Missing first few days of MS1...

[daisy44]

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Um, this is probably really bad, but I found out that my Fulbright grant extends a few days past the beginning of orientation and even the first few days of class for some med schools. (The grant ends in the beginning of August). I dont know where I'll end up going to med school next fall, but if it ends up being one of those schools and I cant end the grant early...How horrible is it to miss the first few days of orientation and class for your first year of med school?

That bad? Yeah that's what I thought...

 

[ksmi117]

I'm gonna say pretty bad. How are you gonna know what's going on without going to orientation? I'd call some schools anonymously and ask what their policy is on that.

 

[redlight]

i doubt missing orientation is a big deal. im sure they can put together an info packet or something for you.

as far as missing class: yeah that one may end up being a big deal. hopefully whatever school you pick will record lectures and have them available online. i think all schools have some sort of note taking service, right? either way, i think schools would be able to help you work through the issues.

 

[Evergrey]

Why wouldn't Fulbright excuse the term length for that purpose? I see no reason why they wouldn't...

 

[TooMuchResearch]

Orientation and the first few days of class are good times to meet classmates. I would definitely want to be around.

 

[LizzyM]

There are some pretty important things that go on during orientation and it would be a very bad idea to miss.

Cross this bridge when you come to it. You'll know in May if you are going to a school that has an overlap and at that point, with an offer from the school of your choice in hand, you can request to get out of the Fulbright a week or two early. It can work out but don't worry about it until you have to.

That said, I suggest that you do everything humanly possible not to miss the orientation and the first days of class. The material in the first days forms the foundation for the first two and the rate at which material is thrown at you is such that missing a day is like missing a week of undergrad.

 

[daisy44]

I don't know if they would allow me to leave early, they seem pretty strict about the time commitment. Perhaps if I actually had an acceptance and a solid reason for concern, they would be understanding.

I might be able to get out a week early or so, but there are some schools (ie. Emory) that start way too early to even consider. I mean, this is no one's fault but my own for not checking it out earlier, but I guess it just kind of sucks bc Emory was one of my dream schools. Let's see where I get in first though, right? lol.

 

[turkeyjerky]

I'm gonna go ahead and say that it's not a big deal at all. Orientation is useless, don't worry at all about missing that. As for the first few days of class--it's prolly not the best thing, but really not that big a deal in the long run. You'll be able to catch up that first weekend no problemo. Especially if your school tapes the lectures--it'll be like you never missed anything.

 

[turkeyjerky]

That said, I suggest that you do everything humanly possible not to miss the orientation and the first days of class. The material in the first days forms the foundation for the first two and the rate at which material is thrown at you is such that missing a day is like missing a week of undergrad.

Quit scaring the kids!
😉

 

[olemissbabydoc]

we aren't allowed to miss orientation. in fact, if you're sick, you're to report to student health or the ER 2 hours before the start of the day to be evaluated, put on an iv pole, and in a wheelchair so you can be on time.

Just kidding. But you get the idea. Mandatory.

 

[Ashers]

At some schools, if you don't show up to orientation, your spot goes to someone on the waitlist.

 

[scarletgirl777]

I'm gonna go ahead and say that it's not a big deal at all. Orientation is useless, don't worry at all about missing that. As for the first few days of class--it's prolly not the best thing, but really not that big a deal in the long run. You'll be able to catch up that first weekend no problemo. Especially if your school tapes the lectures--it'll be like you never missed anything.

That probably varies from school to school.

 

[njbmd]

Um, this is probably really bad, but I found out that my Fulbright grant extends a few days past the beginning of orientation and even the first few days of class for some med schools. (The grant ends in the beginning of August). I dont know where I'll end up going to med school next fall, but if it ends up being one of those schools and I cant end the grant early...How horrible is it to miss the first few days of orientation and class for your first year of med school?

That bad? Yeah that's what I thought...

The first person you need to contact is the Dean of your medical school. You need to totally explain your situation and ask permission to "miss" orientation. If you can't get official permission to be absent, then you figure out if you grant will allow you to make arrangements (working on weekends, working longer hours) so that you can meet your medical school obligations. In any event, both entities need to be notified of the time conflict. Armed with solid information, you can make a decision as to which has more priority.

There are some pretty important things that go on during orientation and it would be a very bad idea to miss.

Cross this bridge when you come to it. You'll know in May if you are going to a school that has an overlap and at that point, with an offer from the school of your choice in hand, you can request to get out of the Fulbright a week or two early. It can work out but don't worry about it until you have to.

That said, I suggest that you do everything humanly possible not to miss the orientation and the first days of class. The material in the first days forms the foundation for the first two and the rate at which material is thrown at you is such that missing a day is like missing a week of undergrad.

I can tell the OP that at my two schools, orientation is mandatory. If you miss orientation, you are on automatic deferment. Registration, financial aid awards and other things are performed during orientation. The OP needs to have as much information as possible so that he/she can decide if the last couple of weeks of a fellowship are worth starting your medical career off with a loss.

At some schools, if you don't show up to orientation, your spot goes to someone on the waitlist.

This is true at many schools. As I said above, the Dean of Admissions will invite a couple of waitlisters to the first day of orientation for those folks who don't show up. The OP needs to make sure that this isn't the case at his/her medical school and make arrangements to get everything done that would be taken care of during orientation.

 

[Daedalus]

At some schools, if you don't show up to orientation, your spot goes to someone on the waitlist.

Exactly - this policy was clearly spelled out in our acceptance materials. "If you miss the first day of orientation, your spot is forfeit and will be given to someone else"

 

[Jolie South]

I agree with what has been said above about contacting both your grant folks and student affairs about this conflict once you know where you're going to school. Since you don't know about school yet, I'd start working on the grant folks.

That being said, I had a serious conflict that I knew about well in advance and got permission to miss orientation from the Dean. I met with someone the first week of school to find out what I had missed and how to go about getting it done. In the end, it didn't end up being a big deal. I just had to do everything by myself as opposed to with everyone else as a group during orientation time.

I think in general just "not showing" up is pretty unacceptable. You will surely be able to arrange something with one party or the other.

 

[45408]

Tell your people that you're with now that there's no way you can possibly miss the beginning of med school.