Transferring to another medical school...

[OmahaMX80]

If anyone has experience with transferring to a different medical school between M2 and M3 years, please let me know. Some of the information I'm looking for is:

Do residency programs view students who transferred any differently (i.e. negatively)?

What is considered a good enough reason to transfer? (Some schools say hardship, but what kind of hardship "counts" and is it strictly hardship or are reasons "negotiable" on a per case basis?) And what reasons did you have for transferring?

If you apply for a transfer and don't get one, does/did your current school treat you any differently or was there any fallout?

Thanks, I appreciate it. If you're interested in "my" situation, I'll write a little more below.

Basically... I am just unhappy. I don't like my medical school's curriculum and I'm not really meshing with my class well. I attend medical school in the same city in which I was born, raised, and went to college. Basically, I am profoundly unhappy.

Why I am thinking of transferring... first of all, I've wanted to get away from here for a long time. I regretted not going elsewhere for college. I got into a medical school in another state and I almost went there but family issues kept me here. Those issues have since been resolved and I am now really wishing I had left. Yes, I know that by the time third year gets around the curriculum won't matter. And yes, I know that third year is "so busy" it really won't matter where I am. In spite of those facts which I know on a cerebral level, on another level I simply can't explain, I need to get out. The thought of being here for another three years is... just... unacceptable. Aside from all of that, I'd really like to pursue an MD/MPH; a program my current school does not offer. And while I could do an MPH later, I'd rather do it now. My school does have educational leaves of absence for such things but I don't want to move away and move back; moving is a pain and having to coordinate leases between two programs, each with no real reason to respect/work with the other is more than I am willing to negotiate. Hell, there is an MPH program in the same city as my medical school but my school can't even get it together enough to work something out with them. So believe me when I say, educational leave isn't the answer for me.

If anyone's ever been in a similar position, I'd appreciate some insight as far as how you approached it and what you did, how it turned out, etc. Thanks.

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[doc05]

being "unhappy" at your med school is not a reason for a transfer. All med schools are virtually the same despite what you may think. Transfers are rarely granted and it's usually because a spouse is in another city/job has been transferred/etc.

As far as your school's curriculum, once you've hit the M3 year, "curriculum" is moot. You will be able to do tons of electives (in the case of some schools, an entire year's worth) as "away" rotations.

What does "not meshing" with your class mean? If you are "profoundly unhappy," think about getting professional help.

good luck.

 

[Ramoray]

Ya not to rain on your parade but you basically have no shot unless maybe you transfer to a carribean school and even that may be a stretch. I applied for transfer this year for a very serious family illness back home and i currently live on the other side of the country. Just saying it was as good a reason as you can get and I still had a near impossible time applying getting tons of letters, filling out apps and interviewing and explaining my situation to everyone who interviewed me (3 diff people). Even after all that the transfer is dependant on a limited number of spots, in my case where there were more applicants so they have to find a way somehow to choose who gets the spots and he told me all have very compelling reasons so if you submitted an application with a reason of being unhappy i dont think that would work
I do feel you though, i know that is as good a reason as any, its just that admissions probably wont see it that way which is unfortunate. I know you already know this but third year will probably be alot different. ANd as far as classmates, for one you probalby wont see them much next year, other than a few. Andless poeple you like gives you more time to focus on your work. WIth all that said there is NO downside to trying to apply. Go for it you really never know. Explain your situation genuinly like you did here and you may convince someone. good luck!

 

[Heathcliff]

bchang74 successfully transferred from Boston University to Washington University between his second and third years of medical school.

His experience can be found at http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=117658 . Start at post #4 in the thread.

Hope this helps!

 

[tugbug]

Omaha,

I posted yesterday with a similar question. I'm applying for tranfer after MS1 for family medical reasons. The school I'm looking to transfer into is certainly receptive to transfers... although it is all dependant on availability of a spot.

I really would like to know an answer to your first question above though... do residency admins look on a transfer negatively. My guess is that if the reason is good, the actual tranfer won't make any difference to them. But, it will make for a funny looking transcript. For example, I won't have any overall class rank... just yearly 'ranks' and a GPA from my old school. Seems like that could hurt.

 

[skypilot]

If you are profoundly unhappy I think you might consider a leave of absence in lieu of a transfer.

