Application fees are HOW MUCH?!

[von Matterhorn]

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I must say, I'm really startled by how much it costs to apply to medical school.

I just entered my first school into AMCAS and the fees were $160. I seriously thought it would be $25-50 + secondary fees and whatnot.

I was planning on applying to ~25 schools. At this rate, that will be TWO MONTHS of my salary. Right now I can't help but feel medical school is extremely biased to wealthy people. My parents aren't helping me pay, and I'm not sure I feel ok investing thousands of dollars into applying to a bunch of schools that will probably reject me. I've heard you can request for the fees to be waived, but that puts your application in much later. Ugh. Everything is driven by money, it's pathetic.

/sad rant

 

[von Matterhorn]

On a positive note, I just realized there is a $125ish starting fee.

/remove head from ass.

Still, those bastards stick you with a fee every which way they can.

 

[jesse120]

yeah it hit my wallet pretty hard, too. not much fun, but it's worth it in the end if you get an acceptance!

 

[gmcguitar4]

Ha! you think that is bad. Wait until secondary app fees come along.

 

[kpcrew]

imagine if you're successful and get like 15 interviews?
plane tickets, hotel rooms, car rentals

you should have saw it coming when the mcat cost 200 dollars

then you get into med school and you're all "you want me to pay how much?!"

 

[1289]

amateur hour, just wait for the secondaries!

 

[von Matterhorn]

Man, I've come so far.. but I'm honestly questioning at the moment if I can even afford to sink several grand into this. If I don't get in, I'll have pretty much devastated my entire savings

 

[1289]

Man, I've come so far.. but I'm honestly questioning at the moment if I can even afford to sink several grand into this. If I don't get in, I'll have pretty much devastated my entire savings

do you qualify for FAP? just relax. are you URM? you may not have to apply as broadly as others if you are.

 

[Doctor Strange]

I must say, I'm really startled by how much it costs to apply to medical school.

I just entered my first school into AMCAS and the fees were $160. I seriously thought it would be $25-50 + secondary fees and whatnot.

I was planning on applying to ~25 schools. At this rate, that will be TWO MONTHS of my salary. Right now I can't help but feel medical school is extremely biased to wealthy people. My parents aren't helping me pay, and I'm not sure I feel ok investing thousands of dollars into applying to a bunch of schools that will probably reject me. I've heard you can request for the fees to be waived, but that puts your application in much later. Ugh. Everything is driven by money, it's pathetic.

/sad rant

I disagree. 300% the poverty line to qualify for fee assistance is pretty generous, in my opinion, and it catches a lot of lower and lower-middle class people. Luckily I heard about FAP (lol) from a friend, and I applied early before applications could be submitted and got fourteen schools free.

 

[von Matterhorn]

do you qualify for FAP? just relax. are you URM? you may not have to apply as broadly as others if you are.

I don't qualify for any of that stuff, I'm Caucasian and I come from a fairly affluent family. Unfortunately, I'm kind of on my own financially now that I'm out of college and between my house mortgage, utilities, misc. bills, etc., I only put about a grand a month away for savings. This app process is going to devastate that and then some, and I'm such a mediocre applicant that I"m beginning to wonder if all this money spent is justifiable.

 

[linebacker57]

Medicine is a huge commitment, and if you plan on applying to 25 schools, you may be looking at 5-7K to have a successful application season, including interview expenses ect. That being said, medicine is expensive to break into, and while I will agree it favors those with resources, it also favors those who are committed, those who are willing to beg and borrow to do what they need to do. In terms of being from an affluent family, see if you can ask them for some support, or at the very least, an intrest free loan, because moving forward, you will not be able to receive any need based financial aid without disclosing your parent's financial situation (I think). I'm not sure how old u are though, so there may be a point where this no longer applies

 

[syoung]

I disagree. 300% the poverty line to qualify for fee assistance is pretty generous, in my opinion, and it catches a lot of lower and lower-middle class people. Luckily I heard about FAP (lol) from a friend, and I applied early before applications could be submitted and got fourteen schools free.

That's 300% of the poverty line for the income of your parents... If I'm not mistaken, regardless of your age. You have to submit your parents info.

