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Permalink Reply by Drs. Fernette and Brock Eide on December 18, 2011 at 8:22pm

We've seen students applying to medical school as well as know several doctors who have dyslexia. Do you have accommodations in place? I'm hoping that some of the doctors in this network might share some of their tips and experiences.

The first 2 years can be tough because of the sheer quantity of memorization. You may have an option of a reduced courseload - and perhaps take some courses in the 3rd year (so delaying the start of the clinical years).

It is easier now with options to record classes and not take notes. Use electronic textbooks when you can and if you already work well with  speech to text program (like Dragon), that may help with your notes.

I would also look at the medical apps available on Ipad or other device. It might help a lot.

You probably know this already, but there are many famous doctors in the present as well as past who had dyslexia.

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Permalink Reply by Justin Shiner on December 18, 2011 at 9:45pm

Thanks for the reply. Let me tell you a little bit about myself. I use Dragon and Kurzweil as well as the KNFB reader phone. I was diagnosed with dyslexia in preschool. I have received accommodations such as a reader and a scribe grade school through college. I have recently graduated from UB with a BS in biological sciences. My dyslexia is severe so I still have a great difficulty with reading, writing, and spelling. I graduated with a 3.94gpa so I do not have much difficulty with keeping up with my peers although this is due to the assistive programs I use. I know that I will be successful in medical school I am just having problems getting there. I did not take the MCAT with accommodations this year but am hopeful that they will be granted for next year. I finished less than two thirds of the MCAT so I did not have a very competitive score (9ph + 5vr + 10bio = 24j). I have applied to 17 medical schools and so far three have rejected me and one has given me a pre interview HOLD (not very promising but not a rejection so far). I know that Yale has accepted a severely dyslexic student a couple years ago so I applied there. This student had accommodations on the MCAT so I cannot make too great of a comparison because he must have had a higher MCAT score than mine. I do know of the famous medical doctors with dyslexia and I am very grateful to them for paving the way. I feel that my dyslexia is significantly more severe than there so it is hard for me to draw comparisons. All the examples of these doctors that I have looked up had a low MCAT score, however, their scores were greater than mine. For instance Dr. Lucas was in the 50th percentile for the verbal section and I am in the bottom 10%. All that being said I know that I am very gifted and I will eventually be accepted to medical school. Thanks again for the reply.

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Permalink Reply by IMD on December 19, 2011 at 8:32am

Hi Justin. My father was dyslexic and a physician who went through medical school in the 50s.  He got through medical school drawing and creating his own diagrams of everything on sketch pads.  Oddly also he had to do something physical while memorizing (my mother would quiz him on things). While she was quizzing him he would flick pennies through a "goal" on the table.  Don't know why this helped him but it seemed to, OR it just relieved stress - not sure.  He became a psychiatrist and loved his work. I think now he with this information from the dyslexic advantage book he would have thought he had more options. Maybe he would have chosen psychiatry but maybe something else.

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Permalink Reply by Drs. Fernette and Brock Eide on December 19, 2011 at 12:41pm

Thanks for more info, Justin. The Medical Board is maddening. The extended time issue is essential. Don't know if this would be helpful, but it's possible that putting in phone call to Joanne Simon (JoanneSimon.com) would be helpful. She knows this issue inside and out.

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Permalink Reply by Drs. Fernette and Brock Eide on December 22, 2011 at 10:41pm

You could also consider seeing Dr Shaywitz. They are the midst of trying to help dyslexics in higher ed involving the College Board.

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Permalink Reply by Justin Shiner on December 23, 2011 at 11:07am

I have tried to contact Dr. Shaywitz several times. I have sent three messages to the Yale Center for Dyslexia and Creativity website with no response. I have sent an e-mail to her campus e-mail address. A couple months ago I called her office. I spoke to a woman that assists Dr. Shaywitz in her research and she seemed more than willing to give her my message. I do not think she is interested in speaking with me although it is my experience that the squeaky wheel gets the oil. I may try to contact her one more time but in the meantime I think I will try to contact Joanne Simon. Hopefully I will get into med school this year and I will not need the help of a lawyer. I did get a pre interview hold from Drexel yesterday so there is still a possibility of acceptance. Thank you for all your help and if you have any more ideas for me it would be greatly appreciated.

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Permalink Reply by Dr. S on December 23, 2011 at 4:43pm

Hello Justin,

I think that I have some form of Dyslexia-- just realizing it as my son was diagnosed and took a closer look at my family history---there are Dyslexics falling out of the tree--not many admit it--but some signs are unmistakable.

