Reporting grades after acceptance??

[stn1983]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

Hello my fellow SDNers, I am in a predicament and need some advice. I have recently been accepted to one of the DO programs. However, before I knew I was accepted I enrolled into a master program at a local university. The school that I have been accepted to does not know that I am in a master program. It was more of a last minute decision to enroll into one. My question is do I need to report to this to my school? I was also thinking about dropping out of the master program, but since I've paid for it already I might as well finish it. However, I just don't know if I want to give my full effort into this program, and likewise, I know my grades will suffer because of this. If my grades do suffer is there a way that the medical school that I have been accepted to will find out?

 

[taylormade2006]

You have to turn in transcripts prior to matriculation anyways, so I don't think you have a choice regarding whether or not to tell them.

 

[stn1983]

well how would they know that I am in the program in the first place. This master program that I am currently in now is taken at a different institution than my undergraduate. I submitted my application before I decided to start this master program, so my primary application that they received had no information about the master program that I am in now.

 

[taylormade2006]

well how would they know that I am in the program in the first place. This master program that I am currently in now is taken at a different institution than my undergraduate. I submitted my application before I decided to start this master program, so my primary application that they received had no information about the master program that I am in now.

If you used student loans to pay tuition they'll know right away when they evaluate their financial aid. Otherwise your only risk is whether or not they eventually find out and dismiss you for lying on your application. Ultimately, that decision is yours to make. What do you have to lose by them knowing?

 

[IamaBanana]

well how would they know that I am in the program in the first place. This master program that I am currently in now is taken at a different institution than my undergraduate. I submitted my application before I decided to start this master program, so my primary application that they received had no information about the master program that I am in now.

Don't think of it so much as "how would they know" but "what if they found out." Typically schools want you to finish up whatever program you are in, even if it is a one year master's. If they found out that you dropped it simply because you didn't feel like finishing and purposefully kept it from them could be very bad, like matriculation offer rescindment bad.

 

[srivatarun]

I would not lie about being in the program. I am actually in my second semester of an MS program right now as well, and after getting into DO school, I have decided not to finish right now for financial reasons. I want to save up some money and work for this and next semester so that maybe I can save up some money for first year living at least.

I e-mailed NSU-COM and asked them if completing the program was a requirement for matriculation, and they said it is not. So they will not rescind your offer if you tell them you are not going to complete it, nor will they rescind your offer if you drop all of your classes. I think that if you start something you should finish it if you can financially, but that's your decision to make. Good luck!
~Tarun

 

[MightyMoose]

Don't think of it so much as "how would they know" but "what if they found out." Typically schools want you to finish up whatever program you are in, even if it is a one year master's. If they found out that you dropped it simply because you didn't feel like finishing and purposefully kept it from them could be very bad, like matriculation offer rescindment bad.

I agree with the first part. I think the OP should disclose, but in terms of the second part, I disagree. Unless the master's was a stipulation on your acceptance letter you can probably drop it. But I would try to finish out the classes you're in now that you already paid for. If you have paid for the entire program, I would finish it all. If you have only paid for the semester, just finish that out. I know plenty of people who dropped a SMP halfway through when they got an acceptance to save on the cost. This is something adcom's should be very aware of; these programs are damn expensive.

As always though, OP, I would recommend you call the admissions dept. if you are in doubt at all about whether you need to finish the program or not, but my guess is that you don't, because they didn't even know you had started it when they offered you an acceptance. That's my take anyway.

 

[GraceEuphoria]

I went through this last year. I got into LMU-DCOM in mid December (the day before my last final actually!) while enrolled in a one year master's program. I finished my classes for that fall, but after contacting DCOM and finding out that completing the program was not required by them, I dropped the program for the spring and enjoyed a semester off 😀

Many questioned why I did that- why not get the extra degree, you're half way there, they said. I said, why spend another $6,000 when I already have lots of undergrad debt and TONS more debt coming my way. It's essentially your call.

If I were you, here's what I would do:
-Report your enrollment status to AACOMAS, or at least your future DO school.
-Email someone or call someone in admissions and see if dropping out can affect your acceptance.
-If not, either drop out now and cut your losses on money for the first semester (I would only do this if your program wasn't very costly, if you aren't super interested in the courses, or if the grades might actually hurt you) or drop out after fall semester.
-If they want you to at least finish these classes, do your best to crank out nothing lower than a C, but preferably at least a B.

Having these fall classes under your belt will most likely do nothing but help you next year. The few classes I finished last fall were some of the most helpful for my basic sciences this year. Bottom line, though, you CANNOT CANNOT CANNOT (did I mention cannot?) conveniently "forget" to disclose your enrollment status to your future school. It's considered an omission on your application, even if you started after you applied because you can update AACOMAS and the school both. Things like this get people dismissed from their schools- promise.

Good luck!