Do you have to complete your Master, or Post-Bac program if you got accepted?

[MrBoxy]

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If you have been accepted into medical school for Fall 2006, but you're currently doing a master which you will not complete until May 2007, do you have to finish your master first? or can you quit your master program and go straight to medical school? ( quitting as in dropping out in the middle of the semester and not finish the current classes)

Basically, does your graduate school transcript matter all that much? or undergraduate grade is all that most schools want to see?

The schools I have in mind are: OSUCOM, DMU, NSUCOM, TUCOM-MI, TUCOM-NV

 

[JO300]

If you have been accepted into medical school for Fall 2006, but you're currently doing a master which you will not complete until May 2007, do you have to finish your master first? or can you quit your master program and go straight to medical school? ( quitting as in dropping out in the middle of the semester and not finish the current classes)

Basically, does your graduate school transcript matter all that much? or undergraduate grade is all that most schools want to see?

The schools I have in mind are: OSUCOM, DMU, NSUCOM, TUCOM-MI, TUCOM-NV

In my opinion.
you do not have to finish your Master because it is not required for medical school.
But if you want to finish it you can ask the school, which you will be accepted in to defer you acceptance for a year to finish your master.
the school usually accept you request.
so if you want to quite or finish your master is up to you.
there is guy is doing this now with LECOM so chech this post.
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=252265
good luck.

 

[Sundarban1]

You should finish your degree, no question. It says a lot about your dedication to learning, which is what you should come to expect having chosen this path.

 

[dr.z]

You should finish your degree, no question. It says a lot about your dedication to learning, which is what you should come to expect having chosen this path.

I think OP should finish the degree.

 

[jellibelli]

deleted

 

[HunterGatherer]

When you do your application you will indicate when you finish your degree. If you are accepted to med school they already know you are not finishing your degree upon matriculation in Fall 2006.

If the sole purpose of the master's was to get into med school it makes no sense to complete once accepted to matricualte to med school in Fall 2006. If you took it for other reasons you need to decide how important it is to finish.

during interviews you may want to consult your interviewer on your intentions and reasons behind them.

If you have been accepted into medical school for Fall 2006, but you're currently doing a master which you will not complete until May 2007, do you have to finish your master first? or can you quit your master program and go straight to medical school? ( quitting as in dropping out in the middle of the semester and not finish the current classes)

Basically, does your graduate school transcript matter all that much? or undergraduate grade is all that most schools want to see?

The schools I have in mind are: OSUCOM, DMU, NSUCOM, TUCOM-MI, TUCOM-NV

 

[ac101ac]

After I finished my masters I decided I would get my Ph.D. I talked to several medical schools and they put a stop to it really quick. They said that if I was serious about going to medical school I should not start something I had no intentions of finishing. At that time I had every intention of finishing but my heart was on medicine so I didn't do my Ph.D and put all my energy in applying to med school. The med schools said they don't want students who drop grad. programs to attend med school. They want you to finish and some flat out told me... if we know you are doing this we will NOT take you. They said I would be accepted under the condition that I finish my Ph.d. Except for Southwestern which told me... we'll take you... we do it all the time. but they are clearly an exception.
Hope this helps.... you can finish! Good luck.
oh by the way ... you can't just drop out in the middle of the semester. it will affect your GPA. bad gpa=no med school

 

[shminger]

I'm doing a master right now. But I started in January 2006. I only have two classes under my belt, and the program is 2ish years. I'm planning to ask if the school is willing to give me a LOA, because I think it's important that I get med school started asap - it's a long road ahead!

But it really depends on how many classes you have left to complete your degree, and how useful it will be toward your future career. It also depends on how much you've already put in towards this particular masters program, ie if you have already spent thousands on it; if you have already spent ~2 years on it.

In the end, it's up to you. My suggestion is to explore the option of holding off on that degree - ask the school if they'll be willing to work with you, etc - instead of just quitting it.

Hope I've been helpful, drop me a line any time! 😛

I'm in the same boat, and want to start med school asap. I called DMU and talked to them about the situation and they said that it was fine if I didn't finish the masters degree. In fact, I will most likely transfer my credits to DMU and finish the degree there by doing a combined degree. I thought about taking a LOA from the current school/program that I am in, but I am kind of disappointed with the way things are done at this particular school, so I think my best option is to transfer.
So, my advice would be to call the school that you are interested in and find out if it is a problem if you don't finish.

 

[Hoberto]

No, you don't have to finish your Master's. I would think this is particularly true in the OP's case where his application states that the degree wouldn't be earned until 2007. It is always wise to call the school and check and then get something in writing to confirm whatever you heard on the phone.

I wouldn't quit in the middle of the term, though. Try to finish up this semester as best you can.

I am unlikely to finish my Master's before May and there is no way in hell I am deferring. OUCOM was okay with it.

 

[Dr Trek 1]

I'm in a MS program right now and basically am begging my med school to allow me to finish it (I have already been accepted to med school).

But I would ask the school just to be sure.