Quitting the PHD in DO/PHD

[foundnemo627]

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I am a first year student in a D.O./Ph.D. program (OMS-1, haven't started PhD work), and I'd like some feedback on how quitting the PhD could be detrimental, or not.

I love research, but my major concern is a personal one, being I recently got engaged this summer and will soon be adopting my fiancees 7 year old daughter. My university is 2.5 hours from where they live. We have found no quality public schools near my university (she currently is in one of the best schools in the state), nor have we found jobs that wouldn't force my fiancee to take a huge paycut. I am not willing to jeopardize the education or financial well-being of our child. Nor am I thrilled about having a long-distance marriage for the next six years- nor do I want to wait six years to get married.

If I quit the PhD program, I am able to do rotations in years 3-4 at a hospital close to my family (which would not be possible if I did the PhD- I'd have to stay near the university). The program is NOT MSTP, and I will not have to pay anything back if I quit now. I'm most concerned about any detriment to the school or my reputation--- I don't want to look unprofessional!

Any advice is appreciated!

 

[solitude]

I am a first year student in a D.O./Ph.D. program (OMS-1, haven't started PhD work), and I've had significant doubts about getting a PhD from day one. I'd like some feedback on how quitting the PhD could be detrimental, or not.

I love research, but my major concern is a personal one, being I recently got engaged this summer and will soon be adopting my fiancees 7 year old daughter. My university is 2.5 hours from where they live. We have found no quality public schools near my university (she currently is in one of the best schools in the state), nor have we found jobs that wouldn't force my fiancee to take a huge paycut. I am not willing to jeopardize the education or financial well-being of our child. Nor am I thrilled about having a long-distance marriage for the next six years- nor do I want to wait six years to get married.

If I quit the PhD program, I am able to do rotations in years 3-4 at a hospital close to my family (which would not be possible if I did the PhD- I'd have to stay near the university). The program is NOT MSTP, and I will not have to pay anything back if I quit now. I'm most concerned about any detriment to the school or my reputation--- I don't want to look unprofessional!

Any advice is appreciated!

Sounds like a no-brainer. You don't want to do the PhD for many reasons, and won't have to pay anything back. Drop out.

 

[ratherbefishing]

Phd can be done during residency. Many programs offer this. Or just move on with things.

 

[foundnemo627]

"Phd can be done during residency. Many programs offer this. Or just move on with things."

I was unaware of that! Thanks for bringing it up- I'm also not opposed to doing PhD work much farther down the line if I'm so inclined.

 

[gutonc]

"Phd can be done during residency. Many programs offer this. Or just move on with things."

I was unaware of that! Thanks for bringing it up- I'm also not opposed to doing PhD work much farther down the line if I'm so inclined.

I think that's a bit of an exaggeration but not completely untrue. There are research pathway residency/fellowships (the best developed are in IM but they exist in most other specialties). But it's not like you just do your 2-3 year fellowship and come out with a PhD on the other side. It will generally require a minimum of 1 extra year (the ABIM research pathway requirement) and as many as 3-4 extra years in fellowship.

I know a lot of people who have done the ABIM research pathway and a grand total of 1 of them got a PhD out of it. His GI fellowship lasted 7 years.

That said, if you can get a program to go for it, you'll get paid better doing it then than you would as a student. On the flip side, the lure of filthy lucre out in practice may be much greater at that point too.