Otherwise just do as many away rotations as possible during third and fourth year and then get the h(*&&(k out for residency. I have heard you can do your internship year in Hawaii. 🙂

 

[worriedwell]

one thought was to do an mph in another city for between 2nd and 3rd year (take step 1 first) and while in that other city, explore options of the affiliated med school with that mph program (or the other med schools in that city). Usually, if there are slots available, the school is receptive to taking transfers, but i'm not sure if your current school easily grants releases. But if you are already in another city, you get out of town for a year at the minimum, and the mph curriculum is a lot easier and more relaxed. Then, you can either try to transfer, or come back home refreshed. Then you get through third year (which flies by), where you don't have time to think anyway, and much of your fourth year can be spent in away electives and traveling for interviews and then vacation time. You aren't in that bad of shape, the first two years are the most painful. Plus, it sounds like you are grappling with something a bit more than just wanting to transfer for regret...maybe you should go to student health and talk to the counselor and explore what you are really feeling.

by the way, you will definitely have to answer questions about transferring on residency interviews and while i don't think the interviewers will automatically view it negatively, you better have a damn good story that is better than "I didn't like my classmates and I was generally unhappy". That will be viewed as a horrible excuse. This will raise a red flag to them that you might consider bailing out on their residency and leave them in a bind. The MPH excuse is a more digestable one, but still requires a well thought own story that is believable. good luck.

worriedwell

 

[worriedwell]

If anyone has experience with transferring to a different medical school between M2 and M3 years, please let me know. Some of the information I'm looking for is:

Do residency programs view students who transferred any differently (i.e. negatively)?

What is considered a good enough reason to transfer? (Some schools say hardship, but what kind of hardship "counts" and is it strictly hardship or are reasons "negotiable" on a per case basis?) And what reasons did you have for transferring?

If you apply for a transfer and don't get one, does/did your current school treat you any differently or was there any fallout?

Thanks, I appreciate it. If you're interested in "my" situation, I'll write a little more below.

Basically... I am just unhappy. I don't like my medical school's curriculum and I'm not really meshing with my class well. I attend medical school in the same city in which I was born, raised, and went to college. Basically, I am profoundly unhappy.

Why I am thinking of transferring... first of all, I've wanted to get away from here for a long time. I regretted not going elsewhere for college. I got into a medical school in another state and I almost went there but family issues kept me here. Those issues have since been resolved and I am now really wishing I had left. Yes, I know that by the time third year gets around the curriculum won't matter. And yes, I know that third year is "so busy" it really won't matter where I am. In spite of those facts which I know on a cerebral level, on another level I simply can't explain, I need to get out. The thought of being here for another three years is... just... unacceptable. Aside from all of that, I'd really like to pursue an MD/MPH; a program my current school does not offer. And while I could do an MPH later, I'd rather do it now. My school does have educational leaves of absence for such things but I don't want to move away and move back; moving is a pain and having to coordinate leases between two programs, each with no real reason to respect/work with the other is more than I am willing to negotiate. Hell, there is an MPH program in the same city as my medical school but my school can't even get it together enough to work something out with them. So believe me when I say, educational leave isn't the answer for me.

If anyone's ever been in a similar position, I'd appreciate some insight as far as how you approached it and what you did, how it turned out, etc. Thanks.

I just reread your post in detail and you say educational leave isn't the answer...well that is too rigid of a disposition, and frankly leads me more inclined to believe that you have some issues that go deeper than just not liking your town, curriculum and classmates. These are all added stressors in a stressful time, but then you need to have the flexibility to negotiate this time in a way that allows you to achieve your goals. it is absolutely going to be viewed negatively by many programs if your reason for transfer was a unhappyness after a couple years. It appears as a fickle disposition to the programs and they want stability. Of course, if it is an absolutely neccesarry last resort, you still will be able to become a doctor, but my inclination is to advise you to try to work through things rather than believing that running away is the answer. If you really need to get away, go away for residency or start by doing as I advise above.

 

[Blade28]

Would you mind being a little more specific as to why you want to transfer? No personal details are necessary, but I think a few of us feel that you're limiting your options if the reason for transferring is only due to the "curriculum."

 

[OmahaMX80]

Thanks everyone, I appreciate the advice. I debated the wisdom of posting my issue about this on SDN just because, frankly, I know how it sounds. And a year ago if I had read such a post I would have said, "you ungrateful ***** how can you be talking about unhappiness?! You got in, be grateful and get through it." In all likelihood I will not end up bothering to apply for a transfer but I wanted to explore the option, nonetheless.

