Full scholarship questions

[#Lucky]

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Hey everybody,

I was just awarded a full-tuition merit based scholarship to my number one choice. I know I'm beyond lucky to even be saying those words, and I'm incredibly humbled and grateful.

On the other hand, I'm a non-trad with a spouse and kids. The rest of my (very conservatively estimated) COA is still going to be approximately $40,000 a year - and of course, that'll be on top of the debt I've incurred through undergrad. I know all medical students come out with debt, and I don't want to seem ungrateful (because I swear I'm not), but I'm wondering if/how I should approach the school to ask if there's a possibility of receiving any more aid.

Aside from grants/scholarships, there are other ways schools can help a student financially, like subsidized institutional loans, etc. Is there any chance of receiving more aid in any form after the generous scholarship I've already been given?

 

[baxt1412]

Do not ask your school for more help.......... You've already saved >200-300k in tuition alone when you factor in interest. I honestly feel like asking for more money would be a slap in the face.


Take the loans like the rest of us.

 

[Glandzburg]

They are already offering you >$100,000.... I feel that asking for more would come off as extremely ungrateful.

Congrats on the scholarship though!

 

[ftp902]

OP's not asking for more "free" money. He's asking for something like insitutional loans to support him and his family throughout the four years. I don't think explaining your situation to the school you got scholarship would be seen as ungrateful. Your COA is far greater than most students who do not have any dependents because you are looking at 40K/year on top of tuition alone. I would talk to financial aid office about your situation. They liked you so much that they got you full-tuition. My guess is they would try to work it out for you by offering loans.

 

[JuanPabloCastel]

IMO 40k per year is worth possibly sounding ungrateful.

 

[LizzyM]

You have tuition covered 100%. You are going to need $40K/yr for living expenses. You do know that you can borrow up to the cost of attendance (which is likely >$40K) per year with some provisos. So, it seems that you can borrow and come out with a med school debt of $160K which is, I suspect, a pretty average indebtedness.

What you are asking is," can I ask for need based or merit aid to cover some of my living expenses?" I have seen a school do this but only with a highly desirable applicant who had another offer that would have resulted in a lower med school debt, and recognition of some childcare cost that was higher than anticipated in that high cost area. It was a completely ballsy move on the part of the applicant. He decline the offer at TipTop University to take an offer at NoCostMedical College that would provide full tuition and a small stipend. TipTop contacted him and offered him more money although he'd already declined their offer (before the deadline). So of course, that sweetened the deal enough for him to matriculate at TipTop. If you have a sweet offer elsewhere, and if you are willing to play chicken with your offer from your top choice, go ahead and try this scheme but I think it is very risky.

 

[samac]

I'm pretty amazed, and, not going to lie, a little jealous. 😛
But as someone else says you can borrow up to cost of attendance, so taking 50k per year seems minor for medical school.