Unusual IA question

[Aaron N.]

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I'm a non-trad, but putting this here so it gets seen (ADCOMs?) I'm about to submit my application, but a little paranoid about this.

In grad school, you have to pass a battery of exams before proceeding to your thesis/dissertation. I was unable to pass the last exam, and wasn't allowed to continue. My official transcript just says "complete withdrawal from program."

That was it. Does that constitute an IA? Do I need to disclose/explain it?

 

[URHere]

Are you talking about your qualifying exam?

If so, that isn't an IA - it's technically a failed class. However, because that failed class led to your exit from your gradate program, it isn't going to look good on an application. You'll need to submit a transcript from that program (and things like the qualifying exam are listed there as P/F), so there's no way to avoid mentioning it.

Ultimately, it is going to be a red flag because it indicates that you either weren't intellectually or emotionally capable of succeeding in graduate school. It would be in your best interest to bring it up and at least provide some context for what happened. If you don't, people are likely to invent the details in their own heads and that probably won't work out well for you. If this happened many years ago, you may be able to convince medical schools that you have matured and that you won't be a liability to them. The chances of that are smaller if this happened recently.

 

[Aaron N.]

The equivalent of quals, yes. Finished all the coursework, no problems. My official transcript has no mention of these exams, it just says "advanced residence" for a few semesters until "official withdrawal from program."

 

[URHere]

Strange, I was under the impression that all schools gave students credits for the major academic exams (and thus listed them on the transcript).

In that case, you'll still need to explain your withdrawal, but you have a little more room with wording. Did you leave on good (personal) terms? Will your old mentor or others from that program be willing to write you a positive letter of recommendation? If so, you could say that graduate school wasn't a good fit for you anymore and that you left the program before completing your qualifying (or equivalent) exam. The positive LORs would help show that you are competent, despite ultimately leaving graduate school.

It still probably won't be smooth sailing, but it may be a little better.

 

[Aaron N.]

I didn't leave on bad terms, but I haven't sought a LOR from my advisor. He was a bit of an aloof recluse, and I've had no contact with him for several years. I do have some publications in the field, which goes to the question of competence. I'm prepared to talk about the experience sooner or later, and can do so well, I think. I'm just not sure whether it constitutes an IA and I have to tick the box, and must talk about it now... or do so in a secondary or interview.

Edit: I can't speak as to the school's practices about credits for exams or whatnot, but it's a major competitive school, fwiw.

 

[hoihaie]

that is not an institutional action