Deferral with scholarship

[LongDocDong]

I'm in a fortunate, but kind of complicated situation with the cycle coming to a close. I have multiple T20 accepts and a couple of merit scholarship offers, the best reducing my COA to about $15,000 per year+COL. I'm waiting on financial aid from WashU, Northwestern, Columbia, Pritzker, and Brown and am waitlisted at Mayo, and NYU. I also will be hearing back from a prestigious international fellowship sometime in April or May, which I have an ~50% chance of getting and would result in me requesting a 1-2 year deferral. My priority is to do the fellowship AND get the cheapest school possible, but if money were no issue, Columbia would be my top choice. I likely will not qualify for much need-based aid. My questions are as follows:

1. Will I lose my merit scholarship if I defer for the fellowship?

2. Should I contact schools now about scholarship matching, or wait until early/mid-April? I don't want all the scholarships to dry up at somewhere like WashU or Columbia that I would take over my current acceptances (provided they match the money), but also don't want to limit it if they would potentially give me a larger scholarship (like I said, lowest cost possible is a priority). The high chance of deferral only complicates things.

3. Should I notify the schools that have accepted me now about the potential deferral? Will this affect my chances of a scholarship if I'm still waiting to hear back?

Any advice or anecdotes of similar experiences would be much appreciated

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[907914]

I'm in a fortunate, but kind of complicated situation with the cycle coming to a close. I have multiple T20 accepts and a couple of merit scholarship offers, the best reducing my COA to about $15,000 per year+COL. I'm waiting on financial aid from WashU, Northwestern, Columbia, Pritzker, and Brown and am waitlisted at Mayo, and NYU. I also will be hearing back from a prestigious international fellowship sometime in April or May, which I have an ~50% chance of getting and would result in me requesting a 1-2 year deferral. My priority is to do the fellowship AND get the cheapest school possible, but if money were no issue, Columbia would be my top choice. I likely will not qualify for much need-based aid. My questions are as follows:

1. Will I lose my merit scholarship if I defer for the fellowship?

2. Should I contact schools now about scholarship matching, or wait until early/mid-April? I don't want all the scholarships to dry up at somewhere like WashU or Columbia that I would take over my current acceptances (provided they match the money), but also don't want to limit it if they would potentially give me a larger scholarship (like I said, lowest cost possible is a priority). The high chance of deferral only complicates things.

3. Should I notify the schools that have accepted me now about the potential deferral? Will this affect my chances of a scholarship if I'm still waiting to hear back?

Any advice or anecdotes of similar experiences would be much appreciated

Why risk it? Seriously though, what benefit do you get from completing a random fellowship before medical school, regardless of the ‘prestigious’ nature of it? This fellowship will have no benefit for you come residency application.

 

[lalalallala]

If you really want to do the fellowship then you should ask the schools if the merit scholarship will stand if you defer. I would wait until you get the scholarship. Keep in mind that your need based aid might change depending on your financial situation during this fellowship

 

[LongDocDong]

Why risk it? Seriously though, what benefit do you get from completing a random fellowship before medical school, regardless of the ‘prestigious’ nature of it? This fellowship will have no benefit for you come residency application.

I couldn't care less about the prestige. I mentioned it more as evidence that I don't think I will have much issue getting the deferral approved by whichever school I decide on. I want to do it for personal reasons as it's an incredible opportunity to travel and do something I love. You're right though in that it's not worth more to me than my scholarship, I'm just really hoping to have my cake and eat it too.

 

[LongDocDong]

@Goro @LizzyM @gonnif @Catalystik any advice or experience with a similar situation among applicants to your schools?

 

[DrFortiusNatando]

@Goro @LizzyM @gonnif @Catalystik any advice or experience with a similar situation among applicants to your schools?

It depends whether the money that is being offered to you is merit money or financial aid. If it is financial aid, you may qualify for the same amount of aid in 2 years, and, in fact, some tippy top schools may reduce their unit loans in the next 2 years, so you might PAY less in 2 years. Schools are going to have to compete with NYU (tuition-free), Columbia (0 unit loan), Yale (15K unit loan plus some additional for very disadvantaged), Harvard, etc. It is also possible that your parents' financial situation may change for the better or worse which might affect your EFC.

