physical limitations

[LINYKid]

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Ok so I hate 'starting' threads and usually don’t have to b/c someone usually starts a thread with what I am thinking


i have some 'physical limitations' due to many major ortho and nerve surgeries during college [which is also a reason for low gpa] but here is my problem i don’t have a 100% recovery from these and may have some difficulty with omn labs do you think this will effect me negatively upon admissions committees [esp. nycom]. For example I don’t have full range of motion. I hope this wont be considered another strike against me.

 

[dr.kicia]

Ok so I hate 'starting' threads and usually don’t have to b/c someone usually starts a thread with what I am thinking


i have some 'physical limitations' due to many major ortho and nerve surgeries during college [which is also a reason for low gpa] but here is my problem i don’t have a 100% recovery from these and may have some difficulty with omn labs do you think this will effect me negatively upon admissions committees [esp. nycom]. For example I don’t have full range of motion. I hope this wont be considered another strike against me.

well...it all depends.
i suggest you read "technical standards" for addmission that you can find on any med school's web site and decide if any of these are related to your "physical limitations."
here is an example of the technical standards (from CCOM's website):

Accordingly, the following abilities and expectations must be met by all students admitted to CCOM with reasonable accommodation:

*Sufficient postural control, neuromuscular control, and hand-eye coordination to utilize standard medical instruments and sufficient control over upper extremities to perform an osteopathic structural examination, a complete physical examination, and osteopathic manipulative therapy;
Sufficient neuromuscular control and function to meet the physical requirements to train as an osteopathic physician, including the performance of diagnostic procedures, anatomy dissection, and laboratory work involving use of a microscope;
*The high degree of coordination, motor, and visual skills required to function adequately in the clinical setting in order to respond promptly and appropriately to medical emergencies;
*Sufficient visual and auditory perception and the mental capacity to assimilate large volumes of technically detailed and complex information presented in lectures and in clinical settings;
*Sufficient acuity of the eyes and ears, as well as the central and peripheral nervous system, to perform those varied physical functions and technical examinations required of a physician; examinations that enable the physician to acquire sufficient factual material to accurately assess a patient’s health status by being able to distinguish normal from the abnormal.

 

[Dr.Inviz]

id try to downplay that the best i could if i wanted admissions into a DO school, or even an MD school. You dont want to give them any reason to knock you out because of the seriousness behind it.

 

[Trevelyan]

I think the only help I can offer is to let you know that Western University does not have technical standards. They had a completely blind individual graduate their DO program.

 

[Dr.Inviz]

I think the only help I can offer is to let you know that Western University does not have technical standards. They had a completely blind individual graduate their DO program.

no offense, but how can the blind get into medical school and then become a physician?

 

[LINYKid]

id try to downplay that the best i could if i wanted admissions into a DO school, or even an MD school. You dont want to give them any reason to knock you out because of the seriousness behind it.

while i am still about a yr away from interviews and such i am torn between mentioning it as a partial reason for my low grades during a certain period [due to a large amt of surgeries] but i dont want it to hinder me in admissions.

my family doctor who is a do has been giving me advice and while i dont have 100% range and such and may have some difficulties but im not looking to go into surgery as a speciality. probably fam practice or peds.

i found this on nycom's website in one of the handbooks
'NYCOM is committed to making its programs accessible to all qualified students. Reasonable accommodations will be made when necessary. In determining what constitutes a reasonable accommodation, the College will consider costs of the requested accommodation and the impact on
the educational program. NYCOM will evaluate each situation on an individual basis. Once acceptedfor admission, students must take responsibility for providing appropriate documentation of theirdisability and requesting accommodations. The documentation must clearly identify the disabilityand also provide specific information on the disability and any accommodations needed to remediatethe disability. A student who requires an accommodation must make it known to the Director ofStudent Life before the accommodation is needed. The accommodations will be implemented by the
academic departments.
NYCOM reserves the right to ask for specific types of documentation.'

i know thats pretty vanilla and most schools have to put in someonthing similar to this. i dont classify myself as disabled but glad to get peoples 2 cents on this topic

 

[dr.kicia]

while i am still about a yr away from interviews and such i am torn between mentioning it as a partial reason for my low grades during a certain period [due to a large amt of surgeries] but i dont want it to hinder me in admissions.

