Need Advice: dropping out of masters b/c of med school acceptance

[DO 2014]

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So I just received my acceptance to my first choice D.O. med school and wanted to drop out of my master's program (I would have completed the masters by may 2010 and start med school in aug 2010). I know that the D.O. school does not care if i complete my master's or not. I will still be starting med school with them in Aug 2010 no matter what. I was just wondering how bad it looks to residency programs that I did not complete my masters. Will they really care, since it is not part of my med school career? I'm pretty sure they will know one way or another that I did not complete it. I just wanted to know if it will look bad and be brought up at an interview for residency program and how to handle that or if I should drop out at all or not.


Thanks!

 

[jkmph]

You didn't post a reason for wanting to not finish your masters.

Is it money? Is it a thesis you don't want to do? Is it pure laziness?

 

[DO 2014]

I am in a two years masters program. The first year is all coursework and the second year is research and completing a thesis you must present in front of a committee. I am having major issues with my research right now. My research committee has changed my project several times. It may even be possible that I might not finish my thesis by May but will have to finish it the summer after my first year of medical school, which is not something I want to do. I am putting 60 hours a week while everyone else in my program is putting around 30 hours. I feel that one of my research advisors is not very understanding about me also being a student and having other academic related things going on (classes, tutoring, club meetings)...She expects me to be in the lab at all times and to not have anything else going on. I'm getting very overwhelmed at this point, especially since I am doing research that is NOT related to any field that I want to go into for medicine. I would rather drop out and spend the rest of they year shadowing a physician, volunteering in hospital or clinic... getting more clinical experience. I've already done 2 years of research in undergrad and the research I'm doing now is very similar to that, so it's not really benefitting me. I don't see how staying will benefit, since I am also not happy about staying.

 

[plsfoldthx]

I am in a two years masters program. The first year is all coursework and the second year is research and completing a thesis you must present in front of a committee. I am having major issues with my research right now. My research committee has changed my project several times. It may even be possible that I might not finish my thesis by May but will have to finish it the summer after my first year of medical school, which is not something I want to do. I am putting 60 hours a week while everyone else in my program is putting around 30 hours. I feel that one of my research advisors is not very understanding about me also being a student and having other academic related things going on (classes, tutoring, club meetings)...She expects me to be in the lab at all times and to not have anything else going on. I'm getting very overwhelmed at this point, especially since I am doing research that is NOT related to any field that I want to go into for medicine. I would rather drop out and spend the rest of they year shadowing a physician, volunteering in hospital or clinic... getting more clinical experience. I've already done 2 years of research in undergrad and the research I'm doing now is very similar to that, so it's not really benefitting me. I don't see how staying will benefit, since I am also not happy about staying.

I was in this exact same situation and I dropped out and am now taking classes and volunteering ... I had my goals mixed up and I decided that my priority was getting into medical school and the reality of my masters program was that it was ALL tedious, repetetive, mindnumbing research... literally watching drosophila run around in circles around a clear tube and counting the number of lines they crossed... and repeated 50000 times. and I didnt feel that it was preparing me in anyways for what I wanted to do. I hope I made the right decision.

 

[DO 2014]

thanks plsfoldthx, it definitely helps to know other people who have gone through this experience and it definitely makes me feel better...i know how frustrating research can get and i'm glad you got out of something that was not helping you

i am still wondering if anyone knows if dropping out of a masters can affect your admission into a residency program in the future?...i know it's an odd thing to think about, but i've heard they scrutinize you greatly and could use anything against you really...


any thoughts?


Thanks

 

[ShinyDome19]

Switch to non-thesis if you can and then finish up the extra course work you need. Dont waste all of the work you've done up to that point.

 

[rddoms]

Dropping out of your MS program probably won't have a negative impact on your residency application, but completing the MS will likely be beneficial.

It is quite unfortunate that you aren't enjoying your MS work. You have already put a lot of work into the degree, so you should complete it. It may mean more stress, but you will get the MS degree in the end. If I were you, I would bite the bullet and finish the degree.

 

[Instatewaiter]

I am in a two years masters program. The first year is all coursework and the second year is research and completing a thesis you must present in front of a committee. I am having major issues with my research right now. My research committee has changed my project several times. It may even be possible that I might not finish my thesis by May but will have to finish it the summer after my first year of medical school, which is not something I want to do. I am putting 60 hours a week while everyone else in my program is putting around 30 hours. I feel that one of my research advisors is not very understanding about me also being a student and having other academic related things going on (classes, tutoring, club meetings)...She expects me to be in the lab at all times and to not have anything else going on. I'm getting very overwhelmed at this point, especially since I am doing research that is NOT related to any field that I want to go into for medicine. I would rather drop out and spend the rest of they year shadowing a physician, volunteering in hospital or clinic... getting more clinical experience. I've already done 2 years of research in undergrad and the research I'm doing now is very similar to that, so it's not really benefitting me. I don't see how staying will benefit, since I am also not happy about staying.

I would recommend trying to finish the masters. Having a masters will really help for residency. Not finishing the program could throw up some red flags, especially if you didnt try to take it all the way until you start med school.

 

[jkmph]

I would recommend trying to finish the masters. Having a masters will really help for residency. Not finishing the program could throw up some red flags, especially if you didnt try to take it all the way until you start med school.

I'm inclined to agree with this advice. If you drop out with 3/4 of your MS done, theoretically at least, then it could be a red flag when you start pursuing residency options. You might be wise to contact some residency directors and ask them to get a definitive answer.

Be proleptical and imagine your situation 4-5 years from now. You may genuinely regret for personal and/or professional reasons that you didn't finish this degree.

 

[mic2377]

I would absolutely finish the degree. Research is absolutely helpful, especially if you plan on pursuing some sort of competitive residency.

Good luck on your research, the grind can definitely be a drag some days.

 

[FutureDocDO]

I dropped out of my MHA program as soon as I received my acceptance letter due to 1) not going to finish it before med school starts and 2) don't want to add on more debt. I'm currently applying for residency. I don't think it's affecting me negatively.

So I just received my acceptance to my first choice D.O. med school and wanted to drop out of my master's program (I would have completed the masters by may 2010 and start med school in aug 2010). I know that the D.O. school does not care if i complete my master's or not. I will still be starting med school with them in Aug 2010 no matter what. I was just wondering how bad it looks to residency programs that I did not complete my masters. Will they really care, since it is not part of my med school career? I'm pretty sure they will know one way or another that I did not complete it. I just wanted to know if it will look bad and be brought up at an interview for residency program and how to handle that or if I should drop out at all or not.


Thanks!

 

[jkmph]

I dropped out of my MHA program as soon as I received my acceptance letter due to 1) not going to finish it before med school starts and 2) don't want to add on more debt. I'm currently applying for residency. I don't think it's affecting me negatively.

Just out of curiosity, did you drop out after getting an acceptance your first year or second year of your MHA program? If you were accepted the first year, that's an easy decision. The second year is a different conversation. Just wondering...