How much did you spend this application cycle?

[Spectrum]

Between application service(s), plane tickets, hotels, secondaries, mail fees and deposits,
1) how much has everyone spent this cycle and
2) how did you pay for it? I figure I've spent about $4000 total -visa anyone?
3) Does anyone think that this process needs to be less expensive?
4) Has anyone been prevented from applying/interviewing because of the expense?

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[DrWookie]

I applied to 14 schools and got an early"ish" interview at one I liked. I got invited to ~9 interviews but I only went to the first four because I found out I got into the one I liked and wanted to cut costs. I actually just got a check back yesturday from a flight I had to cancel to the east coast (travel insurance saved me ~400 bucks).

I don't remember the exact figures but with all the secondaries (ended up with 13 of those) and the primary alone that was probably 1600 bucks maybe? Plus 3 flights (one school was local). I only had to stay in a hotel in one city (the other two were close enough to a family member).

I would guess maybe $3000 dollars total. I tried to keep it as low as possible if I didn't need to.

My parents covered my expenses.

 

[GoSpursGo]

Between application service(s), plane tickets, hotels, secondaries, mail fees and deposits,
1) how much has everyone spent this cycle and
2) how did you pay for it? I figure I've spent about $4000 total -visa anyone?
3) Does any think that this process needs to be less expensive?
4) Has anyone been prevented from applying/interviewing because of the expense?

1) Um... I'd guess ~$1.5-2k. Add on an extra ~2k if you include my MCAT prep and test.

2) Graduation gift from the parents 🙂

3) *shrug* It would be nice, but schools have us by the balls- they know people badly want to go to go to their schools, so they have roughly no incentive to try and reduce the cost of applying.

4) Not me, but I've seen a few people post on their MDApps and on here that they were done w/ interviewing for the cycle because they had run out of money.

 

[DrYoda]

Between application service(s), plane tickets, hotels, secondaries, mail fees and deposits,
1) how much has everyone spent this cycle and
2) how did you pay for it? I figure I've spent about $4000 total -visa anyone?
3) Does any think that this process needs to be less expensive?
4) Has anyone been prevented from applying/interviewing because of the expense?

1. 14 schools =~$3,000. I drove everywhere which lowered costs.
2. Cash-money.
3. Yes
4. Didn't prevent me, but I think lots of people (myself included) watch how many places they apply, and where geographically they apply to keep costs down.

 

[riceman04]

Between application service(s), plane tickets, hotels, secondaries, mail fees and deposits,
1) how much has everyone spent this cycle and
2) how did you pay for it? I figure I've spent about $4000 total -visa anyone?
3) Does any think that this process needs to be less expensive?
4) Has anyone been prevented from applying/interviewing because of the expense?

1) approx $1100 for AMCAS + $2550 for secondaries + went on 16 interviews (all of which were not in Philadelphia)...so lets just say avg $350 per trip...so $5600 + $200 in gifts for hosts (so far)...all that = wayyyyyyyyyyyy too much $$$$$$$$$$$....so around $9450....ummmmmmmmm yeah

2) I was really good at saving my $$$$$ so I managed to pay around 60% of the cost...my parents helped my out for the other 40%

3) No...while I must say the cost is quite limiting not only are we well aware of the astronomical fees in advance (have an opportunity to plan ahead), but also I doubt it if med schools can afford to take away any of the financial burden associated with applying. It sucks, but I knew that going in to this process...Unfortunately, this process carries the facade of being elitist...🙁...b/c fee waivers are not available to the majority.

4) No...I am very thankful...I just wish $$$ was not a factor for everyone applying

If I could do it all over again I would minimize the # of schools to which I applied even further than I did initially.

 

[eyang22286]

i applied to a behemoth of schools.. so primaries were quite pricey.

although i've only gone on 2 interviews so far, even the trhouguht of those costs are scary, especially comparing to those with ilke 5+ interviews. let's just say each plane ticket's like 250-300 round trip... hotel is ~150/night... then there's local transportation and etc. yeah, there seems to be some unfairness in the process =( maybe they should have some sort of official loan program for costs haha, like FAFSA for med school applicants...

with that said, my father paid for everything. i chipped in a bit whenver i could with my savings, but he understood how important this process was to my future and insisted on doing so. i am very lucky and grateful.

