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[Mother Teresa]

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[WildWing]

Congratulations! I can't speak to the transfer situation, but one option you may want to consider is requesting a deferral from your school. You wouldn't be very far into M1 when it comes time to deliver, and that assumes a typical pregnancy, and you would need leave from classes to recover from the delivery. If you deferred your acceptance, you would start M1 in 2026 with an almost one-year old rather than dealing with M1 and a newborn, which while still challenging is easier from the perspective of childcare, sleep, etc.

Adcoms, what are your thoughts?

 

[Med Ed]

I don't think there is any harm in making an inquiry, but don't be surprised if the school adheres to its existing policy.

 

[wysdoc]

@WildWing has the best suggestion, it is more likely to be accepted if you ask and will give you time to be with your newborn and adjust to being a mother before you start MS1. You could spend the deferral year with your partner in their city.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Congratulations!

Acknowledging the pronouns used in the situation, I can get confused when we're talking about a program or a school (which T5 schools are being referenced).

I ask because I would like to know what the partner's medical school's policy is when it comes to transferring a student out of the program. What has their student deans said?

Chances are that both student support offices are familiar with each other, and they can hold a confidential conversation about whether there is a path to having you both together when it comes to starting a family or completing the proper phase of study.

One option is to give you the deferral to the 2026 class. Your partner would have completed M2, and, I hope, have passed Step 1. If so, perhaps there are ways to do out-rotations at your school's affiliated hospital. It sounds easier than it is, and that's where those private conversations between the deans (and others) are important.

There will also be a question to approach with both financial aid offices. I presume that the partner's financial aid package would require a significant adjustment.

I would also check both student handbooks about family leave policies. Would the partner take a leave to be with you, and how long? As I pointed above, S1 is a significant gateway and inflection point in medical education, so how does this affect their timing to get to S1?

 

[LunaOri]

Several of my medical school classmates gave birth during our first year (planned) and felt that it was a good time, because they had time to spend with their babies before starting clinicals. I would note that none of them was planning on a competitive specialty, so they were all happy to just pass preclinicals.