leave Ph.D. program for medical school?

[purechanz]

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hi everyone that's taken time to read my post.

well it seems i've been going through some quarter-life crisis recently:

i will soon finish the second year of graduate school in genetics. these past two years have been pretty intense, as it was difficult to get through the coursework and almost impossible to pass my qualifier exam (writing a NIH format grant). unfortunately, after the qualifier, my confidence and interest in graduate school dramatically went downhill. i realize now that focusing on research might not be the most satisfying career path for me. i started to seriously think about medical school for various reasons. i have definitely had a tough time debating whether or not leaving my program early would be the best option for me. i fear that medical schools would see this action in a fairly negative fashion and lean towards not accepting me largely because i chose not to finish my graduate program. however, i feel like waiting for at least another four years to finish graduate school would be almost a waste if i don't wish to pursue a career related to research and if i really feel strongly about medicine.

so in short (and not quite descriptive), this is my current dilemma. i was just wondering if anyone had some advice or similar past experiences that could help me in my decision to stay or leave graduate school for medical school. have you been rejected from schools partly (or entirely) because you failed to finish another post-baccalaureate program? if any medical admissions faculty read these postings: what is your opinion of those that leave a program early? is it necessarily negative or can it show some passion/dedication to give up something stable for a career change?

i appreciate any serious input/feedback on this situation. thank you!

 

[QofQuimica]

If you don't want to do research any more, the best thing to do is to try to get your MS and leave. That way, you cut down your time in grad school, but you still have something to show for your time there.

 

[FutureDocDO]

hi everyone that's taken time to read my post.

well it seems i've been going through some quarter-life crisis recently:

i will soon finish the second year of graduate school in genetics. these past two years have been pretty intense, as it was difficult to get through the coursework and almost impossible to pass my qualifier exam (writing a NIH format grant). unfortunately, after the qualifier, my confidence and interest in graduate school dramatically went downhill. i realize now that focusing on research might not be the most satisfying career path for me. i started to seriously think about medical school for various reasons. i have definitely had a tough time debating whether or not leaving my program early would be the best option for me. i fear that medical schools would see this action in a fairly negative fashion and lean towards not accepting me largely because i chose not to finish my graduate program. however, i feel like waiting for at least another four years to finish graduate school would be almost a waste if i don't wish to pursue a career related to research and if i really feel strongly about medicine.

so in short (and not quite descriptive), this is my current dilemma. i was just wondering if anyone had some advice or similar past experiences that could help me in my decision to stay or leave graduate school for medical school. have you been rejected from schools partly (or entirely) because you failed to finish another post-baccalaureate program? if any medical admissions faculty read these postings: what is your opinion of those that leave a program early? is it necessarily negative or can it show some passion/dedication to give up something stable for a career change?

i appreciate any serious input/feedback on this situation. thank you!

If you're no longer passionate about, I'd say quit. But if and only if your undergraduate grades could land you an acceptance. If your undergrad grades weren't so hot I'd finish your PhD program to make your application for medical school stronger.

 

[relentless11]

Leaving any degree-earning program early because you don't like it anymore = bad. Because adcoms may think (regardless if it is true or not):

1) Shows med schools that you might not hang in there when the going gets tough.

2) Indecisiveness in terms of your academic/professional goals.

3) Didn't do thorough "research" into the rigors of a PhD program in terms of its impact on physicial and psychological endurance.

4) Wasted the school's money since school's invest a lot of money into PhD candidates when it could've gone to someone else who followed through.

I believe there are people that have done this and made it to interviews, and were asked why they left. Some did it because of illness, others because they had a change of heart. The latter had a higher non-acceptance rate than the former for the reasons I stated. Its certainly not impossible to get in if you bailed on a PhD program...but I think the common phrase is: "med schools frown upon prematurely leaving a degree-earning program ".

If you really can't take it anymore, then I'd do what QinQuimica said. Take the masters degree. At the very least you get something out of it. Even if you had a good undergrad GPA, earning no degree will hurt you to some extent, while a masters will hurt less, if not at all. I encourage you to talk to your PI as well. You've advanced to candidacy...so its essentially the home stretch. I also recommend you to call prospective med schools to see what they have to say about it. So yea, good luck with that. I hope you stay in the program. A PhD definitely makes one a unique applicant to med school.

 

[desertdr]

I think everyone who enters a PhD program will, at one time or another, think of leaving the program. The fact that medical school is the next step may make that decision process more difficult. I know that when I was getting my Phd, I had daily thoughts of leaving even though I had finished classes and had advanced to final candidacy. However, for me, the reason that I finished was that I was too competitive to quit...and looking back, it was the best decision in my life. Sure I would have been an MS2 by now, but instead, I have a PhD in Orgo, a great job in intellectual property, and will be attending my 1st choice med school this fall.

