Do adcoms care about getting though undergrad without debt?

[bears1992]

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My employer covered the last two years of my schooling but I paid for the first 3 years and postbac with no debt. I know this is petty but is this anything I should bring up in a secondary?

 

[pseud0]

I don't even know what you mean

they don't care at all. To get in, no one will ask or know anything about your financial situation.

All they care about once you get in is whether or not you can:

1). pay everything out of pocket
2). have a high enough credit score to qualify for student loans

 

[bears1992]

I don't even know what you mean

they don't care at all. To get in, no one will ask or know anything about your financial situation.

All they care about once you get in is whether or not you can:

1). pay everything out of pocket
2). have a high enough credit score to qualify for student loans

Exactly what I was looking for. Thanks!

 

[Goro]

Nope. We wouldn't even know unless you told us.

Keep in mind lots of pre-meds are doctor's kids, so college is paid for the little dears.

My employer covered the last two years of my schooling but I paid for the first 3 years and postbac with no debt. I know this is petty but is this anything I should bring up in a secondary?

 

[AlbinoHawk DO]

Lol I can't believe this question is even real.

 

[DokterMom]

If you worked to earn money and pay your own way, THAT carries some weight. The debt itself is meaningless.

 

[bears1992]

If you worked to earn money and pay your own way, THAT carries some weight. The debt itself is meaningless.

Yes. That was what I was getting at. I guess this is a pretty dumb question. I'm just surprised at some things that adcoms care about and some things they don't.

 

[CastleG8]

I'm sure you invested time with a job to avoid borrowing, but you won't get much credit for that on an interview. Students that had parents chase them with a financial safety net won't lose any cred either. I wasn't too familiar with this white collar world, but that's how it is.

 

[ortnakas]

Whatever jobs you had, and managing to do them well and do well in school at the same time, are impressive.

Nobody cares how your school was paid for.

Edited: grammar

 

[Mr. D.O.five]

I don't even know what you mean

they don't care at all. To get in, no one will ask or know anything about your financial situation.

All they care about once you get in is whether or not you can:

1). pay everything out of pocket
2). have a high enough credit score to qualify for student loans

It's not even about credit score, its whether you have any current delinquent payments or ever defaulted on loans. You can have a credit score of 300 and if all payments are current you are good to go.

 

[pseud0]

It's not even about credit score, its whether you have any current delinquent payments or ever defaulted on loans. You can have a credit score of 300 and if all payments are current you are good to go.

oh thats good to know, thanks. I was worried for a bit because I had a state loan that wasn't deferred along with my federal loans and I didn't realize it until it was delinquent by like 2 months lol. Ended up just paying the whole thing off but I'm sure it messed with my score.

 

[artist27]

I don't even know what you mean

they don't care at all. To get in, no one will ask or know anything about your financial situation.

All they care about once you get in is whether or not you can:

1). pay everything out of pocket
2). have a high enough credit score to qualify for student loans

Ok this is also a stupid/naive question. I have never had a credit card(have never cared for one) and haven't had to pay back undergrad loans yet. Do I need to start building credit now to qualify for med school loans? How do I get myself to the point that I would qualify for loans?

 

[Podstar]

Ok this is also a stupid/naive question. I have never had a credit card(have never cared for one) and haven't had to pay back undergrad loans yet. Do I need to start building credit now to qualify for med school loans? How do I get myself to the point that I would qualify for loans?

How have you been paying for things, strictly debit? Obtaining a credit card and building a good credit score are relatively simple, but it is a two way street, just as you have to use your card to build your credit score, you should make every payment in full on time.

 

[Mr. D.O.five]

Ok this is also a stupid/naive question. I have never had a credit card(have never cared for one) and haven't had to pay back undergrad loans yet. Do I need to start building credit now to qualify for med school loans? How do I get myself to the point that I would qualify for loans?

Read my post and search around smartly. Government loans don't care about the actual score, just whether you are delinquent, by how much, and if you ever filed for bankruptcy or went into full default.

 

[artist27]

How have you been paying for things, strictly debit? Obtaining a credit card and building a good credit score are relatively simple, but it is a two way street, just as you have to use your card to build your credit score, you should make every payment in full on time.

Yes I use debit. I havent really had the need to use credit yet. I will get a card of my own soon, but wanted to stay away from it as long as possible. The post just made me think that maybe I should get one sooner rather than later.

 

[artist27]

Read my post and search around smartly. Government loans don't care about the actual score, just whether you are delinquent, by how much, and if you ever filed for bankruptcy or went into full default.

Yeah I saw that you mentioned having a score of 300 is fine, but I don't even have a score at all lol. Thanks for the info though it does make more sense now.

 

[Mr. D.O.five]

Yeah I saw that you mentioned having a score of 300 is fine, but I don't even have a score at all lol. Thanks for the info though it does make more sense now.

I think having no score is even better. No penalties lol