Withdrew from Graduate School

[Metatrone]

Hi everyone!

I withdrew from graduate school last year. I was attending Syracuse University's Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affair, where I was pursuing a Masters in Public Administration and a Masters in International Relations/Foreign Policy (Dual Degree Program). I became disenchanted by the programs and the line of work slated for the use of my particular talents. I finished one semester with a 3.5 GPA. I relinquished a full ride scholarship in the process of withdrawing. I was being paid by the school to go to school, which was about $3,000/month.

I have decided that medical school is the route I wish to pursue. I feel it is an avenue where I can make a difference, whereas before I would be stuck in the slimy game of politics and stuck behind a desk. However, my undergraduate GPA is 3.82 and I have an extensive military background.

With that stated, will the withdraw from graduate school become an insurmountable road block to gain admissions into medical school? Your replies are greatly appreciated.

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[startingover84]

Hi everyone!

I withdrew from graduate school last year. I was attending Syracuse University's Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affair, where I was pursuing a Masters in Public Administration and a Masters in International Relations/Foreign Policy (Dual Degree Program). I became disenchanted by the programs and the line of work slated for the use of my particular talents. I finished one semester with a 3.5 GPA. I relinquished a full ride scholarship in the process of withdrawing. I was being paid by the school to go to school, which was about $3,000/month.

I have decided that medical school is the route I wish to pursue. I feel it is an avenue where I can make a difference, whereas before I would be stuck in the slimy game of politics and stuck behind a desk. However, my undergraduate GPA is 3.82 and I have an extensive military background.

With that stated, will the withdraw from graduate school become an insurmountable road block to gain admissions into medical school? Your replies are greatly appreciated.

Well, I sure hope it won't be a problem for you.

Shoot, I withdrew from a medical school overseas five years ago, and I plan to apply to US MD schools in a couple of years. Just frame it in the best possible way, stay honest, and you shouldn't have a problem.

 

[TriagePreMed]

Shoot, I withdrew from a medical school overseas five years ago, and I plan to apply to US MD schools in a couple of years. Just frame it in the best possible way, stay honest, and you shouldn't have a problem.

I've never heard of anyone being admitted to a US MD school after withdrawing from any other medical school (domestic or abroad), even in good standing at the other school. I would highly recommend you to contact potential schools and ask them directly if your application will even be considered. I would also advice you to look into other careers just in case.

 

[Cinclus]

Unfortunately for you, withdrawing from/not completing a graduate program is often viewed as a red flag. I believe it has something to do with perceived lack of commitment of the applicant.

 

[TriagePreMed]

With that stated, will the withdraw from graduate school become an insurmountable road block to gain admissions into medical school? Your replies are greatly appreciated.

Absolutely not insurmountable. It may be viewed negatively by some, but if you've held to your commitments on other things, you'll be fine.

Did you quit for medical school? If so, what did you do to know it was the right path for you?

 

[Metatrone]

Absolutely not insurmountable. It may be viewed negatively by some, but if you've held to your commitments on other things, you'll be fine.

Did you quit for medical school? If so, what did you do to know it was the right path for you?

I served my country in a combat zone as a field medic (Corpsman) with the Marine Corps. I was awarded several honors and award citations for my actions taken under circumstances that would cause most to despair. Is this not worthy of evincing my commitment?

I withdrew from the program because I did not see myself living overseas for the rest of my life working as a CIA spook or a State Department diplomat. Instead, I thought of my wife and daughter and how I wish to provide a home for them, coupled with an amicable lifestyle. Also, does not my marriage of 7 years evince commitment?

I wish to be a doctor because I have a burning passion for science and serving people. I have extensive experience in this arena, as I served my Marines in combat and in garrison, as well as civilians.

 

[QofQuimica]

I've never heard of anyone being admitted to a US MD school after withdrawing from any other medical school (domestic or abroad), even in good standing at the other school. I would highly recommend you to contact potential schools and ask them directly if your application will even be considered. I would also advice you to look into other careers just in case.

I know of one person (friend of mine) who completed part of med school in France, including taking Step 1, then dropped out and started med school over from the beginning at an allo program in the US. She is now a third year peds resident. That being said, I agree with the advice to check with each school to find out what their policy will be in this situation. One anecdote does not a general policy make.

Unfortunately for you, withdrawing from/not completing a graduate program is often viewed as a red flag. I believe it has something to do with perceived lack of commitment of the applicant.