Whatever decision you make, it will all work out. But like Q said, make sure to get at least your MS. I have a feeling that if you have a Master's, ADCOMs won't question your decision to drop out of a doctoral program unless you make it a point in your personal statement or interviews. However, like the previous poster said, a PhD really distinguishes you from all the other 3.5/30+ students out there. My PhD was a subject in ALL my interviews...and I'm glad to say that it helped me in the interviews...either as an ice breaker or to discuss research. In one of my interviews, as soon as the PhD interviewer became aware of my background, she lit up about her research and took me on a tour of her lab, etc. Suffice it to say, I was accepted a week later.

In the end, it will ultimately come down to your own happiness. Are you really that miserable in your program?....if the answer is yes, leave with a masters. If it's just a case of the grass is greener on the other side, take a few days to gather your thoughts, get away from the research, and be honest with yourself...it's your life.

Best of luck to you on this process; I know it's not an easy decision...but you'll make the best decision for yourself.

 

[db1]

I was in a Ph.D. program when I decided that I wanted to goto medical school. I want to do academic medicine, so quiting wasn't an issue. Like the others have said, you should definitely try and come away with at least your masters. But probably more importantly, you need to have a good reason to quit and goto medical school, with plenty of clinical experience to back it up. In my interviews they wanted to know that I had a good, productive grad school career, and enough patient contact to make the decision to goto medical school. If you don't already have clinical experience, you should be spending the rest of your time in grad school doing a ton of volunteer work in a clinical setting. This will show that you are not just jumping into another program you aren't really familiar with, and might be unhappy with, when reality sets in. Getting a good letter or two from your volunteer experience will really help. Not to mention a letter from your advisor, which is another reason to not jump ship.

Good luck, I know it is difficult, but you really are past the worst of it. Unless of course you really hate bench work, then welcome to hell 😱

 

[happydays]

If you don't want to do research any more, the best thing to do is to try to get your MS and leave. That way, you cut down your time in grad school, but you still have something to show for your time there.

Yes, you should get your MS and leave. I know someone who "lost his passion" into his 4th or 5th year of his graduate program, and left with his MS.

However, you'll have to show how much you are committed to medicine in order to convince adcoms that you will not leave med school unfinished. That includes doing shadowing, volunteering, and other clinical work.

 

[QofQuimica]

Yes, you should get your MS and leave. I know someone who "lost his passion" into his 4th or 5th year of his graduate program, and left with his MS.

However, you'll have to show how much you are committed to medicine in order to convince adcoms that you will not leave med school unfinished. That includes doing shadowing, volunteering, and other clinical work.

Oh, and that reminds me: you don't have to advertise that you dropped out of your program early. You want to present yourself as positively as you can, and so there's no need to broadcast that you "dropped out." I mean, if someone outright asks you whether you left early, then sure, you'll have to 'fess up. But people probably won't even think twice about it if you have your MS. Lots of people apply to med school w/ MS degrees. I left my original PhD program early with my MS for personal reasons, and I just told my interviewers that I earned my MS and then went on to do my PhD after taking some time off to work. No one ever asked me whether my first program was actually a PhD program. Of course, this may in part be b/c I did eventually go back to grad school, but I would guess that you aren't likely to be questioned if you just tell them that you earned your MS and then decided to go to medical school. And it isn't anyone's business that your original plan was to earn a PhD. So unless they specifically ask you about it, you need not feel obligated to divulge that particular information.

 

[njbmd]

hi everyone that's taken time to read my post.

well it seems i've been going through some quarter-life crisis recently:

i will soon finish the second year of graduate school in genetics. these past two years have been pretty intense, as it was difficult to get through the coursework and almost impossible to pass my qualifier exam (writing a NIH format grant). unfortunately, after the qualifier, my confidence and interest in graduate school dramatically went downhill. i realize now that focusing on research might not be the most satisfying career path for me. i started to seriously think about medical school for various reasons. i have definitely had a tough time debating whether or not leaving my program early would be the best option for me. i fear that medical schools would see this action in a fairly negative fashion and lean towards not accepting me largely because i chose not to finish my graduate program. however, i feel like waiting for at least another four years to finish graduate school would be almost a waste if i don't wish to pursue a career related to research and if i really feel strongly about medicine.

so in short (and not quite descriptive), this is my current dilemma. i was just wondering if anyone had some advice or similar past experiences that could help me in my decision to stay or leave graduate school for medical school. have you been rejected from schools partly (or entirely) because you failed to finish another post-baccalaureate program? if any medical admissions faculty read these postings: what is your opinion of those that leave a program early? is it necessarily negative or can it show some passion/dedication to give up something stable for a career change?

i appreciate any serious input/feedback on this situation. thank you!

