Previously attended medical program & applying to med school.

[KoreanFoodLover]

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Hi everyone.

I previously attended a 7 year guaranteed admission program and withdrew early in my third year due to mental health illness that was undiagnosed at the time.

My grades were still great at the time, I just could not figure out what was going on. I was even hospitalized but eventually figured it out and am stable now. I was about 19 if that matters.

Anyways. From your experience, would it be tougher for me to get into medical school with this history? I feel I should be honest and transparent through the application process but it might hurt my chances...? I know it's super competitive out here and want to know the reality of my situation.

Why would a med school bank on you again if you left a med program the first time?

Kinda stats :

Sociology Major with nearly all biology and chem recommended and required pre-reqs since the med program required it. Already have my B.A. Graduated 2016. Worked a year at an EHR company making nice money and teaching docs and nurses how to use EHR during live births and surgeries etc.

GPA 3.5 and science GPA (3.4) will be higher after Biochem and year of Physics. I have loads of patient interaction and doctor shadowing/docent learning through our program. Plenty of volunteer, leadership and organization experiences too.

I estimate MCAT score of 510

Thanks.

P.S ~ I expect some discouraging / tough love / maybe trolly type answers in addition to possibly helpful ones.

 

[SpoiledMilk]

@LizzyM @Catalystik @Goro @gyngyn

 

[Goro]

OP, was the illness mental-health related? If so, I'd like to see some evidence that you could handle the pressure cooker of med school.
If not, illness is the thing for me that I'd cut some slack to a person who had to leave a medical program.

Your being in a 7 year program is a special case. You weren't actually in the med school part yet, were you?

 

[KoreanFoodLover]

OP, was the illness mental-health related? If so, I'd like to see some evidence that you could handle the pressure cooker of med school.
If not, illness is the thing for me that I'd cut some slack to a person who had to leave a medical program.

Your being in a 7 year program is a special case. You weren't actually in the med school part yet, were you?

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Yes it was a mental health case. What are some ways I can show that I can handle it? Take an intense course load this upcoming year? I believe that if I were aware that I had a condition then I would not have withdrew. I would have been on my way to meds and therapy and continue classes or asked for a break.

I honestly do not think I was in the med school part. Is this something that my previous program gets to decide? I was not in rotations, had not even come close to taking pharm or upper level med classes. Simply fundamentals and biochem at the time. I was in my 3/7 year of the guaranteed admission program and 2/6 year of the 6 year med program we were guaranteed admission in.

Thank you for your reply.

 

[Goro]

Yes it was a mental health case. What are some ways I can show that I can handle it? Take an intense course load this upcoming year?

Yes, exactly.