Undergraduate school change and transcripts

[MackMD]

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I am currently enrolled in a Biology program at Rhode Island College. I currently have a 2.85 GPA, which has been accumulated over several semesters, including two semesters in which my outside sales job has forced me to withdraw mid-semester due to extensive travel. I started a small business roughly a year ago and decided leverage my free time to focus on school. This semester I have a solid A average which will boost my GPA up to a 3.15. My dilemma, however is that I have almost 7 withdrawals in my transcript and a substandard GPA.

Part of me wants to transfer to a larger state university, forgo any credits earned at my previous school and start over with a clean slate. So my question is: if I change schools and obtain a BS in biology from a state university will I have to disclose that I went to the smaller school and provide those transcripts as well? Or should I continue to slug it out to make my GPA respectable? I am only a year a half into my current BS program.

 

[futureboy]

So my question is: if I change schools and obtain a BS in biology from a state university will I have to disclose that I went to the smaller school and provide those transcripts as well?

Here is the short answer: Yes, absolutely, beyond doubt, you MUST disclose ALL previous coursework on medical school applications. There have been previous threads on the topic if you would like additional information.

 

[MackMD]

Understood. By the time I graduate the intro Bio and Chem will be over 5yrs old. I know for PA that does play into the equation and they will not request transcripts for prerequisite's that old. That is probably how I should have worded it considering I am inevitably going to change schools.

 

[MackMD]

HOWEVER, there is the little red guy with horns on my shoulder telling me that any educational records are protected and that when push comes to shove we don't live in the USSR. I figure I'd add that considering how much emphasis you placed on the MUST and ALL and the redundancy of your reply. Then again maybe I'm just trolling due to turkey and starch induced hyperglycemia. 😛

 

[MackMD]

You're right, we don't...we live in America where a school can tell an applicant to get lost after they do a search and find that the student is "selective" about the information by which they choose to represent themselves. 😉

OK what kind of search would yield such results? A facebook page? No, what you presume is that there is some sort of national database by your comment ala USSR. I hate to argue in semantics, but you either acknowledge that an applicants disclosure is the only method of obtaining the data, or you concede there is some sort of blanket consent form as part of the application process that says the school can do whatever it wants to find out all it can about you. Would you like to see this logic extend to the government. I won't even need to do this. I am not in bad shape 45credits in. lol I asked on a hypothetical basis. Means to an end sort of question. It was obvious I was providing a devils advocate argument....Wasn't it? 😉 I guess you're gonna tell me next to go take the LSAT. I would agree but RI has about 50 lawyers per sq mile.

 

[MackMD]

No I spoke in response to you, and I was trying to do so in a civil manner after your response to my post.But I guess you're right. You are wasting your time. Starting now you must be partaking in a much more practical use of your time: rattling your bunk bed. Just don't wake your little brother he might tell mom.

 

[futureboy]

HOWEVER, there is the little red guy with horns on my shoulder telling me that any educational records are protected and that when push comes to shove we don't live in the USSR. I figure I'd add that considering how much emphasis you placed on the MUST and ALL and the redundancy of your reply. Then again maybe I'm just trolling due to turkey and starch induced hyperglycemia. 😛

You're looking for a way around reporting your prior work, and there isn't one. You've got to report it. Period. No matter how old the coursework is.

Yes, there IS a database the med schools check to verify coursework/enrollment. It's not foolproof, but you're likely to be caught. Yes, your signature on your med school application will probably authorize the release of info about prior work, even if you don't disclose it.

That's all I have to say about that.

 

[MackMD]

Thank you for your candor sir. All I was looking for. Started this process 3 months ago. A Biology teacher's pay isn't augmented by having the summer off. TY again future boy.

 

[icalz]

HOWEVER, there is the little red guy with horns on my shoulder telling me that any educational records are protected and that when push comes to shove we don't live in the USSR. I figure I'd add that considering how much emphasis you placed on the MUST and ALL and the redundancy of your reply. Then again maybe I'm just trolling due to turkey and starch induced hyperglycemia. 😛

Heh, the educational system doesn't have to abide by the same regulations as the federal government...it is not a democracy. It's more like seinfeld's soup nazi: "No school for you!"

Futureboy is 100% right....not disclosing a single grade won't be like shooting yourself in the foot, it'd be like shooting yourself in the head 😱

 

[icalz]

You're looking for a way around reporting your prior work, and there isn't one. You've got to report it. Period. No matter how old the coursework is.

Yes, there IS a database the med schools check to verify coursework/enrollment. It's not foolproof, but you're likely to be caught. Yes, your signature on your med school application will probably authorize the release of info about prior work, even if you don't disclose it.

That's all I have to say about that.

This is true, you have to 'voluntarily' sign an authorization on your amcas releasing your transcripts. Not signing means not matriculating.