If the money being offered now is merit money, you may not necessarily qualify for it in 2 years. Your fellowship may position you to even get more merit money in 2 years, after your deferral, but there is no guarantee. Some schools might eliminate their merit money (one T20 school tried to have some merit money a while back, but then eliminated it after a year or two and went back to only financial aid).

And, as for WL spots, if you want to go to NYU or MAYO and get in off a WL, you should not then ask to defer.

If you intend to do this fellowship, I think the "right" thing to do is to speak to the schools to which you are actually admitted, tell them about your plans for deferral and sort out the financials, selecting one of the schools to which you are accepted as your school. And keep in mind, they may not be able to give you specifics about what the financial situation will be in 2 years, or they may assure you that they will guarantee merit money when you come back. But you have to speak to ADCOMS. And you should withdraw from WL consideration at Mayo and NYU if you are definitely going to accept the fellowship.

 

[LongDocDong]

Thank you for the detailed response!

It depends whether the money that is being offered to you is merit money or financial aid. If it is financial aid, you may qualify for the same amount of aid in 2 years, and, in fact, some tippy top schools may reduce their unit loans in the next 2 years, so you might PAY less in 2 years. Schools are going to have to compete with NYU (tuition-free), Columbia (0 unit loan), Yale (15K unit loan plus some additional for very disadvantaged), Harvard, etc. It is also possible that your parents' financial situation may change for the better or worse which might affect your EFC.

My current top offer is mostly merit based. Columbia may end up being pretty close though with their debt free system, and that would be need-based, just haven't heard back yet from financial aid.

And, as for WL spots, if you want to go to NYU or MAYO and get in off a WL, you should not then ask to defer.

Why do you say this? If I get pulled off the waitlist in May could I not just request the deferral immediately and if they don't approve, keep my current acceptance and decline the acceptance?

If you intend to do this fellowship, I think the "right" thing to do is to speak to the schools to which you are actually admitted, tell them about your plans for deferral and sort out the financials, selecting one of the schools to which you are accepted as your school. And keep in mind, they may not be able to give you specifics about what the financial situation will be in 2 years, or they may assure you that they will guarantee merit money when you come back. But you have to speak to ADCOMS.

Do you recommend I wait until after I know for sure I'm getting the fellowship to contact them, or should I bring it up now that it's a strong possibility?

 

[DrFortiusNatando]

Thank you for the detailed response!

My current top offer is mostly merit based. Columbia may end up being pretty close though with their debt free system, and that would be need-based, just haven't heard back yet from financial aid.


Why do you say this? If I get pulled off the waitlist in May could I not just request the deferral immediately and if they don't approve, keep my current acceptance and decline the acceptance?


Do you recommend I wait until after I know for sure I'm getting the fellowship to contact them, or should I bring it up now that it's a strong possibility?

You can do the legwork now at any school to which you are accepted to see what information they will be able to give you in the scenario if you are offered the 2 year fellowship. Columbia is likely a great choice for you if you have full demonstrated need as they will likely still be at $0 unit loan.

I think it is ethically questionable to accept a WL spot and then turn around and ask for a deferral. As a WL applicant, they are only offering you a spot for this year's class if there is an opening this year. While a school MIGHT allow a deferral, it is ethically wrong. Not a good way to start out in an honorable profession. At this point, given that you have not been offered the fellowship yet, it would be fine to stay on the WL at either or both of these schools IF you would consider going to them over any of the other schools. But once you are offered and accept the fellowship, however, you should withdraw from WL consideration at your 2 WL schools.

 

[LizzyM]

Welcome to @DrFortiusNatando She's reading my mind and her answers are spot on.

 

[LongDocDong]

You can do the legwork now at any school to which you are accepted to see what information they will be able to give you in the scenario if you are offered the 2 year fellowship. Columbia is likely a great choice for you if you have full demonstrated need as they will likely still be at $0 unit loan.