my family doctor who is a do has been giving me advice and while i dont have 100% range and such and may have some difficulties but im not looking to go into surgery as a speciality. probably fam practice or peds.

i found this on nycom's website in one of the handbooks
'NYCOM is committed to making its programs accessible to all qualified students. Reasonable accommodations will be made when necessary. In determining what constitutes a reasonable accommodation, the College will consider costs of the requested accommodation and the impact on
the educational program. NYCOM will evaluate each situation on an individual basis. Once acceptedfor admission, students must take responsibility for providing appropriate documentation of theirdisability and requesting accommodations. The documentation must clearly identify the disabilityand also provide specific information on the disability and any accommodations needed to remediatethe disability. A student who requires an accommodation must make it known to the Director ofStudent Life before the accommodation is needed. The accommodations will be implemented by the
academic departments.
NYCOM reserves the right to ask for specific types of documentation.'

i know thats pretty vanilla and most schools have to put in someonthing similar to this. i dont classify myself as disabled but glad to get peoples 2 cents on this topic

well if you think that your condition may 'show up' in any way while you in med school then i wouldn't lie to adcoms or try to hide it. Honesty always works the best. Besides if it is something that can use "reasonable accomodation" then not admitting you to a program because of your disability would be against the law (google Americans with Disabilities Act).
I think that you should just be honest and make it into a heack of a personal statement.
good luck.

 

[mshheaddoc]

You could always contact them now and find out if it would be a problem ...

 

[JonnyG]

You can't have it both ways: If you want to use it to your advantage (explaining the low gpa), it can be used against you. If they are observant physicians who interview you they will notice the decreased ROM. Might as well be honest and have a pratical answer about why you can stilll do this.

 

[DoctorMom78]

You can't have it both ways: If you want to use it to your advantage (explaining the low gpa), it can be used against you. If they are observant physicians who interview you they will notice the decreased ROM. Might as well be honest and have a pratical answer about why you can stilll do this.

I agree. I would be honest. I actually have some concerns about OMM because I have really bad arthritis and it affects my hands. I currently can't open a bottle of soda right now. 🙁 It goes through periods where it is not so bad and I feel that I will be able to make adjustments to be able to learn OMM. I don't know how much your problem still affects you, but I think that you will probably be able to do most of the things you need to. You may have to work harded or suffer a little, but I think you can probably do it. Do you have an interview at NYCOM? I was impressed with the school when I went, but it was not the right place for me. I can see why so many people love NYCOM though. PM me if you want. Good luck with everything!

 

[jbayne04]

There is a physician in my hometown who is blind (and was at the time of matriculation). He is very well-known and respected. He must have found a way in somehow...my suggestion would be to show how you have overcome your difficulty and still succeeded (academics, volunteering, ECs, etc) and to have LORs from physicians who know of your circumstances and believe you can complete a program and practice medicine. Best of luck!

 

[AustinFinklea]

while i am still about a yr away from interviews and such i am torn between mentioning it as a partial reason for my low grades during a certain period [due to a large amt of surgeries] but i dont want it to hinder me in admissions.

my family doctor who is a do has been giving me advice and while i dont have 100% range and such and may have some difficulties but im not looking to go into surgery as a speciality. probably fam practice or peds.

i found this on nycom's website in one of the handbooks
'NYCOM is committed to making its programs accessible to all qualified students. Reasonable accommodations will be made when necessary. In determining what constitutes a reasonable accommodation, the College will consider costs of the requested accommodation and the impact on
the educational program. NYCOM will evaluate each situation on an individual basis. Once acceptedfor admission, students must take responsibility for providing appropriate documentation of theirdisability and requesting accommodations. The documentation must clearly identify the disabilityand also provide specific information on the disability and any accommodations needed to remediatethe disability. A student who requires an accommodation must make it known to the Director ofStudent Life before the accommodation is needed. The accommodations will be implemented by the
academic departments.
NYCOM reserves the right to ask for specific types of documentation.'

i know thats pretty vanilla and most schools have to put in someonthing similar to this. i dont classify myself as disabled but glad to get peoples 2 cents on this topic

I agree with many of the posters.............down play your physical problems as much as you can. The last thing you want to do is give adcoms any evidence of such a severe weakness which would affect grades, etc as it may serve the same function in med school, causing you to struggle just as bad. I dont think many adcoms would accept a student if they knew that the individuals physical limitations would cause them to struggle and fall behind in their studies, etc. This is very unfair; nevertheless, things may pan out this way if you do this. I am very sorry for your struggles........I have seen a friend go through some similar problems.

