Financially cannot afford a D.O.? M.D. programs capable of giving more $$$?

[Gauss44]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Do D.O. programs hand out less financial assistance (free money like scholarships, grants, etc.) to their top students and their most disadvantaged (non-URM) students than M.D. programs?

I'm interested in D.O. programs and this is one of two things holding me back. (The other is that I like Boston and there's not too many D.O.'s around here.)

I am particularly interested in D.O. programs in NYC, NJ (esp. the one in central NJ that focuses on diversity in it's missions statement), and Philly.

I will contact admissions and financial aid, but wanted to ask SDN too.

 

[TheWeeIceMan]

Chances are, you will be paying for everything with federal loans whether you go DO or MD.

 

[circulus vitios]

I'm not a medical student, but I think the chances of getting any free money is ~0 unless you have amazing stats, are the first class at a new school, or get one of the rare URM scholarships or whatever. Take out loans like everyone else.

 

[scarecrow90]

^ Agreed.


Most of us will incur debt. You will just have to decide if the debt is worth becoming a physician. Is it what you really want to do? Are you okay with taking on that amount of money to go to school? Do what you love! All other things will fall in to place one way or the other.

 

[darklabel]

I'm not a medical student, but I think the chances of getting any free money is ~0 unless you have amazing stats, are the first class at a new school, or get one of the rare URM scholarships or whatever. Take out loans like everyone else.

Thats really the only way and chances are, if you had those kind of stats, you wouldn't be looking towards DO schools (I'm talking close to a 4.0, high 30s MCAT and great ECs to boot).

Just like the rest of us, its all loans baby!

 

[Gauss44]

Thats really the only way and chances are, if you had those kind of stats, you wouldn't be looking towards DO schools (I'm talking close to a 4.0, high 30s MCAT and great ECs to boot).

Just like the rest of us, its all loans baby!

I suspect that I might prefer D.O. culture over M.D. culture. Nicer people in admissions, less egotistical... But I will not know for sure until I tour campuses and interact with some students.

 

[TheWeeIceMan]

I suspect that I might prefer D.O. culture over M.D. culture. Nicer people in admissions, less egotistical... But I will not know for sure until I tour campuses and interact with some students.

I'd suspect that this is more school dependent than a function of DO or MD.

 

[DontBanMeBro]

I suspect that I might prefer D.O. culture over M.D. culture. Nicer people in admissions, less egotistical... But I will not know for sure until I tour campuses and interact with some students.

you can't really paint with such a broad brush.. for example how do you know that D.O. students would not be hypersensitive and always upset because they ended up at a D.O. school whereas M.D. students might be more at ease. im not saying that is the case but either scenario is possible.. go to whichever school you like, don't rule out options before you have them

 

[IslandStyle808]

Do D.O. programs hand out less financial assistance (free money like scholarships, grants, etc.) to their top students and their most disadvantaged (non-URM) students than M.D. programs?

I'm interested in D.O. programs and this is one of two things holding me back. (The other is that I like Boston and there's not too many D.O.'s around here.)

I am particularly interested in D.O. programs in NYC, NJ (esp. the one in central NJ that focuses on diversity in it's missions statement), and Philly.

I will contact admissions and financial aid, but wanted to ask SDN too.

I am not sure if you are talking about before medical school or also during?

If your questions includes during, why don't you try look into OMM fellowships for each school. I think you do a year of research in OMM (after 2nd year) and you will get "half to all" of your tuition covered (plus stipend) during the fellowship year, 3rd year, and then 4th year (5 year graduation). Tuition and stipend varies for each school.

Here is one thread from a while back

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=326291


Hope this helps.

 

[notbobtrustme]

I am not sure if you are talking about before medical school or also during?

If your questions includes during, why don't you try look into OMM fellowships for each school. I think you do a year of research in OMM (after 2nd year) and you will get "half to all" of your tuition covered (plus stipend) during the fellowship year, 3rd year, and then 4th year (5 year graduation). Tuition and stipend varies for each school.

