How much did you spend?

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Adaggiote

Adaggiote

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Hey guys,

Don't worry! I am not venting my anger in this thread, but want to know a couple of things about your expenses concerning the application process. I am not just talking about secondaries or primaries, but also for attire, flights, hotels, etc. In other words, I want an estimate of how much you spent this application cycle? I was browsing MDapplicants the other day and stumbled on one of the most comprehensive profiles available (you know who you are) and thought to my self how much it probably cost him to fly to the Ivies every week. Anyways, if you can also break down specific costs and how to save, please include those in your post. I love you guys....
 
oy, it feels like forever ago that I actually paid for some of these things, but here's a stab at it.

MCAT prep materials: ~$300?
MCAT: ~$230
primaries: ~$800
secondaries: ~$1000
suit + other interview things: ~$200
travel interview #1: just gas money (~ 1/2 tank, so $20)
travel interview #2: again, just gas money, but more (~1 tank, so $40)
travel interview #3: same, but a lot more (~3 tanks, so $120)
travel interview #4: nada
TOTAL: ~$2400ish


ways to save: apply only to places you're pretty sure about (have a shot, etc.), buy a suit on sale (? haha), drive!, stay with family or friends or student hosts. I hope this helps. I'm a little atypical since I had three close interviews, and one that was 500-600 miles away but still drove.
 
glasshalfMD said:
oy, it feels like forever ago that I actually paid for some of these things, but here's a stab at it.

MCAT prep materials: ~$300?
MCAT: ~$230
primaries: ~$800
secondaries: ~$1000
suit + other interview things: ~$200
travel interview #1: just gas money (~ 1/2 tank, so $20)
travel interview #2: again, just gas money, but more (~1 tank, so $40)
travel interview #3: same, but a lot more (~3 tanks, so $120)
travel interview #4: nada
TOTAL: ~$2400ish


ways to save: apply only to places you're pretty sure about (have a shot, etc.), buy a suit on sale (? haha), drive!, stay with family or friends or student hosts. I hope this helps. I'm a little atypical since I had three close interviews, and one that was 500-600 miles away but still drove.
Click to expand...

Wow, so you did not fly at all.....
 
Adaggiote said:
Wow, so you did not fly at all.....
Click to expand...

The interviews are going to be what kills you. Just applying (primaries+secondaries) isn't horrible, although it can run you in the neighborhood of 4-5 grand or so. Airfare, hotels, and cab money adds up fast with multiple interviews, and if you're in at places you like already, I'd strongly suggest canceling other interviews to save a heap of change. Doing this saved me at least 4 thousand dollars.
 
Without breaking it down, everything from MCAT class to flights to 11 interviews, etc. I must have spent close to $7,500. It definitely hurts the wallet!
 
MCAT - 0$
MCAT Prep Materials - 200$
Interviews - 50$ (Live in the Northeast and took the bus to the farthest Interview, otherwise I drove and didn't add in gas fare)
Secondaries - 0$
Primaries - 70$
Suit/Attire - 300$

Total- $620


This is if you qualify for FAP.
 
Hah said:
MCAT - 0$
MCAT Prep Materials - 200$
Interviews - 50$ (Live in the Northeast and took the bus to the farthest Interview, otherwise I drove and didn't add in gas fare)
Secondaries - 0$
Primaries - 70$
Suit/Attire - 300$

Total- $620


This is if you qualify for FAP.
Click to expand...

Cheapest so far....What is FAP by the way?
 
MCAT prep + test registration = $2000
Primariies + Secondarties =$2000
Drove to 2 interviews =$100 gas
Flight to interview 3 +Hotel =$400
Flight to interview 4/ Staying with friends = $250
Flight to interview 5 + hotl =$600
Suit+shoes+purse=$500
Total: approx $6000

Getting accepted = priceless!
 
I spent ~$5,000. I applied from the Pacific NW. I got lucky and was accepted to my number one choice promptly following that interview so I was able to withdraw my applications to other schools at that point (otherwise may have been more $).

I only had one interview that I traveled less than 2,500 miles to. It would have been cool if there were more west coast med schools, but it is what it is.
 
Only applied to 6 schools (5 interviews) but:

MCAT: ~$250
Primary app: ~$250
Secondaries: ~$450
Dress: ~$70
Hotels: ~$135
Gas for 2 interviews: ~$100
Flights for 2 interviews: ~$700
Food, in-city transportation: ~$100

Total: ~$2000
 
MCAT 3x, 2 prep classes: ~$2000
Suit and interview stuff: ~$300

MD 32 apps: $1130
DO 5 apps: $335
MD 29 secondaries: $2500
DO 4 secondaries: $260

10 Interview Travel Costs: $1620
- note: None of my interviewers were in the state I live in for school
- look at my MD App profile for more info on specific travel costs

Total costs: ~8500 including taxis, food, student hosts, ect.

