unhappy in my program, should i leave?

[Lindseysayshi]

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I am currently in my second semester as a postbacc and am considering leaving the program... It has been a disappointment to say the least, and the school just isn't a good fit for me. I don't feel that I am getting what I should out of it for how much I am paying! My frustrations have unfortunately carried over into my school work, and I am hopeful to come out of this semester with a GPA I can salvage next year.

My question is, if I leave, what to do? I know that this would obviously look bad on med school applications, but I honestly feel that it may be the right choice. Hopefully with my volunteer experience and improved grades next year elsewhere, I can still be a great med school candidate! Soooooo should I move home and take the classes there? I assume another program won't take me... What to do?!?

Any advice? This is such a tough decision!! Thank you 😀

 

[NewmansOwn]

Med school admissions are so competitive that, unfair as it may be, showing any sign of weakness can be disastrous. I don't mean to sound insensitive, but there are less than 2 months left in the semester -- do you think maybe you could suck it up for that long? Assuming your GPA was good last semester and over the previous summer, grades dropping modestly this semester wouldn't actually be a huge deal.

My advice would be to stick it out. Unless you genuinely feel it would kill you to finish these two months, the trouble it will cause you to leave will not be worth it. You'll have to retake this semester's classes (which you probably won't be able to do until next spring), you'll have to delay the MCAT (assuming you haven't already taken it), you'll be at least one year behind in the med school application cycle and, worst of all, you'll have to explain to an extremely critical admissions official your decision to leave your postbac program. Unfortunately, med schools don't take kindly to hearing you couldn't handle a challenge -- they tend to be pretty inflexible in that regard.

I am currently in my second semester as a postbacc and am considering leaving the program... It has been a disappointment to say the least, and the school just isn't a good fit for me. I don't feel that I am getting what I should out of it for how much I am paying! My frustrations have unfortunately carried over into my school work, and I am hopeful to come out of this semester with a GPA I can salvage next year.

My question is, if I leave, what to do? I know that this would obviously look bad on med school applications, but I honestly feel that it may be the right choice. Hopefully with my volunteer experience and improved grades next year elsewhere, I can still be a great med school candidate! Soooooo should I move home and take the classes there? I assume another program won't take me... What to do?!?

Any advice? This is such a tough decision!! Thank you 😀

 

[213965]

I am currently in my second semester as a postbacc and am considering leaving the program... It has been a disappointment to say the least, and the school just isn't a good fit for me. I don't feel that I am getting what I should out of it for how much I am paying! My frustrations have unfortunately carried over into my school work, and I am hopeful to come out of this semester with a GPA I can salvage next year.

My question is, if I leave, what to do? I know that this would obviously look bad on med school applications, but I honestly feel that it may be the right choice. Hopefully with my volunteer experience and improved grades next year elsewhere, I can still be a great med school candidate! Soooooo should I move home and take the classes there? I assume another program won't take me... What to do?!?

Any advice? This is such a tough decision!! Thank you 😀

I was in the same dilemma earlier this year and was told to "stick it out." Unfortunately, my GPA took a severe hit which I think led to my waitlists/rejections. However, I did receive a couple acceptances but not really at any of my top choices. Would the outcome have been better or worse if I'd dropped out of the SMP? I guess I'll never know for sure, but general consensus was that dropping out would surely tank my application and I may have ended up with no acceptances at all... good luck.

 

[Lindseysayshi]

I don't mean to sound insensitive, but there are less than 2 months left in the semester -- do you think maybe you could suck it up for that long?

I plan on completing this semester regardless, I definitely don't plan to leave midway through the semester... I am hoping I can complete this semester with high enough grades to continue on elsewhere and still be competitive. Sorry I guess I wasn't too clear!

 

[combatwombat]

Soooooo should I move home and take the classes there?

