Ruining my chances?

[hello4]

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Hi everyone. I have a question that I have been going back and forth with and any input at all would be really helpful. I am in the middle of an AmeriCorps service year that has been a key part of my medical school applications/interviews (both MD and DO). I'm really passionate about what I do, but I have been struggling a lot with my mental health. As a result, I've been thinking about leaving early to focus on getting better.

I have tried my best to tough it out, but I feel like I'm nearing a breaking point and my coworkers can cover my absence so the children I serve will be OK. To complicate things further, I listed on my primary application that I would be doing this until May (when Atlanta public schools break for summer) and I'm worried that by leaving early, I would ruin my chances at the schools I haven't heard back from yet. Does anybody have suggestions on what I should do? Thank you in advance.

 

[LizzyM]

Would you be asking the same question if you had poorly controlled diabetes or Crohn's disease?
Have you been receiving outpatient services for your current condition? If not, why not? Does your clinician think that you would have a better recovery if you left your post?

It is unlikely that any school you haven't heard from yet will interview you (I'd give you 1 in 10 odds). So, overall, leaving is unlikely to have any effect on the schools that have not yet chosen to interview you. Again, are you getting optimal care as an outpatient? does your clinician advise leaving your position? Are you at a point where day hospital or inpatient care that would preclude working is necessary?

 

[hello4]

Thanks for the reply, LizzyM! To answer your questions, yes I am receiving outpatient care and see a clinician regularly. And she does recommend that I leave since, even though I love what I do, the amount and the nature of the work has made it difficult to focus on getting better. Also, as an additional question, do you think this would affect schools that have already interviewed me and the decisions are pending? Thank you again!

 

[Goro]

The answer is no. But I urge you to approach going to med school with eyes fully open, because med school is a furnace, and I've seen it break even healthy students. The #1 reason my school loses students to LOA, withdrawal or dismissal is due to mental health issues. Is your clinician on board with your going to med school?

Thanks for the reply, LizzyM! To answer your questions, yes I am receiving outpatient care and see a clinician regularly. And she does recommend that I leave since, even though I love what I do, the amount and the nature of the work has made it difficult to focus on getting better. Also, as an additional question, do you think this would affect schools that have already interviewed me and the decisions are pending? Thank you again!

 

[hello4]

Thank you, Goro. I really appreciate your advice. It's been something I've been thinking a lot about and have discussed with my clinician. This condition has been a recent development that has emerged in the past two years, so we feel like now would be a good time to learn how to manage this and try to recover before starting medical school (I currently have an acceptance). I really do believe I can get better given the time and space.

Outside the ton of guilt I feel leaving my students, a major hesitation has been ruining my chances for medical school... Even though I wrote on my AMCAS that I would be working until May, the schools that already interviewed me won't care? Also, it seems like this wouldn't lead to a rescinded offer?

 

[LizzyM]

They are highly unlikely to ever ask or ever learn that you left. Would you fault an applicant with an offer who left a job or volunteer position due to a medical problem that required time off?

 

[hello4]

Thank you both!