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Shinobiz11

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Can I get some various "receipts" from those who are on or have already been thru the application process. I want to see all the numbers, MCAT prices (prep stuff as well), applications, secondary's, interview attire, etc. Basically, I want to know if I should start saving now. Please and thank you. 🙂
 
The short answer is yes, you should start saving now. I don't have a total since not all of expenses were paid out of pocket (interview suit was a gift, some travel was covered by frequent flier miles/hotel rewards, etc) but it's not a cheap process. There are some well-detailed MDApps pages that include this information.
 
I haven't been there yet but I can tell you when I heard some of what it costs just for applications per school, I got a job. Dead serious.
 
I know you are asking for an itemized list, but I can at least give you a total: $5,000 to $10,000 per application season. This includes everything from app fees to clothes to MCAT prep to flights to hotels and restaurants.

Or, looked at another way, it's approximately 2-3 weeks pay when you are an attending.
 
Including MCAT prep, probably a little over $10k, and I went on 9 interviews
 
I've easily spent $8-10k this app cycle including MCAT prep, suit, travel/food, AMCAS, Secondaries....

Applied to about 15 schools. Interviews at 4 of them, and each interview averaged anywhere from $6-$800..anyways, its expensive 😱
 
Primary apps (15 schools) = 160 +14*33 = 622
Secondary apps (~60/school) = 60*15 = 900
Suit, shoes, tie, shirt = ~300*2 = 600
Interviews (assuming 50% success and one day interviews that you have to pay out of pocket):
Flight = ~200*7 = 1400
Hotel = ~100*7 = 700
Misc = ~50*7 = 350
MCAT (SN2ed books+cost) = ~1000

Total = $5572

Disclaimer: These are just assumptions (I would venture to say on the lower side) and can vary.

Edit: This is without considering smaller expenses like LOR services like Interfolio, cost of sending transcripts etc.
 
I spent about 6000$, and it could have easily been a lot more - didnt stay in a single hotel ect
 
The price will fluctuate depending mainly on the schools you apply to and what resources you have (like above posters getting certain things as gifts). Drive instead of fly (within reason!), stay with a friend or a friend of a friend instead of getting a hotel...there are many ways to save money.

I don't have an exact figure, but I'm certain I spent under $5000, including (ballparks):
Kaplan MCAT Class (half price): 1000
MCAT: 230-ish? i forget
AMCAS primary with 18 schools: 721
Secondaries for 11 schools: ~650
Two suits: ~$200 (look for sales!!!)
Hotel: $160
Gas: ???
--------------------------------
Total (without knowing gas) is just over $3000.
Let's just say $4000 with gas and all those little expenses that come with the process.

I interviewed at 8 schools, all within easy driving distance of my school, so I drove everywhere. Of course, if you're looking at schools across the country, you'll have to fly, but if the school is a few hours away by car, you will spend much less than flying. You can also cut costs on overnight housing for interviews. My dad travels for his job, so he had enough points to cover all my hotel stays except for one. I stayed at a friend's house for one of my interviews. Many schools have med students who are willing to host interviewees, so that can cut down on hotel costs.

I'd say you'll range from $3k to $10k depending on how far away your interviews are, how many you get, if you can find a cheap/free place to stay, if you want an MCAT prep class, etc. Overall, it is a very expensive process, so it would be a good idea to start saving up now, but also start thinking of ways you can cut costs.
 
StoicJosher said:
Primary apps (15 schools) = 160 +14*33 = 622
Secondary apps (~60/school) = 60*15 = 900
Suit, shoes, tie, shirt = ~300*2 = 600
Interviews (assuming 50% success and one day interviews that you have to pay out of pocket):
Flight = ~200*7 = 1400
Hotel = ~100*7 = 700
Misc = ~50*7 = 350
MCAT (SN2ed books+cost) = ~1000

Total = $5572

Disclaimer: These are just assumptions (I would venture to say on the lower side) and can vary.

Edit: This is without considering smaller expenses like LOR services like Interfolio, cost of sending transcripts etc.
Click to expand...


Wait... Why do you need two suits? I thought interviews were just one day.

BTW, I'm applying this upcoming cycle and I'm already in it about 2.6k for MCAT prep/registration, one suit, and small stuff like MSAR, Interfolio etc. (I'm keeping a spread sheet of EVERYTHING for future post like this)
 
I just added it up and my total costs were around $13,000. I sent my primary to around 45 schools and sent secondaries to around 35. I went on a ton of interviews, most of which were out of state, so I ended up traveling around 40,000 miles. I definitely could have saved some money by applying to fewer schools, staying with student hosts for interviews, etc. But yeah. Start saving!
 
DAPI said:
Wait... Why do you need two suits? I thought interviews were just one day.
Click to expand...

You might need two suits if you are interviewing in very different climates. For example, I definitely wore something different to my interview in Arizona in October (90 degrees) than I did to my interview in DC in January (28 degrees).
 
DAPI said:
Wait... Why do you need two suits? I thought interviews were just one day.
Click to expand...

Sometimes you might have 2 interviews in the same week, and if you get one suit dirty or spill something on it at one interview, you have the other one for the 2nd interview while you send the first to the cleaners. 2 suits aren't a necessity, but if you can find a sale and get them cheap, it's a good investment because you'll use them. I wouldn't buy 2 $300 suits but 2 $100 suits was a steal.

