application fees

[kypreos]

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who here is dreading application fees? I mean i am taking 18 credits(4 classes 2 1 credit seminars) and im taking physics II AND chem IV so there is absolutely no way I can hold a job right now, I AM graduating BUT how the hell am i gonna come up with like over 1000 dollars to apply to these schools. It's scaring the crap out of me. I will be employed over the summer but I want to apply asap.

Is there any way that I could apply for aid to apply to certain schools? I have gotten aid every year while in school and my families efc is $700 so i have gotten every grant possible bc my dad is deceased and my mom doesnt make that good of a living. is thier any possible way for me to have them pay for it somehow bc I just cant afford it and theres no possible way i can from here until june 1st.

any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Chocolate Bear]

Check the CIB for some info on fee waivers, but here is what they say:

AACOMAS Fee Waivers

AACOM encourages financially disadvantaged applicants to become DOs. A limited number of fee waivers are available to those who apply early and qualify. Fee waiver requests must be received and processed prior to submitting an AACOMAS application.

Applicants must take the following steps to apply:

1. Send a letter to AACOMAS indicating your intent to apply for the waiver and include specific reasons that support your application.

2. Include a copy of your FAFSA for the current school year (signed and dated).

3. If your FAFSA is not available for the current year, you may instead include a copy of your most recent tax return (and the tax returns of anyone who can claim you as a dependent).

But yeah, it's definitely a burden we all face. Credit cards can be used if needed. You can budget during your first year to pay the application debt off with careful planning.

 

[kypreos]

thank you so much, Cbear. I will try it out and send it to them ASAP. and yeah credit cards are a last resort....ugh....

 

[Chocolate Bear]

You might want to call them first, and make sure they're accepting applications for fee waivers for NEXT cycle, right now. They might mistakenly waive you for 2008-2009, otherwise.

 

[ilovefishing]

They aren't accepting fee waiver applications for the next cycle yet. Keep checking back with the aacomas website for updates.

 

[Bacchus]

Honestly, I would not worry about these fees. The fees in the long run are going to be much, much more. For example, I got financial aid materials from PCOM yesterday which among many things, mentioned the average debt for the class that graduate in 2008-- $185,964.

This may be the time to get a credit card. I had very little credit history but was able to secure a $3000 credit card from Citi. Put the fees on that and work a summer job to pay it off.

 

[Chocolate Bear]

Yeah, while the app fees will be high, remember that interview costs are waaaaaaay more. Each school will cost you around $100 +/- to apply to (primary + secondary), but each interview that's not within driving distance will be more like $300-$600, depending on your itinerary, coordination of interview dates, and many other factors.

$3000 is even a somewhat low estimation for most people, and the primary application will only be a fraction of this ($505 for 13 schools).

 

[PunkmedGirl]

I feel the OP's pain, I have so much money that I have to pay out that I'm feeling a little sad that I might have to wait until the following cycle to apply. I could just blowup a certain college located in Tuscaloosa, ALFRICKINBAMA!!!😡

 

[kypreos]

thanks for the input everyone, its just daunting. I want to apply ar broadly as possible. Im gonna check aacomas to see if thier accepting apps. So on top of the aacomas app you have to pay a primary and a secondary app fee? i thought that the aacomas fee was the primary fee? dangit. ok well heres to hoping they approve my app and if not here comes capitol one

 

[skiracr456]

The credit card thing is a good idea, but the problem is the high interest rate. See if you can qualify for a credit card that is offering 0% APR for the first year. Then hopefully with the AACOMAS fee waiver you will be all set. Some schools also waive the secondary app fee if you qualify for the fee waiver, you should check on that too!

Also, remember that some schools offer the chance to stay with a current student during interviews, that will save on hotel costs (I know NSUCOM does). If those schools don't offer a lot of hotels in the area of the schools have deals so if you tell them you are interviewing at the school they will give you a discount on the hotel room.

There are definitely ways to save money. Good luck on your apps!

Oh and one more thing. I have also found this really cool web site called www.sidestep.com that gives prices from a bunch of airlines if you end up needing to fly to any interviews. I have found that my best prices were NOT from places like expedia.com, or orbitz.com. I start my search there and then go to individual airlines websites and have gotten some really good deals!

 

[wongb18c]

I worked summer jobs and saved up to pay my app fees. With primaries and secondaries summed up, I paid about 1400 in app fees, but then again I applied to A LOT of schools (MD and DO). But you should really think of it this way, the app fees along with the MCAT fees and interview expenses are minuscule compared to the debt you will incur in tuition and living expenses when and if you get into school, so why would you be scared by it? Check out the fee AACOMAS fee wavier and see if you qualify.

Also Touro NY charges a $200 secondary app fee, one of the highest and most ridiculous secondary app fee I've seen. Unless you really want to go there, you can save some money (I think ~40 dollars) on your primary and don't apply there.

 

[MikeTheGipper]

who here is dreading application fees? I mean i am taking 18 credits(4 classes 2 1 credit seminars) and im taking physics II AND chem IV so there is absolutely no way I can hold a job right now, I AM graduating BUT how the hell am i gonna come up with like over 1000 dollars to apply to these schools. It's scaring the crap out of me. I will be employed over the summer but I want to apply asap.

Is there any way that I could apply for aid to apply to certain schools? I have gotten aid every year while in school and my families efc is $700 so i have gotten every grant possible bc my dad is deceased and my mom doesnt make that good of a living. is thier any possible way for me to have them pay for it somehow bc I just cant afford it and theres no possible way i can from here until june 1st.

any help would be greatly appreciated.

Definitely keep looking at the aacom site and apply for a fee waiver when you can. Once you have the fee waiver most schools will wave the secondary fee as long as you can provide documentation of having the fee waiver from aacomas.

Personally, I was not granted a fee waiver so I had to foot the bill for the aacomas primary application fee. However, I then contacted schools directly and asked they would waive the secondary application fee for me. Some said "Yeah, sure no problem" and the waived it right away. Other's wanted me to send them a letter explaining my situation and then they would waive it for me. And yet others wanted copies of my tax returns from the previous year and then they would waive it. In your case the schools may wish to see copies of your financial aid papers. But honestly being persistent and honest and flat out asking the schools for to waive the secondary fee can go along way. I saved $600-$700 dollars this application cycle, and had I not I would have had to have paid that amount to one of my credit cards. Good luck.

 

[Chocolate Bear]

So on top of the aacomas app you have to pay a primary and a secondary app fee? i thought that the aacomas fee was the primary fee?

You're right. AACOMAS = Primary. Application from the particular school that they make you fill out after they get your Primary application = Secondary.

Sorry for the confusion.

 

[engineeredout]

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Also Touro NY charges a $200 secondary app fee, one of the highest and most ridiculous secondary app fee I've seen. Unless you really want to go there, you can save some money (I think ~40 dollars) on your primary and don't apply there.

I just posted this point in another thread. The thing you have to consider is that when you're asked to pay the secondary fee, you've been offered an interview. Its not like other places where you're paying 100$ per with no promise of an interview.