Admissions Interview Question: How will you pay for medical school?

[GonefromTX]

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I got interview invites to UTMB and TCOM earlier this week and I'm incredibly excited, but I'm just not quite sure how to answer this interview question should they mention it.

I understand that a lot of adcoms ask interviewees how they plan to pay for med school or how they paid for college. The problem for me is that my parents paid for my entire college career, and I will be able to get out of medical school without any loans at all. I never had any scholarships, financial aid, grants, loans etc, and neither have I had to work a part-time job. I know this may sound off like I'm bragging but I'm legitimately worried that this may make me look like a spoiled brat to the adcoms. I mean, it isn't my fault that I'm raised in a relatively well-off family. I work just as hard as everyone else in academics and extra-curriculars.

So I guess my question is, how bad does it look to the adcoms? Do they care a lot about this or is this not too important of an issue?

 

[PreciousHamburgers]

I feel like they probably just want to make sure you've actually thought about it like a mature person. I don't know though. I would just answer honestly and in a way that shows you recognize how privileged you are. Congrats on the II's

 

[LizzyM]

I agree with @PreciousHamburgers, and I am thinking back to a recent thread by someone who got into Tufts, realized how much debt was involved and decided not to go to medical school.

I think you'll be fine if you say, "I'm fortunate to have the resources to cover the cost." in place of resourcs you could say "income and savings" or just "savings" even if you have an investment portfolio or royalties on timber or some other exotic sources of income.

 

[Person0715]

This thread is the epitome of first world problems, it's not even funny.

 

[Goro]

We may actually hit up your parents for a donation! Seriously, it won't be an issue.

I got interview invites to UTMB and TCOM earlier this week and I'm incredibly excited, but I'm just not quite sure how to answer this interview question should they mention it.

I understand that a lot of adcoms ask interviewees how they plan to pay for med school or how they paid for college. The problem for me is that my parents paid for my entire college career, and I will be able to get out of medical school without any loans at all. I never had any scholarships, financial aid, grants, loans etc, and neither have I had to work a part-time job. I know this may sound off like I'm bragging but I'm legitimately worried that this may make me look like a spoiled brat to the adcoms. I mean, it isn't my fault that I'm raised in a relatively well-off family. I work just as hard as everyone else in academics and extra-curriculars.

So I guess my question is, how bad does it look to the adcoms? Do they care a lot about this or is this not too important of an issue?

 

[lmn]

I interviewed at a number of places (none DO), but I was never once asked anything about how I would pay for school, it's a ridiculous question imo either your family is paying for it or you're taking out a ton of loans like everyone else. You would have to respond in the stupidest of ways for them to get any information useful about whether they should not accept you and there are plenty of other questions to judge character in a higher yield way imo.

 

[Chillbo Baggins]

I was never asked those type of questions, and never heard of it happening to anyone else. If it were to happen, follow the advice above.

 

[GonefromTX]

Thanks guys

 

[V5RED]

So, the first time you ever have a job will be as a doctor?

 

[GonefromTX]

So, the first time you ever have a job will be as a doctor?

Yeah lol..

 

[Gastrapathy]

Can't ask. It's discriminatory. But not against the rich kids.


Sent from my iPhone 6 using Tapatalk

 

[Zelda840]

Is that common? For someone's first job to be as a physician? That blows my mind. I wonder if that's why so many physicians are not satisfied with their job. No fast food/office clerk/retail job for a real comparison. Anyway, I really don't see anyone holding it against you in an interview. Like you said, it's not your fault your parents are well off and generous with you. Though, I'd highly recommend trying a minimum wage customer service job before matriculation if you have the time. I personally feel like everyone should have to wait tables or work fast food once in their life.

 

[magicaldinosaur]

Yeah lol..

Wow... That's kind of sad. My parents can afford to send me to medical school, but I still worked a variety of jobs.

 

[GonefromTX]

Wow... That's kind of sad. My parents can afford to send me to medical school, but I still worked a variety of jobs.

Cool story

 

[43092]

Is that common? For someone's first job to be as a physician? That blows my mind. I wonder if that's why so many physicians are not satisfied with their job. No fast food/office clerk/retail job for a real comparison. Anyway, I really don't see anyone holding it against you in an interview. Like you said, it's not your fault your parents are well off and generous with you. Though, I'd highly recommend trying a minimum wage customer service job before matriculation if you have the time. I personally feel like everyone should have to wait tables or work fast food once in their life.

OP's biggest problem in life is affording medical school, I doubt he'll work a minimum wage job.

 

[mrh125]

Through self-Prostitution obviously.

 

[GonefromTX]

Is that common? For someone's first job to be as a physician? That blows my mind. I wonder if that's why so many physicians are not satisfied with their job. No fast food/office clerk/retail job for a real comparison. Anyway, I really don't see anyone holding it against you in an interview. Like you said, it's not your fault your parents are well off and generous with you. Though, I'd highly recommend trying a minimum wage customer service job before matriculation if you have the time. I personally feel like everyone should have to wait tables or work fast food once in their life.

I think its pretty uncommon. From these comments, seems like most doctors have worked a fast food/office clerk/retail job before so this is probably not why they are dissatisfied. Thanks for your advice, I'll definitely consider it.

 

[V5RED]

OP's biggest problem in life is affording medical school, I doubt he'll work a minimum wage job.

OP never said this was his biggest problem in life. Being rich=/=being free of troubles. It sounds like OP was concerned about the stigmas associated with kids whose parents are rich.

