Are graduate admission committees understanding of medical stuff that prevents a student from doing their best

Oh my gosh! Well, last July I became very sick with a rare neurological disorder that makes me get these unbelievably painful headaches and has caused me to lose some of the vision in my left eye. I saw a neurologist and was being treated but then my insurance quit paying and I couldn't go anymore. In September I was doing alright and fall classes start out very well and I was getting a B in all of them right up until after mid term and then I fell to a C in 2 of them. I thought I would at least manage to get a C in both of them but I got extremely ill 2 weeks before final exams and missed 3 days of classes. I took the final exam and bombed and wound up with a D+ in one of my classes. I plan to retake this course and the other course where I only got a C and I know I can do much better as I am usually an A student. Do you think if I explained these poor grades in my essay and the people doing my recommendation explained this too, that I could still get into graduate school?

Are graduate admission committees understanding of medical stuff that prevents a student from doing their best
If you can explain this in such a way that shows that the issue won't be a factor in grad school - that these grades were an abberration due to illness, and the illness is now under control - then yes, you stand a shot. But if it's the case that the illness is not yet under control, and won't be in grad school, either, then no. Because the thing is, you need to show them that you have the ability to do well in their grad school. So make sure you spin this right.





If you do get this under control, and your grades to improve, then I think you will get into a grad school. Admissions committees will take your illness into account, and will therefore more heavily weigh your normal high grades, and will give less weight to the poor grades you got due to illness.





And this will be a far more convincing story to tell if you do rock those course retakes, and if you do very well on the GRE (or other entrance exam).
Reply:Yes. Absolutely. There is usually a space in the application to explain any non-passing grades or dips. You should also include a letter from your physician with your applications.





Admissions committees are frightening but they are definitely human. If you don't get into your top school, you can always appeal / petition the decision with that additional information as well.





Good luck, and take care of yourself!