What happens if I don't finish Masters?

[JonSwan]

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I've been accepted to a med school I love but I'm having trouble enjoying it. I'm currently enrolled in a Masters program and there is a high probability I won't complete my degree. I've completed all of my course requirements except for the thesis but my research is absolutely not progressing. I'm basically on my own with this project as my adviser is out of the country about 40 weeks out of the year. While I was accepted to medical school without any conditions, is it possible that an offer could be rescinded if I fail to complete my Masters? I'm hesitant to call the admissions office about this...

 

[DrYoda]

I've been accepted to a med school I love but I'm having trouble enjoying it. I'm currently enrolled in a Masters program and there is a high probability I won't complete my degree. I've completed all of my course requirements except for the thesis but my research is absolutely not progressing. I'm basically on my own with this project as my adviser is out of the country about 40 weeks out of the year. While I was accepted to medical school without any conditions, is it possible that an offer could be rescinded if I fail to complete my Masters? I'm hesitant to call the admissions office about this...

It may vary by school. But for my school you are required to complete any degree progam that you are enrolled in at the time you were accepted.

 

[armybound]

It may vary by school. But for my school you are required to complete any degree progam that you are enrolled in at the time you were accepted.

Most schools require you to finish a program, iirc.

I'd call them and ask so you can start making alternate plans if that's what has to happen.

 

[rockaction]

Maybe the school would let you defer a year to finish your masters?

 

[MrMeowphers]

finish the Master's; it's a fun ride 🙂

besides, the thesis is a piece of cake; defending it infront of your board is a whole nother issue.

 

[brickandlace]

Maybe the school would let you defer a year to finish your masters?

that's what I was thinking too... but the earlier you call the office and figure things out, the better.

 

[softmed]

I was under the impression that you don't really need to get any significant results to receive your masters. That's what a PhD dissertation is. A Master's project is just to show you did the work and are familiar with the techniques.

 

[ThaliaNox]

I know of several people who were working on Master's degrees when applying to medical school that they didn't finish before enrolling. I would talk to your school and see what's what. Granted, these were folks who never had any real intention of finishing their Master's in the first place.

 

[J ROD]

you dont have to finish where I am from just pass and show up!!

 

[Catalystik]

Maybe you could defer completion of the masters in case you want to go back to it someday.

 

[Typical Premed]

I was in a similar predicament this past admissions cycle. From my experience it is highly med school dependent. Some schools will not allow you to matriculate without completion of the masters and others don't care as long as you pass all your coursework in progress at the time of the application. I was fortunate that the school that accepted me did not require me to complete my masters degree. Since I was pretty close to being done though I decided to defer completion of the masters and will try to finish it up when I get the chance. I would contact the med school and inquire about this ASAP.

 

[riverjib]

Congrats on your acceptance!! I hope they don't require you to finish your Master's. I know if they accept you as a formal PhD candidate, you are expected to finish your PhD (well, I don't know that, but friends who have gone through it told me that was the case), but I've never heard that you're required to finish your Master's degree unless they explicitly told you that's the case. Can you complete your Master's? Check with the med schools about their policies, and see if they have any objections to you working instead of finishing your degree before starting med school.

 

[JonSwan]

I have every intention of finishing the Masters, I'm just not sure it's possible. However, I'm hesitant to call admissions because (and I know I'm being extremely paranoid) I am waiting to hear from them about my financial aid package including potential merit scholarships and I don't want to jeopardize that by giving them the idea I'm going to slack my way to next fall. Also, there is a chance I could finish the degree and I'd hate to jump the gun, tell them I'm not going to finish and make myself look bad. If you call the admissions office, does the convo somehow make it into your file?

 

[Parts Unknown]

I have every intention of finishing the Masters, I'm just not sure it's possible. However, I'm hesitant to call admissions because (and I know I'm being extremely paranoid) I am waiting to hear from them about my financial aid package including potential merit scholarships and I don't want to jeopardize that by giving them the idea I'm going to slack my way to next fall. Also, there is a chance I could finish the degree and I'd hate to jump the gun, tell them I'm not going to finish and make myself look bad. If you call the admissions office, does the convo somehow make it into your file?

1. You are going to have to find out sooner or later whether finishing your Masters is required to matriculate.

2. Every medical school in the country faces this issue every year with some students. You are not unique, and nobody in the admissions office is going to freak out and blacklist you. The school will simply have a policy in place, and you need to be aware of it.

In summary, man up and call the admission office today.

 

[ShinyDome19]

Switch to Non-Thesis...it saved a couple of my friends that were in a masters program with me. Their graduate projects wernt panning out as planned and both of them had intentions of going to professional schools(vet school and dental school). The second they got accepted, they both just switched to non-thesis and graduated the following semester. Pissed off the PI something awful, but they got out of the program without it looking bad on their records.

 

[JonSwan]

Called school. They basically told me that while technically they don't have any rule against people withdrawing from a graduate program to matriculate to med school...it's just not a good thing to do. Bottom line: put everything you have into finishing - if it doesn't work, contact the school and they'll see what can be done.

 

[cbrons]

I'm in this predicament. Hopefully my grad program will allow me to finish all the coursework and the medical school will allow me to enter while still having to take the comprehensive exam as a final step. Anyone been in a similar position?