Is it possible to drop out of a MD/PhD program into a MD program?

[kesher]

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Hypothetically, let's say I'm a MD/PhD student at X University. After my first year (after taking only MD courses), I decide I want to earn solely a MD as opposed to a MD/PhD. Would I be able to enter the MD class at X University? Or would I have to transfer to Y University?

 

[alpinism]

Sure.

At least at my school people do it every few years.

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/quitting-phd.1096138/

 

[LeftShifted]

LOL this is like what people used to do for a free M.S. degree; they'd commit to doing a PhD, get the tuition waiver and stipend, and pass their quals and then say "nahh I think this is the end of the road for me" and they'd get an MS without having paid a dime.

 

[Aloft085]

Depends on your school. Some MPH programs add an extra year, but otherwise don't change the course schedule. In those programs, it should be trivial to just drop the MPH year. Others schools (like Miami) integrate the MPH with the MD, and do it in only four years. In the second case, I imagine that it would not be easy to switch to regular MD, since they were not previously planning on having you in those classes.

 

[TheShaker]

Depends on the program, talk to the administration. Don't get into a program with any plans other than to finish.

 

[LeftShifted]

Some med schools will charge you the back tuition if you drop out of the PhD

Wow, really? Jeez, as underhanded as it is for someone to commit to 8 years and then make the switch, that seems like an equally great disservice to the student. I suppose Hammurabi's code is fair though.

 

[TheShaker]

Wow, really? Jeez, as underhanded as it is for someone to commit to 8 years and then make the switch, that seems like an equally great disservice to the student. I suppose Hammurabi's code is fair though.

Why? They'll just be paying for it like any other medical student.

 

[LeftShifted]

Why? They'll just be paying for it like any other medical student.

Actually, I take that back. Having thought about its little more, they would be better off financially than most other MD students, as they would have 2 years less interest to pay on those loans.

 

[TheShaker]

Actually, I take that back. Having thought about its little more, they would be better off financially than most other MD students, as they would have 2 years less interest to pay on those loans.

I always thought interest freezes when you're still in school? Either way, they'd still be ahead from the stipend of 25-30k a year that they were getting.

 

[Aloft085]

I always thought interest freezes when you're still in school? Either way, they'd still be ahead from the stipend of 25-30k a year that they were getting.

Only for subsidized loans, which don't really exist for grad school.

 

[evilbooyaa]

Some med schools will charge you the back tuition if you drop out of the PhD

I think that's reasonable. I'm not sure on how difficult it is to get into a MD/PhD program (as compared to an MD program), so I think backpaying your MD tuition (not any PhD tuition if you had started your PhD already) is reasonable.

 

[Ariodant]

NIH-funded MSTP programs are not allowed to ask for tuition backpay. Non-NIH-funded MD/PhD programs may ask you to sign an agreement to pay them back should you fail to complete the program.

 

[CrimsonKing]

Keep in mind that your school might also mention that you dropped the MD/PhD program in your Dean's letter when applying for residency. I know my school mentions it for anyone who drops MSTP, but there's not supposed to be commentary other than "Mr/Ms. X entered the MSTP program in 20YY but left the program in 20ZZ, but remained an MD student."

As has been said above, don't enter an MD/PhD program if you don't actually intend to finish it, you never know when it might bite you in the ass down the line.

 

[SplenoMegastar]

This happens frequently enough that it is not a huge red flag and I know several people who have matched despite dropping the PhD.