DACA financial aid question

[iwantMDnow]

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Hello, guys. I was wondering if adcoms consider applicants' financial situation when determining admission. I know there are around 50 or more medical schools that are willing to consider DACA but a lot of them offer no financial aid, besides UCs and Loyola (maybe some others I have to search). The thing is I might end up with a citizenship through military reserve next year but after the med school starts (prob after August or Sept). My plan is to apply this cycle, go for an acceptance, and finish training by next August to attend.

1. Do adcoms auto reject if the applicant is DACA, low income and if the school has no FA for DACA but has stated that they consider DACA?
(In other words, do they check whether I can pay out of my own pocket before giving out admissons?)

2. If not, is it possible that I get accepted and receive FA by updating my status after school starts in August? (from DACA to citizenship)

I am a CA resident with LizzyM of 70, all the things in order for application this cycle.

I would appreciate some help. Thank you~


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[gyngyn]

All of us are wrestling with this dilemma.
Ability to pay is entirely left out of the equation for students eligible for federal loans (except Northstate). Most of us have little scholarship money for DACA students. Even if we proceed as if funds were not a problem, are we doing a disservice by interviewing and admitting someone whom we have no way to support?

 

[iwantMDnow]

I would love an interview and accept because citizenship is coming up and my status can change 🙁 I am just worried I might not even get an interview due to my low income/DACA.


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[Sanguis]

I would love an interview and accept because citizenship is coming up and my status can change 🙁 I am just worried I might not even get an interview due to my low income/DACA.


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You should aim at schools that accept DACA recipients. It's on the MSAR, and you can also confirm by emailing the institution.
Government assistance is out of the equation for DACA, and I believe, not 100%, that you have to rely on private loans if you yourself can't afford it.

Know this though, the first day you obtain any form of residency/citizenship that makes you a lawful alien in national databases, that's the first day you qualify as a recipient for federal loans. So it means that if you expect your status to change in a year, you can just borrow money for that time, and then settle your status as a resident of the state of the medical institution you attend, which in turn allows you to get the federal loans, and pay in-state tuition.

 

[Cyberdyne 101]

Hello, guys. I was wondering if adcoms consider applicants' financial situation when determining admission. I know there are around 50 or more medical schools that are willing to consider DACA but a lot of them offer no financial aid, besides UCs and Loyola (maybe some others I have to search). The thing is I might end up with a citizenship through military reserve next year but after the med school starts (prob after August or Sept). My plan is to apply this cycle, go for an acceptance, and finish training by next August to attend.

1. Do adcoms auto reject if the applicant is DACA, low income and if the school has no FA for DACA but has stated that they consider DACA?
(In other words, do they check whether I can pay out of my own pocket before giving out admissons?)

2. If not, is it possible that I get accepted and receive FA by updating my status after school starts in August? (from DACA to citizenship)

I am a CA resident with LizzyM of 70, all the things in order for application this cycle.

I would appreciate some help. Thank you~


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Can you wait another year before applying?

 

[iwantMDnow]

I think I took enough time off and I would love to move onto med school. I think its worth a try this cycle haha


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[Cyberdyne 101]

I think I took enough time off and I would love to move onto med school. I think its worth a try this cycle haha


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I realize you're in a difficult spot, but I think it's best to take the approach that will maximize your options.

 

[xffan624]

I think I took enough time off and I would love to move onto med school. I think its worth a try this cycle haha


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Will you still be in the military reserve in medical school? This would be something to consider. Ideally, you would want your obligation to be finished prior to starting school. Medical school will still be there when you get your citizenship. As someone who started medical school at the age of 30, it's not end of the world to start a little late and it will make your application and transition into school much less stressful.

You also put in the "might" qualifier in your statement. What if citizenship does not come through in the time frame you expect? As stated by other people in this thread, you should not rely on scholarships from the schools to fund your education. You may find yourself having to withdraw from school due to lack of funds which would be much worse than just delaying starting.

 

[gyngyn]

You will be in a much stronger position with a green card at time of application (even at schools that accept DACA). We have learned the hard way that green cards do not arrive when promised. We have also learned that a miserable DACA student doesn't meet their potential.