 

[Arbor Vitae]

I'm fapping all over my secondaries. There is no way I could apply without. I can probably only go to 5 interviews max if I get them even with the fee waiver.

 

[Doctor Strange]

That's 300% of the poverty line for the income of your parents... If I'm not mistaken, regardless of your age. You have to submit your parents info.

Really? Dependency status is not considered?

Sent from my X10i using SDN Mobile

 

[Arbor Vitae]

Really? Dependency status is not considered?

Sent from my X10i using SDN Mobile

Nope, but if your parents are divorced you only have to use one's income. They also can't verify if your parents are divorced so if they don't file taxes jointly you might be able to get by with just one's tax returns.

 

[phnerd1105]

I sent my primary to about 38 schools, and sent my secondary into 30. I think total with the primaries and secondaries I spent around $5500. Wait until you have to travel for interviews (which is a good thing). Interview expenses (travel, food, lodging, suit, etc) brought the total up to $9500. This doesn't include forgone income from the days of work I missed (~$800). In the end though, it really is worth it for an acceptance.

 

[syoung]

.

 

[Revolver1045]

Yeah in keck's secondary from last year they ask about what you'd change about the med school app process. I talked about its high costs

 

[arfc6]

The whole things is pretty rediculous. I hate how it kind of just assumes that your parents are contributing. The financial aid process is even worse. I'm in my mid/late twenties. I haven't gotten a dime from my parents in years yet their income is still taken into account when determining institutional financial aid eligibility. wtf.

 

[Arbor Vitae]

The whole things is pretty rediculous. I hate how it kind of just assumes that your parents are contributing. The financial aid process is even worse. I'm in my mid/late twenties. I haven't gotten a dime from my parents in years yet their income is still taken into account when determining institutional financial aid eligibility. wtf.

Same. They definitely prevent disadvantaged people from applying even with the FAP.

 

[NickNaylor]

My application fees alone cost about $2k to apply to 17 schools.

Don't worry, though, the AAMC and it's members are REALLY committed to socioeconomic equality... as long as you can pay the application fees (or are poor enough to have them paid for via FAP) so that they can read your application.

(sent from my phone - please forgive typos)

 

[redpanda]

I must say, I'm really startled by how much it costs to apply to medical school.

I just entered my first school into AMCAS and the fees were $160. I seriously thought it would be $25-50 + secondary fees and whatnot.

I was planning on applying to ~25 schools. At this rate, that will be TWO MONTHS of my salary. Right now I can't help but feel medical school is extremely biased to wealthy people. My parents aren't helping me pay, and I'm not sure I feel ok investing thousands of dollars into applying to a bunch of schools that will probably reject me. I've heard you can request for the fees to be waived, but that puts your application in much later. Ugh. Everything is driven by money, it's pathetic.

/sad rant

Yeah, unfortunately I'd recommend to others entering the application process to check out people's budgets from the application season on SDN and MDApps just to view the subtotals in application fees, travel, etc. Otherwise, you'd never believe how much it costs. I kept a spreadsheet, and in the end, I spent ~$3000 over the entire season and my travel costs were low (drove to all but two interviews, stayed with hosts).

 

[Sandstorm]

The whole things is pretty rediculous. I hate how it kind of just assumes that your parents are contributing. The financial aid process is even worse. I'm in my mid/late twenties. I haven't gotten a dime from my parents in years yet their income is still taken into account when determining institutional financial aid eligibility. wtf.

In terms of financial aid, if you're estranged from one or both of your parents (as I am) you can document this and not have their info considered. But estrangement is not the same as financial independence, unfortunately.

 

[Sandstorm]

In terms of financial aid, if you're estranged from one or both of your parents (as I am) you can document this and not have their info considered. But estrangement is not the same as financial independence, unfortunately.

I also spent 2.5-3k on apps...wish i had gotten off my butt earlier and applied for FAP

 

[235788]

yeah it hit my wallet pretty hard, too. not much fun, but it's worth it in the end if you get an acceptance!

Stinks for the 60% or so who don't make it.

Man, I've come so far.. but I'm honestly questioning at the moment if I can even afford to sink several grand into this. If I don't get in, I'll have pretty much devastated my entire savings

Do it.







