Financing a research year between 3rd and 4th year

[The_Sunny_Doc]

---

Members don't see this ad.

I decided late third year that I wanted to do a research fellowship with a mentor in my field of interest. The PI is a prolific author and willing mentor who is constantly pushing out publications. The main reason I'm tempted is because they do exactly the type of unique research I hope to do, so it'd be an incredible opportunity.

The issue is that there's no stipend associated with the position. I go to a medical school that doesn't have any sort of research fellowship stipend set up. Have any of you completed an unpaid research fellowship? Can you work it out with the financial aid department to take out student loans to cover living expenses? Are there any funding opportunities at this point to pursue?

 

[Anti-PD1]

I did the exact same thing. Yes, it helped me match, and it was worth it, but it is an undertaking.

I used Grad PLUS loans + a small research fellowship I won to fund the year.

The ish we are willing to do bruh smh.

 

[Rhodes]

Same story here as above. Took loans to fund a year off, with leftover from previous year/stipends.

 

[DubbiDoctor]

Same story here as above. Took loans to fund a year off, with leftover from previous year/stipends.

So basically you work as a research assistant - typically a paid job - for free for a year to increase your competitiveness?

 

[Rhodes]

So basically you work as a research assistant - typically a paid job - for free for a year to increase your competitiveness?

That's correct.

 

[Throwawaysurg123]

Anyone go to another city/institution for research year without any funding?

 

[The_Sunny_Doc]

Trying to find a private loan company to lend to a medical student with no income. I called a couple and they sounded super confused. If you did take out a loan to fund your research year, please shoot me a message!

 

[Oso]

Trying to find a private loan company to lend to a medical student with no income. I called a couple and they sounded super confused. If you did take out a loan to fund your research year, please shoot me a message!

I would recommend speaking to someone in the financial aid office at your school. A few friends who did an unpaid research year like this worked with the financial aid person at our school to apply for some extra loans and figure everything out.

 

[The_Sunny_Doc]

I would recommend speaking to someone in the financial aid office at your school. A few friends who did an unpaid research year like this worked with the financial aid person at our school to apply for some extra loans and figure everything out.

Thank you. The financial aid person gave me a couple of fliers about private loan companies. Apparently if you’re enrolled in classes to get government aid, you have to be paying tuition.