 

[iwantMDnow]

Starting after 6 years of military reserves is out of the question for me. I am ready to move on and already took some time off. I believe reserve will be manageable, because training is only two days a month (over weekends) and not even full day (8hrs I believe). What about the case in which I get accepted and delay my attending for a quarter/semester until my citizenship comes out? Because it is almost certainly coming out by end of next year through the MAVNI program.

And gyngyn, do you mean that DACA students have not been performing well in med school due to their status after acceptance? I have been keeping up with LizzyM ~70, research, volunteer, etc. If so, would there be adcoms' negative perception of me because I am DACA despite my academic records? I am little worried that you say miserable DACA students don't meet their potential (which might indicate UC adcoms think DACA student with tough situation is incompetent)


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[gyngyn]

And gyngyn, do you mean that DACA students have not been performing well in med school due to their status after acceptance? I have been keeping up with LizzyM ~70, research, volunteer, etc. If so, would there be adcoms' negative perception of me because I am DACA despite my academic records? I am little worried that you say miserable DACA students don't meet their potential (which might indicate UC adcoms think DACA student with tough situation is incompetent)


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Living in financial limbo, never knowing if they will have to take a leave due to lack of funding, takes a toll on even the best student. If you have lived through this type of suffering, you too, will give pause before going through it again.

 

[iwantMDnow]

Living in financial limbo, never knowing if they will have to take a leave due to lack of funding, takes a toll on even the best student. If you have lived through this type of suffering, you too will give pause before going through it again.

I understand... I went through the thing during college and it was really tough so I feel them haha. Thank you for the input! I will try to schedule it so that I get citizenship first (defer admission, delay a year, etc)


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[Sanguis]

...MAVNI program.

but, aren't you granted citizenship after finishing the 10 week training?

 

[xffan624]

Starting after 6 years of military reserves is out of the question for me. I am ready to move on and already took some time off. I believe reserve will be manageable, because training is only two days a month (over weekends) and not even full day (8hrs I believe). What about the case in which I get accepted and delay my attending for a quarter/semester until my citizenship comes out? Because it is almost certainly coming out by end of next year through the MAVNI program.

And gyngyn, do you mean that DACA students have not been performing well in med school due to their status after acceptance? I have been keeping up with LizzyM ~70, research, volunteer, etc. If so, would there be adcoms' negative perception of me because I am DACA despite my academic records? I am little worried that you say miserable DACA students don't meet their potential (which might indicate UC adcoms think DACA student with tough situation is incompetent)


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So you will be completing the majority of your reserve obligation during medical school and then potentially residency? This is a separate issue in itself and something to do some more research about. MS1 and MS2 should allow you to manage it, but MS3 will be a challenge and then residency is completely different can of worms that I am not sure about (many residents don't have two days off in a week, at least the first year). This is, of course, assuming that you don't get called up to active duty for the entire 6 years of your service.

If you're looking for another route to citizenship that will also fund your medical education, think about active duty. 3 years gets you 100% GI Bill. Or I admit I have no idea about the feasibility of this, but using HPSP to complete your obligation and fund school.

 

[iwantMDnow]

but, aren't you granted citizenship after finishing the 10 week training?

Shoot... Actually that might be the case.....


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[iwantMDnow]

So you will be completing the majority of your reserve obligation during medical school and then potentially residency? This is a separate issue in itself and something to do some more research about. MS1 and MS2 should allow you to manage it, but MS3 will be a challenge and then residency is completely different can of worms that I am not sure about (many residents don't have two days off in a week, at least the first year). This is, of course, assuming that you don't get called up to active duty for the entire 6 years of your service.

If you're looking for another route to citizenship that will also fund your medical education, think about active duty. 3 years gets you 100% GI Bill. Or I admit I have no idea about the feasibility of this, but using HPSP to complete your obligation and fund school.

Thanks! I will definitely consider it!


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[iwantMDnow]

but, aren't you granted citizenship after finishing the 10 week training?

This will fit perfectly (citizenship before August)


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[Sanguis]

This will fit perfectly (citizenship before August)

Wherever you end up, I hope you win favor in your life

 

[ojy77511]

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[iwantMDnow]

.

?


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