My father was the first physician in my family--and without question-- I think he is Dyslexic.

You need to ascertain for yourself  your strengths and weaknesses. Once you are in medical school the sheer volume and intensity of the subjects are daunting-- yet-- many pneumonics and diagrams have been employed by medical students-- are and will be at your disposal.

You need to know your learning style-- and get the help you need.

 

Without a doubt when you get to your clinical years-- if disorganization is a problem-- pick a way to organize and stick with it. You have to present patients in a certain way-- everytime-- or you will not be considered intelligent--- so stay off tangents.

 

If you have specific questions-- let me know. It has been awhile since I applied. I agree with Drs. Eide about Dr. Shaywitz-- --- if you need extended time for MCATs etc---start fighting for it now. Find others who are fighting for it too!!

Good luck and Happy Holidays.

 

PS your personal essay-- make it intersesting--tell something real and unforgettable- do not tell about how  you want to be a doctor because of compassion-- that is a given and everyone says that-- you don't want an essay that gets you dumped into--same old application nothing special--- make it stand out--that will be an asset.

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Permalink Reply by Dr. S on December 24, 2011 at 6:59am

Justin, like the Drs. Fernette and Brock Eide suggested--you need to meet Dr. Shaywitz. Not an e-mail, not a letter, not a message.

Make an appointment with her, and go to Connecticut and see her. Take with you any information that would be helpful--I would take everything--samples of your work etc.

Tell her your story and ask for her help.

It is very hard for a person to deny help to another when they sincerely ask for help. Especially a physician, who's does research in this very area. Especially a mother--even though she is not your mother.

I have read her book- might be a good idea to read it or be familiar with it-- it was published a few years ago.

She may not have responded to your e-mail -- as she probably gets e-mails all the time, and doesn't even personally go through all her inbox.

I am not trying to be insulting here- but she is of a certain generation-- e-mails are not exactly formal or polite, letters are better--but to get the job done- go there, meet her, be sincere, as you have been on this site, tell her your story and ask for her advice.

If any of your interests in medicine are in this field of twice exceptionalities and learning differences--you may very well be someone Dr. Shaywitz would like to mentor. That being said--don't say that unless you mean it. If you do say it, do not say it first--be respectful and let her lead the conversation.

 

In any case, you have made it this far- you are very smart , you have had to play this game your way all the time.

There are many alternative ways to get into medschool. MD-PhD programs for example. I have other suggestions, but would prefer to tell them to you in a personal e-mail. I am not saying I have some secret formula to get in. I do have ideas though-- I also took a path less travelled by to reach may goals--and it has shaped who I am, I am a more worldly person, have had experiences that others have not. You have already been on your own path, if you do not get accomodations for the MCAT--you have to show your brilliance in some other way--you grades already do that..perhaps your personal essay should focus on your leanring differences and letters from some of your proffesors--ones that you had to win over and who love you now---those would be excellent ones to have. Justin  you will find a way... you might need to ask to help though.

There are other medical schools too.

 

First go and see Dr. Shaywitz, you have a compelling story. If I was a member of the Yale Medical School staff and a young man like you walked through my door--who has been making it despite all odds--with obvious and profound sacrifices made by your parents and others to help you achieve your potential---it would be difficult for me not to take a few minutes--to speak with.

Good luck, be well. You are not an MCAT score- you are an example of perserverance and dedication. You see the world in a different way- we need you to keep doing that.

Ever thought about Neuroscience and Medicine----hmmmm sounds like a good path to me.

 

Be well, Merry Christmas, or Happy Holidays if you celebrate another Holiday- and I hope the New Year brings you the all good things in the New Year---if it doesn't seem like that is happening--then you know what to do Justin--you have to MAKE IT HAPPEN--just like you always have had to do.

 

Funny- I woke up thinking of you--- and how I had to write you this. I am a Pediatrician, my husband is a Family Medicine Physician. We have 4 kids---who will eventaully all get the Dyslexia Diagnosis--and I am happy about that.

My extended family is filled with physicians,engineers,musicians(professional) ...etc--I said it somewhere before on this site--you just need to shake my family tree and several dozen dyslexics come tumbling down--not all admit it though. I am trying to change their minds.

