Effect of Transferring Universities

[MordorFires]

Hey, I am looking to go to med school. However, I'm thinking about transferring universities. I'm a first year student and quite unfortunately, I think I may have made a bad choice, for personal reasons.

What I'm really worried about, though, is whether it'll affect my chances of getting into med school. Right now, I'm at UCLA and I'm leaning toward transferring to Wheaton College, in Mass.

I know it's early to be thinking of transferring and I am going to try to stick out the year here. Hopefully, I'll end up loving it here and stay, but I still would like to know if anyone can tell me what effect transferring would potentially have. :?

[Tipton]

If you don't think you can succeed where you are what makes you think you can succeed at Wheaton? You should be focusing on excelling in your classes wherever you are. If it turns out that you can't succeed at UCLA by all means find a school where you can. Keep in mind that you should contact the school you are seeking transfer TO in order to see what they will require in an application and what their policies are for transfer students.

[MordorFires]

Yeah, I understand that. I'm kind of worried about falling behind in classes if it turns out UCLA is a really bad fit for me, in which case a different school, probably Wheaton, would be a better place for me, where I could feel more comfortable and more easily excel in my classes.

What I'm more worried about is the set back in getting opportunities to do research, getting clinical experience, and the like. At a premed workshop at UCLA, they talked a lot about getting to know our professors this year so we could start thinking about where to do research, where to go to find good volunteer work, and even who to ask for letters of recommendation. If I transferred, wouldn't that set me back basically a whole year with regards to all that?

[jameslynton]

I did a transfer from a very large state school - most likely for the same reasons - It has no effect on medical school application - research and volunteer work. You will not have time issues. You will most likely have smaller classes and meet more profs vs a very large state school.

[trex]

I found that attending a smaller State school, with smaller classes was very beneficial for me. I too, transferred from a larger school.

[Pin]

HI
I am kind of facing indecision too.for some reason i decided to join Oman Medical College in Oman ,apparantly in academic partnership with WVU ,school of medicine.It was a bad choice because compared to the huge amount of fees the facilities a quite limited I m currently in the 3rd yr of Pre-med .M.D program and I really want a transfer to a Med-school in USA ,prefarably near Virginia as my Husband is planning to move there.
problem is I cant seem to get a transfer anywhre because my college is not recognised in USA ....I dont know wt to do???any helpful reply would be welcome

[jameslynton]

HI
I am kind of facing indecision too.for some reason i decided to join Oman Medical College in Oman ,apparently in academic partnership with WVU ,school of medicine.It was a bad choice because compared to the huge amount of fees the facilities a quite limited I m currently in the 3rd yr of Pre-med .M.D program and I really want a transfer to a Med-school in USA ,prefarably near Virginia as my Husband is planning to move there.
problem is I cant seem to get a transfer anywhre because my college is not recognised in USA ....I dont know wt to do???any helpful reply would be welcomeLets think logically -Oman Medical College in Oman. First, country - very backwards and 3rd world. Next, why would a US school recognize Oman? I have seen students from Iran, Saudi Arabia and just about every other country go to Georgia State University in Atlanta, Ga. Reason, they are certified by United State college accreditation agencies. Oman who certifies the courses and instructions? The truth hurts - It is the same reason I tell students not to do pre-med at island schools "accreditation". West Virginia is one of the poorest states in the US - most of their income is from the sale of pot - not the coal they dig out of the ground....Look it up it is there on the internet. Sad but true. You got what you thought was a silk purse - now you see it for what it is not even a pigs ear. Sorry.

Help - you will most likely have to start over and take just about ever class again. I am so sorry - really I am. What you would like to see happen is a US school take your credit hours as a transfer student. This is most likely not going to happen. Bit the bullet, Kick the wall, rage against the governments, best to put your applications in and take your chances that one school will take your credits. Best wishes. Also remember if you did it once you can do it again better.

[jameslynton]

To be fair, There are several medical schools that take transfers - Drexel medical school at Home (http://www.drexelmed.edu/) is one. Also try Morehouse and Meharry in Nashville and the the OD schools. Best I can think of.