Unfortunately, none of this includes the cost of when I first applied too.....
so add on about another ~2500

TOTAL TOTAL: $11,000

and yes, I am still paying off the credit card debt (not a ton though).

MED SCHOOL BETTER BE AWESOME!
 
Last edited:
MCAT: $225.00
MCAT prep: $1399.00
Primaries: $787.00
Secondaries: $1915.00
Suit: $998.00
Interview #1: $300.00 airfare + $0 hotel (stayed at home)
Interview #2: $309.00 airfare + $0 hotel (redeemed hotel reward points)
Interview #3: $450.00 airfare + $305.00 hotel
Interview #4: $75.00 bus fare + $0 hotel (stayed at home)
Acceptance Deposit at one med school: $485.00

Total Cost: $7248.00 :scared:
 
Mcat 200
apps 2500
suit etc 500
flights 3000 at least, coming out of Portland or
hotels 800, did student hosting twice and then did a bunch with hotels

~7000
 
Hah said:
MCAT - 0$
MCAT Prep Materials - 200$
Interviews - 50$ (Live in the Northeast and took the bus to the farthest Interview, otherwise I drove and didn't add in gas fare)
Secondaries - 0$
Primaries - 70$
Suit/Attire - 300$

Total- $620


This is if you qualify for FAP.
Click to expand...

Are you sure the MCAT was free for you? I qualified for FAP but they still charged me about $80 for the MCAT, which is still way cheaper than the regular $230. Anyway here is what my application expenses looked like, with FAP:

MCAT prep materials: close to $300
MCAT: $80
TMDSAS: ~$150
AMCAS: $0
interview clothes(i didn't have a suit or good dress shoes): about $300
flight (i flew to 3 places): total about $600
hotel (i tried to stay with a student if they could accomodate but sometimes it didn't work out): $100
gas (drove to 3 places): total around $120

so it wasn't so bad for me. but it would have been a lot worse if i didn't have FAP. so try to apply for that if you think you could qualify.
 
Wermz said:
Um, by getting a job? This a serious question?
Click to expand...


I'm serious.

I asked because some people don't work. And others don't have parents who can throw them 10K just for the process.

So I'm trying to learn about ways to go about paying for all these expenses, so that when the time comes( if I get there) I can see what the ranges are and what I need. ( prices will probably change by than)
 
I just kinda slid my money in with my school loans for the year (aka, I took out more than I technically needed for tuition + cost of living + books etc)
 
maaaaaan... I know I save a bunch of money only applying in state but It really hits home after seeing you guys with all your costs.


290 primary (8 schools)
480 secondary (6 schools)
300 suit (some say this is overkill, but I think it was well worth it. I mean... I looked good)
60 gas for interviews (3 schools)

$1130

not to mention MCAT and Mcat study books
 
AsianPersuasion said:
I'm serious.

I asked because some people don't work. And others don't have parents who can throw them 10K just for the process.

So I'm trying to learn about ways to go about paying for all these expenses, so that when the time comes( if I get there) I can see what the ranges are and what I need. ( prices will probably change by than)
Click to expand...

Take out extra loans or use a credit card. Then get chastised by your medical school financial aid department the following year for carrying extra loan or credit card debt.
 
Adaggiote said:
Hey guys,

Don't worry! I am not venting my anger in this thread, but want to know a couple of things about your expenses concerning the application process. I am not just talking about secondaries or primaries, but also for attire, flights, hotels, etc. In other words, I want an estimate of how much you spent this application cycle? I was browsing MDapplicants the other day and stumbled on one of the most comprehensive profiles available (you know who you are) and thought to my self how much it probably cost him to fly to the Ivies every week. Anyways, if you can also break down specific costs and how to save, please include those in your post. I love you guys....
Click to expand...

AsianPersuasion said:
I'm serious.

I asked because some people don't work. And others don't have parents who can throw them 10K just for the process.

So I'm trying to learn about ways to go about paying for all these expenses, so that when the time comes( if I get there) I can see what the ranges are and what I need. ( prices will probably change by than)
Click to expand...

You two are way too young to be worrying about this too much. The boldest is one of the bigger reasons why.

But I'll answer your question anyway, for what I remember. Keep in mind I didn't apply to very many schools.

MCAT: ~$225
MCAT prep materials: ~$225 as well, for something like 6 practice AAMC tests and an EK 1001 Gen Chem book and Verbal book.
Primary applications: $400
Secondaries: ~$300
Suit/shoes/alterations: $250-$300
Interviews: Uh... $15? I took SEPTA regional rail into the city for one and drove to the other two.

Total: ~$1440
 
Geekchick921 said:
You two are way too young to be worrying about this too much. The boldest is one of the bigger reasons why.
Click to expand...
AGREE! I flew to most of my interviews for really cheap in the fall. This spring, prices seemed to have increased 1.5/2x the amount I paid. It makes me really glad everything was so cheap last fall.
 
