Writing about personality disorder in application essay?

[Pio97]

Many application essays ask how the applicant has been faced with hardship in his/her life and how they were able to overcome said hardship. I have a moderate-intense case of Avoidant personality disorder (AvPD) and I can honestly say battling that has been the greatest trial in my life (not gonna lie I am a priviledged white male). Would it be innaproproiate to write about this? I feel wierd talking about it but I think I could articulate it well and it would stay honest to the prompt.

I believe I am a decent candidate otherwise.
Thanks

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[LizzyM]

Many application essays ask how the applicant has been faced with hardship in his/her life and how they were able to overcome said hardship. I have a moderate-intense case of Avoidant personality disorder (AvPD) and I can honestly say battling that has been the greatest trial in my life (not gonna lie I am a priviledged white male). Would it be innaproproiate to write about this? I feel wierd talking about it but I think I could articulate it well and it would stay honest to the prompt.

I believe I am a decent candidate otherwise.
Thanks

Yes. Steer clear of bringing up mental illness in your application.

 

[Doctor Strange]

Always a huge no-no to mention any sort of mental illness.

 

[pre med 2014]

Mental illness is to kept off topic in the PS and at interviews much like religion and politics.

 

[image187]

especially a personality disorder. I'm sorry for what you've had to go through so far with this, but definitely try and avoid bringing that up in interviews and putting in on your application. Aside from that, good luck!

 

[ChartaBona]

During my interview, I briefly mentioned I was "withdrawn" as a morbidly obese 9th grader, and that a pediatrician specialist helped me learn to eat right as well as come out of my shell. My time with that pediatrician ties together otherwise unrelated events (why medicine, EC's, my weight loss, etc.) so I felt it was worth mentioning. I still felt like I was walking a very fine line, but my interviewer was physically there to see I had become a healthy, well-adjusted adult.

Ultimately you have to weigh the pros and cons of anything you put into your application. You don't want to say or write anything that would actually hurt your app. I wouldn't recommend mentioning your Avoidant personality disorder. It will just come across as a red flag imo.

 

[punkedoutriffs]

IMHO, there's a way you can portray the "disorder" in a way that avoids the negative connotations and associations ppl usually have towards "mental illness." That is, do not label it as such. Don't cast it in the light of a medical/clinical perspective, but from a humanist perspective.

 

[image187]

IMHO, there's a way you can portray the "disorder" in a way that avoids the negative connotations and associations ppl usually have towards "mental illness." That is, do not label it as such. Don't cast it in the light of a medical/clinical perspective, but from a humanist perspective.

If someone had depression, ADHD, or even a transient psychosis that was treated on the past, I could totally see this making sense. A personality disorder is a whole different story. They are long-standing, maladaptive patterns of behavior that directly impact the way a person is able to form relationships and interact with others, and they are typically very very hard to treat. I'm not an admissions counselor, but if I was I would have a pretty hard time with an applicant telling me he was diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder but that he was a good fit for the school because blah, blah , blah..., no matter what type of light he tried to cast on it.

 

[music2doc]

Many application essays ask how the applicant has been faced with hardship in his/her life and how they were able to overcome said hardship. I have a moderate-intense case of Avoidant personality disorder (AvPD) and I can honestly say battling that has been the greatest trial in my life (not gonna lie I am a priviledged white male). Would it be innaproproiate to write about this? I feel wierd talking about it but I think I could articulate it well and it would stay honest to the prompt.

I believe I am a decent candidate otherwise.
Thanks

Yes. Steer clear of bringing up mental illness in your application.

Yes... and it's a PD, which makes it FAAAAR worse.

If someone had depression, ADHD, or even a transient psychosis that was treated on the past, I could totally see this making sense. A personality disorder is a whole different story. They are long-standing, maladaptive patterns of behavior that directly impact the way a person is able to form relationships and interact with others, and they are typically very very hard to treat. I'm not an admissions counselor, but if I was I would have a pretty hard time with an applicant telling me he was diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder but that he was a good fit for the school because blah, blah , blah..., no matter what type of light he tried to cast on it.

This.

To be honest, OP, Avoidant PD may make pursuing medicine very difficult. Have you spoken with your psychiatrist and psychologist about your goals? Given the symptoms:

• Be easily hurt when people criticize or disapprove of them
• Hold back too much in intimate relationships
• Be reluctant to become involved with people
• Avoid activities or jobs that involve contact with others
• Be shy in social situations out of fear of doing something wrong
• Make potential difficulties seem worse than they are
• Hold the view they are not good socially, not as good as other people, or unappealing

I would suspect the harsh attitudes of stressed attendings and residents as well as the stress of med school overall would likely make it difficult for you to succeed with that condition. Further, excellent social support is an absolute must and I would have questions as to your ability to quickly create those social supports if you should be forced to move somewhere else for med school (or residency).

 

[pre med 2014]

IMHO, there's a way you can portray the "disorder" in a way that avoids the negative connotations and associations ppl usually have towards "mental illness." That is, do not label it as such. Don't cast it in the light of a medical/clinical perspective, but from a humanist perspective.

