Should I add an addendum to my app for my injury?

[jacobzd]

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Towards the beginning of March I tore my ACL, MCL, and both the medial and lateral meniscus of my knee during a basketball tournament. I had to immediately stop my regular shadowing routine (I have 80 hours, but was on pace for 100, maybe 120), stop my research temporarily, stop my regular volunteering, and turn down a medical scribe job I was just offered. I just had surgery and I am looking at another 2 months of very little mobility.


I am taking the MCAT May 8th and applying to medical school this June. Do you guys think that this warrants making an addendum in my application? Explaining why my app is missing some things I would have liked to have had one it. Or should I just leave this alone?

Thanks everyone!

 

[Mr Roboto]

Maybe mention in your PS as a something you had to overcome? Not sure it needs an addendum on top of the PS. That's plenty of shadowing.

Towards the beginning of March I tore my ACL, MCL, and both the medial and lateral meniscus of my knee during a basketball tournament. I had to immediately stop my regular shadowing routine (I have 80 hours, but was on pace for 100, maybe 120), stop my research temporarily, stop my regular volunteering, and turn down a medical scribe job I was just offered. I just had surgery and I am looking at another 2 months of very little mobility.


I am taking the MCAT May 8th and applying to medical school this June. Do you guys think that this warrants making an addendum in my application? Explaining why my app is missing some things I would have liked to have had one it. Or should I just leave this alone?

Thanks everyone!

 

[Catalystik]

If three months less of planned activities seriously imperils your chances for success, you probably aren't ready to apply this season anyway. Leave it alone. You have a good explanation if asked. And you already have more than enough shadowing.

 

[jacobzd]

Maybe mention in your PS as a something you had to overcome? Not sure it needs an addendum on top of the PS. That's plenty of shadowing.

Interesting idea, I'll consider doing that. Thanks!

 

[jacobzd]

If three months less of planned activities seriously imperils your chances for success, you probably aren't ready to apply this season anyway. Leave it alone. You have a good explanation if asked. And you already have more than enough shadowing.

Thanks! I think you bring up a good point. If I used this injury as an excuse for lack of ECs it could potentially weaken my application because as you said, three months or less shouldn't really be that detrimental to my success as an applicant.

 

[AliciaAccepted]

You could write about it in your personal statement strategically. Meaning that you could describe the experience of being a patient and having a completely different perspective of medicine as a result. Have you been impressed with any of the doctors who took care of your injuries or your surgery? If so, why?

I would recommend that you include the experience in your personal statement but not as an excuse for not having completed more activities. How has the experience of being injured and going through surgery changed the way that you would practice medicine? What have you most appreciated about your doctors or what would you do completely differently? The experience can provide you with more information about what you would bring to medicine. Journal! Write about how you're feeling every day. Describe doctor visits. Detail what was helpful and what wasn't. Later you can use this material to help you write an incredible personal statement that reflects realistic and hard earned insight.

After reading thousands of personal statements, I've learned that it's the authentic and genuine essays that readers most appreciate. I hope this is helpful! Get better soon!

 

[jacobzd]

Thank you AliciaAccepted! That is very good idea, maybe I will see if I can work this into my PS. Thanks a lot, very helpful response!