Personal medical experiences do they help?

[jjmack]

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Hey,

I've had the misfortune of having to deal with dealing with some medical problems through out my life due to being born three months premature. Do admission committees consider this when they look at applicants? I think it may allow me to be better at not loosing site of the patient.

Tale Care

 

[Dr. Dodger Dog]

i definitely think that this is something you should discuss in your personal statement, especially if it has motivated you to become a physician. I think adcoms will definitely consider these hardships when trying to place your accomplishments in proper context. My own personal statement dealt with the medical issues I had to deal with while growing up and how they have motivated to become a physician.

 

[uniqueseraph]

To echo what's been said, I think you should mention it in your personal statement as a motivation factor. Perhaps it's helped you realized you want to be a physician. Adcoms definitely look at your personal history and the personal statement is where they usually look for it so put it there. Good luck!🙂

 

[skiracer123]

I've heard that medical problems definitely help you. I've been hammering nails into my leg for like 2 months now. I've heard kids who want to go to Harvard or JHU amputate fingers, ears...etc, but I'm not really the cut-throat pre med type.

What do you think my chances are? I've got a 3.5 from a good school, 32 MCAT and like 6 nails sticking out of my thigh.

 

[Sonya]

lol skiracer... 😀

If you think it's been a major influencing factor, mention it.

Just think how it affected you, and weigh it with what else you want to put.

Sonya

 

[canadagirl]

lol skiracer, also..

If it's something important to you, then sure, include it in your statement. But, personally, I wouldn't expect it to be a huge deciding factor. It's pretty common for people to cite examples of personal illness/friends' illness/family members' illness in their statements, I would think. What would be more important (in my opinion) would be the same things that are important with any other example you cite - what you learned from it, how eloquently you can express it, etc.

 

[Cydney Foote]

The whole point of your personal statement is to stand out and catch the attention of the admissions committee. So many applicants write about their exposure to medical problems -- either in themselves or others -- that this topic in itself does not distinguish you.

However, this topic could become an extraordinary essays if it was infused with your personality -- both the big events and the nuances that make you who you are. If this is something that has truly affected your life, and you can write about it in a compelling way, then it could be a great essay.

Good luck!

 

[DoctorWannaBe]

For those of you who are mentioning personal health problems, do you worry about the admissions committees holding this against you (if it is something that could affect your ability to be a doctor)? I wrote about a personal health problem in my personal statement and my pre-med advisor said I should take it out because the adcoms might use it as a reason to reject me because they might think I won't be able to handle the rigors of med school. However, I think it was a big influence on my desire to become a doctor and I did write about all the things I learned from the experience that will make me a better doctor. So I don't think I want to eliminate it, but I would like some advice on how all of you are handling this in your personal statement. Thanks!

 

[Neuronix]

DWB, your story makes me wonder what it is. I'm sure in most cases the answer would be no for a couple reasons. First, it provides a concrete reason and motiviation for medicine. Second, adcoms are always looking for "diverse" applicants, those that stand apart from the crowd in some way. Dealing with a medical problem is one way that can happen. Third, I am a firm believer that patients or former patients make the best doctors.

I have never had to deal with any major health issues with me, except psychiatric stuff which explains my dislike for behavioral therapy. However, my parents both have had major health issues that have pushed my life in the direction it has. I have met others who have a schizophrenic parent, and they wonder if the adcoms will hold it against them, as if they are in line to become schizophrenic as well. The answer is NO.

Feel free to PM me if you want to talk more about it. Too many pre-med counselors are clueless.

Good luck!

 

[coredump]

Originally posted by DoctorWannaBe
For those of you who are mentioning personal health problems, do you worry about the admissions committees holding this against you (if it is something that could affect your ability to be a doctor)?

I also wondered about this. But, I think doing this would be a violation of the Disabilities Act (just my guess here). If employers can't discriminate against disabilities, I don't see why medical schools should be able to. However, many medical schools do have caveats saying that it is assumed you can physically handle the rigors of medical school. So, I'm not sure how they reconcile the two.

I also agree with Neuronix: health issues (particularly long-term ones) do tend to breed compassion, understanding, and especially empathy in affected individuals. I imagine patients also have more trust/faith in physicians that actually know how it feels to be on the "other side."