There is a lot of benefit to having those crappy, entry level, jobs.
-You learn what it is like to be treated like crap by your superiors, something I assume all doctors get to deal with in their training. I would much rather learn how to accept that, without flying off the handle, at a fast food joint than in my first year of residency.
-You learn the value of money when you put in 8 hours of work for $58 (before taxes are taken out).
-You learn how to provide good customer service.
-You learn how to deal with people you don't like, but can't simply avoid.
-You learn what it is like to have no say in what you are doing.
-You get to feel like a real adult because you are earning money on your own for once. I remember watching an episode of Cosby where one of his kids says "we're rich" and Cosby corrects him by saying "No, your mother and I are rich, you have nothing except for what we let you have." I grew up in a family that was very well off, but it wasn't until I started working that I had money that I felt was really mine.

OP missed out on those benefits, which is unfortunate, but that is no reason to put words in his mouth or make fun of him.

 

[deleted480308]

The main benefit of a minimum wage job is to teach how much you DON'T want a life of minimum wage jobs. OP is already on track to be the opposite of the spectrum. Congrats OP, it took me a long time "get it"

 

[magicaldinosaur]

The main benefit of a minimum wage job is to teach how much you DON'T want a life of minimum wage jobs. OP is already on track to be the opposite of the spectrum. Congrats OP, it took me a long time "get it"

Really... I'd prefer a minimum wage job than a lot of things. Takes no skills to do them.

 

[deleted480308]

Really... I'd prefer a minimum wage job than a lot of things. Takes no skills to do them.

Wild stab in the dark here.....you ever have to completely support a family on minimum wage?

 

[magicaldinosaur]

Wild stab in the dark here.....you ever have to completely support a family on minimum wage?

No, of course not. But, I see plenty of young people work jobs instead of commit themselves to 8+ years without a decent paycheck and studying all day and night. My parents always told me, work or school. Some people prefer work.

 

[deleted480308]

No, of course not. But, I see plenty of young people work jobs instead of commit themselves to 8+ years without a decent paycheck and studying all day and night. My parents always told me, work or school. Some people prefer work.

and it's a tolerable life for a young single person with roommates and no children...but real adulthood, and the families that often come with it, are not so friendly to the coexistence of minimum wage and stress free living

 

[magicaldinosaur]

and it's a tolerable life for a young single person with roommates and no children...but real adulthood, and the families that often come with it, are not so friendly to the coexistence of minimum wage and stress free living

I highly doubt a person who started at minimum wage would stay there. CNA certifications are free and even my cousin delayed grad school because she found a job on Craigslist for 100 bucks an hour. I guess I'm just not immune to hard work. My parents (aunts, uncles, etc) are foreigners, came here with literally nothing and had to send money back as well, and now they're millionaires.

 

[kthxbai]

I got interview invites to UTMB and TCOM earlier this week and I'm incredibly excited, but I'm just not quite sure how to answer this interview question should they mention it.

I understand that a lot of adcoms ask interviewees how they plan to pay for med school or how they paid for college. The problem for me is that my parents paid for my entire college career, and I will be able to get out of medical school without any loans at all. I never had any scholarships, financial aid, grants, loans etc, and neither have I had to work a part-time job. I know this may sound off like I'm bragging but I'm legitimately worried that this may make me look like a spoiled brat to the adcoms. I mean, it isn't my fault that I'm raised in a relatively well-off family. I work just as hard as everyone else in academics and extra-curriculars.

So I guess my question is, how bad does it look to the adcoms? Do they care a lot about this or is this not too important of an issue?

I have an education trust set up for this, but never suspected adcoms would care about how I plan to bankroll school. The fact is, I'm completely debt free because I played my cards right - investments, savings, conscious spending, jobs, and LOTS of hard work. I'm proud to say at 24 I have zero undergrad loans and have already paid off my car.

Would I really come off as a spoiled brat? Money talks are a huge pet peeve of mine; I don't see how this is anyone's business at all. Besides, we all want to be doctors - our YEARS of hard, thankless work show for it. Money doesn't even enter as part of the question. Is there some bias I'm unaware of here?

 

[deleted480308]

I have an education trust set up for this, but never suspected adcoms would care about how I plan to bankroll school. The fact is, I'm completely debt free because I played my cards right - investments, savings, conscious spending, jobs, and LOTS of hard work. I'm proud to say at 24 I have zero undergrad loans and have already paid off my car.

Would I really come off as a spoiled brat? Money talks are a huge pet peeve of mine; I don't see how this is anyone's business at all. Besides, we all want to be doctors - our YEARS of hard, thankless work show for it. Money doesn't even enter as part of the question. Is there some bias I'm unaware of here?

it's generally a test to see if you have considered the financial implications and stresses of funding that kind of debt...kind of a buyer beware scenario

 

[ciestar]

Best thing about retail (I work in a pharmacy): I know how to deal with unhappy people. Best to learn some humility now. It teaches you how to work with difficult people and a wide variety of people. Get used to that

 

[LizzyM]

it's generally a test to see if you have considered the financial implications and stresses of funding that kind of debt...kind of a buyer beware scenario

I can see that reasoning for asking the question yet I've never heard of anyone at my school asking that question. Is it really that common? Anyone ever been asked it? Where?

 

[deleted480308]

I can see that reasoning for asking the question yet I've never heard of anyone at my school asking that question. Is it really that common? Anyone ever been asked it? Where?

I was asked at a DO interview if I had researched how to handle the funding of school with a family, but it was a followup to me mentioning that change in income as I went to school was a concern of mine.

 

[LizzyM]

I was asked at a DO interview if I had researched how to handle the funding of school with a family, but it was a followup to me mentioning that change in income as I went to school was a concern of mine.

OK, I can see anything being fair game if the applicant opens the door.

 

[Goro]

I've never heard it asked at my school.

I can see that reasoning for asking the question yet I've never heard of anyone at my school asking that question. Is it really that common? Anyone ever been asked it? Where?