Hi there,
You can opt out of your graduate program at the masters level but you face a huge liability if you do not at least finish that level. Most medical schools are not going to be interested in you if you drop out. What are you going to do if you do not like medicine? Most members of admissions committees are Ph.D scientists and thus will have little interest in your application if you do not finish at least the masters.

njbmd 🙂

 

[kohalagirl79]

Okay, I'm a little biased about the Ph.D. thing because I'm finishing one right now and am starting med school this fall. I know how frustrating a Ph.D. program can be, though. All crap you have to put up with in terms of classes, qualifiers, orals and the department in general can be really frustrating. When I finally finished all that and started in the lab full time, I had a great experience. My mentor is awesome, and the actual research has made me kind of forget the hell the first two years were.

I don't know what your experience is exactly, but I'm glad I stuck with it. MD/Ph.D's have a lot of opportunites once they're done, even if you don't want to go back to research. Plus, you really have to learn to think on your own--outside the box--which is something really useful as a physician. It's also given me a stronger appreciation for the work bench scientists do so that MDs can practice medicine!!!

Finally, if you haven't chosen your lab yet, make sure you talk to students/ postdocs in the lab before you choose! They'll tell you what it's really like to work with that particular PI. I'd also look at the PI's publication record. (You probably know all this already).

Anyway, good luck in your decision. Hope this helped.

 

[relentless11]

Oh, and that reminds me: you don't have to advertise that you dropped out of your program early. You want to present yourself as positively as you can, and so there's no need to broadcast that you "dropped out."

Ya know I was thinking that too. But I'm concerned that the OP's transcripts might show what degree-program they are in during each quarter/semester. I had my official one printed out not to long ago for record keeping, and it shows me as "Fall 05, Degree Information... Degree Sought: Doctor of Philosophy". Kinda like how you were one major as a freshman then changed it later as a junior...they show it on there. However I'm not sure if this changes if for some reason I go home with a masters. So yea, the OP should make sure of that.

If it doesn't show it, then cool. If it does might want to explain that in the PS, in a positive way some how.

 

[QofQuimica]

Ya know I was thinking that too. But I'm concerned that the OP's transcripts might show what degree-program they are in during each quarter/semester. I had my official one printed out not to long ago for record keeping, and it shows me as "Fall 05, Degree Information... Degree Sought: Doctor of Philosophy". Kinda like how you were one major as a freshman then changed it later as a junior...they show it on there. However I'm not sure if this changes if for some reason I go home with a masters. So yea, the OP should make sure of that.

If it doesn't show it, then cool. If it does might want to explain that in the PS, in a positive way some how.

Even if your transcripts do give the degree title, the schools don't have your transcripts while you're applying, because you send them directly to AMCAS. 😎 You don't submit copies of your official transcripts to most schools until AFTER you've been accepted and you've decided to matriculate. Like I said before, you should never lie. If you're asked a question, you answer it. But if you can avoid doing so, there's also no obligation to emphasize something negative about yourself and call other people's attention to it unless THEY bring it up first. They'll find plenty of things to give you a hard time about no matter how strong your app is; why should you hand more ammo to them and offer to stand still while they shoot you at point blank range?

It's like, if you go on a first date, is that really the appropriate time to tell the guy or girl about the acrimonious divorce you went through five years ago? Yeah, you're going to tell them about it if things get serious between you, but you probably don't want that to be the very first thing they find out about you, right? Sometimes the best thing you can do in relationships (and at interviews too) is to keep your big fat mouth shut. 😉

 

[relentless11]

Even if your transcripts do give the degree title, the schools don't have your transcripts while you're applying, because you send them directly to AMCAS. 😎 You don't submit copies of your official transcripts to most schools until AFTER you've been accepted and you've decided to matriculate. Like I said before, you should never lie. If you're asked a question, you answer it. But if you can avoid doing so, there's also no obligation to emphasize something negative about yourself and call other people's attention to it unless THEY bring it up first. They'll find plenty of things to give you a hard time about no matter how strong your app is; why should you hand more ammo to them and offer to stand still while they shoot you at point blank range?

It's like, if you go on a first date, is that really the appropriate time to tell the guy or girl about the acrimonious divorce you went through five years ago? Yeah, you're going to tell them about it if things get serious between you, but you probably don't want that to be the very first thing they find out about you, right? Sometimes the best thing you can do in relationships (and at interviews too) is to keep your big fat mouth shut. 😉

Lol..very true 🙂