Not graduating from MS before MD matriculation?

[pky463]

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For the last year, I've been working on my thesis for my MS, and I'll submit it in this May. Everythign will be approved by June but my graduation date will be set as September. Will this be a problem for matriculation for Fall 2010?

 

[Catalystik]

I recall reading that you can get some type of certification from your school that states you've completed all requirements for graduation, and that this is sufficient for most med schools in lieu of a final transcript, but you'd be best off calling the med school and asking what their rules are in this regard so you obtain the correct documents.

 

[armybound]

You could contact the school if you're concerned, but as long as you have your thesis defended and you're just waiting on the actual graduation date, I don't see why they'd care.

 

[pky463]

Thanks guys! I won't even be registered in the summer (I'm submitting everything early so as to not pay for another quarter), so I really hoped it wouldn't be a problem. Everything will defintely be defended and approved well before matriculation, so I hope all will be OK 🙂

 

[ShinyDome19]

I would call the medical school and ask...I bet it will come down to them wanting you to have the degree finished prior to matriculating. But, at the same time, they may be willing to work with you. For instance, at one school I interviewed at, several years ago, they told me and another PhD student that if we were accepted, they would be willing to work with us since graduate programs can be somewhat unpredictable. So, you might be able to convince them that you'r obligation to the school will be next to nill if you can show them you defended your thesis and what not prior to matriculating and that you just have to wait for the graduate school to say the margins on your thesis are okay and what not.

 

[pky463]

I would call the medical school and ask...I bet it will come down to them wanting you to have the degree finished prior to matriculating. But, at the same time, they may be willing to work with you. For instance, at one school I interviewed at, several years ago, they told me and another PhD student that if we were accepted, they would be willing to work with us since graduate programs can be somewhat unpredictable. So, you might be able to convince them that you'r obligation to the school will be next to nill if you can show them you defended your thesis and what not prior to matriculating and that you just have to wait for the graduate school to say the margins on your thesis are okay and what not.

Oh but even the margins will have been approved!! It's just that: the next graduation date is not till September, so I won't have an official paper till then but EVERYTHING (including margins etc) will all be done well before (in June), which is why I'm not registered for summer.

 

[MedMan25]

Oh but even the margins will have been approved!! It's just that: the next graduation date is not till September, so I won't have an official paper till then but EVERYTHING (including margins etc) will all be done well before (in June), which is why I'm not registered for summer.

I doubt it would be a problem but like others have said, if you're really concerned about it just contact the school. Also, read your acceptance letter carefully. It is essentially a contract between you and the school and outlines the conditions that need to be met in order for you to matriculate. In our letter it simply said if we failed any courses during our last semester our acceptance would be withdrawn. So as long as you didn't fail a class you'd be fine. Simply not finishing a PhD or MA program wouldn't be grounds for withdrawing an acceptance in that case unless you didn't finish because you failed a course.

 

[pky463]

I doubt it would be a problem but like others have said, if you're really concerned about it just contact the school. Also, read your acceptance letter carefully. It is essentially a contract between you and the school and outlines the conditions that need to be met in order for you to matriculate. In our letter it simply said if we failed any courses during our last semester our acceptance would be withdrawn. So as long as you didn't fail a class you'd be fine. Simply not finishing a PhD or MA program wouldn't be grounds for withdrawing an acceptance in that case unless you didn't finish because you failed a course.

I just called and it's no problem as long as I'm on campus for orientation! Thanks everyone!!