Should I write the Other Impactful Experiences essay?

[DestinyRoseAndrews]

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My mother almost died freshman year due to being in an underserved area, which caused me to have insomnia and get a few B's, which I recovered from. The experience further motivated me to pursue medicine. After my dad was physically abusive, I developed bipolar II disorder in my Junior year, which has since been managed but required me to withdraw from 4 classes. The experience has given me more empathy for those with health issues. Does writing the essay have merit? Should I say health issues instead of insomnia or bipolar disorder?

 

[MD_Maker]

Students always want to explain away Bs, but it's not really necessary. You don't need to draw attention to your Bs. If your house was up for appraisal, would you draw red circles around every crack in the walls? As for whether to respond to the impactful experience question, if you felt it was a significant part of your life and you want it featured in your story, go ahead. I personally trend away from including personal mental health issues (though it can be well done) just because there is always bias everywhere. "Can this student complete med school? Will they thrive here?"

 

[DestinyRoseAndrews]

Students always want to explain away Bs, but it's not really necessary. You don't need to draw attention to your Bs. If your house was up for appraisal, would you draw red circles around every crack in the walls? As for whether to respond to the impactful experience question, if you felt it was a significant part of your life and you want it featured in your story, go ahead. I personally trend away from including personal mental health issues (though it can be well done) just because there is always bias everywhere. "Can this student complete med school? Will they thrive here?"

I should also mention I took a number of incompletes that year. Would it be better to write health issues?

 

[Mr.Smile12]

The Weather on Your Application Journey | Student Doctor Network | SDN

The weather on your application journey, made up of challenges and systemic barriers, shapes you as an applicant and healthcare provider.

www.studentdoctor.net

Other Impactful Experiences Essay: Explore Your Story | SDN

The Other Impactful Experiences essay, new in 2023 for AMCAS and ERAS, allows applicants to share significant experiences.

www.studentdoctor.net

 

[DestinyRoseAndrews]

So it sounds like what you are saying is I can share the difficulties I have faced and how they have shaped me but not mention my academics or mental health during the time. Would that be correct?

 

[LizzyM]

I think that it is reasonable to say that you needed to take incompletes in 4 courses due to serious health issues that arose during the term. You need not share your diagnosis or the treatment administered. You can say, "I recovered and was able to resume my studies in [month/year or "the following semester" or whatever seems most accurate).

 

[DestinyRoseAndrews]

I like the idea about being honest about my experiences but also not giving diagnoses etc. Maybe I won't get accepted if I'm honest, but I'd rather let adcoms see the big picture to make their decision and, if I need to, apply again after demonstrating further continued good health.

 

[DestinyRoseAndrews]

I think that it is reasonable to say that you needed to take incompletes in 4 courses due to serious health issues that arose during the term. You need not share your diagnosis or the treatment administered. You can say, "I recovered and was able to resume my studies in [month/year or "the following semester" or whatever seems most accurate).

Would being vague be a problem at all?

 

[LizzyM]

Would being vague be a problem at all?

Your personal health information is private. You are not obligated to disclose it. You could have been treated for cancer or inflammatory bowel disease, or major depression. It is not my business if I am interviewing you. I might ask you how you coped with the set-back in your trajectory toward graduation, and you can answer that without disclosing your medical record.

Everyone has biases. The best of us can identify those biases and articulate them but many of us have blinders and don't recognize our own biases. These can include spectrum bias (familiar with a narrow spectrum of a given disease and given the types of patients who seek care at tertiary centers, the bias is often toward the most severely ill), we have biases based on recent experiences with bad outcomes in given circumstances (we had someone die of anorexia nervosa so we have a particular concern about admitting anyone else with that condition), etc. Don't give anyone a reason to be biased against you due to your specific diagnosis.

 

[DestinyRoseAndrews]

Your personal health information is private. You are not obligated to disclose it. You could have been treated for cancer or inflammatory bowel disease, or major depression. It is not my business if I am interviewing you. I might ask you how you coped with the set-back in your trajectory toward graduation, and you can answer that without disclosing your medical record.

Everyone has biases. The best of us can identify those biases and articulate them but many of us have blinders and don't recognize our own biases. These can include spectrum bias (familiar with a narrow spectrum of a given disease and given the types of patients who seek care at tertiary centers, the bias is often toward the most severely ill), we have biases based on recent experiences with bad outcomes in given circumstances (we had someone die of anorexia nervosa so we have a particular concern about admitting anyone else with that condition), etc. Don't give anyone a reason to be biased against you due to your specific diagnosis.