Sincerely Sandra

An e-mai

 

I

 

T

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Permalink Reply by Justin Shiner on February 16, 2012 at 4:27am

I just wanted to give everyone an update. Out of the 17 schools I applied to  I only have 7 left. I am not banking on getting in this year however I am moderately hopeful that Yale may look past the MCAT score. I am already prepared to reapply for next year. I contacted Joanne Simon and sent her all my information necessary to receive accommodations for the MCAT. She said that she would contact me to set up a phone conference to go over the application ones she has reviewed my information. I have been keeping up with my activities that are notable to write about on my applications. I have also been studying for the MCAT and taking practice exams using the accommodations I hope to be granted. With the accommodations my scores are significantly better. I've been getting scores of 33-39. I been meaning to try to contact Dr. Shaywitz I am planning on giving her office a call and hopefully she will meet me.  Sandra I was wondering what are the suggestions that you have for different paths to medical school (jshiner2@buffalo.edu). It is funny that you mentioned neuroscience. My interest in neuroscience made me want to become a doctor. I'll be sure to give you all an update again and thanks for all the help.

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Permalink Reply by discoxd on March 20, 2012 at 6:58pm

Justin, I am also dyslexic and applying to med-school. How are you studying for VR? I have hit a wall with this section. Its really hard to find info on VR help for dyslexic.

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Permalink Reply by Justin Shiner on March 20, 2012 at 9:12pm

 

I do not know of any official dyslexic strategies for the MCAT but I can tell you what I am doing. I will be getting accommodations for this year so I will not be reading the MCAT myself. However I have been reading magazines such as Scientific America and the Economist. I also have the Kaplan Review and the Princeton Review for the verbal section. I'm unable to spell very well so I am not able to use all the strategies the Kaplan and the Princeton Review suggest although if you are a better speller than me it will help. I just use these books for their practice passages. Basically the best way I found to prepare for this test was to read as much as I can. When I first took the MCAT I barely read anything in my entire life so I would get 15/40 on the verbal section. Now that have been reading I am getting 28/40. I attribute the improvement to reading on my own. Evan though someone will be reading my test to me reading on my own has allowed me to understand the structure of writing. Having this understanding is important for this section. Hope that helps. So will you be getting accommodations for the MCAT? If so what or what are you hoping you will get? What are you getting on the vr section now and what are you reasonably hoping for? Also what are your top choices for medical school?

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Permalink Reply by discoxd on March 22, 2012 at 8:45am

Thanks Justin! I also have the Kaplan/Princeton Review books as well. I try the suggestions in the book but they do not seem to make a difference in my performance. I average around 20/40 with time+50%. Out of all the AAMC practice exams I scored two ten’s and two nines which keep me hanging on because I know I can perform at the level required. I am incredibly inconsistent with my verbal scores. The only thing I think it might be is that I have never in my life thought about the structure/tone/mood/hidden purpose of what I read. I have only and always read science books and I can comprehend/understand the point trying to be made and grasp the knowledge easily. I just wonder if I need to focus all of my time on PS and BS to get them to be above an eleven to offset my verbal. Back to some of your questions you asked. I am hoping for a 28. If it takes me getting an 11 6 11 then I guess that’s what I need to do. I have scored a 6 on verbal both times but as I said above I have scored much higher on AAMC practice tests. I would be happy with an 8! Which is only 6 right answers away but on test day I can’t seem to pull it off. I am very interested in a medical school in my home state of TN. It has a program targeted toward rural medicine. Everything else about my application is in order but the verbal score. Do you know of any schools that might look over the verbal score knowing I have dyslexia? Also, how long during the day do you read from the two magazines you referenced? Do you find this helps you more than just doing VR passages for 2 hours a day?

 
Justin Shiner said:

 

I do not know of any official dyslexic strategies for the MCAT but I can tell you what I am doing. I will be getting accommodations for this year so I will not be reading the MCAT myself. However I have been reading magazines such as Scientific America and the Economist. I also have the Kaplan Review and the Princeton Review for the verbal section. I'm unable to spell very well so I am not able to use all the strategies the Kaplan and the Princeton Review suggest although if you are a better speller than me it will help. I just use these books for their practice passages. Basically the best way I found to prepare for this test was to read as much as I can. When I first took the MCAT I barely read anything in my entire life so I would get 15/40 on the verbal section. Now that have been reading I am getting 28/40. I attribute the improvement to reading on my own. Evan though someone will be reading my test to me reading on my own has allowed me to understand the structure of writing. Having this understanding is important for this section. Hope that helps. So will you be getting accommodations for the MCAT? If so what or what are you hoping you will get? What are you getting on the vr section now and what are you reasonably hoping for? Also what are your top choices for medical school?

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