The fee's are necessary. IF there were no fee's, we'd all apply to 40-50 schools and still complain about the ridiculous costs of traveling and how the poor people can't afford to travel.

And FAP is total bs. They should take out extra school loans like the rest of us. If you can afford to go to college -- you can afford to pay for apps. Fearing an extra 2-4k in loans is silly.

 

[1289]

Stinks for the 60% or so who don't make it.



Do it.







The fee's are necessary. IF there were no fee's, we'd all apply to 40-50 schools and still complain about the ridiculous costs of traveling and how the poor people can't afford to travel.

And FAP is total bs. They should take out extra school loans like the rest of us. If you can afford to go to college -- you can afford to pay for apps. Fearing an extra 2-4k in loans is silly.

Amen

 

[cowme]

just wait until you apply to residency and you can repeat it. You will easily be pushing 5000, and people applying to derm can reach 10K.

 

[Sandstorm]

Stinks for the 60% or so who don't make it.



Do it.







The fee's are necessary. IF there were no fee's, we'd all apply to 40-50 schools and still complain about the ridiculous costs of traveling and how the poor people can't afford to travel.

And FAP is total bs. They should take out extra school loans like the rest of us. If you can afford to go to college -- you can afford to pay for apps. Fearing an extra 2-4k in loans is silly.

Agreed (somewhat) but please consider the fact that not everyone has a co-signer for a loan, which if you're already on shaky financial standing, might be necessary to take out an independent loan. When you're accepted, loans are much easier to get than before you're accepted.


It definitely is a hurdle for a lot of people that shows dedication, but in the aspect of some people having to not worry about that hurdle, it favors wealthier applicants.

 

[Arbor Vitae]

Stinks for the 60% or so who don't make it.



Do it.







The fee's are necessary. IF there were no fee's, we'd all apply to 40-50 schools and still complain about the ridiculous costs of traveling and how the poor people can't afford to travel.

And FAP is total bs. They should take out extra school loans like the rest of us. If you can afford to go to college -- you can afford to pay for apps. Fearing an extra 2-4k in loans is silly.

Some people are maxed out on student loans and cannot take out more. Some people already use every penny of financial to pay for tuition and cost of living. How is FAP total BS? Just because you are in college doesn't mean you can afford med schools apps if you are already using all your eligible aid.

Maybe you can't relate?

talk about your 16th birthday when you were pissed you got a car 2 years old rather than new. The problems we face 🙁



I'm in the same boat, top 1% white male who lives suburbs. I wrote about my experience becoming "culturally competent," by exposing myself to diverse groups such as the Deaf and inner-city blacks through years of mentorship programs and volunteering.

 

[kpcrew]

Some people are maxed out on student loans and cannot take out more. Some people already use every penny of financial to pay for tuition and cost of living. How is FAP total BS? Just because you are in college doesn't mean you can afford med schools apps if you are already using all your eligible aid.

Maybe you can't relate?

jesus get off your high horse
there's nothing special about being poor

 

[Arbor Vitae]

jesus get off your high horse
there's nothing special about being poor

How am I on a high horse? I was just saying you can max your aid to where you can't take out more. I'm sorry if it irritates me that a self-proclaimed "1%" is saying that the FAP is BS and anyone in college can afford it app fees. They probably think the same about health insurance too.

You must still be butt hurt from "the rant" thread.

 

[Ironmandoc]

Do you have an iPhone or smart phone? I guarantee you can find health insurance for less than that plan a month. Do you have cable, go out to eat or drink, go on vacation? It's about priorities. Oh weren't you the racist poster about international students...yes that's right

 

[Sandstorm]

Do you have an iPhone or smart phone? I guarantee you can find health insurance for less than that plan a month. Do you have cable, go out to eat or drink, go on vacation? It's about priorities. Oh weren't you the racist poster about international students...yes that's right

Just like most blanket statements, it's naive to assume that everyone who is applying for FAP has these things or experiences.

 

[Arbor Vitae]

Do you have an iPhone or smart phone? I guarantee you can find health insurance for less than that plan a month. Do you have cable, go out to eat or drink, go on vacation? It's about priorities. Oh weren't you the racist poster about international students...yes that's right

No I don't have any of those things. I'm in the library right now, that's where I get my internet. My health insurance is a free clinic. My vacation is work. I've never owned a car in my life. And it's not called racist, it's called nationalist. I'm sorry our country hasn't provided you with enough as an immigrant. Get in line.

