Writing about eating disorder on applications?

superhappyfun
Sat, 07 Feb 2015 02:24:24 +0000

I am currently a junior in college and my goal is pursue a dual PhD in neuroscience along with a DVM (I love the idea of comparative medicine). I was wondering if writing about an eating disorder will help (or hurt) my chances at a competitive research internship (NIH), and eventually grad. school & vet school. I know these dual degree programs are sometimes fully funded but are INCREDIBLY competitive.

If I were studying anything else, I would certainly not mention it. I’m not looking for sympathy or trying to show that I overcame hardships. However, I was hospitalized with anorexia when I was 9 years old, and spent 5 years of my life in and out of facilities. Some places were solely E.D based, but in others I had roommates who were dealing with schizophrenia, depression, and other disorders. My “friends” weren’t 6th grade girls, but doctors, psychiatrists, and 20 year old psychiatric patients. After a long incredibly difficult road to recovery, I became fascinated with medicine, physiology, and learning how the mind works. I also became amazed about how little we know about the brain and began to understand that research in this area is crucial. It lit a fire under me. It led to my decision to major in Biochemistry and Neuroscience in college, and work in a neuro-endocrinology research lab studying appetite and eating disorders (however, my PI has no idea I have a history of anorexia…).

When I was initially applying to college, my parents instructed me NEVER to mention my anorexia. They said it was a huge red flag. Also, they didn’t understand it and were embarrassed of it. However, since I have been healthy for 6 years, and this experience sparked my passion for medicine/neuroscience/health, is it worth mentioning on an essay? Or will it be a huge liability/red flag? I might be able to get in somewhere without mentioning it… (i’ve worked my butt off and have a 3.95 gpa and 500 research hours, 200 vet hours), but its hard to understand my true passion for medical research without knowing this.

Thank you!!

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