Okay, that makes sense. This diagram shows the idea that physical health extenuating circumstances are better (albeit non-significantly) to no response, and mental health extenuating circumstances are better in acceptability and likeability. Should I write about mental health on my med school app? Examining medical school admissions committee members’ biases regarding mental health conditions Therefore, it seems best that I explain my semesters where I withdrew from classes and had incompletes in the other impactful experiences essay. I pray it works out for the best.

 

[LizzyM]

That is an interesting paper that I've not seen before. However, it was flawed, in my opinion, in that adcom members knew they were being assessed and they may have felt social pressure not to exhibit bias. The real proof of the pudding is in looking at a sample of real applications where some disclosed and others did not.

I do know that no application is perfect and if there is a reason why an adcom member thinks you shouldn't be interviewed, it is likely they can find four other reasons to ding your application and recommend that it be set aside. As a second reader, I was always on the look-out for shaky excuses not to interview and tried to play devil's advocate to counteract those subtle biases.

 

[DestinyRoseAndrews]

That is an interesting paper that I've not seen before. However, it was flawed, in my opinion, in that adcom members knew they were being assessed and they may have felt social pressure not to exhibit bias. The real proof of the pudding is in looking at a sample of real applications where some disclosed and others did not.

I do know that no application is perfect and if there is a reason why an adcom member thinks you shouldn't be interviewed, it is likely they can find four other reasons to ding your application and recommend that it be set aside. As a second reader, I was always on the look-out for shaky excuses not to interview and tried to play devil's advocate to counteract those subtle biases.

Well, that is kind of you.

 

[DestinyRoseAndrews]

That is an interesting paper that I've not seen before. However, it was flawed, in my opinion, in that adcom members knew they were being assessed and they may have felt social pressure not to exhibit bias. The real proof of the pudding is in looking at a sample of real applications where some disclosed and others did not.

I do know that no application is perfect and if there is a reason why an adcom member thinks you shouldn't be interviewed, it is likely they can find four other reasons to ding your application and recommend that it be set aside. As a second reader, I was always on the look-out for shaky excuses not to interview and tried to play devil's advocate to counteract those subtle biases.

What can prevent an adcom from thinking one shouldn't be interviewed that is in one's power?

 

[LizzyM]

What can prevent an adcom from thinking one shouldn't be interviewed that is in one's power?

Everything you submit for review, and the people you choose to write letters on your behalf, are within your power. The adcom and admissions staff need to whittle down the stack of applications to a very small proportion who will be interviewed (see MSAR for figures by school - I think those numbers are there). You review applications and choose the the 1/3rd (or even 1/7th) who should get the nod. It is not easy.

 

[DestinyRoseAndrews]

Everything you submit for review, and the people you choose to write letters on your behalf, are within your power. The adcom and admissions staff need to whittle down the stack of applications to a very small proportion who will be interviewed (see MSAR for figures by school - I think those numbers are there). You review applications and choose the the 1/3rd (or even 1/7th) who should get the nod. It is not easy.

I suppose that's where the merit of reapplication, if necessary, comes in.

 

[candbgirl]

I suppose that's where the merit of reapplication, if necessary, comes in.

Why do you think reapplication is easier? A reapplicant has to show significant growth and improvement in their application. And you usually don’t get much , if any, feedback from the various schools on why you were rejected.
Just a few facts: each application cycle only around 40% of all applicants are accepted to a med school,and of that number about half are accepted to only one school. This means that around 60% of all applicants are out right rejected each cycle and this includes applicants with stellar applications.
Applying to med school is a crap shoot. You have to build an application that presents yourself in the best possible light. You want your reviewers to think “I’d love to meet this person” .
Good luck as you move forward.

 

[DestinyRoseAndrews]

Just statistically speaking you have more chances of getting in the more you try. Maybe the first time you almost got in but there were just too many good options that were just like you, but the second time you might stand out more. Of course, in the meantime, addressing your weaknesses is imperative. Thanks for the well wishes.

 

[gyngyn]

Just statistically speaking you have more chances of getting in the more you try. Maybe the first time you almost got in but there were just too many good options that were just like you, but the second time you might stand out more. Of course, in the meantime, addressing your weaknesses is imperative. Thanks for the well wishes.

Many fine schools will only consider two applications.
Others get their "best" applicants on a second application.
That said, a year of continuous rejection is expensive, both fiscally and emotionally
Anyone who has experienced it will advise you to put forth your best possible application the first (and hopefully only) time.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Just statistically speaking you have more chances of getting in the more you try. Maybe the first time you almost got in but there were just too many good options that were just like you, but the second time you might stand out more. Of course, in the meantime, addressing your weaknesses is imperative. Thanks for the well wishes.

