They have things called drugs that can help with this.

 

[NonTrad935]

med school = Don't ask, don't tell. As a veteran with a disability I've read countless times that the general advice is to not disclose any disability unless you absolutely need accommodation for it.

In regards to accommodation, that is not the reason I would be disclosing it. It would be included in my PS or where appropriate as part of my story, and why I want to go to medical school. It would be partially a reason why my cGPA is lower, but also speaks to my strengths and determination with being a college athlete and then a pre elite athlete with undiagnosed narcolepsy.

How will you handle narcolepsy on long shifts, in surgery, etc? I don't know anything about it and want to make sure you have made sure it's feasible to make it through med school/residency before a huge investment.

Luckily I don't have cataplexy. I feel tired often, but I've been able to manage. In college I was only sleeping 4 hours a day because of practice schedules and homework.. Now that I'm receiving treatment, it's even better. Narcoleptics, especially without cataplexy, typically don't just fall over and fall asleep randomly. I feel tired, and I would love to take a nap, but I can function. I started my post bac without treatment and was still able to get A's. The treatment just helps me feel less tired. I don't feel any worse with less sleep... 4 hours of sleep feels the same as 10 hours to me. I have no doubts I'll be okay

 

[Goro]

Mention it in the secondary prompts for "anything you want to tell us?" OR "please explain poor grades" OR "greatest challenge?"

Let your GPAs speak for themselves.

I was recently diagnosed with narcolepsy, which explains why my undergrad was so difficult. I graduated with a 3.3 cGPA and no sGPA, and am currently working on my prereqs as a post bac (4.0 so far). I was a collegiate athlete and had practice at 5:00 am every day as well as in the evening throughout college, which did not help the narcolepsy situation.

Is it worth disclosing my narcolepsy diagnosis on my application to medical schools in regards to my lower cGPA? I imagine I'll have around a 3.5 cGPA and a 4.0 sGPA once I'm done, if everything goes according to plan, but I definitely struggled throughout undergrad without my diagnosis and treatment. I'm worried that my grades won't be competitive enough.

Thanks!

 

[esob]

In regards to accommodation, that is not the reason I would be disclosing it. It would be included in my PS or where appropriate as part of my story, and why I want to go to medical school. It would be partially a reason why my cGPA is lower, but also speaks to my strengths and determination with being a college athlete and then a pre elite athlete with undiagnosed narcolepsy.

Yeah, I guess that is the part I would caution you on, or at least recommend you do some forum searching for anecdotal examples. I'm not saying I disagree that someone with carpal tunnel, dyslexia, depression, TBI etc might have worked harder to get to a certain level and/or that any of those things are legit reasons for a lower GPA, I'm just saying I don't think adcoms will feel that way. The general point I've taken away from my reading is that they see them as reasons why you might crack under the strain of medical school or residency. As a caveat, I have also read a couple of feel good stories where people went in with both barrels blazing about their (insert condition) and still got in, though its hard to say if they got in because of mentionion it or in spite of mentioning it.