 

[Dango]

1) how much has everyone spent this cycle: Arm + Leg... About $3500
2) how did you pay for it? My job
3) Does anyone think that this process needs to be less expensive? Yes
4) Has anyone been prevented from applying/interviewing because of the expense? No, luckily my interviews were spaced-out otherwise I might of had some trouble.

 

[iA-MD2013]

1. $6000-7000. Yeah, a lot!
2. Savings.
3. Ohh yeah. It's way too expensive.
4. Sure. I didn't go to 9 interviews because of money. It sucks to cancel interviews because of cost...especially ones that you would have gone to if you had the money.

 

[funkydrmonkey]

1) 12-14K... I have not finished tabulating all the costs
2) Mumsy and Dadums
3) I wish...
4) I also skipped a few interviews because of cost...

 

[tdittyx2x3]

1. 10-12k
2. Parents. Couldn't imagine doing it without em.
3. Of course it's too expensive.
4. Skipped an interview across the country.

 

[ChubbyChaser]

1) 6800 +250 if you include the MCAT
2) Savings and credit card
3)I would like it to. It makes me jealous of my PHD friends who apply to schools that pay to fly them over there, take them to clubs, knicks games, etc.
4) only went on about 40% of the interviews I was invited to, some because of money and some because I wasnt interested in the school anymore.

 

[choicestomake]

Too much!

 

[ThaliaNox]

1. I believe I spent around 2k applying. This is quite a bit lower than many others, but I am not lucky enough to have parents who can help me with this, so I limited my applications to schools in my region of the country and drove to my interviews, staying with student hosts and family members.
2. I paid for my application costs from savings over the last couple of years.
3. It certainly would make things more equal if the costs were lower, especially if schools are serious about seeking disadvantaged students. Even someone with a full AMCAS waiver would still need to cover their own travel, food, clothing and lodging expenses for the interviews. That being said, I understand that there is little leeway in medical schools' budgets for such help.
4. I definetely only went to interview at schools I was really serious about, and if I'd been accepted to a school I thought I liked better I didn't go at all. Turned down two interviews due to these reasons.

I hope those of you whose parents paid for your applications thank them daily on your knees.

 

[beachblonde]

1) 12-14K... I have not finished tabulating all the costs
2) Mumsy and Dadums
3) I wish...
4) I also skipped a few interviews because of cost...

Yeah, nobody should apply to as many schools as you did. NOBODY.

I dropped about $3500 this cycle. Last time it was closer to $4000. Thank goodness for the bank of mom & dad. 🙄

And despite my ability to pay for all of it, I think it's ridiculous how much it all costs. Unless you're a superstar and apply to just state schools, you have to drop a lot of cash. It sucks a lot.

 

[ICmyFuture]

MCAT, Appl, travel, probably $700 total(5 interviews), wow i didnt know everyone had to pay so much.

 

[chiz2kul]

Applied to over 25 schools. Sent in over 85% of secondaries. Interviewed at about 9 schools, with 7 of them being out of state.
Total = Around 6kish.
Stopped keeping costs after a while. Too expensive.
Saving and parents helped a ton. Couch surfing also saved me a couple! 🙂

 

[muggle911]

1) $3600 (amcas, secondaries, interviews)
2) Part-time job and parents
3) Yes, considering that grad schools pay for your travel and everything.
4) No, I planned it out financially in advance.

 

[BlueElmo]

If you are going to apply to around 30 schools, how much do you think that will come out to be? I'm starting to get nervous.

 

[muggle911]

If you are going to apply to around 30 schools, how much do you think that will come out to be? I'm starting to get nervous.

~$5030 excluding interviews.
(primaries = $160 first school x [$30 x 29 schools] = $1030. Assuming ~100 for each secondary = $3000 for secondaries).

