MD Take a leave of absence or just power on through?

[Buzzwacket]

---

Members do not see this ad.

First of all, thanks for reading, I plan on discussing this situation with my school's administration but I was wondering if anyone in a similar situation could share their experience.

I'm a non-trad second year U.S. student that's constantly been in the lower ~30-40% of the class and was diagnosed with ADHD years ago but is not taking any medication because I found the traditional adderall/Ritalin medication was too harsh, and I thought I could "outgrow it".

I delayed my Step by 2 months because I was doing bad on my NBMEs and I'm supposed to take it in 17 days. But I scored a 194, which is around what I scored in May. The highest score I've ever scored on an NBME (out of the 4 I've taken) is 205. I've continuously just put it off thinking that I just did "bad" on this particular one. But now it's clear to me that something isn't working, either my study habits or my lack of focus. I've been doing UWorld/Sketchy/Pathoma.

I'm planning on talking to the administration but I think the only option is to take a year off since I've already delayed Step. The only other option is powering through and maybe get something like a 200 or 210 (at best, maybe?).

So in summary:

1. Take a year off, maybe try some atypical medication for ADHD and figure my **** out, but have to explain to residency why I took a year off, maybe get a decent Step score. Maybe do better during 3rd/4th year with medication.

2. Just power through, maybe get a 200 and go through 3rd/4th year possibly being demoralized over my future choices.

Any thoughts on what I should do, and has someone else gone though a similar ordeal?

I would appreciate any advice, thank you so much for reading.

Edit: Talked to the administration and I'm taking a Medical LOA. Has anyone had any experience with how residency directors look at it? Thanks.

 

[ciestar]

You’re at risk for not even passing with those NBME scores. I would talk to your student affairs people about possibly postponing more. I got a 211 on Step 1, so my perspective might vary from others on here. Won’t lie, it sucked and still sucks.

But ADHD is a mental health issue and like any other, you must get it sorted out before continuing on through the rest of med school.

 

[Buzzwacket]

You’re at risk for not even passing with those NBME scores. I would talk to your student affairs people about possibly postponing more. I got a 211 on Step 1, so my perspective might vary from others on here. Won’t lie, it sucked and still sucks.

But ADHD is a mental health issue and like any other, you must get it sorted out before continuing on through the rest of med school.

Thanks for the advice, I will talk to student affairs about postponing more.

 

[Goro]

First of all, thanks for reading, I plan on discussing this situation with my school's administration but I was wondering if anyone in a similar situation could share their experience.

I'm a non-trad second year U.S. student that's constantly been in the lower ~30-40% of the class and was diagnosed with ADHD-PI years ago but is not taking any medication because I found the traditional adderall/Ritalin medication was too harsh, and I thought I could "outgrow it".

I delayed my Step by 2 months because I was doing bad on my NBMEs and I'm supposed to take it in 17 days. But I scored a 194, which is around what I scored in May. The highest score I've ever scored on an NBME (out of the 4 I've taken) is 205. I've continuously just put it off thinking that I just did "bad" on this particular one. But now it's clear to me that something isn't working, either my study habits or my lack of focus. I've been doing UWorld/Sketchy/Pathoma.

I'm planning on talking to the administration but I think the only option is to take a year off since I've already delayed Step. The only other option is powering through and maybe get something like a 200 or 210 (at best, maybe?).

So in summary:

1. Take a year off, maybe try some atypical medication for ADHD-PI and figure my **** out, but have to explain to residency why I took a year off, maybe get a decent Step score. Maybe do better during 3rd/4th year with medication.

2. Just power through, maybe get a 200 and go through 3rd/4th year possibly being demoralized over my future choices.

Any thoughts on what I should do, and has someone else gone though a similar ordeal?

I would appreciate any advice, thank you so much for reading.

If you were my student, I'd advise you to take a LOA and go heal. I've found that people who try to "power through" end up doing poorly. Stap II is a high stakes/career deciding exam, Don't trifle with it.

 

[Buzzwacket]

If you were my student, I'd advise you to take a LOA and go heal. I've found that people who try to "power through" end up doing poorly. Stap II is a high stakes/career deciding exam, Don't trifle with it.

Thanks Goro, looks like LOA might be the best thing to do. I've still got 3rd and 4th year and Step 2 like you said. I think I would be in a better place overall and a better future physician if I was functioning at my best during the rest of medical school. Will talk to the admin today.

One thing I was wondering is in your experience, how do residency directors generally look at a LOA? If you have stellar clinical evals and a decent Step 1 and Step 2 score, would a LOA "tarnish" your application for something not super competitive?

Thanks again.

 

[kb1900]

A) take a loa, manage ADHD (mental health) and have to explain loa with a 220-230+. Maybe even higher if you’re basically getting a extra year

B) risk barely passing (or even failing) with unmanaged adhd that continues to haunt you and limit your performance thru 3rd year, shelf exams, step 2 and 4th year

I say option A by a long shot. A LOA to manage your adhd issues does not “tarnish” your app as much as a barely passing score explained by unmanaged mental health issues. The latter is basically evidence of high risk behavior and poor self care

 

[Buzzwacket]

A) take a loa, manage ADHD (mental health) and have to explain loa with a 220-230+. Maybe even higher if you’re basically getting a extra year

B) risk barely passing (or even failing) with unmanaged adhd that continues to haunt you and limit your performance thru 3rd year, shelf exams, step 2 and 4th year

I say option A by a long shot. A LOA to manage your adhd issues does not “tarnish” your app as much as a barely passing score explained by unmanaged mental health issues. The latter is basically evidence of high risk behavior and poor self care

Thanks for the input. I guess dealing with this issue is something that I've just put off for the longest time, hoping that I could cope with it or that I would outgrow it. It just seems like it's not the case and I have to deal with it.

You are right, it is pretty high risk behavior and poor self care.

 

[Goro]

Thanks Goro, looks like LOA might be the best thing to do. I've still got 3rd and 4th year and Step 2 like you said. I think I would be in a better place overall and a better future physician if I was functioning at my best during the rest of medical school. Will talk to the admin today.

One thing I was wondering is in your experience, how do residency directors generally look at a LOA? If you have stellar clinical evals and a decent Step 1 and Step 2 score, would a LOA "tarnish" your application for something not super competitive?

Thanks again.

I'll leave to our wise attendings and residents to comment on how LOAs are viewed.