I also had a 2-day interview at one school, and you don't want to be a wardrobe repeater! 🙂
 
MCAT prep: $300
MCAT: $240
Primary apps: $900
Secondaries: $1900
Suit: $350
Travel: $800 (rental car, planes, train)
Deposit: $100
Total:~$4600
 
I see, I see. I guess I should quit school for a year and work at Wendy's and save all of my money. Thanks for the info guys. I'm guessing the majority of you had to take out a loan to pay for these costs? Or you just have 5-grand under your mattress?
 
If you're smart about it, there are several ways to keep costs down (and I think there are other threads about this if you search) even though applying will still be pretty expensive. If you are the type who doesn't need the structure, just buying MCAT prep books is significantly cheaper than taking a course. Also, since each school you apply to is another $33 on your primary plus that school's secondary fee, being smart about your school picks will help (don't apply as OOS to schools that essentially only take their state's residents, don't apply to schools that receive >10000 applications every year unless you're a really good fit).
 
Shinobiz11 said:
I see, I see. I guess I should quit school for a year and work at Wendy's and save all of my money. Thanks for the info guys. I'm guessing the majority of you had to take out a loan to pay for these costs? Or you just have 5-grand under your mattress?
Click to expand...

Pretty much. I had most of it saved up. Plus I was interviewing MD/PhD so I got reimbursed for the airline tickets at some of the schools and they usually paid for my hotel. My post containing estimates was hypothetical.
 
I have a breakdown of expenses in my mdapps, and many other mdapps list this type of thing if you're interested in seeing a range of experiences. How many interviews you get and where they are would make a huge difference, of course.

Oh, and I paid for it with money I'd saved from working, not loans.
 
MCAT registration fee: $240
MCAT books: $85.68

AMCAS primary application fee: $589
AMCAS secondary application fees: $1170
OMSAS application fee: $635
UBC application fee: $189
Interfolio fees: $24
Transcripts: $30

Travel costs:
Bus: $6.50
Flight: $342.61
Flight: $300.60
Flight: $186.25
Amtrak: $49
Flight: $110.70
Flight: $327.80
Flight: $177.38
Flight: $345.38
Flight: $258.89
Bus: $60
Bus: $55.23
Flight: $260.60
Hotel costs: $325
Additional costs (taxis, eating out, gift cards for student hosts, etc.): Undocumented

Total documented costs: $5768.62
 
Mazdave said:
If you're smart about it, there are several ways to keep costs down (and I think there are other threads about this if you search) even though applying will still be pretty expensive. If you are the type who doesn't need the structure, just buying MCAT prep books is significantly cheaper than taking a course. Also, since each school you apply to is another $33 on your primary plus that school's secondary fee, being smart about your school picks will help (don't apply as OOS to schools that essentially only take their state's residents, don't apply to schools that receive >10000 applications every year unless you're a really good fit).
Click to expand...

I agree with this but will also add that if you have the time to save do so because it can never be said enough that you'll need to apply broadly. It might surprise you where you'll be accepted; I never initially expected to go to any of the schools that I have offers at currently. This is a life long investment; don't let yourself lax on the saving, spend and when you do, spend smart. I'd echo the $5-10k quotes here. It's not pocket change so make sure you only have to do it once.

And yes, most of us found it under the mattress or in the backyard. I saved for ~1 year and that was with a real job...
 
Last edited:
MCAT: $235
MCAT class: $1,800


Letters of Recommendation/Committee Evaluation: $50


Transcripts: $36

Judicial Affairs Fee: $20



First round: $946. This is the cost of submitting your primary application--AMCAS and AACOMAS. Subtract $35 for each less school you apply to (If you applied to 10, it would only be $596)



Second round:
MD:
Cooper Medical School of Rowan University (Camden, NJ): $50
Temple University School of Medicine (Philadelphia): $75
Thomas Jefferson University (Philadelphia): $80
Drexel University (Philadelphia): $100
New York Medical College (Valhalla, NY): $110
Hofstra University (Hempstead, NY): $100
Penn State Hershey (Hershey, PA): $75
George Washington University (DC): $125
University of Nevada (Reno, NV): $75
Loma Linda University (Loma Linda, CA): $75
Total: $865


DO:
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (Philadelphia): $50
Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine (Glendale, AZ): $50
Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine (Downers Grove, IL): $50
AT Still University College of Osteopathic Medicine (Mesa, AZ): $60
University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (Stratford, NJ): $90
Western University College of Osteopathic Medicine (Pomona, CA): $65
Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (Erie, PA): $50
Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine-Nevada (Henderson, NV): $100
Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine-California (Vallejo, CA): $100
New York College of Osteopathic Medicine (Old Westbury, NY): $75

Total: $690


Interviews:
Flight to Phoenix: $250
Phoenix Hotel: $90
Phoenix Rent-a-Car: $103
Flight to Reno: $350
Reno Hotel: $30



Total money spent on just the application process: $3,430 (Since May 2011)
Total money spent so far on medical school: $5,465 (Since May 2010)
 
I don't have exact amounts, but on applications alone (primary and secondary) I spent $2500 to apply to 20 schools (Allopathic only). Including travel, probably tack on an additional $2000. Take advantage of student hosts if a school offers them, saves a ton on hotel expenses, not to mention you get someone to talk about the school with.
 
My advice...sign up for a credit card that gives you 50,000 free frequent flier miles. In my area of the country, Southwest was a good option for this. Wish I would've applied for it sooner so I could've used it on more flights. You can definitely get your money's worth with one of these (just make sure to cancel the card before they start charging you more yearly fees).
 
Start saving now. It costs more than I ever anticipated. The sad thing is that the majority of my interviews were "local".
 
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