Then add in interviews, which can cost you from $5 (subway ride) to $500 (expensive last-minute plane trip).

Suggestion: narrow down your list of schools 🙂

 

[mikecougarmd]

Looks like I'm about average

I spent $3200 this cycle. If you include last cycle add another $1000.

That's 14 primary app schools, 13 secondaries, 5 interview invites, 4 interviews attended. All interviews were cross country flights and I stayed with student hosts.

I've been out of school for the past year and a half so I worked and paid for it (but saved almost nothing during that time).

I think the fee waivers take care of people who can't afford to apply, but then that doesn't cover travel costs which represent half of my total costs.

 

[chemnerd89]

Between application service(s), plane tickets, hotels, secondaries, mail fees and deposits,
1) how much has everyone spent this cycle and
2) how did you pay for it? I figure I've spent about $4000 total -visa anyone?
3) Does anyone think that this process needs to be less expensive?
4) Has anyone been prevented from applying/interviewing because of the expense?

1). AMCAS ~ 1000
MCAT 210
18 Sec Apps~1500
5 interviews ~1200 (5 hotels, 2 flights)
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3410 (a very conservative approximation)

2). Parental help/Credit Card
3). YES YES YES
4). nope

 

[Spectrum]

Wow, it's great that so many have parental support. Schools must count on that (hence requesting parental info for financial aid also). I can't even get my parents' congratulations -forget any financial help. When money ran out for me, it just ran out -end of cycle. It is kind of fascinating how quickly we can come up with such large sums of money, though. Doctors (or premeds) must be magic🙂

 

[BlueElmo]

Sorry to hear that Spectrum. Yeah, my parents promised me full financial help for the applications. I'm not too much worried about the money. But I do have a conscience and I don't want to burden my poor working mom and dad so much.

 

[justdoit31]

1. $4000: $500- primaries; $2000 secondaries, $1500 interviews (one plane ticket was $750 and worth every penny since it is where I am going!)

2. used my stafford loan for primaries, interviews, and a few secondaries and MCAT prep/test fee... and parents paid most of secondaries.

3. I think the secondary fees should be reduced- $100 a pop was insane for many schools especially since I ended up withdrawing from almost all of them by mid-Nov. In hind-sight I would have eliminated a lot of schools that were OOS but I applied before getting my MCAT scores.

4. It didn't hinder me but I can see it being a problem for a lot of students. I have parents who supported me by paying a lot towards secondaries and also had a free ride through undergrad thanks to the Georgia Lottery (though I borrowed to study abroad twice and for this process)- for students who actually need their federal loan money for basic tuition/board then I am not sure how they do it.

 

[Anotherface]

1) 2-2.5k
2) My Cash money/mastercard
3)Yes
4)May be

 

[RafaTech]

a little over 3k

 

[dozitgetchahi]

Between application service(s), plane tickets, hotels, secondaries, mail fees and deposits,
1) how much has everyone spent this cycle and
2) how did you pay for it? I figure I've spent about $4000 total -visa anyone?
3) Does anyone think that this process needs to be less expensive?
4) Has anyone been prevented from applying/interviewing because of the expense?

1) If you add up my total costs (MCAT takes, primary costs, secondary costs, interview travel costs, etc) I'd say around 5 or 6 grand.

2) Partially funded by my parents...the rest supplied by me

3) YES. The application costs are far too expensive even for most middle class students to truly afford, and they present a massive barrier to any disadvantaged students trying to enter the profession.

4) YES. I had interviews in California and Florida that I couldn't go to simply because I couldn't afford them.

 

[k4med]

1. $2000 on apps, $2000(ish) on interviews, $1500 on MCAT prep, $200 on test, plus about $1500 last year = $7200
2. My mom and dad paid for most of it. And not a day goes by that I don't feel ridiculously guilty about that (anyone else feel that way???)
3. Yeah, but when I got my acceptances the extra applications felt like they were worth every penny...
4. Fortunately, no.