In response to Blake... are there other reasons? Yes, there are. However none to which a transfer would guarantee a resolution, on reflection. Frankly, I've lived here all my life. I lived at home until the beginning of this year. Most people who suggest living at home or want to move home have lived elsewhere and had that experience. I don't know of anyone at all here who can relate to my position; living at home until 24 years old, living in the same city, never living ANYWHERE else or experiencing anything else. Everyone around me has moved away and moved back, is from somewhere else, etc. I think honestly that I just really regret not leaving when I had the chance. I love my family and at the time I made my decision with those obligations in mind. I stayed here for college for the same reasons, essentially. Anyway, it's complicated but you're right, a transfer probably wouldn't fix it. I think I really only explored it because it was at least doing something, as opposed to doing nothing.

 

[Mutterkuchen]

I have a couple of comments and suggestions. I agree it is good for everyone to leave their hometowns for a while and experience other places. It is good for the soul. The good news is that you will have many opportunities to do this. There are residency and fellowship. You can go anywhere for these, depending on where you match. Plus you can live anywhere you want afterwards.

If you are very intent getting out of your hometown ASAP, take a leave of absence and do something interesting for a year. I know of students at your university who have, or are planning to take leaves of absence to Washington DC, Africa, and Germany. I am sure there are many others, as well. If this is really your concern, get busy finding something to do. You are only 24, you have plenty of time to do something.

Regarding transferring. . . If you are having problems getting along with your classmates at Creighton, you will certainly have problems elsewhere, especially if you transfer into another class in another town. Creighton's classes are cohesive and friendly. Everyone, even the weird students, seem to be appreciated and respected. You may find a better ranked school in terms of U.S. News, but you won't find a better student body elsewhere. It doesn't get any better than Creighton.

 

[njbmd]

Hi there,
If you are totally set on an MPH, you can probably take a leave of absence and get the MPH. I know that University of Virginia allows students the flexibility to do this. You might also look into getting your MPH online which may work out for you.

As one of the previous posters said, after third year, curriculum is really a non-entity as you can spend virtually your entire fourth year away from your institution on electives. (I did just this). Also, not getting along with your classmates is a non-issue once you are done with second year. During third and fourth year, it is more about getting along with the residents on your various services and getting the job done.

njbmd 🙂

 

[gschl1234]

To the OP:
Have you thought about doing research somewhere else this summer? This way, you'll get to live somewhere else, albeit for a short time, and you'll either find that you're not missing much, or you'll have something to look forward to in the future. If you can't "live somewhere else" this summer, definitely try to do some away rotations 4th year. Good luck 🙂

 

[OmahaMX80]

Yeah, I did think about research. I missed the boat on that one. I've never done research before and most of the applications wanted project outlines, very specific areas in which I would want to work... honestly I don't know!! I wasn't a science major, I don't have a research interest. For me, the whole point of doing research would have been to acquire the very things which seemed necessary to even apply. So I kind of missed the boat, I got frustrated and just decided research wasn't an option.

 

[gschl1234]

Yeah, I did think about research. I missed the boat on that one. I've never done research before and most of the applications wanted project outlines, very specific areas in which I would want to work... honestly I don't know!! I wasn't a science major, I don't have a research interest. For me, the whole point of doing research would have been to acquire the very things which seemed necessary to even apply. So I kind of missed the boat, I got frustrated and just decided research wasn't an option.

You know, there are other options as well. A friend of mine is going for a short training program on addiciton medicine. Other people I know are doing service projects abroad. There are plenty of options outside of research. You just have to spend a few hours looking online. You sound down and it's difficult to be proactive when things seem dreary but you have to shake it off and do something. Good luck 🙂

 

[Gulliver]

No contacts = no transfer 😉

 

[ottwar]

No contacts = no transfer 😉

Are you serious? I can imagine contacts can help most situations, but I'm sure it isn't the rule

 

[phoenixsupra]

Are you serious? I can imagine contacts can help most situations, but I'm sure it isn't the rule

The troll speaks the truth on this one. It's pretty much the rule. Though, you won't find that stated openly. 😉

 

[Ramoray]

The troll speaks the truth on this one. It's pretty much the rule. Though, you won't find that stated openly. 😉

I had no contacts and i got a transfer. Dont listen to that load of bs