premedfromnc
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- Jun 13, 2024
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I am unsure what to put for the "other impactful experiences" section, if anything. I don't want to put anything too risky since this is sent out to every school. Here are my options:
1. ADHD -- undiagnosed until second semester freshman year. Could explain lower grades during my first two years since I was learning to manage my diagnosis. Also have a family history and several anecdotes about not finishing exams since grade school to back this up. Had an upward trend my last two years of undergrad and in my SMP (close to a 4.0 for these years). Also worried about stigma and have been advised by several people not to put this for that reason... Maybe could just discuss in interviews or challenge essays?
2. Severe Cytomegalovirus during a semester I didn't perform well // to explain a W grade. My grades were a C- in orgo, W in anatomy, C in anatomy lab, and 2 As in gen eds. I don't want them to roll their eyes and think this isn't really relevant to the impactful experiences section. Or that I can't handle being sick, but I was hospitalized for this. This is what I have written for context/advice:
During the spring of 2019, I developed a severe case of cytomegalovirus (CMV), a virus with mononucleosis-like symptoms. Right before one of my anatomy and physiology exams, I was hospitalized for an extremely high fever and severe symptoms. I was bedridden for several weeks and ultimately decided to withdraw from the course. Once the symptoms started to improve, I still experienced fatigue and weakness for a few months afterward.
While I withdrew from anatomy and physiology due to the timing of my hospitalization and advice from my doctors, I still decided to pursue my other courses. Although I didn't perform as well as I could have this semester and had to retake my organic chemistry class later on, I still made two As and stayed on top of my deadlines. I learned to balance managing my symptoms with completing coursework and attending to my commitments. I also became proficient in consistently communicating with my professors. Due to this experience, I learned the importance of prioritizing my health and managing my stress levels to keep my immune system strong. Once I had recovered, it was rewarding to perform much better in the two courses I retook. Overall, this instilled the confidence that I will be able to overcome challenges that present themselves during medical school.
1. ADHD -- undiagnosed until second semester freshman year. Could explain lower grades during my first two years since I was learning to manage my diagnosis. Also have a family history and several anecdotes about not finishing exams since grade school to back this up. Had an upward trend my last two years of undergrad and in my SMP (close to a 4.0 for these years). Also worried about stigma and have been advised by several people not to put this for that reason... Maybe could just discuss in interviews or challenge essays?
2. Severe Cytomegalovirus during a semester I didn't perform well // to explain a W grade. My grades were a C- in orgo, W in anatomy, C in anatomy lab, and 2 As in gen eds. I don't want them to roll their eyes and think this isn't really relevant to the impactful experiences section. Or that I can't handle being sick, but I was hospitalized for this. This is what I have written for context/advice:
During the spring of 2019, I developed a severe case of cytomegalovirus (CMV), a virus with mononucleosis-like symptoms. Right before one of my anatomy and physiology exams, I was hospitalized for an extremely high fever and severe symptoms. I was bedridden for several weeks and ultimately decided to withdraw from the course. Once the symptoms started to improve, I still experienced fatigue and weakness for a few months afterward.
While I withdrew from anatomy and physiology due to the timing of my hospitalization and advice from my doctors, I still decided to pursue my other courses. Although I didn't perform as well as I could have this semester and had to retake my organic chemistry class later on, I still made two As and stayed on top of my deadlines. I learned to balance managing my symptoms with completing coursework and attending to my commitments. I also became proficient in consistently communicating with my professors. Due to this experience, I learned the importance of prioritizing my health and managing my stress levels to keep my immune system strong. Once I had recovered, it was rewarding to perform much better in the two courses I retook. Overall, this instilled the confidence that I will be able to overcome challenges that present themselves during medical school.
