Transferring between Medical Schools

[DrDrLMG!]

Would it be possible to elaborate a little on the complex situation? It would help me a lot because I am trying to decide between 2 different universities in 2 different states and once I choose, there would be no way to change (Applications close tomorrow so yes, as far as I am concerned, you are "married for life", since there is next to no chance of being able to change.) Even if a subject is only offered once a year, like I said, there should be no reason why a 2nd year transfer student can't participate in a first year class with first year cohorts, in order to 'catch up', then having free time in third year because they already did a subject in their original university. This is exactly the case with students in my cohort here in my overseas university where I am doing a masters degree.

Additionally if someone could provide a real life example of what extenuating circumstances would allow you to transfer, that would be very much appreciated. The only example I've seen so far, here, or anywhere is one about someone's husband doing a surgical residency elsewhere and the whole family has to move, and that person ended up doing cross institutional study for one year, and must finish the rest of the degree at the original uni.

Thank you everyone.

I can’t speak to all unis as I’ve only been to one, but my experience is that I enrol in a single unit for the whole semester, ie. Foundations of Medicine 101. It is a single, half year unit that includes, again, for example, the integumentary system. In that we do short groups of lectures, tutorials, practicals and dissections on histology of that system, related immunology, related pathology, clinical presentations, how to do an examination of a lesion or rash or wound or whatever it might be, the wider context of individuals who present with these conditions, some of the related ethical and professional considerations, what language to use, etc.

The next semester, again a single unit studied for half a year, switches focus to the MSK system, and a similar program as above.

I did not study Histology as a single unit, it was broken up into chunks by system over the first three years of a five year degree and integrated fully with the rest of the curriculum.

There is one person in my year who was granted a transfer from an interstate Uni at the start of year 4 for very extenuating circumstances. This is the only person I’m aware of across any year. It is incredibly rare and not done lightly. Year 4 is when the clear switch from pre-clinical to full time clinical happens (some do it earlier, my uni starts part time clinical in year 3), so it’s probably a more straightforward time to switch, practically, but still incredibly rare and not a pathway to be relied upon.

Also, c’mon, 4 year degree with substantial holiday periods (compared to, say, full time employment) does not = “for life”. Make your preferencing decisions based on the basis of location, financial, social, family, and curriculum differences between the options, AND on the basis of being there 4 years, not on being able to switch part way through, as that is incredibly unlikely to happen unless, tbh, something awful were to happen, which you obviously don’t want to plan/rely on.