Transferring Schools

[Doctak04]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Does anyone know if it's possible to transfer from one US Medical School to another? I'm in Michigan now, and was looking to transfer back to Cali like to USC or some other school. If transfers to occur, when do most med students do it? Between their MS1 and MS2 years or between their MS2 and MS3 years? If anyone has any info in addition to a list of schools who have taken transfers in the past, pelase let me know. Thanks!

 

[cyclohexanol]

Does anyone know if it's possible to transfer from one US Medical School to another? I'm in Michigan now, and was looking to transfer back to Cali like to USC or some other school. If transfers to occur, when do most med students do it? Between their MS1 and MS2 years or between their MS2 and MS3 years? If anyone has any info in addition to a list of schools who have taken transfers in the past, pelase let me know. Thanks!

Transfers happen, but they are rare. Usually between MS2 and MS3 years. It will be difficult to get back into cali because the UCs don't take transfers at all (except UC davis which has 2 spots for 3rd year transfer). Other schools you can transfer to are USC and Loma Linda.

See here for more info:

http://services.aamc.org/tsp_reports/

 

[Law2Doc]

Does anyone know if it's possible to transfer from one US Medical School to another? I'm in Michigan now, and was looking to transfer back to Cali like to USC or some other school. If transfers to occur, when do most med students do it? Between their MS1 and MS2 years or between their MS2 and MS3 years? If anyone has any info in addition to a list of schools who have taken transfers in the past, pelase let me know. Thanks!

The majority of schools limit transfers to folks who have completed second year and passed Step 1. A small few allow folks to transfer after first year. Bear in mind that transferring in med school is a relatively rare event -- each school tends to take 2 or fewer transferees per class, usually for significant reasons. Most schools tend to require transfers to be due to major life-affecting reasons, such as spouse relocation or health reasons. So just wanting to move back to Cali is simply isn't going to be adequate.

 

[urgentcase]

What is your reason? Do you have a spouse bound by military obligations or a sick family member in your home state? Unfortunately Cali is not a place hurting for student docs, nor is it a state where lots of people leave after M2.

so what schools have a high turnover in terms of people leaving/entering 3rd year?

 

[Law2Doc]

so what schools have a high turnover in terms of people leaving/entering 3rd year?

None have what could be described as high turnover.

 

[nockamura]

I transferred from Wake Forest to UC Davis between MS2 and MS3. You will need to make sure that you will have taken and received your score from Step 1 prior to the end of the transfer admission (e.g. Wake took boards ~10 weeks before UC Davis started so I had my score before MS3 started). It is not an easy process and both I and the other transfer student had spouses at UC Davis med. The only other compelling reason I have heard of is severe family tragedy near the med school. Almost no one transfers just because they don't like their current school no matter how smart you are. I know for Davis about 50 students applied for 2 spots. Stanford supposedly takes all transfer students with a spouse in the class.

 

[TheSky]

The majority of schools limit transfers to folks who have completed second year and passed Step 1. A small few allow folks to transfer after first year. Bear in mind that transferring in med school is a relatively rare event -- each school tends to take 2 or fewer transferees per class, usually for significant reasons. Most schools tend to require transfers to be due to major life-affecting reasons, such as spouse relocation or health reasons. So just wanting to move back to Cali is simply isn't going to be adequate.

HOw do you transfer after your second year if you take your step 1 after your second year? I mean, what do they consider about transfer students if you don't have your step 1 scores more than a few weeks before MS3 starts?

Do you know if transfers are allowed for reasons such as finances or siblings? For example, if my younger sibling were to get accepted to medical school in a particular place, I may want to move to that place to be with my sibling. What kind of health reasons?

 

[deleted162650]

I'm an MS3 and tried to transfer this past summer. As was previously stated, none of the UC's accept transfers. Stanford will only take transfers whose spouses are currently students at Stanford. USC will accept transfers, but it is dependent on if they have any spots available i.e. someone dropped out of their class. Loma Linda will also accept transfers on a space available basis but you better have a damn good reason like ur the only one left to care of your dying mother or something like that (plus it would help if your a seventh day adventist). All the transfers I've heard of are between MS2-MS3 years. I know peple that successfully transferred into Brown, Minnesota, and UCONN this past year. All three were for spouse related issues.

 

[Law2Doc]

Do you know if transfers are allowed for reasons such as finances or siblings? For example, if my younger sibling were to get accepted to medical school in a particular place, I may want to move to that place to be with my sibling. What kind of health reasons?

Wanting to be near a sibling isn't going to cut it at most places. Reasons need to be more life impacting, such as your spouse being relocated, or a family member being ill.

 

[nockamura]

I know that some UC's accept transfers. http://www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/ome/admissions/howtoapply.html

 

[mm3781]

Generally, it is quite difficult to transfer, but it CAN be done even without having a spouse, etc in that state. I am from IN, but did my first two years on the east coast. I absolutley HATED living on the east coast, and I knew I could not stand another two years out there. I essentially went there in the first place because my family was a total circus and needed to get away. I was able to transfer to IU School of Medicine between 2nd and 3rd year, which by the way is the best decision I have ever made. I presented the fact that I had no financial support from any family and the cost was killing me in NY, that I had every intention of returning to the Midwest upon graduation (and I still intend to stay here), and I also told the deans what I liked better about IU as compared to my previous school. I made sure that I was familiar with the curriculum when I had an interview with the deans. I presented all of this in a letter with my application. I also may have had an advantage in that I knew one of the deans from my original interview.

If you want to transfer, start on it early. Contact the dean of admissions ASAP and inform them of your desire to transfer and how to proceed. I would be very proactive about it, offer to do another interview with them over the Christmas break. I think the key is to show a sincere desire to transfer AND that it would benefit you (as an example I was beyond miserable in NY). If accepted for transfer, you will probably have to wait until the school gets your Step 1 scores to start 3rd year. I started a month behind and have to take family medicine during 4th year. Sure it is a little pain in the butt, but I am more than grateful to IU for allowing me to transfer and have no problem with less vacation 4th year. And I had no problem starting all over and only knowing like 2 people.

Also, not trying to bash living in New York, I know it is fine for a lot of people, but if you aren't one of those people it really sucks.