Transfering medical schools...

[Just Applied]

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I was wondering how hard is it to transfer from a supposed "Low tier" medical school to a "High tier" medical school like Johns Hopkins. Is it worth all the hassle and how difficult would it be? Do your undergrad grades get taken into account and MCAT score? Or only medical school grades and step 1 scores are taken into account? And can you transfer after first year of medical school or is generally after you complete your second year at med school.

 

[gaser12]

I also have a transfer question...

I'll be finishing my 2nd year at a UC this spring and take step 1 in May/June. Because of personal reasons, I was considering transferring to a school in the east coast (NY, NJ, PA, DC). I'm hoping to stay in a top 25 school like UPenn, Cornell, JHU, or NYU...however I'd consider any school that accepts transfer student.

Anyone have experience or know of transfer procedures and which schools accept them? I'd appreciate any response!

 

[HiddenTruth]

I also have a transfer question...

I'll be finishing my 2nd year at a UC this spring and take step 1 in May/June. Because of personal reasons, I was considering transferring to a school in the east coast (NY, NJ, PA, DC). I'm hoping to stay in a top 25 school like UPenn, Cornell, JHU, or NYU...however I'd consider any school that accepts transfer student.

Anyone have experience or know of transfer procedures and which schools accept them? I'd appreciate any response!

i do know a little bit. First of all, to answer both of your guys' questions, lots of the top tier schools do not take transer students. Mainly for the fact that they don't have spots available. I know fr a fact that penn, harv, hopkins, cornell,columbia, nyu don't participate in transfer programs. There are, however, few that do, but again very space limited. Most of the time wehn you call them, they tell you that they don't simpy because student's don't leave, and there is space limitations. Often times they tell you to fill the app or letter of intention stating your reasons for transfer, and then they will contact you in april or may, when students decide to take leave of absence or quit, or whatever. So, all in all, transfer is pretty hard, but I would give it a shot if you have significant reasons (they are looking for that).

Most schools will only take transfers after 2nd year and lilmited to passing of step 1. I know mayo only takes transfers after their first year because of their integrated program, but again, they tell you that they haven't taken any transfers in the past god knows how many years because they didn't have space. Just to rattle some schools that I contacted about transfers that did accept them--darthmouth, brown, boston, emory, southwestern, NW, USC, mt sinai. (all the of the UC schools, including stanford and prtizker do not take any transfers).

I think they want the orig AMCAS app that u filled. So, they want all your undergrad scores, MCAT, and med school graes, and again acceptance is pending on passing of step 1. So, you must have step 1 scored by the time 3rd year starts at the respective school. you can apply and get prelim acceptance before your scores, but enterance is pending based on passing step 1 scores. Hope this helps. Good luck.

 

[Man In The Box]

Well, I'm finding that transfering from my med. school to any other med. school is damn near impossible despite the fact that my grades are good, I rocked the MCAT, and my undergrad GPA was solid. Choose your school based on the environment, not the reputation. Four years is a long time to be miserable!

 

[smgilles]

I also have a transfer question...

I'll be finishing my 2nd year at a UC this spring and take step 1 in May/June. Because of personal reasons, I was considering transferring to a school in the east coast (NY, NJ, PA, DC). I'm hoping to stay in a top 25 school like UPenn, Cornell, JHU, or NYU...however I'd consider any school that accepts transfer student.

Anyone have experience or know of transfer procedures and which schools accept them? I'd appreciate any response!

Hiddentruth is correct. I am in the process of trying to transfer from a private DO school to a state MD school due to family reasons and have had to do all things he/she listed.

I had to send all undergraduate and graduate grades, current medical school grades, MCAT score, get a letter of approval from my Dean, write a personal statement stating why I am seeking a transfer. You will also have to take the USMLE earlier than most since they need to see your passing score prior to admittance. I was not required to submit the entire AMCAS application over again though.

It is a huge hassle, but if you have legitimate reasons both schools will be open to your request, especially if the school you are hoping too transfer to has available spots.

 

[thackl]

PM omarsalah66, he did it last year (that bastard was supposed to be my big sib 😡 ) to be with his fiance.

 

[omarsaleh66]

PM omarsalah66, he did it last year (that bastard was supposed to be my big sib 😡 ) to be with his fiance.

LOL, hey man, Im still your "big sib" in spirit. ahah

OP: yeah transferring is worth the hassle and it can be done, u might as well give it a shot. But as some people said before, it can be tough, if there are no spots available, thats the only problem. And u need to have a convincing reason to move to that city. Moving to the East Coast prolly wont work. Pick a school, and u need to say my (fiance is in that city, or my family is sick in that city) then in that case it should be pretty easy provided they have an open spot.

U will have to appy, send them ur mcat scores, and intreview with them. U will have to take step 1 if u are gonna be a 3rd year, and it should be pretty easy from there as long as u are in good standing with your school (the dean just has to write that u are passing ur classes and are in good standing). Thats pretty much it.

Gluck

Omar

 

[athena21]

What is the liklihood that if you get all of this done that you are 1) interviewed, and 2) able to transfer? I filled out a transfer app, turned in all of the info, my compelling reason though is not family but it is research (w/ prof who works there), and now am waiting to hear. It would be phenomenal if it works out, but i'm not sure of the probability...

 

[HiddenTruth]

What is the liklihood that if you get all of this done that you are 1) interviewed, and 2) able to transfer? I filled out a transfer app, turned in all of the info, my compelling reason though is not family but it is research (w/ prof who works there), and now am waiting to hear. It would be phenomenal if it works out, but i'm not sure of the probability...

ehh, hate to burst your bubble--but i also think it would be PHENOMENAL, like really phenomenal if it works out--good luck.

 

[tigress]

Anybody have experience transfering because your spouse wants to go to that school? Like if I'm accepted somewhere and I really want to go, and my husband is going to be 3rd year when I start, would a school consider that a good reason for a transfer?

Also, I know for sure at least one school that officially doesn't allow transfers, but for spouses they will if you ask nicely and are qualified. So definitely ask the school specifically, giving your reason, rather than relying on their "official" policy as stated on their web site or whatever.

 

[tofurious]

I know mayo only takes transfers after their first year because of their integrated program, but again, they tell you that they haven't taken any transfers in the past god knows how many years because they didn't have space.

Not quite true. There was the wife of an IM chief resident who successfully transferred into 3rd year. However, this was a bad experience overall and may be the reason that transfers won't happen for a while.

 

[HiddenTruth]

Not quite true. There was the wife of an IM chief resident who successfully transferred into 3rd year. However, this was a bad experience overall and may be the reason that transfers won't happen for a while.

true, but then again, she was exception as she was the wife of an employee at the school/hosp. If you look at the rules and regulations, they only take transfers after their first year and again, only limited to space availability (which is very hard). But this also proves, that transfer rulse/regulations are evry subjective based on circumstances and very favorable if you have a spouce as a faculty at the school. Infact, stanford and pritzker only take transfers (according to their "rules/reg") if the student has a spouse as a facult (maybe med student, not sure).