How bad does a leave of absence look? Forum

[DefyingGravity]

I have struggled with a serious illness over the past several years (including one relapse) and have recently recovered. Although I plan to start school in the fall, a part of me is afraid that if I relapse, it could be a fatal blow to employment prospects. Currently the probability of relapse for my condition is less than 20%, but if I defer for a year and do not relapse in that year, the odds go down to less than 1%. Is it silly for me to be worrying this much about a leave of absence before starting school; how much of a black mark is a medical leave of absence on a transcript?

[roaringeagle]

Hi Defying Gravity. I did see in your other post that you got into Stanford, and again congrats! I hope you become very successful and remain healthy. I did mention in your other post that the only reason I would see for deferring is a relapse or potential relapse. My only concern for you is that the stress of law school may make your condition worse. I would not worry about having to take a leave of absence, especially from a school like Stanford. I am sure they would understand.

Also keep in mind though that Stanford has excellent medical facilities and who knows? Maybe they will be able to treat your disorder better than your current doctors. Perhaps visit an expert at Stanford in the field of medicine that concerns you and ask his/her opinion.

[CanadianWolf]

Don't put more pressure on yourself by worrying about a "what if". Your health is more important than a prospective job or money or law school. An alternative view of your situation is to admire your ability to succeed despite battling (& defeating) a serious illness.

To answer your question: I would defer for a year if stress is a contributing factor to a relapse of your illness. If not, then you need to live your life while respecting your doctor's advice. Hopefully, you've consulted with your physician about the stress of the first year of law school & whether or not that type of stress could trigger a relapse.

No, it's not "silly" to worry about a potential leave of absence, but it is counter-productive while also hinting that your priorities may be a bit out-of-order.

[Shooter]

Serious illness is not weakness and there is not a single employer in the world that will think otherwise. If there is, you sure as hell do not want to work for them. Always, always, ALWAYS do what is best for your health... otherwise you won't be able to use your mind or your opportunities to their fullest potential.

Do not believe that a degree from anywhere is worth more than your wellbeing. Especially in this case, when your ability to get the degree will not be compromised (just delayed slightly).