Transferring between Pod

[sparkypod]

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Has anyone on here tried to or successfully transferred between podiatry schools?

I'm currently a first year and I am unhappy with the way some classes are taught and the administration at my school. I hear a lot about how 'fit' of your school is key. I don't know if its worth sticking it out at one school in the guise of trying harder or if one could really do better somewhere else because the fit was not right. I love the profession, so I wonder if I'd just love the experience more at a different school.

Does anyone know of the process ie. when to apply, if you'd have to re-interview? How schools react to requests like this? How this might affect residency?

I heard that since the curriculum varies between schools, if you do get to transfer, you have to start over. Is it worth it?

Any student opinion would be very helpful. I will also contact admissions for schools but they won't be able to give me a student perspective on if transferring was what they needed/worth the trouble.

 

[vom]

What school do you now attend?

 

[sparkypod]

Nycpm

 

[vom]

Details. Pics too, or it didn't happen 🙂

j/k no, seriously, details.

 

[dyk343]

Sounds like you have some 1st year blues. You would have to repeat 1st if you transferred. That's tuition/rent/food + 1 year of lost income in the future.

Residency interviews will be tough - think about explaining why you left a commitment less than 1 year in.

I would stay. Clinical years are only 1 year away.

 

[sparkypod]

Its a little more than 1st yr blues. I had a very bad experience 1st semester with student housing. Keep in mind this was probably an uncommon problem but the fact that it took a whole semester to remedy was difficult to deal with. Simply put, you cant study and do well if you cant sleep at night. This was the biggest issue.

And I dont mean to bash the school, but to me its just not a very happy environment. There isnt enough space for all the students at the school sometimes, making it hard to find places to study or even eat lunch. And sometimes it seems as though administration cares more about little policies like attendance or food/beverages in the classroom or fitting us into a bell curve than making sure we are understanding everything and doing well . And for some classes, professors dont teach well.

Im of the opinion that even though someone could be very decorated in their feild, it doesnt mean they teach well. Im sure this is a problem everywhere at a graduate level bc you are expected to do a lot of self study and self teaching. But I think there should be a better balance between spoon feeding vs not knowing where information is coming from/ what is expected of you.

I dont really see starting over as abandoning a commitment (but thats a judgement a residency director would make anyway), but im weighing the cost of being unhappy and pushing through and being mediocre vs excelling somewhere else. I hope that makes sense.

 

[Fetting]

I think you should just stay put where you are. I know many students at Scholl, DMU, KSUCPM who are/were unhappy. Hated their housing, weren't impressed with professors, cramped study space, poor quality food, etc. The first two years of school are very difficult. Things will get to you, you'll get angry/upset and eventually you'll get over it. When you get to 4th year you won't even remember why you were unhappy. Usually to transfer you need a letter from your dean allowing you to do so. That can be a tough letter to get given the situation.