General Financial assistance options for non-trad, older, med students

[Question]

Hi SDN experts,

I was hoping to get some feedback on whether I have any options to help pay for med school. I've been admitted to a couple DO schools for Fall 2025, and may have a shot at some MD's, but I still don't know where I'll be because of how early it is in the cycle. All I know is that I will be a med student, and I would like to at least see what financial assistance options may exist.

I have done a fair amount of digging when it comes to loan repayment programs, but I am wondering what options may be out there for current/incoming students, aside from military service. I've heard about the news for JHU, NYU, etc., and although my stats were never competitive enough for these programs, I was wondering if there's any other options out there.

Are medical school scholarships a realistic goal? If so, are they reserved for the most academically competitive matriculating students? Are there any scholarships later in medical school for high performing students?

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[Dral]

The best advice I have to give is to just talk to the different financial aid offices. My financial aid office was great and I was confident they would help me secure whatever funding I needed. They also spent a lot of time going over things on an individual basis on the best strategies for paying things back after graduation.

I did get a scholarship that in essence brought my OOS tuition to IS level. I didn't apply for it. It was just given to me. For reference, I went to a top 30 school, GPA 3.9, around a 219 or so MCAT.

A lot of the considerations we just can't help you with without specifics (even then it would be difficult) such as cost of attendance, financial aid packages/support, local col, etc. Wish I could be of more help. Maybe someone else will have more specific advice/resources.

One thing I did think of: Do you have any interest in primary care? If so, there are definitely schools that offer reduced or maybe even free tuition to students who commit to going into a primary care field. There may be deals where you agree to work for the health system for at least a period after graduation as well.

There are things like this:

MD Accelerated Pathways

Penn State College of Medicine's three-year MD Accelerated Pathways provide students the opportunity to complete medical school in three years with a ...

med.psu.edu

Primary Care Accelerated Track (PCAT) | Office of Medical Education, School of Medicine | University of Pittsburgh

Welcome to the PCAT homepage! PCAT is a joint program between the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine (UPSOM) and UPMC Medical Education (residency programs). The program will begin with seven students matriculating in the fall of 2023, allowing accepted students to finish medical school...

www.omed.pitt.edu

Not only do you pay one less year of tuition, it basically gives you an extra year of attending money over the course of your career when you think about it.

 

[GoSpursGo]

Honestly would focus on getting in first and then see what is possible at the schools you get into

 

[LizzyM]

As you get offers, contact that school's financial aid office and ask what aid may be available. In all likelihood, you'll need to file a FAFSA based on 2024 tax return so it may be spring 2025 before anyone can give you info about need based aid.

Outside of the military, there has been loan repayment/forgiveness for physicians working in the public sector (even as faculty of publicly sponsored med schools) for 10 straight years and faithfully making loan payments during that time. That said, who knows what will be available ~17 years from now when you hit that milestone.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

We do have a forum focused on Financial Aid, though it is not busy. Run through the posts there.

Financial Aid

Discuss financial topics, including private or military scholarships, student loans, and educational costs.

forums.studentdoctor.net

 

[esob]

If your concern is about loan repayment, there are tons of options after you become an attending. Many government employers (for example, the VA) offer big loan repayment incentives as part of their employment packages.