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Which schools can I apply to after abandoning my masters?
- Thread starter dirasa
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Sorry if this is a duplicate post, I couldn't find anything that specifically answered this question. This is my first post and normally others have asked my questions so I don't need to post.
Any help would really be appreciated!
Any help would really be appreciated!
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I am going through the app process myself as a grad student and I noticed that some unis specifically ask for graduate letters from department chairs/faculty/advisor.
If they see that you did some graduate school but do not see that you will be completing it, I think that will raise some red flags even before the interview, and definitely at the interviews.
Best option is just to finish the degree, regardless of how much you like it. And besides I don't think every Master's student out there loves his/her research...
If they see that you did some graduate school but do not see that you will be completing it, I think that will raise some red flags even before the interview, and definitely at the interviews.
Best option is just to finish the degree, regardless of how much you like it. And besides I don't think every Master's student out there loves his/her research...
A failure to complete a commitment to a graduate program is gnerally looked down upon in the med school application process. You will be perceived to be a high risk, as you might similiarly decide that medicine isn't for you either, after they have admitted you to a place in their class. This perception does tend to fade with time, provided you've remained committed to some other course of action for awhile. Also, one is generally expected to provide a letter of recommendation from the grad school advisor, though this may not be needed when you've already severed all ties. In your case, you had so recently matriculated (per your transcripts), they may assume you are still enrolled. In some way, you will be asked to give an explanation. From what I've read on SDN, your best bet would be to stick with the pre-med preparation for a few years, distance yourself from those events, and apply in a few years. Perhaps others will chime in with with a better outlook for you, based on their experience. I've seen threads on this topic in the Non-Traditional Forum. Consider trying a search there.
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You'd better convince them somehow that medicine is your true calling, more so than the average applicant. I agree that time would be able to mollify it, if you abandoned your master's 10 years ago you could play the "I've matured" card but if it were fairly recent you'd look fickle.
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Most technical colleges if you pay up-front? I dunno.
I think it depends on what you mean by 'abandoned'. If you just didn't complete it, and withdrew from the program (talked it through with the school) it's not great, but I don't think it's a gamebreaker.
If you stormed out halfway through a lecture and sent a tuition envelope back with a handwritten "screw you", then I think things are going to be harder. Medical schools take a huge risk on every applicant they take. If you walk out (or fail out, for that matter), they lose tens of thousands of dollars. So if you want to have a shot in this case, you've got to somehow prove to them you're worth that risk.
Or, bring a briefcase full of Benjamins to the interview and offer to pay up-front, I suppose 🙂
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N
njbmd
Not completing a graduate degree for lack of "interest" is not going to be positive and will likely be viewed quite negatively. As others posters have said, most medical schools (my two definitely) will ask for a letter from your graduate adviser as to when you will complete your degree. Also, most medical schools are not interested in people who can't make up their mind as to what they want to do. To play the devil's advocate: What happens if you decide that you just are not interested in medical school and "abandon" your studies? There goes a seat that could have been occupied by someone who was a bit more sure of their interest.
Since you entered graduate school but "medicine was always your calling", it showed very poor judgment. If you needed to do prereqs, a better course would have been to take your prereqs and not enter graduate school. If you needed uGPA "damage control", post bacc work and not graduate work is what you needed to have completed. Unfortunately, there are not many opportunities for "do overs" in the process of getting into medical school.
In any event, you have a tough road ahead in terms of admission to medical school unless you can get a positive letter from your graduate school (dean or principle adviser) with some sort of "spin" on your situation.
Since you entered graduate school but "medicine was always your calling", it showed very poor judgment. If you needed to do prereqs, a better course would have been to take your prereqs and not enter graduate school. If you needed uGPA "damage control", post bacc work and not graduate work is what you needed to have completed. Unfortunately, there are not many opportunities for "do overs" in the process of getting into medical school.
In any event, you have a tough road ahead in terms of admission to medical school unless you can get a positive letter from your graduate school (dean or principle adviser) with some sort of "spin" on your situation.
Truer words have never ever ever ever ever ever been spoken (or written in this case).