 

[TheMightySmiter]

The entitlement of the people who post here is sometimes overwhelming.

 

[Sandstorm]

the entitlement of the people who post here is sometimes overwhelming.

+1

 

[tenndoc]

You wanna get in? Gotta play the game man

 

[robertch8]

There's no free lunch when it comes to getting what you want. I agree with the poster who said though that there should be loans available for applicants; I think that's a great idea for those who need a reliable and trustworthy means to borrow money to apply.

 

[Mountaineer12]

Cost played a big part in my decision to apply early decision. I couldn't justify spending my entire savings on applying, at least not this cycle.

 

[ronathan]

just wait until you apply to residency and you can repeat it. You will easily be pushing 5000, and people applying to derm can reach 10K.

You won't even have to wait that long. Do you know how much it costs to take the USMLE? And despite the fact that all med schools require you to pass the Step I and II as a requirement for graduation, the cost of the exams is not included as part of your tuition. 😱

 

[CoolWhipp]

I'm fapping all over my secondaries. There is no way I could apply without. I can probably only go to 5 interviews max if I get them even with the fee waiver.

Come on guys, he deserves credit for this one.

 

[syoung]

Do they really mandate it?

 

[1289]

You wanna get in? Gotta play the game man

come on guys don't hate the player HATE THE GAME!

 

[235788]

There's no free lunch when it comes to getting what you want. I agree with the poster who said though that there should be loans available for applicants; I think that's a great idea for those who need a reliable and trustworthy means to borrow money to apply.

But wouldn't that be considered a bad loan [=high interest]? That's like taking out a loan to bet on red in roulette (its actually better odds to win in roulette than to get into a MD school).

I think its important to understand that this cost is coming and to plan accordingly. Maybe put away 3k from a few summer jobs for this. The cost is no surprise.

 

[mirimonster]

Do you have an iPhone or smart phone? I guarantee you can find health insurance for less than that plan a month. Do you have cable, go out to eat or drink, go on vacation? It's about priorities. Oh weren't you the racist poster about international students...yes that's right

This is just incorrect. Clearly you've never had to buy private health insurance, or you have zero pre-existing conditions and bought the cheapest crappiest plan that doesn't cover anything. I know people who have to pay upwards of $900 or $1000 per month for health insurance. That's not just cutting out a few luxuries, that's flat out unaffordable. I don't suggest making a blanket insensitive statement like that in an interview.

 

[Arbor Vitae]

This is just incorrect. Clearly you've never had to buy private health insurance, or you have zero pre-existing conditions and bought the cheapest crappiest plan that doesn't cover anything. I know people who have to pay upwards of $900 or $1000 per month for health insurance. That's not just cutting out a few luxuries, that's flat out unaffordable. I don't suggest making a blanket insensitive statement like that in an interview.

I'm pretty sure mommy and daddy pay for everything for him.

 

[235788]

I'm pretty sure mommy and daddy pay for everything for him.

sorry his/her parents worked a bit harder than yours.

I hope when you're a father, someone tries to rip at your kids because you worked a bit harder than your peers -- assuming you get in.

 

[Arbor Vitae]

sorry his/her parents worked a bit harder than yours.

I hope when you're a father, someone tries to rip at your kids because you worked a bit harder than your peers -- and made it (assuming you get in).

Riiiiight, because low-income families don't work hard. 🙄

 

[ronathan]

sorry his/her parents worked a bit harder than yours.

I hope when you're a father, someone tries to rip at your kids because you worked a bit harder than your peers -- assuming you get in.

I wouldn't assume that the first poster's parents "worked harder" than the second.

It's far more likely that first poster just didn't know what the hell he was talking about because he/she has never been out working in the real world and thus has no concept of how much health insurance really costs.

 

[Arbor Vitae]

I wouldn't assume that the first poster's parents "worked harder" than the second.

It's far more likely that first poster just didn't know what the hell he was talking about because he/she has never been out working in the real world and thus has no concept of how much health insurance really costs.

All the trust-fund babies here have no concept of reality.