Do I need to finish my masters?

[Md007]

Hey Guys. 

 

I got accepted recently but don't think I will be able to finish my masters due to the COVID issue. 

 

 

Does anyone know if completeing the masters is a requirement? Or can I simply drop it? Do you know of anyone that has dropped it in the past?

[Médicomage]

You could ask for a deferred admission : https://www.mcgill.ca/medadmissions/after-youve-applied/deferred-admission

Otherwise, I read that some people do both when their master is in a different university than the one they study medicine, because usually, you can't be registered in two degrees at the same time and in the same university. Some masters can be done on a part-time basis as well. Some departments accept a temporary leave of absence for grad students.

Or you can drop it completely, i guess.

[guest123]

16 hours ago, MDeez said:

Hey Guys. 

 

I got accepted recently but don't think I will be able to finish my masters due to the COVID issue. 

 

 

Does anyone know if completeing the masters is a requirement? Or can I simply drop it? Do you know of anyone that has dropped it in the past?

Hi,

Admissions would allow you to defer your admission to finish your masters and start the MD CM program the next year. Finishing your masters can be beneficial, and many people choose to finish it before coming to medical school, as it will make you more competitive for residency programs, plus you will get your masters degree engraved on your white coat.

[Md007]

3 hours ago, guest123 said:

Hi,

Admissions would allow you to defer your admission to finish your masters and start the MD CM program the next year. Finishing your masters can be beneficial, and many people choose to finish it before coming to medical school, as it will make you more competitive for residency programs, plus you will get your masters degree engraved on your white coat.

Thanks for responding. 

I understand I might be able to defer, but if I wanted to just start my MD, and not complete the masters, is that also an option?

[DrNan]

I am withdrawing from my masters if that helps. I still have approximately 1.5 years remaining so it is not worth it to finish it at this point, atleast in my opinion ...

[medium fundamental]

On 5/9/2020 at 4:21 PM, Médicomage said:

You could ask for a deferred admission : https://www.mcgill.ca/medadmissions/after-youve-applied/deferred-admission

Otherwise, I read that some people do both when their master is in a different university than the one they study medicine, because usually, you can't be registered in two degrees at the same time and in the same university. Some masters can be done on a part-time basis as well. Some departments accept a temporary leave of absence for grad students.

Or you can drop it completely, i guess.

Little note about the registration in 2 degrees at same at same university issue:

I've asked in previous years about this to admissions and current McGill med students because I was looking to apply during my PhD but was wondering if I would be forced to defer a year in case I was accepted (I wanted to complete the PhD but I also wanted to start med training asap). When I asked admissions officers, I got inconsistent answers depending on who I asked lol but someone did end up telling me that it was possible to finish the grad degree concurrently. This was also confirmed when I asked students and they told me stories of McGill grad students who weren't quite yet finished with their grad degree when their medical training (at McGill) started and they were allowed to finish their graduate research at the same time. Granted, in most of these cases, they were close to completing (ex: have heard of students writing thesis and/or doing PhD defense during MS1-MS2).

Now I didn't inquire on this issue again in the last application cycle because I was planning to finish soon, so I don't know if they had a change in policy so don't take my word for it and confirm with admissions.

 

To the OP:

The disclaimer I just said above also applies here, ask admissions to confirm. Contrary to most other med faculties in Canada, McGill med does not require you to finish your grad degree before matriculating...although they obviously don't encourage that practice (pretty sure I read somewhere on their website that they expect that grad students only apply in the final year of their program or something).  But I definitely know of at least 1 student who dropped his grad degree when starting McGill med.

[CelluleB]

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