 

[RoadRunner17]

1) $4,873.34 includes primary fees, secondary fees, interfolio, car rental/hotel/flights, deposits, transcripts, everything I've spent on this cycle.

2) Paid out of my own paycheck and savings this year. I've recently broken even with the money I've been saving in the latter parts of the cycle. But at least this balance is back in the black. Parents would have helped if I had asked, but right now I pride myself on being self-sufficient.

3) Nothing anyone can do about making it less expensive. I thought the AMCAS letter service will do a little bit to help make it cheaper but not by much. Tip to those who are about to apply: stay with student hosts to save $$ on hotel costs.

4) I turned down 4 interviews, but those were mainly because I was no longer interested in the school (accepted to my higher choices prior) and didn't want to spend the money on traveling costs. But it wasn't necessarily the expenses - I could have afforded it, I just didn't want to.

 

[aznb0y129]

1) Applied to 25 schools during primary, 20 schools during secondary, total was ~2700, but I got a $500 scholarship towards application fees, so it was closer to ~2200, sans interview costs (5 interviews total).

2) Paid out of my own pocket, with the $500 help.

3) Definitely should be cheaper.

4) Hasn't affected my ability to apply/go on interviews though.

 

[Rebs28]

Between application service(s), plane tickets, hotels, secondaries, mail fees and deposits,
1) how much has everyone spent this cycle and
2) how did you pay for it? I figure I've spent about $4000 total -visa anyone?
3) Does anyone think that this process needs to be less expensive?
4) Has anyone been prevented from applying/interviewing because of the expense?

1. Lots, even though I only did two interviews. Probably in the neighborhood of $3,000.
2. Worked full-time all summer/fall/winter, saved money by living at home
3. YES! I can't imagine how someone with limited finances can afford this process, even with fee waivers, and that's just plain wrong.
4. It was a consideration in some decisions I've made, but it wasn't ever the limiting factor.

 

[Siverhideo1985]

I don't want to tally up...its too depressing.

 

[aebvd97]

I probably spent about $3500. Not to mention, days and days of lost productivity.

 

[shemarty]

$3500 - I kept overly detailed notes on my MDApps page.

I was lucky in that I was able to make 3 out of state trips of 3-4 interviews each, so that helped reduced my airfare costs.

In retrospect, I should have picked my schools more carefully or maybe staggered out my interviews so that I could cancel some of them later on. That would've helped to cut costs.

 

[Chuck's Right Foot]

Carry the 1.....

add 3.....


HOLY CRAP! what is that sucking sound?!?!


oh, that's the vortex in my wallet.

33 schools.

but i must've spent the right amount since I finally got in.

 

[Myuu]

Between application service(s), plane tickets, hotels, secondaries, mail fees and deposits,
1) how much has everyone spent this cycle and
2) how did you pay for it? I figure I've spent about $4000 total -visa anyone?
3) Does anyone think that this process needs to be less expensive?
4) Has anyone been prevented from applying/interviewing because of the expense?

1) Rough estimate comes to 6.1k
2) Job, job, job. Thank God I h ave one!
3) YES.
4) Not this time, but I would've been in financial turmoil had I not gotten in this year.

 

[aRnonymous]

1) 12-14K... I have not finished tabulating all the costs
2) Mumsy and Dadums
3) I wish...
4) I also skipped a few interviews because of cost...

Why oh why did you apply to 69 schools? I thought I was overdoing it when I applied to 28!

 

[eman53007]

$760 for primaries.
~$1800 for secondaries.

Attended 7 interviews, drove to 6/7 of them [Georgetown, Upstate, Stony Brook, Albert Einstein, Drexel, Albany], so fuel + parking ~$300

total: ~$2860.

Mom paid for the primaries, I took care of secondaries and interview expenses.

Expensive, yes. But I suppose people gotta get paid...

 

[235009]

Between application service(s), plane tickets, hotels, secondaries, mail fees and deposits,
1) how much has everyone spent this cycle and
2) how did you pay for it? I figure I've spent about $4000 total -visa anyone?
3) Does anyone think that this process needs to be less expensive?
4) Has anyone been prevented from applying/interviewing because of the expense?

