Is it bad if I drop my Master’s program after putting it in my applications?

[thedoctahfr]

I posted this on Reddit but I want more advice on it:

So basically my plan was to obtain an MPH during my gap year. I was scheduled to finish in July next year but now they are saying I’ll finish next September, which is after most schools matriculation.

Would it look bad if I drop this? I mention it a lot in my secondaries and how I’ll use my degree in my future along with my MD as a physician but I have similar experiences with public health so maybe I can work around that I’m not sure.

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[LunaOri]

Since you haven’t been accepted to medical school yet, you might as well continue.

 

[DarkBluMage]

Don’t make plans based on things that haven’t happened yet. You haven’t been accepted to a medical school, there’s no reason for you to stop your masters program until you have.

 

[thedoctahfr]

Don’t make plans based on things that haven’t happened yet. You haven’t been accepted to a medical school, there’s no reason for you to stop your masters program until you have.

Well actually a school told me I’m ineligible to apply because there’s overlap in the programs even after I told them I am willing to stop taking classes before matriculation. I know this is only one school but if others think the same way I think I should just drop the program

 

[DarkBluMage]

Well actually a school told me I’m ineligible to apply because there’s overlap in the programs even after I told them I am willing to stop taking classes before matriculation. I know this is only one school but if others think the same way I think I should just drop the program

Is this a DO school? I know they can be a little more hard up about stuff. I’ve never heard of anyone being ineligible to even apply to an MD school because they’re currently taking graduate level classes. That’s dumb af. Life doesn’t stop just cause someone applies to med school and getting into medical school isn’t guaranteed.

 

[thedoctahfr]

Is this a DO school? I know they can be a little more hard up about stuff. I’ve never heard of anyone being ineligible to even apply to an MD school because they’re currently taking graduate level classes. That’s dumb af. Life doesn’t stop just cause someone applies to med school and getting into medical school isn’t guaranteed.

It’s an MD school. They said I must complete the graduate program as per their policies.

 

[DarkBluMage]

It’s an MD school. They said I must complete the graduate program as per their policies.

That’s wild.

 

[LunaOri]

Will your program allow you to take a leave when you start med school, and finish up the summer after M1?

 

[thedoctahfr]

Will your program allow you to take a leave when you start med school, and finish up the summer after M1?

Yes but the med school I mentioned earlier said I can’t do that.

 

[thedoctahfr]

Basically, I was planning on obtaining my MPH degree during my gap year. While applying, I was told that the program would end in July. However, after being accepted and talking to my advisor, I was told it would end in September, which would overlap with medical school matriculation.

I dropped the program before starting any classes. However, I sent a letter from the MPH program to all the medical schools I am applying to that says I am currently enrolled in the MPH program and will finish in Summer 2025.

Now that I am not currently enrolled anymore, what should I do? Should I email schools specifically about this situation? Wait to bring it up in interviews? Can I even get rid of the letter since it is in the AMCAS Letter Service? Please I'm freaking out!!!

 

[LunaOri]

Didn’t you already post this question?

 

[wysdoc]

I merged the 2 threads on the same question.
@thedoctahfr you didn't agree with the advice given you here the first time around and dropped the Master's degree program.
You can look at other ways to add to your qualifications for medical school now that you have free time.
If you have already submitted your med school primary application, any new activities won't really be reflected on it and will have to be mentioned in secondaries

 

[thedoctahfr]

Didn’t you already post this question?

Yeah but I was never really given an answer

 

[LizzyM]

Med schools don't like to poach graduate students who would drop out of graduate school to attend medical school. It counts against the graduate school when governmental and accrediting bodies look at an institution's graduation rate and so is considered bad form on the part of med schools to hurt grad schools.

What's done is done now for the OP. @thedoctahfr could send an update letter at some point in the cycle noting that you chose not to matriculate into the MPH program and you are, instead, [insert plans for the year here ].