Dropping a Master's program?

[letsgopens66]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Hey guys I'm currently in a Master's program in my gap year. I finished applying to med schools mid August and am going on the interview trail next week.

My stats are pretty good. I joined it not to fix any GPA but to continue researching, get TA experience, and get some money in my gap year.

I won't go into details, but this program is not for me and I'm wondering if there would be consequences if I drop out? One of the only things keeping me going is my stipend, my TA position (which I really like), and knowing that sometimes I'm going to have to do things that I don't want to in my life. This program is not mentioned in my AMCAS application.


This Master's program is essentially a job (with a couple classes mixed in), but I feel like I'm locked into it. My PI is pretty supportive of me going to med school (he's the one that suggested I do this program in my gap year and even said it would be OK if I decided to drop it). I'm still afraid that it'll look terrible if drop it.

Should I at least wait for my first acceptance before I consider dropping out?

 

[aSagacious]

Should I at least wait for my first acceptance before I consider dropping out?

I'm in the exact same position and I would definitely advise you to wait for your first acceptance before doing anything irreversible.

 

[letsgopens66]

I'm in the exact same position and I would definitely advise you to wait for your first acceptance before doing anything irreversible.

Good to know I'm not alone! I feel like a pre-med in chains. That's what I'm thinking, just sticking through it until at least an acceptance. Though my PI is supportive of me (and that's the most important thing for me) and some of my peers are cool, I can tell that some of the faculty and students simply don't like me for even considering a Masters (I'm technically in a PhD program where you can stop short at a Masters). I think they'd crucify me if they knew I applied to med schools.


My biggest fear is not doing well in the classes. I'm doing my best but I simply don't have the heart for a subject (not biologically related) that has little to do with medicine.

 

[aSagacious]

Would it be possible to lighten your course load without completely unenrolling from the master's program? Perhaps you could withdraw from the less favorable class (or two) with the superficial intent to retake at a later date. Since the schools have no idea you're currently in the program they won't know any different.

 

[sha15]

How can this go unmentioned in your AMCAS? Transcripts, letter of rec from PI? What did you tell them you were doing in the mean time?

Curious because I'm in an MS program and I feel your pain, but they know about mine and some schools have told me I must finish and others I haven't heard from regarding it.

 

[letsgopens66]

How can this go unmentioned in your AMCAS? Transcripts, letter of rec from PI? What did you tell them you were doing in the mean time?

Curious because I'm in an MS program and I feel your pain, but they know about mine and some schools have told me I must finish and others I haven't heard from regarding it.

Because I happened to get accepted to the program a week after I sent in my AMCAS. The letters were also done before then. I have, however, mentioned this in some of the secondaries. I don't know... considering the only way schools know about this is from informal secondary answers, would they really force me to complete the program? Which schools actually do that?

 

[sha15]

Because I happened to get accepted to the program a week after I sent in my AMCAS. The letters were also done before then. I have, however, mentioned this in some of the secondaries. I don't know... considering the only way schools know about this is from informal secondary answers, would they really force me to complete the program? Which schools actually do that?

Wake Forest and my state school so far; that makes more sense... I've been in the program for a year now and I made my final decision to do this while I was in the program so I couldn't go without mentioning it.

In hindsight, if I had known I was going to apply for med school 100% I wouldn't have even thought about starting this program, but now that I'm in it, there's only one option.

 

[aSagacious]

would they really force me to complete the program? Which schools actually do that?

In general, schools don't like poaching students from degree-granting graduate programs. That said, the only real requirement for enrolling in med school is that you complete your bachelor's degree (which you already have).

From what Catalystik has shared in the past, it's not a big deal if you discontinue any post-baccalaureate or graduate coursework as far as the admissions committee is concerned. The only hiccup in your case is the fact that you are in a degree granting program (as opposed to an informal post-bacc or certificate program).

Again, I would advise you to ride it out until your first acceptance (which hopefully will come before the end of the semester) at which time you should contact the school(s) and ask for their opinion(s).

 

[deleted390966]

I'm in the exact same position and I would definitely advise you to wait for your first acceptance before doing anything irreversible.

👍

 

[equinsu ocha]

Don't do anything until you are accepted somewhere and you have it in writing that you don't need to finish your current program.