Will my acceptance be rescinded if I don't complete my degree?

[believe <3]

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I already have a bachelor's degree, but was thinking of starting a MPH during my gap year, while applying for med school. I can try to finish the MPH in 1 year instead of 2, but was told this is very overwhelming to do. My advisor suggested that I finish most of it in the gap year, and then complete the degree during med school (by taking summer classes btwn. MS1 and MS2).

If I don't get my MPH degree before med school matriculation, will my acceptances be rescinded? Is it necessary to complete the degree program you are in before matriculating?

*FYI, the MPH and MD degree will most probably not be at the same school

 

[whitemagic]

My acceptance letter says that my acceptance "may be rescinded" if I don't finish my masters before matriculating. I would think that this would be school-specific. No way it's standard across the board

 

[Glandzburg]

If you tell them you are going to complete it, then yes you have to complete it.

 

[whatever5]

Why would you apply to start medical school in the middle of your current degree? It depends on the school and what you've said in your app.

 

[italiancowgirl]

It might depend on what you tell the med school. If they expect you to complete it before, and you don't then yes they may rescind an acceptance. If you admit to not having time to finish in your gap year, they will wonder why you applied. Many schools won't even consider you if you are enrolled in a program like that unless you can definitively show your grad plan won't run over. If you want an mph then take the time for an mph. If not, then don't do it. Don't try to cram it in to look good.

 

[takeurmeds02]

I agree with @italiancowgirl.

If an MPH is what you want in addition to the MD, then seek out med programs that allow dual degree. Otherwise, wait until after you finish your med program; by that time, you should have even stronger justification for obtaining the degree if that's what you still want. Hell, if you play your cards right and do your research, you may even find a residency or a fellowship program to fit the bill.

You're going to cause yourself a fair amount of grief trying to rush and squeeze it in now without structure.

 

[takis]

i think it depends on the school's post acceptance policy. i recall there are applicants who were planning to pursue post-bachelor degrees or programs and dropped their plans after acceptance and the school seem to be fine about it. the key is to ask the schools.

 

[mistafab]

I already have a bachelor's degree, but was thinking of starting a MPH during my gap year, while applying for med school. I can try to finish the MPH in 1 year instead of 2, but was told this is very overwhelming to do. My advisor suggested that I finish most of it in the gap year, and then complete the degree during med school (by taking summer classes btwn. MS1 and MS2).

If I don't get my MPH degree before med school matriculation, will my acceptances be rescinded? Is it necessary to complete the degree program you are in before matriculating?

*FYI, the MPH and MD degree will most probably not be at the same school

Had a horror story at my work where someone dropped out of their masters program because they were accepted - only to be dropped by the med school once they found out.

You absolutely cannot drop out of a program to jump into another program. How would the med school feel if you did that to them? The master's program is losing out as well and would be really angry.

I'm pretty sure most acceptances will explicitely state that your acceptance is contingent on completion of your degree program (if applicable). My letters all said as such.

Edit: Please just call up the school that accepted you and ask. If you end up deciding to do it, please do it on good terms with your masters program as well.

 

[LizzyM]

The Department of Education is putting the screws to schools about graduation rates. If a graduation rate falls below 80% the school has some explaining to do. Therefore, it is bad form for a school to poach student from another school (or another degree program within a school) so as to hurt the first school's graduation rate.

 

[believe <3]

Had a horror story at my work where someone dropped out of their masters program because they were accepted - only to be dropped by the med school once they found out.

You absolutely cannot drop out of a program to jump into another program. How would the med school feel if you did that to them? The master's program is losing out as well and would be really angry.

I'm pretty sure most acceptances will explicitely state that your acceptance is contingent on completion of your degree program (if applicable). My letters all said as such.

Edit: Please just call up the school that accepted you and ask. If you end up deciding to do it, please do it on good terms with your masters program as well.

I wouldn't be dropping out of the program…just starting it in my gap year, only to finish it later in med school. Would this still be unacceptable? Also, I haven't been accepted to med school yet…I am applying this cycle and considering the pros and cons of starting an MPH during my gap year as I apply.

 

[LizzyM]

I wouldn't be dropping out of the program…just starting it in my gap year, only to finish it later in med school. Would this still be unacceptable? Also, I haven't been accepted to med school yet…I am applying this cycle and considering the pros and cons of starting an MPH during my gap year as I apply.

Best laid plans and all that. Best of intentions but it seldom works out. Some schools will make a rule that you must complete your current degree program before matriculating. And besides, schools want your undivided attention. The summer after M1 is getting very short so that M2 year can be shorter giving you more time to study for boards. There is no M2 summer, you take boards, get a short vacation and head right into your clerkships. Like I said, best laid plans.

 

[Glandzburg]

If you really want to get an MPH, you can either complete it before matriculating, or do a combined MD/MPH. Many medical schools offer a 5 year MD/MPH in which you take a year off from the med school curriculum to get your MPH. I think there might even be an MD/MPH program that you can finish in 4 years (can't remember which school offers this).

Can you elaborate on why you want the MPH in the first place?


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[Mansamusa]

There are 1 yr MPH programs...