Here is one thread from a while back

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=326291


Hope this helps.

That's the biggest sucker deal I've ever seen.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

That's the biggest sucker deal I've ever seen.

Nah, that's MD/PhD

 

[circulus vitios]

That's the biggest sucker deal I've ever seen.

1 year of pointless research to save maybe $150k in tuition/fees/interest, but then you lose $200k+ in lifetime earnings.

 

[DrEnderW]

I don't understand how you can financially not afford something when you can take out more than ample student loans. You mean to say you are debt averse.

If you're in a position to be receiving a serious academic scholarship (something actually legitimate in the 4 yrs med school, 3+ years residency, multiple years payback scheme), you aren't looking at DO schools anyways. You'll be able to pay back your loans if you live responsibly and eventually practice medicine regardless.

Many of the DO schools are priced equally (or less) than private MD schools. Conversely, many have a higher tuition. You can't lump them all in. I know the school I am at costs less than the MD schools I interviewed at. If you want to be a physician more than anything - take the loans. If you don't want to take the loans and are scared of the debt, don't become a physician.

 

[kelminak]

I wanted to hijack this thread since my question seems somewhat relevant: Can federal loans cover all of your tuition plus living expenses? I know that most people say you can't maintain a job and go to medical school, but if that's the case the only way I'd imagine you could survive is through loans to keep you afloat. Thanks 🙂

 

[circulus vitios]

I wanted to hijack this thread since my question seems somewhat relevant: Can federal loans cover all of your tuition plus living expenses? I know that most people say you can't maintain a job and go to medical school, but if that's the case the only way I'd imagine you could survive is through loans to keep you afloat. Thanks 🙂

Medical schools have a set "cost of attendance" that includes like $20k a year in living expenses on top of tuition. Stafford and Grad PLUS loans will cover up to the published cost of attendance.

 

[gmcguitar4]

I wanted to hijack this thread since my question seems somewhat relevant: Can federal loans cover all of your tuition plus living expenses? I know that most people say you can't maintain a job and go to medical school, but if that's the case the only way I'd imagine you could survive is through loans to keep you afloat. Thanks 🙂

The loans are plenty also. When they calculate COA for a school they take into consideration potentially moving across the country and possibly having a family also. And no, med school will be your only job.

 

[Lys Ile Glu Leu]

Federal regulations require schools to calculate cost of attendance for single students only (i.e., there are almost no family expenses that schools can allow financial aid to cover; one exception is a daycare allowance) and CoA only factors in costs for while you're in school, so students are financially responsible for moving expenses.

 

[notbobtrustme]

Nah, that's MD/PhD

MD/PhD isn't as bad of a deal as this fellowship considering it can open some doors that are otherwise difficult to enter. Money-wise, yea, it's a terrible day, but if your goal is to be a great biomedical researcher, then MD/PhD will work to your favor. This sucker deal gives you nothing in return other than to suck a year off your life. The only conceivable benefit I can see is that you get a leg-up in the AOA match and that's only because I don't know how the AOA match works.

 

[Sergeant Doctor]

GO for what feels right. My office processes Army Scholarships for MD and DO. We follow up with our students and have noted that the students who were accepted to DO on a fascination or differentation whim, where more likely to have more personaltiy conflict with others; and vice the verse for DO students who go MD.

The reality is that both serve patients equally well as seen by an insurer and the Surgeon General.

As for merit based full ride medical school scholarships..unless you have a 4.0 and 45 MCAT, chances are slim. I have met three, two at a DO school, and one at an MD school.
It is not impossible, yet is highly academci and political in obtaining.

Some schools hold scholarships for the children of staff, rare, but present

The Army, Navy, Air Force, BIA, NHS, and Coast guard offer service based scholarships with monthly stipend and up to 20k bonus cash.

All in all go with what feels right, it is a life-long decision... like what you will do.