VIDEO (University of Chicago) Negotiating financial aid for medical school

[Mr.Smile12]

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Please let me know if the video disappears. Link added to Becoming a Student Doctor.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Boosting for 2025 EY.

 

[coffeelover347]

Please let me know if the video disappears. Link added to Becoming a Student Doctor.

So is it too early to start discussing financial aid with medical schools until you have award offers from other schools? Or can you try to negotiate just based off of COA?

 

[Mr.Smile12]

So is it too early to start discussing financial aid with medical schools until you have award offers from other schools? Or can you try to negotiate just based off of COA?

The more data you have, the easier the conversations will be. You can see if you can negotiate from COA and articulate your needs based on FAFSA, I presume. Ask current students about their experience and if they knew of classmates who successfully negotiated more aid.

 

[coffeelover347]

The more data you have, the easier the conversations will be. You can see if you can negotiate from COA and articulate your needs based on FAFSA, I presume. Ask current students about their experience and if they knew of classmates who successfully negotiated more aid.

Thank you!

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Boosting again for EY 2026.

 

[Goodfella21]

Hey future colleagues,

I know this is a stressful time with the coming changes in federal student loans...

I’m Dr. Matt Jackson, a practicing orthopedic surgeon who still remembers how stressful med school loans are (still paying them). With the big 2026 federal changes (Grad PLUS gone and the new $50k annual / $200k lifetime cap), the private-loan gap is real.

I’m exploring a physician-led lending option with smarter underwriting, potentially better rates, strong residency deferment, and terms that actually understand doctor life.

If you’re a current or incoming medical student, I’d really appreciate 5 minutes for this short anonymous survey. Your feedback will directly shape something that could make debt less painful.

I'll also raffle off a $100 amazon gift card.

No strings attached — just one attending paying it forward.

Survey link: Med School Loans

Thanks, and feel free to reply with any thoughts or brutal honesty! 💉

— Dr. Matt Jackson