I don't know your program, but my 0.02 is that the devil you know is better than the devil you don't know. If the situation at your school isn't working out now, maybe you can change it in some way? (like moving & getting better room mates)

 

[Lindseysayshi]

I don't know your program, but my 0.02 is that the devil you know is better than the devil you don't know. If the situation at your school isn't working out now, maybe you can change it in some way? (like moving & getting better room mates)

I wish I could blame it on roommates! Mine is actually great, and I love the city I live in and the area and the volunteer work and... basically this just illustrates that the program is making me unhappy enough to leave all of this 🙁

 

[Perrotfish]

We've had lots of people report back that dropping out of an SMP is disasterous for their admissions chances. However I can't recall any similar reports about dropping a formal post-bac program. Is there anyone here that has actually seen someone take a hit on their app because they dropped out of a formal post bac program? It seemed like the posts above are mostly speculation.

As long as you withdraw at the end of a semester and don't recieve any Ws I don't even see why you would need to explain this as 'dropping out' of something. You can't drop out of a non-degree granting program. Wouldn't the schools just see it as a transfer?

 

[drizzt3117]

We've had lots of people report back that dropping out of an SMP is disasterous for their admissions chances. However I can't recall any similar reports about dropping a formal post-bac program. Is there anyone here that has actually seen someone take a hit on their app because they dropped out of a formal post bac program? It seemed like the posts above are mostly speculation.

As long as you withdraw at the end of a semester and don't recieve any Ws I don't even see why you would need to explain this as 'dropping out' of something. You can't drop out of a non-degree granting program. Wouldn't the schools just see it as a transfer?

The program is two years, so you'd be stopping it mid way. It's basically be just taking classes at Columbia for a year. Of course, you wouldn't the recommendation from the committee or anything.

 

[Perrotfish]

The program is two years, so you'd be stopping it mid way. It's basically be just taking classes at Columbia for a year. Of course, you wouldn't the recommendation from the committee or anything.

Yeah, in that case I don't see how this is any worse than just transfering between undergrads, which doesn't seem to hurt your app at all. Does anyone with more experience than me disagree?

 

[Lindseysayshi]

Yeah, in that case I don't see how this is any worse than just transfering between undergrads, which doesn't seem to hurt your app at all. Does anyone with more experience than me disagree?

Yeah now that it is put that way, it doesn't seem as bad... But I am just as curious as you perrotfish, does anyone have differing opinions? I hate to give up the committee rec letter, but if that's the only sacrifice I end up making I will be ok with that...

 

[drizzt3117]

Yeah now that it is put that way, it doesn't seem as bad... But I am just as curious as you perrotfish, does anyone have differing opinions? I hate to give up the committee rec letter, but if that's the only sacrifice I end up making I will be ok with that...

do you have a high enough GPA to be sponsored?

 

[gl0baltrader]

I am currently in my second semester as a postbacc and am considering leaving the program... It has been a disappointment to say the least, and the school just isn't a good fit for me. I don't feel that I am getting what I should out of it for how much I am paying! My frustrations have unfortunately carried over into my school work, and I am hopeful to come out of this semester with a GPA I can salvage next year.

My question is, if I leave, what to do? I know that this would obviously look bad on med school applications, but I honestly feel that it may be the right choice. Hopefully with my volunteer experience and improved grades next year elsewhere, I can still be a great med school candidate! Soooooo should I move home and take the classes there? I assume another program won't take me... What to do?!?

Any advice? This is such a tough decision!! Thank you 😀

What program are you in right now ?

 

[Lindseysayshi]

do you have a high enough GPA to be sponsored?

What does it mean to be sponsored?

 

[drizzt3117]

What does it mean to be sponsored?

I thought the committee only wrote letters for people who met certain standards? Correct me if I'm wrong...

 

[drizzt3117]

What program are you in right now ?

she's said before she's in the Columbia postbac.

 

[Lindseysayshi]

I thought the committee only wrote letters for people who met certain standards? Correct me if I'm wrong...

Oh I wasn't sure what you meant by being "sponsored." Yeah I would definitely lose my committee support and letter... I've got a midterm tomorrow and another Thursday, these grades will have a big effect on whether I stay or go!!