Dropped out of med school

[blueberry1]

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I dropped out of med school 10+ years ago and am now considering going back. Do I even have a chance or would my dropping out be a big red flag that would make adcomms question my commitment to medicine? I suppose I would also have to retake the MCAT and perhaps some prereqs. Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[wolverinepwns]

firstly, Yes you definately have to retake your mcat since they are only good for 3 years. secondly, if you had a good reason for dropping out of medschool it might not hurt you, now if you got kicked out or you failed out, now that would be a different story. thirdly, since the level of competition has grown like crazy in the past 10 years, and also the fact that now you would be considered a nontrad student, the MCAT score will play a more profound role on your application. good luck

 

[Lokhtar]

10 years is a long time, so hopefully you can show them why you're different now than before and maybe you've done something interesting to show your commitment and a more mature state of mind.

It is possible you may have to go to the Carrib...but depending on your qualifications and your reason for dropping out, and how well you sell yourself, it may not be necessary. The fact that it has been 10 years works in your favor.

 

[J ROD]

really depends on whether or not you dropped out for a good reason or they kicked you out for a good reason.....

then comes the MCAT and you will probably not get any class credit since it was so long ago.....

 

[vegetara83]

I find it very curious that some have recommended contacting your previous med school (over on the non-trad thread). I am in a very similar situation, though I withdrew only 3 years ago, and I thought I'd have the least chance there since I'd already left once. However, I do recall when I did the paperwork to officially withdraw, the lady told me that if I ever wanted to come back that I would have to reapply just like everyone else. But I guess all you or I can do is contact admissions reps and ask. I have contacted people at maybe 5 DO school's and one state MD school and only one (an out of state DO school) said that it would be unlikely that I'd be admitted. The rest said I'd be treated as any other candidate, but that I should be open and honest from the start of the applications process about why I dropped out in the first place and how things would be different this time. Perhaps this is something to address in a personal statement. None of the reps I contacted said I'd have to retake any pre-req's, but that I would have to retake the MCAT. There is a thread over on the DO board from a student who was dismissed from his DO school, but reapplied to other DO schools -- he got multiple interviews and acceptances. Sure it wasn't 10 years ago, but still proof that these things can happen. Here's the link: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=665422

 

[vegetara83]

Although it looks like the OP hasn't been very active here on SDN, I did want to write this in hopes that it may be encouraging:

As I mentioned, I am in a very similar situation, but I went ahead and contacted the Dean of Admissions at my previous medical school. I explained to her what went wrong the first time, how I have grown and matured since then, and how things would be different if I were lucky enough to get a second chance. She replied that I would have to work at convincing the AdComs that I'm worthy of a second chance and do very well on the MCAT, but that she believed I should absolutely try again.

Quite encouraging, I do believe. 🙂 Definitely work towards med school if that's what you really want to do!

 

[Richardh]

if you dropped out of med school before you took your USMLE exams then i think you need to reapply like any other pre-medical school applicant. but if you happen to have your USMLE exam scores (although they maybe old) you might have a chance to find a school that will sponser you to sit in and retake the USMLE exams (instead of the mcat). my friend who dropped out of US med school after passing Step 1 decided to go back and puruse MD degree 5 years later. he found a school (carribean med school) that would sponser him to sit in and retake his Step 1 and continue with taking classes with the current students there (he needed lots of catch up to do both before and after the boards but he told me it was worth it 🙂)