From podiatry to DO

[clfooty3]

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Hi everyone, I was just looking for some info.

I attended podiatry school and ended up deciding to switch to a DO program instead, due to becoming interested in other specialties as well. I have 3.5 gpa and an above average mcat for accepted students. I was just wondering if I had to report that I've previously attended another professional school and withdrew from it. I'm not sure if that is looked at as a negative or not. Does anyone have any experience with DPM to DO transition? I read somewhere that only undergrad and post bac grades are included in gpa calculations but I wasn't sure if I should send in transcripts from podiatry school too. They're mostly W's because I didn't stay long enough to get grades.

 

[mathnerd88]

You should apply while STILL in podiatry school. Do not withdraw from your program until after you've gotten an acceptance.

You are required to send in transcripts from all schools after high school, and that also means your podiatry school, because it counts as a graduate degree. You are also required to report if you've withdrawn from any professional degree.

I'm sorry to say, but having a lot of W's does not help your situation. It also depends on how adcoms view an applicant withdrawing from a healthcare program.

 

[deleted719840]

NSU has an accelerated program for podiatry students. Are you almost done with your podiatry program?

 

[clfooty3]

NSU has an accelerated program for podiatry students. Are you almost done with your podiatry program?

No, I ended up leaving my first year. I figured there was no reason to keep paying tuition if I wanted to switch to DO. I've heard of people switching before, I'm just curious how the podiatry issue was addressed and if your pod school grades affect your undergrad gpa in calculations.

 

[mathnerd88]

No, I ended up leaving my first year. I figured there was no reason to keep paying tuition if I wanted to switch to DO. I've heard of people switching before, I'm just curious how the podiatry issue was addressed and if your pod school grades affect your undergrad gpa in calculations.

With medical school, there's never a guarantee. Would you leave your job before you even start applying for a new job? There may have to be some damage control that needs to be done here. If you were to leave, at least leave with good grades to show that you can handle harder material. With a withdrawal before even classes are done, adcoms may start to wonder if you withdrew because you couldn't handle it, even if you used financial reasons as an excuse.

However, I think withdrawals do not count towards your GPA, unless they're WF. You still have to list them on your application though.

 

[allantois]

Podiatry school will not be counted in your undergrad GPA.

 

[mathnerd88]

Podiatry school will not be counted in your undergrad GPA.

Which doesn't really help OP, since you're saying "undergrad GPA." He still has to list all courses he has taken after high school, which includes his podiatry school with a bunch of W's...

It won't affect his numbers, but it would raise some eyebrows seeing all those W's.

 

[Mad Jack]

You really hurt yourself with the withdrawals. Someone might take you, but this is a very unusual situation and many adcoms are reluctant to consider bringing someone on that has a history of not finishing what they have started in regard to graduate school.

 

[LuluMed]

Which doesn't really help OP, since you're saying "undergrad GPA." He still has to list all courses he has taken after high school, which includes his podiatry school with a bunch of W's...

It won't affect his numbers, but it would raise some eyebrows seeing all those W's.

I'm skeptical that this will truly ruin the applicant if OP provides a good explanation for his change in path.

I had a very dramatic change in my education path that resulted in leaving a school mid-semester with 11 Ws. I had multiple interviews offers in July and was already accepted to a couple schools by the end of September. While it's not an ideal situation, let's not freak out the OP when he has thought through his decision to withdraw. School may ask about it, but they will respect the decision if it seems logical and not hold it too much against him.

 

[mathnerd88]

I'm skeptical that this will truly ruin the applicant if OP provides a good explanation for his change in path.

I had a very dramatic change in my education path that resulted in leaving a school mid-semester with 11 Ws. I had multiple interviews offers in July and was already accepted to a couple schools by the end of September. While it's not an ideal situation, let's not freak out the OP when he has thought through his decision to withdraw. School may ask about it, but they will respect the decision if it seems logical and not hold it too much against him.

Agreed if he has a really good reason to leave podiatry school and if he shows a strong dedication to medicine. It would benefit him if he has a good academic record just prior to applying to medical school. Withdrawing from a program is usually a red flag to schools, unless some extraordinary circumstances cause you to do so.

It won't destroy his chances, but it does definitely put him at a disadvantage.