question about DO dismissal and MD application

[punjabimc]

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I found out during my first term of osteopathic medical school that my wife of 7 years was having affairs. It destroyed me emotionally and I ended up failing three courses - I . withdrew under investigation. Meaning, I withdrew to avoid a dismissal due to academic performance.

The Dean of that school will not allow me to re-matriculate. I have a solid application packet for the Allopathic MD route but im wondering if the DO withdrawl due to poor academic performance will be information the AMCAS/ MD med school will have access to?

In the AMCAS app - it asks specifically if ive ever matriculated to a medical school seeking a MD degree? which I have not since it was a DO degree I was seeking.


If anyone has some solid advice to figure this out - please offer insight. I find it pretty messed up that I can work my whole life getting good grades, scoring high on the MCAT, working in research, volunteering etc etc - all good things..but when I was blindsided by the destruction of my family - it seems like all I worked for is unfairly taken away. It's not like I was out playing tennis when i should have been studying - my entire world fell apart.

advice please.
.

 

[LifeTake2]

I found out during my first term of osteopathic medical school that my wife of 7 years was having affairs. It destroyed me emotionally and I ended up failing three courses - I . withdrew under investigation. Meaning, I withdrew to avoid a dismissal due to academic performance.

The Dean of that school will not allow me to re-matriculate. I have a solid application packet for the Allopathic MD route but im wondering if the DO withdrawl due to poor academic performance will be information the AMCAS/ MD med school will have access to?

In the AMCAS app - it asks specifically if ive ever matriculated to a medical school seeking a MD degree? which I have not since it was a DO degree I was seeking.


If anyone has some solid advice to figure this out - please offer insight. I find it pretty messed up that I can work my whole life getting good grades, scoring high on the MCAT, working in research, volunteering etc etc - all good things..but when I was blindsided by the destruction of my family - it seems like all I worked for is unfairly taken away. It's not like I was out playing tennis when i should have been studying - my entire world fell apart.

advice please.
.

Why won't the Dean where you withdrew allow you to re-matriculate? That seems pretty harsh given the circumstances.

Assuming you have tried and they won't budge you are going to need to decide how to approach this with schools. IF the question is worded as you state, then you don't have to disclose directly on your application. But it IS going to come up, I don't see how you could hide it. Thus, you need to have a clear explanation; and Adcoms are going to be very leery that the school you withdrew from won't take you back.

I wish you the best, and agree it sucks that this happened but my gut tells me you have a long fight if you want to go MD at this point 🙁

 

[mmatlas]

To punjabimc:

Withdrawal under investigation is a very, very bad thing, regardless of what happened. And you shouldn't say it was unfair. Attending med school is a privilege and not a right. It would have been unfair to other students to let you stay. You failed too many courses. Med schools bend over backwards and sideways to help people who fail, and evidently you never asked for help.You should have talked to the dean when you failed the FIRST course, you should have asked for a leave of absence instead of waiting to fail THREE courses, etc. Your new med school will ask these questions.

On the app question: You should call AMCAS and ask them. Get a name and document it. The reason is if you answer something the wrong way and somebody finds out, a school can expel you, and the medical board can revoke your license for lying/omission of a material fact. There is a significant chronological gap that you have to explain. You didn't work at Wally World during those months, you attended a medical school and withdrew. Another thing is transcripts: Med schools ask for ALL transcripts of EVERY institution attended.

I honestly don't think another U.S. medical school (MD/DO) will take you, when there are so many qualified applicants without prior history/issues. Perhaps you should try Ross University.

Good luck to you.

 

[gman33]

You can answer no to the "MD" question, but you still have to list it in your education history.

Pretty doubtful that any US school will give you a shot unless you have a letter stating you left in good standing.

Leave this info off your app at your own risk.
It might come up on a background check.
I also think there is some kind of national educational db that schools can access.

As said above, if you get found out at any time, you will be getting kicked out.

 

[dragonfly99]

Would just try applying but you need to be honest that you were in med school before. You will probably not get into a US MD school (I think). Nobody really knows though. In your situation I would be pan-applying to DO/MD in the US, if you really want that, plus foreign schools like Caribbean, Australian and/or Irish/UK.

 

[ra14206]

I am sort of in the same boat. I withdrew in my 3rd year from a MD school after not doing well on three clerkship exams in a row because of family related issues. You will have to disclose all your educational info if you want a chance. The chances are very slim though. It will depend on the deans letter and your personal statement.
Feel free to PM me if you want to share what you've found.

 

[punjabimc]

To punjabimc:

Withdrawal under investigation is a very, very bad thing, regardless of what happened. And you shouldn't say it was unfair. Attending med school is a privilege and not a right. It would have been unfair to other students to let you stay. You failed too many courses. Med schools bend over backwards and sideways to help people who fail, and evidently you never asked for help.You should have talked to the dean when you failed the FIRST course, you should have asked for a leave of absence instead of waiting to fail THREE courses, etc. Your new med school will ask these questions.

On the app question: You should call AMCAS and ask them. Get a name and document it. The reason is if you answer something the wrong way and somebody finds out, a school can expel you, and the medical board can revoke your license for lying/omission of a material fact. There is a significant chronological gap that you have to explain. You didn't work at Wally World during those months, you attended a medical school and withdrew. Another thing is transcripts: Med schools ask for ALL transcripts of EVERY institution attended.

I honestly don't think another U.S. medical school (MD/DO) will take you, when there are so many qualified applicants without prior history/issues. Perhaps you should try Ross University.

Good luck to you.

Yeah you are right - I never did ask for help. I was in a fog and everything fell apart. All three courses at once. If I don't get back in - then that's the way it goes. I just wanted to be sure I answered everything honestly - thanks for the advice.