This is a very interesting point. If he talks about the diagnosis, auto reject.

However, If he sweet talks it up and says his people skills were a weak point but he turned it around through engagement in university clubs where he developed leadership and communication skills... boom!

 

[Geebeejay]

During my interview, I briefly mentioned I was "withdrawn" as a morbidly obese 9th grader, and that a pediatrician specialist helped me learn to eat right as well as come out of my shell. My time with that pediatrician ties together otherwise unrelated events (why medicine, EC's, my weight loss, etc.) so I felt it was worth mentioning. I still felt like I was walking a very fine line, but my interviewer was physically there to see I had become a healthy, well-adjusted adult.

Ultimately you have to weigh the pros and cons of anything you put into your application. You don't want to say or write anything that would actually hurt your app. I wouldn't recommend mentioning your Avoidant personality disorder. It will just come across as a red flag imo.

Well, if you're not morbidly obese anymore, I don't see this as a problem - but I think this is different. You don't exactly "grow out of" many mental illnesses and personality disorders. When your interviewer hears that you are schizophrenic or manic, he's going to remember his close dealings with his schizophrenic or manic patients, and I bet most of them were not medical school material.

I really think mentioning these disorders is a huge no-no. Having an "episode" when you are supposed to be literally in a position to make life-altering decisions for other people would have catastrophic consequences. Not to mention that you will be in charge of a medical team. Their leader cannot be teetering on the brink of a psychological break during his entire career.

 

[image187]

This is a very interesting point. If he talks about the diagnosis, auto reject.

However, If he sweet talks it up and says his people skills were a weak point but he turned it around through engagement in university clubs where he developed leadership and communication skills... boom!

I think you're really missing the point. Of course, in an ideal world issues that are solely medical would be treated only as so, but a humanistic and holistic approach would be taken for every other issue a person has, having anything to do with any aspect of their character, choices, and life experiences. People get this. Thinking of someone as a "whole person" and not just labeling them as a disease is optimal.

However, this is a person trying to gain admission to a medical school, and if there is any reason for an admissions officer to reject them and choose someone else they most likely will. For people who know about and who have experience working with people affected by personality disorders (every clinician), this may strike an internal chord and cause them to immediately say no. Personality disorders are highly stigmatized (though avoidant maybe the least), and while they can be helped sometimes, they generally cause major problems for those who have them and most people around them. The fact that the poster has insight and is even aware that their personality is the problem in their life and has been willing to work at this problem most likely means their case is not 100% terrible and can possibly be treated and managed to an extent with a lot of help. However, it is STILL probably not wise to attempt to spin this in an interview and make some sort of strength out of it, even if it may be true. This is a highly competitive process and you should do everything possible to help your chances, which means not disclosing optional things that may end up hurting you. Admissions officers most likely do not want to hear anything about personality disorders.

 

[circulus vitios]

Don't ever write about mental illnesses or personality disorders. Only write about physical disabilities if you can spin them in a positive light that relates to medicine.

 

[pre med 2014]

I think you're really missing the point. Of course, in an ideal world issues that are solely medical would be treated only as so, but a humanistic and holistic approach would be taken for every other issue a person has, having anything to do with any aspect of their character, choices, and life experiences. People get this. Thinking of someone as a "whole person" and not just labeling them as a disease is optimal.

However, this is a person trying to gain admission to a medical school, and if there is any reason for an admissions officer to reject them and choose someone else they most likely will. For people who know about and who have experience working with people affected by personality disorders (every clinician), this may strike an internal chord and cause them to immediately say no. Personality disorders are highly stigmatized (though avoidant maybe the least), and while they can be helped sometimes, they generally cause major problems for those who have them and most people around them. The fact that the poster has insight and is even aware that their personality is the problem in their life and has been willing to work at this problem most likely means their case is not 100% terrible and can possibly be treated and managed to an extent with a lot of help. However, it is STILL probably not wise to attempt to spin this in an interview and make some sort of strength out of it, even if it may be true. This is a highly competitive process and you should do everything possible to help your chances, which means not disclosing optional things that may end up hurting you. Admissions officers most likely do not want to hear anything about personality disorders.

I never indicated he should talk about the diagnosis to the medical schools.

5 of 10 personality disorders are being removed from the DSM 4. His particular disorder may not even exist when DSM 5 is published.

 

[RachelElizabeth]

I never indicated he should talk about the diagnosis to the medical schools.

5 of 10 personality disorders are being removed from the DSM 4. His particular disorder may not even exist when DSM 5 is published.

Yup, that one's getting removed. He'd be PD-NOS if he still qualifies for a diagnosis.

 

[pre med 2014]

Yup, that one's getting removed. He'd be PD-NOS if he still qualifies for a diagnosis.

Lol

 

[phikapdoctor]

Yes. Steer clear of bringing up mental illness in your application.

I think this about ends the thread.


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