Academic Probation for MS and No Intention to Finish MS

[deleted389255]

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Hello everyone,

So here is my story:

I just graduated in summer 2012 with cGPA 3.5 and sGPA 3.6 with no intention of applying for med schools, so I applied for MS in Chemistry. However, after the first semester in MS, I got academic probation for GPA 2.76 (<3.0); this happened due to myself working to support my own expense and parents getting sick overseas, so some sort of mental breakdown happened...Then I started volunteering at a hospital and shadowing a physician to apply for med schools this cycle; I used to work a lot and have quite a number of ECs during my undergrad years. However, I have no more intention of finishing my MS since I feel the program doesn't fit me anymore and I want to save money from grad school tuition (no loans before getting into med schools). My plan now are doing more ECs, writing a compelling personal statement, getting a stellar mcat score, working to save money, and going to a community college for some science classes to save tuition and improve my studying trend again.

I wonder if anyone has ever been in this dilemma or similar and found some solutions. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated!

Please help this poor soul to fight through the dilemma! Thank you 🙂

 

[La Presse]

Hello everyone,

So here is my story:

I just graduated in summer 2012 with cGPA 3.5 and sGPA 3.6 with no intention of applying for med schools, so I applied for MS in Chemistry. However, after the first semester in MS, I got academic probation for GPA 2.76 (<3.0); this happened due to myself working to support my own expense and parents getting sick overseas, so some sort of mental breakdown happened...Then I started volunteering at a hospital and shadowing a physician to apply for med schools this cycle; I used to work a lot and have quite a number of ECs during my undergrad years. However, I have no more intention of finishing my MS since I feel the program doesn't fit me anymore and I want to save money from grad school tuition (no loans before getting into med schools). My plan now are doing more ECs, writing a compelling personal statement, getting a stellar mcat score, working to save money, and going to a community college for some science classes to save tuition and improve my studying trend again.

I wonder if anyone has ever been in this dilemma or similar and found some solutions. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated!

Please help this poor soul to fight through the dilemma! Thank you 🙂

I am assuming that your Masters program is at a different institution. If so, I suppose you could not report the transcript for the MS, but then you would get into trouble with the AAMC if they found out. I suggest you finish the masters at your own pace and begin studying for the MCAT. It would be very poor to see your graduate grades decline, especially after a decent undergraduate record (I presume). How long more do you have until you conclude the program? How many credit hours remain?

 

[Spinach Dip]

IMO, you should stay in your program, even if you are taking 1 class per term. Maybe you could ask to take a term off and come back to the program in a few months?

Starting a MS program and dropping out immediately would probably look bad to med schools you apply to. It shows a lack of commitment.

Good luck.👍

 

[Translation]

Can you withdraw on good terms? I'd do that because clearly you're not loving the thought of completing the MS chemistry program. Which if u did finish it, it probably wouldn't end well.

If you did withdraw though I'd also wait till next cycle to apply, use this year and half to build my reasons for going into medicine with shadowing, volunteer and work experience.

Just brainstorm a strong reason for why u didn't finish the ms, and why medicine.

No to community classes, in your case. SMP?

 

[deleted389255]

I am assuming that your Masters program is at a different institution. If so, I suppose you could not report the transcript for the MS, but then you would get into trouble with the AAMC if they found out. I suggest you finish the masters at your own pace and begin studying for the MCAT. It would be very poor to see your graduate grades decline, especially after a decent undergraduate record (I presume). How long more do you have until you conclude the program? How many credit hours remain?

@La Presse: I'm taking the MS at another school (my undergrad school was UCSD, and current grad SJSU). I just started last semester, and presumably I still have 3 more semesters (until Spring 2014) if my research advisor let me get out early. I talked to SJSU chemistry grads, and they told me usually the advisors want everyone to stay for at least 2.5 years; which I think is rather long for MS.

IMO, you should stay in your program, even if you are taking 1 class per term. Maybe you could ask to take a term off and come back to the program in a few months?

Starting a MS program and dropping out immediately would probably look bad to med schools you apply to. It shows a lack of commitment.

Good luck.👍

Can you withdraw on good terms? I'd do that because clearly you're not loving the thought of completing the MS chemistry program. Which if u did finish it, it probably wouldn't end well.

If you did withdraw though I'd also wait till next cycle to apply, use this year and half to build my reasons for going into medicine with shadowing, volunteer and work experience.

Just brainstorm a strong reason for why u didn't finish the ms, and why medicine.

No to community classes, in your case. SMP?

@Spinach Dip and Translation: I'm studying for the MCAT and taking it in March (and I'm getting in serious business to get a score that can compensate for what I have done wrong so far). I have been doing 500+ hrs of volunteering (teaching, hospital, food bank, kitchen for homeless people), 900+ hrs working (UCSD shuttle driver, private tutor, and semi-pro photographer), 90+ hrs shadowing a private physician, 100+ hrs research without pubs (my PI was kinda lazy). I'm still planning to apply for a job to earn some money, shadowing ER physicians, and surgical internship program.

I'm thinking of going to community classes for some extra bio, stats, spanish classes, or probably postbacc (if things go so bad). I'll probably try my luck this year and if things go wrong, I can reapply.

What's your opinion?

 

[Translation]

Best of luck to you, sounds like you'll have interesting interviews talks

 

[music2doc]

Most programs will REQUIRE that you finish the MS prior to matriculation. You CANNOT "hide" a transcript from them. They are going to find out and they will typically require you to submit a letter from your program chair indicating 1) awareness (with approval/support) that you are applying to medical school and 2) that you are expected to finish prior to the first day of med school orientation. Failing either of these criteria pretty much takes you out of the running and would be a condition of your acceptance even if one were to be offered. Further, anything <3.5 in a graduate program is suspect. Anything <3.0 in a graduate program alone is probably grounds to cease further consideration by an adcom. Frankly, you've got some pretty big barriers here even if you finish your MS, and without finishing your MS, you're basically done before you've even begun.

 

[darklabel]

Most programs will REQUIRE that you finish the MS prior to matriculation. You CANNOT "hide" a transcript from them. They are going to find out and they will typically require you to submit a letter from your program chair indicating 1) awareness (with approval/support) that you are applying to medical school and 2) that you are expected to finish prior to the first day of med school orientation. Failing either of these criteria pretty much takes you out of the running and would be a condition of your acceptance even if one were to be offered. Further, anything <3.5 in a graduate program is suspect. Anything <3.0 in a graduate program alone is probably grounds to cease further consideration by an adcom. Frankly, you've got some pretty big barriers here even if you finish your MS, and without finishing your MS, you're basically done before you've even begun.

Agreed, try to get a retroactive withdrawal (so that it won't show on your transcripts). You REALLY have an issue here since it would've been better not to have started an MS at all.

DO NOT hide this in AMCAs, if you get caught, you will never be allowed in medical school and it can happen any time (even well after you graduate from medical school).