Nonsense. People drop out of grad school all the time. Where applicants run into trouble is when they try to have their cake and eat it too. In other words, they continue on in their grad program (typically a PhD), with the intention of dropping out and leaving their PI holding the bag if they get into medical school. That's not cool, especially if the PI is paying the student's tuition and stipend in the belief that the student plans to complete the PhD. It's easy for an adcom to figure out when this occurs because A) the student will be in the first, maybe second, year of their PhD program such that there's no possible way they could graduate prior to matriculation into medical school; and B) the student will not have a LOR from their PI. For those who are considering doing this, don't. Being a liar is not exactly a character trait that adcoms want in a future physician.

Bottom line: if you've made up your mind to switch from another profession to medicine, that's fine. There's no law saying that you have to continue on in your current path if you've figured out that it's not the right one for whatever reason. But commit yourself to medicine and don't try to play it from both ends. If you can finish your current degree program in a relatively short amount of time, or if you can downgrade your PhD into an MS, those are reasonable things to do. If not, you should leave your current program, with the understanding that you will likely be asked why you left X professional school on your apps or at your interviews.

 

[TriagePreMed]

I served my country in a combat zone as a field medic (Corpsman) with the Marine Corps. I was awarded several honors and award citations for my actions taken under circumstances that would cause most to despair. Is this not worthy of evincing my commitment?

I withdrew from the program because I did not see myself living overseas for the rest of my life working as a CIA spook or a State Department diplomat. Instead, I thought of my wife and daughter and how I wish to provide a home for them, coupled with an amicable lifestyle. Also, does not my marriage of 7 years evince commitment?

I wish to be a doctor because I have a burning passion for science and serving people. I have extensive experience in this arena, as I served my Marines in combat and in garrison, as well as civilians.

I've always found it ridiculous why some people feel that others should continue a program if they dislike it greatly, but it seems to be a quite commonly held belief. Personally, I don't think your situation will be held against you. Just be clear as to why you left and why going into medicine is different and all should be fine.

 

[startingover84]

I've never heard of anyone being admitted to a US MD school after withdrawing from any other medical school (domestic or abroad), even in good standing at the other school. I would highly recommend you to contact potential schools and ask them directly if your application will even be considered. I would also advice you to look into other careers just in case.

Thank you for your concern. I've already contacted my top choice and a few other schools, and it's not a bar to admission. The only bar to admission is when the student has withdrawn from a medical school in the US.

 

[tigress]

I withdrew from grad school after a semester simply because I didn't like it (couldn't see myself doing that for the rest of my life). I was in a very good immunology PhD program (and I actually did more than a semester but my transcript looked like a semester). It may have been an issue for some schools, but I got accepted to 4 schools on my first try. Then I didn't even go, took off 4 years to have kids, reapplied and was again accepted and am now getting ready to start MS3. I'm perfectly happy with the way all of this progressed, and love med school.

It's all cool. A good MCAT, good letters of rec and extra-curricular activities, as well as a good explanation for everything in your background--all of that will be enough to explain your course.

 

[startingover84]

I withdrew from grad school after a semester simply because I didn't like it (couldn't see myself doing that for the rest of my life). I was in a very good immunology PhD program (and I actually did more than a semester but my transcript looked like a semester). It may have been an issue for some schools, but I got accepted to 4 schools on my first try. Then I didn't even go, took off 4 years to have kids, reapplied and was again accepted and am now getting ready to start MS3. I'm perfectly happy with the way all of this progressed, and love med school.

It's all cool. A good MCAT, good letters of rec and extra-curricular activities, as well as a good explanation for everything in your background--all of that will be enough to explain your course.

Thanks for sharing your story.

 

[Metatrone]

I really appreciate the encouragement and success stories. Right now, I am enrolled at an university in Texas taking the required courses. My science GPA is pretty good, and I am taking extensive notes in order to master the material. So, when it comes time for the MCAT I will be prepared.

 

[MakesSense]

I've never heard of anyone being admitted to a US MD school after withdrawing from any other medical school (domestic or abroad), even in good standing at the other school. I would highly recommend you to contact potential schools and ask them directly if your application will even be considered. I would also advice you to look into other careers just in case.

I have a classmate who withdrew from a foreign medical school at least 5 years ago due to a family situation.

 

[banana_phone]

Resurrecting this thread from the dead because I am in a somewhat similar situation, and maybe the OP has insight into this. I withdrew from a Master's program, too. Do I need to submit a letter stating I withdrew in good standing from the university? I applied to 29 schools, and really don't want to call all of them to ask, but if I have to, I will.

 

[DrMikeP]

Resurrecting this thread from the dead because I am in a somewhat similar situation, and maybe the OP has insight into this. I withdrew from a Master's program, too. Do I need to submit a letter stating I withdrew in good standing from the university? I applied to 29 schools, and really don't want to call all of them to ask, but if I have to, I will.

You should just briefly mention it in your personal statement, but if you've already applied... shrugs.