I'd say around $3000 total, but I was able to use frequent flier miles and always stayed with student hosts.
 
MCAT prep: ~$800
MCAT: $225
Suit: ~$200
Primary Apps: ~$300
Secondary Apps: ~$300
Travel (flew to 1 interview, drove the other 2): ~$400
Total:$2225
Hot damn, didn't think I'd be even close to that much. 7 apps, 3 interviews and I cancelled 2 other interviews I had scheduled after my first acceptance.
 
MCAT test - $250
MCAT prep - $0 (checked out a book from library)
primary - ~$800
transcripts for amcas - ~$30
letters of recommendation file - ~$30
secondary - ~$1000
Flight - ~$300 (only had to fly to one place, drove everywhere else)

= ~$2400

primary/secondary fees definitly the most expensive part for me. MCAT cheapest.
 
im sorry, im not going to itemize expenses, but i spent with the help of my parents about $4500.... im gonna pay it back though, they know im good for it.

that includes mcat, applications to 17 schools, all expenses for interviews at 10 schools and shoes and clothes.
 
im also not going to show the details, but when i sat down and calculated it about a month ago it came out to about $8000-$9000 😱 (which includes 40 apps with 6 interviews all for schools I had to fly across the country for)...and no acceptance 🙁 which means med school better be REAALLY AWESOME when I eventually get in since I might end up spending just as much reapplying again...getting a job to help pay for all this was definitely a good idea
 
15 schools AMCAS = $650
6 Schools secondaries = $450

5 interviews: 2 required train, 2 required flying
2 round trip airplane tickets = $450
2 nights at a hotel= $200
2 round trip train tickets= $250
2 suits = $200
shoes= $50
Taxis = $ 200


This comes to $2350. I interviewed where i worked so that was free to go to so the cost of 4 out of state interviews for me was around $1150 and my mom really bargain-shopped for flights, hotels, etc.
 
5 or 6k, didn't really track too well. Used savings/CC for 90%. Parent's sprung a flight or two though.
 
NickNaylor said:
Credit card + loan from my parents.
Click to expand...

This sounds good, plus no interest rates for parents...:laugh:

I am a Texas resident who wants to apply to a couple of NY schools (i.e. MSSM, AE, etc).
 
Adaggiote said:
This sounds good, plus no interest rates for parents...:laugh:

I am a Texas resident who wants to apply to a couple of NY schools (i.e. MSSM, AE, etc).
Click to expand...

Then prepare to suffer. With the exception of the four Texas schools I applied to, every other school was in the midwest or New England. Traveling is both a pain and expensive when you're coming from the south and applying to those schools.
 
from the looks of this thread I'll be shelling out somewhere between 5-7 grand, great.
 
YouNeverKnow22 said:
from the looks of this thread I'll be shelling out somewhere between 5-7 grand, great.
Click to expand...

Not necessarily. The total cost is highly dependent upon 1) where you live and 2) where you're applying. Travel expenses - airfare specifically - was the most expensive part of the entire enterprise for me. Many of the people that I met in the northeast simply took trains or drove to their interviews since they went to school in the northeast. If you're able to do that, you can cut down significantly on your costs.
 
Chops369 said:
Mother of god...
Click to expand...
Not that it makes it any better, but this was over the course of 4 years. I spent 6k for this application cycle.

NickNaylor said:
Not necessarily. The total cost is highly dependent upon 1) where you live and 2) where you're applying.
Click to expand...
+1. The applications were the most expense part of my application process. So if you don't overload the amount of schools you apply to, you should be OK. It probably helped that only one of the 14 east coast schools I applied to even bothered to interview me... and I decided not to go. Getting around the midwest is alot cheaper (yay southwest).

DarkenRahl said:
im also not going to show the details, but when i sat down and calculated it about a month ago it came out to about $8000-$9000 😱 (which includes 40 apps with 6 interviews all for schools I had to fly across the country for)...and no acceptance 🙁 which means med school better be REAALLY AWESOME when I eventually get in since I might end up spending just as much reapplying again...getting a job to help pay for all this was definitely a good idea
Click to expand...
I hope you are on a waitlist somewhere! But good luck reapplying if you have to. I have been there. :/
 
At the very least, you can calculate a floor to your expenditures:

1) MCAT registration
2) MCAT prep
3) Primary application fees
4) Secondary application fees

(I don't include interview attire because you should have something appropriate in your wardrobe already, people. 😉)

The variability comes in interview costs: travel and lodging. Part of it is under your control (where you apply can narrow the range of expense you can reasonably anticipate), but the rest is dependent on how strong an applicant you are and whether the adcoms like you. 🙂
 
I spent about five thousand dollars during the 2006-2007 cycle. Multiple flights from Portland, Oregon to the East Coast. I just spent another five thousand dollars or so during my residency application/interview process. I matched so it was worth it. Also, I did not gain any weight during med school so I was able to wear the very nice suit that I bought five years ago for my med school interviews.
 
