Do I have to finish my masters degree before I can matriculate?

[serendipity2018]

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Is it required by all US medical schools that you complete the degree program you are currently in before you can matriculate at their school? For example, if I'm pursuing a masters in public health during my gap year and get accepted to a US med school, is my acceptance contingent on completing the masters first?

What happens to students that decide to drop out of the program once they are accepted? If I pursue public health, can I do some in my gap year and finish the rest of the masters credits in med school like an unofficial MD/MPH?

I'm confused on how this works...

 

[WhittyPsyche]

While it is medical school dependent, generally most places have in their acceptance agreement or student handbook verbiage that says acceptees must successfully complete current academic work. What does this mean? Since these requirements were written with senior undergraduates in mind, it is considered to mean acceptees are expected to earn their degrees prior to matriculation. But it is purposely left vague enough for those who who start after junior year such as in a combined or linked program. How will this be applied to a masters? well I am sure some schools will undoubtedly expect you to earn your degree, especially an MPH,prior to matriculation. Since we do not which schools may do that and you must be ready for the worst case risk, you must assume that you will needto complete your degree prior to matriculation.

Beyond that part I do remember seeing other verbiage that said if you are currently enrolled in any degree program that your timeline for completion cannot interfere with the matriculation year you are applying. Idk if this was amcas or secondaries. It basically was talking about people in master's or PhD programs that they should be graduating and receiving the degree prior to matriculation and could not request deferment for the purpose of completing the degree.

So OP if you were applying while enrolled in a two year MPH for example you would not be deemed eligible to apply because the matriculation year you would be applying for would fall smack in the middle.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure this is the case.


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[psychgirl95]

These are two different issues from two different directions and are again highly school specific

1) Can I start medical school without completing my master's degree?
2) Can I delay medical school to complete graduate degree?

Again, any applicant or acceptee should not assume the answer is yes to either question, nor would I consider it a great tactic to bring either question up prior to admission as either way it raises questions of the applicant's commitment.

What about being able to complete a master's (or at least be enrolled in the program) while also attending medical school (assuming that two different schools are involved)? Like, for example, I'm interested in applying to an online MFA program (in writing). In this case, would it make more sense to apply to the MFA before or after beginning medical school? (I do plan on asking my premed advisor about this eventually, but I am not applying for a couple years so I'm just curious right now.)