I think it is ethically questionable to accept a WL spot and then turn around and ask for a deferral. As a WL applicant, they are only offering you a spot for this year's class if there is an opening this year. While a school MIGHT allow a deferral, it is ethically wrong. Not a good way to start out in an honorable profession. At this point, given that you have not been offered the fellowship yet, it would be fine to stay on the WL at either or both of these schools IF you would consider going to them over any of the other schools. But once you are offered and accept the fellowship, however, you should withdraw from WL consideration at your 2 WL schools.

Welcome to @DrFortiusNatando She's reading my mind and her answers are spot on.

Okay thank you. I forget often times that schools are under a lot of stress in May/June filling their classes, and I agree, now that you say it, that it would be ethically suspect to stay on the WL with a plan to defer.

One more question. I had a very late interview at what is now my top choice (if they match scholarship at least). Unfortunately due to the late interview, they recently informed us that we would likely not be hearing back until the first or 2nd week of May. So I won't even find out about WL/A/R until May. Do I need to withdraw from this school as well if I get the fellowship?

 

[DrFortiusNatando]

Okay thank you. I forget often times that schools are under a lot of stress in May/June filling their classes, and I agree, now that you say it, that it would be ethically suspect to stay on the WL with a plan to defer.

One more question. I had a very late interview at what is now my top choice (if they match scholarship at least). Unfortunately due to the late interview, they recently informed us that we would likely not be hearing back until the first or 2nd week of May. So I won't even find out about WL/A/R until May. Do I need to withdraw from this school as well if I get the fellowship?

If you get accepted at this new favorite school, you can then request a deferral for the fellowship, though it will be late in the year. But they will be accepting more students than will actually matriculate, and for a prestigious fellowship, they may be amenable. But remember, you are requesting a deferral and this does not mean it will be granted in every case. If they give you a WL and you have decided to do the fellowship, you must immediately withdraw from the WL.

Remember to click "Plan to Enroll" on May 1, (for one school), if you are still waiting to hear from new Dream School #1 or if you decide that you are interested in remaining on Mayo and NYU WL (if you decline or are not offered the fellowship).

 

[Goro]

@Goro @LizzyM @gonnif @Catalystik any advice or experience with a similar situation among applicants to your schools?

Way outside my experience.

 

[Premedneedsadvice]

I'm in a fortunate, but kind of complicated situation with the cycle coming to a close. I have multiple T20 accepts and a couple of merit scholarship offers, the best reducing my COA to about $15,000 per year+COL. I'm waiting on financial aid from WashU, Northwestern, Columbia, Pritzker, and Brown and am waitlisted at Mayo, and NYU. I also will be hearing back from a prestigious international fellowship sometime in April or May, which I have an ~50% chance of getting and would result in me requesting a 1-2 year deferral. My priority is to do the fellowship AND get the cheapest school possible, but if money were no issue, Columbia would be my top choice. I likely will not qualify for much need-based aid. My questions are as follows:

1. Will I lose my merit scholarship if I defer for the fellowship?

2. Should I contact schools now about scholarship matching, or wait until early/mid-April? I don't want all the scholarships to dry up at somewhere like WashU or Columbia that I would take over my current acceptances (provided they match the money), but also don't want to limit it if they would potentially give me a larger scholarship (like I said, lowest cost possible is a priority). The high chance of deferral only complicates things.

3. Should I notify the schools that have accepted me now about the potential deferral? Will this affect my chances of a scholarship if I'm still waiting to hear back?

Any advice or anecdotes of similar experiences would be much appreciated

Can I ask which T20 schools give merit aid? I know northwestern and penn do but I have been really trying to find other schools. No need to answer based on your specific position, but was wondering in general

 

[LongDocDong]

Can I ask which T20 schools give merit aid? I know northwestern and penn do but I have been really trying to find other schools. No need to answer based on your specific position, but was wondering in general

Most do. Stanford is one which I believe is need based only, but to name a few that do: Northwestern, Pritzker, UCLA, Columbia (historically, although with the new debt free system maybe not), NYU (everyone), Mayo, Wash U, Baylor (although I don't think they're technically T20 anymore but semantics). They all vary in how much money they have for merit aid but Wash U, Mayo, and UCLA are three which are particularly known for lots of scholarship money. You can usually find available types of aid on the schools website and if it's unclear, you can always shoot them an email.