MCAT: 225
MCAT Prep Course -$900 after a 50% discount from 1800.
Primary + Secondaries: $4100 (30 US Schools) + 1 Canadian School
Interview Costs:

4 Flights: 2 to NYC, 1 to Chicago, 1 to Montreal (all from California)
Approximately: (300+360+300+450)=$1410 Airfare only
Hotels: Chicago only-$450 (4 nights--3 in a nice one, 1 in a ****hole)
Food: This will vary, but maybe about $20-30 a day?
Ground Transit: (public transit for the most part) anywhere from 10-20 per day (I bought unlimited use cards for the most part, or paid per trip)--I traveled a lot!

Approximate total: $7500-8000?

These are more or less approximate numbers for interviews that were also combined mini-vacations, as in I would stay a extra day or two in the area.

I'm sure you can cut your costs if you travel more practically (don't make "vacations" out of your trip), staying when a student host when available (my Chicago vacation didn't have student hosts at both schools), and by driving when feasible...not so easy when you're in California.
 
Cali applicants should get a fee waiver of some kind... if you notice the list of OOS friendly schools and look at their distance to CA you'll notice that basically no schools nearby is very friendly. Add in the extra schools we apply to, and the fact that most of our friends will probably be in CA (reducing the chance to stay with friends). The whole process was expensive.... ugh

I repressed the memories of how much it costs i'm thinking close to the 10k number as well. Part time work in school paid for MCAT and test prep Berkeley Review rocks. Applied to probably 40+ schools and did no idea how many secondaries. Was working full time, so half of pay check went to rent, food, utilities other half went to 10-15 secondaries. Only 2 interviews so I saved money?
 
AsianPersuasion said:
Sorry to hijack the thread OP, but how did you guys pay for it?
Click to expand...

I spent about $2500 each time I applied, considering I had to pay for different things.

First time, it all went on the credit card, because I had a job that paid very minimally. Second time, it went on the credit card initially, but I had paid off everything by the end of November (including all my student loans) due to very tight budgeting when I was working.
 
i did my apps on the cheap since i'm broke and received FAP.

MCAT: 85
MCAT Prep: FO' FREE, used my buddy's books / tapes/ CD's / flashcards
Primary + Secondaries: 330 (23 US schools, thank you FAP, i love you so hard)
Gas and Public Transit Costs: 150

i knew i wanted to stay relatively close to new york city, so i applied to many local schools. i took public transit as much as possible and always stayed with a friend or student host when i did travel out. i also rec'd an early acceptance from my state school, so that cut out a lot of travel to distant schools.

EDIT: megabus and boltbus were also dear friends
 
NickNaylor said:
Then prepare to suffer. With the exception of the four Texas schools I applied to, every other school was in the midwest or New England. Traveling is both a pain and expensive when you're coming from the south and applying to those schools.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the encouragement Naylor.
 
mindthegap said:
i did my apps on the cheap since i'm broke and received FAP.

MCAT: 85
MCAT Prep: FO' FREE, used my buddy's books / tapes/ CD's / flashcards
Primary + Secondaries: 330 (23 US schools, thank you FAP, i love you so hard)
Gas and Public Transit Costs: 150

i knew i wanted to stay relatively close to new york city, so i applied to many local schools. i took public transit as much as possible and always stayed with a friend or student host when i did travel out. i also rec'd an early acceptance from my state school, so that cut out a lot of travel to distant schools.

EDIT: megabus and boltbus were also dear friends
Click to expand...

OP the reality is you have to anticipate spending thousands of dollars because that seemed to be about the norm for the average candidate not on FAP. But once you get your first acceptance that you're comfortable with like mindthegap, then you can really save on costs (i.e. interviewing as others have mentioned)
 
HAV000 said:
OP the reality is you have to anticipate spending thousands of dollars because that seemed to be about the norm for the average candidate not on FAP. But once you get your first acceptance that you're comfortable with like mindthegap, then you can really save on costs (i.e. interviewing as others have mentioned)
Click to expand...

Is piracy an option...:laugh:
 
Adaggiote said:
Thanks for the encouragement Naylor.
Click to expand...

Are you in high school or a freshman? If so, sure, develop a savings plan if you really think you will be applying. That never would have occurred to me when I was 18. And if you don't apply, then fly to Cancun on Spring Break of your Senior Year, and have the best time ever. And just tell all of the girls that you are going to med school next, even if you are going to be an accountant. Only 50 percent of the senior accounting majors are virgins when they graduate from college.
 
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