I would somehow try to tie these problems into how they have helped you to overcome certain things in your life. I would not give any excuses for poor grades. Good Luck to you.....🙂

 

[DoctorMom78]

I agree with many of the posters.............down play your physical problems as much as you can. The last thing you want to do is give adcoms any evidence of such a severe weakness which would affect grades, etc as it may serve the same function in med school, causing you to struggle just as bad. I dont think many adcoms would accept a student if they knew that the individuals physical limitations would cause them to struggle and fall behind in their studies, etc. This is very unfair; nevertheless, things may pan out this way if you do this. I am very sorry for your struggles........I have seen a friend go through some similar problems.

I would somehow try to tie these problems into how they have helped you to overcome certain things in your life. I would not give any excuses for poor grades. Good Luck to you.....🙂

I disagree. While you don't want to sound whiny or like you are making excuses, if you had something that you overcame that affected your academic performance, then I think you need to address it. I was REALLY sick for two and a half years. No one was quite sure what was wrong but there were times when doctors thought that I had MS, Guillian-Barre, Lupus, and many other things. It was to the point that I thought I was going to end up on disability. I was finally diagnosed this past summer with chronic Lyme disease. My Lyme disease coupled with two pregancies absolutely impacted my GPA and my MCAT. I know that my LORs talked about it a little bit as well. While I did not dwell on it or whine and make excuses about it, I did breifly mention it in my interviews as well as my personal statement. I think that it speaks for my strength and character that I did not quit school or give up when all this was going on. I think that if you have a situation like that, the schools need to know about it. It shows that you are able to overcome adversity.🙂

 

[AustinFinklea]

I disagree. While you don't want to sound whiny or like you are making excuses, if you had something that you overcame that affected your academic performance, then I think you need to address it. I was REALLY sick for two and a half years. No one was quite sure what was wrong but there were times when doctors thought that I had MS, Guillian-Barre, Lupus, and many other things. It was to the point that I thought I was going to end up on disability. I was finally diagnosed this past summer with chronic Lyme disease. My Lyme disease coupled with two pregancies absolutely impacted my GPA and my MCAT. I know that my LORs talked about it a little bit as well. While I did not dwell on it or whine and make excuses about it, I did breifly mention it in my interviews as well as my personal statement. I think that it speaks for my strength and character that I did not quit school or give up when all this was going on. I think that if you have a situation like that, the schools need to know about it. It shows that you are able to overcome adversity.🙂

True!!! I was more referring to the fact that adcoms might not be so understanding as they should be. It must be a horrible thing to endure so many problems like these, and to trust that those who make your acceptance/rejection decisions would fully understand why there were problems in school, family, MCAT, etc may be a risky thing..........some may completely understand and some may not. Obviously DocMom, I am very glad that adcoms understood your struggles, otherwise I wouldnt have the privilege of you being my classmate.🙂

I couldnt agree more with the original poster, in terms of understanding (or trying to understand) their motive for wanting to forewarn adcoms of their conditions. I, myself, would be pissed if I tried to have someone understand my situation and have them look past it or treat it inconsequentially. My comments were based on the fact that one just doesnt know how people (adcoms) will react to it, thats all.

 

[Trevelyan]

no offense, but how can the blind get into medical school and then become a physician?

They came up with alternate touch based exams for classes like anatomy, and they allowed him to use intermediaries as well. He was also permitted to utilize intermediaries to answer questions one would ask of themselves while trying to make a diagnosis. So he is using another's eyes just to ascertain information he could not on his own, but he is the one still making the diagnosis.

Furthermore, they realize that if he can function as a psychiatrist, then he should not be held back from doing so, because of requirements which would have him perform tasks that are not relevant to working as a psychiatrist.