It's also true statistically if you apply to all 100+ medical schools once. Is applying like buying 10,000 Powerball tickets? That's not how medical school admissions works.

I know a few stories and a few we have posted historically on SDN of people who applied 4x or more for their first A. It's not common, and the situations were unique, but growth was demonstrated throughout.

 

[DestinyRoseAndrews]

Just statistically speaking you have more chances of getting in the more you try.

Many fine schools will only consider two applications.
Others get their "best" applicants on a second application.
That said, a year of continuous rejection is expensive, both fiscally and emotionally
Anyone who has experienced it will advise you to put forth your best possible application the first (and hopefully only) time.

I agree its best to not have to deal with all of that. I guess I am going up against the idea that if you are rejected your first time, you are not supposed to become a doctor. It might be true, but with the extreme competitiveness of medical school admissions, I feel their are many applicants who don't get in their first time who become excellent doctors. In fact, I know some of them. While I would really like to be accepted this first time, I don't plan on applying to too many schools, so there is a higher probability I won't get accepted. In that case, I will apply to more schools next time, if that happens, God forbid. I feel that being okay with reapplying makes the process a little less stressful as I put my best foot forward.

 

[DestinyRoseAndrews]

It's also true statistically if you apply to all 100+ medical schools once. Is applying like buying 10,000 Powerball tickets? That's not how medical school admissions works.

I know a few stories and a few we have posted historically on SDN of people who applied 4x or more for their first A. It's not common, and the situations were unique, but growth was demonstrated throughout.

I am not in favor of playing the lottery in any form. You are right that medical school is more nuanced than that. I am in favor of persistence and growth though.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

I am not in favor of playing the lottery in any form. You are right that medical school is more nuanced than that. I am in favor of persistence and growth though.

Just saying...

Queen’s University introduces lottery to competitive medical school admissions

Students hoping to gain acceptance to the MD program beginning September 2025 will, if they meet set admission thresholds, be placed in a lottery to determine who gets invited to an interview.

www.thestar.com

 

[Mr.Smile12]

I agree its best to not have to deal with all of that. I guess I am going up against the idea that if you are rejected your first time, you are not supposed to become a doctor. It might be true, but with the extreme competitiveness of medical school admissions, I feel their are many applicants who don't get in their first time who become excellent doctors. In fact, I know some of them. While I would really like to be accepted this first time, I don't plan on applying to too many schools, so there is a higher probability I won't get accepted. In that case, I will apply to more schools next time, if that happens, God forbid. I feel that being okay with reapplying makes the process a little less stressful as I put my best foot forward.

We've gone off-topic, but I wanted to say that medical school admissions doesn't work like that (for now). If you aren't accepted, then admissions committees do not feel you are ready for their medical school right now. Reapplicants who demonstrate significant improvement and are ready (and not a failure risk at worst) get accepted.

Mission Fit: Key to Your Success | Student Doctor Network | SDN

All medical schools have a stated mission. Understanding how you fit into that mission helps you focus your application for success.

www.studentdoctor.net

 

[DestinyRoseAndrews]

Just saying...

Queen’s University introduces lottery to competitive medical school admissions

Students hoping to gain acceptance to the MD program beginning September 2025 will, if they meet set admission thresholds, be placed in a lottery to determine who gets invited to an interview.

www.thestar.com

I guess they had to make it easier for them somehow. They do have a rigorous interview process though.

 

[DestinyRoseAndrews]

We've gone off-topic, but I wanted to say that medical school admissions doesn't work like that (for now). If you aren't accepted, then admissions committees do not feel you are ready for their medical school right now. Reapplicants who demonstrate significant improvement and are ready (and not a failure risk at worst) get accepted.

Mission Fit: Key to Your Success | Student Doctor Network | SDN

All medical schools have a stated mission. Understanding how you fit into that mission helps you focus your application for success.

www.studentdoctor.net

I like your article. It makes me feel better, since I do align with the mission fit of my dream school. As said ealier, persistence in significant personal growth should be emphasized.

Back to the topic, I think incorporating growth through the hard times and showing that growth would be beneficial, no? Perhaps they may need to see another year or two of stability in health with full time responsibilities. If so, let them see it. I wouldn't want to go to medical school if they didn't think it wise for me to then either. However, if after reading my story they see growth, I'm willing to take on the challenge by God's grace.

 

[DestinyRoseAndrews]

I wrote the essay and got accepted! Thank you guys!