1. about $3500. applied to 20 schools, completed 19 secondaries and went to 5 interviews all in state (flew to two of them though because i was on a really tight schedule)
2. pay as you go. all from money i made from work...don't think i even had to dip into savings
3. any application process is expensive...i think interviews bump the price up a bit in this process but going to visit the school is in your best interest as well
4. no

 

[235009]

1) 12-14K... I have not finished tabulating all the costs
2) Mumsy and Dadums
3) I wish...
4) I also skipped a few interviews because of cost...

sorry but taking a quick glance at your MDapps only one word comes to mind and that is foolish. i'm quite sure it needs no explanation. Rather than wishing that the process was cheaper you could have easily cut your school list in half without compromising your success in the process. seems to me like a blatant disregard for the value of money. i can't even begin to imagine working full time for four months straight just to apply to med school (on my current salary)

 

[Chuck's Right Foot]

sorry but taking a quick glance at your MDapps only one word comes to mind and that is foolish. i'm quite sure it needs no explanation. Rather than wishing that the process was cheaper you could have easily cut your school list in half without compromising your success in the process. seems to me like a blatant disregard for the value of money. i can't even begin to imagine working full time for four months straight just to apply to med school (on my current salary)

Family pressure. He was also aware of the inanity of his quest. At least he'll act as a floodgate for a some waitlists 😛

 

[student1799]

1) I spent about $7700. (I'm staggered when I add it all up.)

AMCAS and secondary fees (27 schools): $3200
6 out-of-town interviews @ $300 each: 1800
MCAT prep course and books: 1930
MCAT registration fees (3x): 770

2) Paid for by: little old me. (I'm a nontrad--no parents to hit up.)

3) Of course it should be less expensive. The secondary fees, in particular, are outrageous. It pisses me off that schools fund their entire admissions staffs from app fees of students they have no intention of accepting.

I'm also fed up with the robotic, knee-jerk admissions process that is almost entirely based on stats. While I would have been perfectly happy to attend school where I'm from and thus apply to many fewer places, an unbalanced MCAT forced me to add a lot of schools. (It's a good thing I did, or I wouldn't have gotten any interviews at all.) I later retook the MCAT and got a much better score, but it was too late: almost all my local schools had already rejected me. What a waste.

4) Luckily, I didn't have to pass up any interviews because of finances. But if I'd been applying back when I was in college (many, many moons ago), I'd never have been able to afford this at all. I really think the cost must be keeping qualified students away from applying.

 

[mikecougarmd]

I think there's a lot to balance and some good arguments on both sides with regards to the cost issue.

Yes this is a very difficult process that seems almost random sometimes. We want to give ourselves the best chance of getting in. It may seem unfair to those who can't afford to apply as broadly or interview as much. I wish it didn't cost so much to pay for secondaries and travel to interviews. It'd be nice if the schools did more than give us a free pen and some lunch when we interview.

But I think some good ol' economics and supply and demand very much come into play. PhD candidates get treated more nicely and get a stipend for their whole education! Why? They need to recruit students.

Medical schools have no need to pay for our travel expenses or lower the secondary fees because there is such a high demand for spots in their classes. We see how cutthroat everyone is about this, we're more than willing to fork over some money for a shot at getting in.

The schools also try to tax some negative externalities, as it were. If they only have 150 or 200 spots they don't really need 10,000; 5,000; or even 1,000 applicants. It's more time and work and hassle for them so they charge a big fee if you want to pay for the privilege of being considered.

It's the same reason we pay $100 deposit to hold an acceptance and why we lose it if we don't don't withdraw our app in time. There has to be some incentive to not hold spots at 10 different schools so they can fill their class and not go through more hassle.

So yeah I totally agree that this is very expensive and it'd be nice for it to be cheaper. But there is very much a reason why we pay what we do. Your arguments for or against are welcome.