MD & DO How much do you guys ACTUALLY spend on books and supplies

[bengirlxD]

Hi guys! Recently accepted to MD school and I was looking over my student budget and it looks like my school allocates around 3K for MS1, 5K for MS2, and 6k for MS3 on books and supplies alone. The numbers to me seem insane because I know someone who can provide me all the required texts for free so I was wondering if there are other big purchases I need to be aware of or if I could use whatever money I don't use for other things like paying rent or emergency expenses. I would really appreciate current student input because this is all new to me. Right now while I am looking for apartments and being able to use 2K from the books and supplies budget will make things much easier.

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[bananafish94]

I don't know anybody who has spent more than $0 on textbooks (they're obscenely overpriced and there's no need for them). I've probably spent a few hundred on various board review materials which I think is about the norm.

 

[Lannister]

$0. All the supplies I've bought is a stethoscope. Never opened a textbook.

 

[Oso]

Don't buy textbooks.

For first 2 years you can use online resources + board prep materials.

For m3-m4 just buy used copies of clerkship-specific review books/casebooks from older students.

 

[bengirlxD]

$0. All the supplies I've bought is a stethoscope. Never opened a textbook.

Will I still be able to borrow the money from the books and supplies allocation and apply it to other expenses? I am sorry if this sounds dumb but I am new to taking out loans.

 

[Lannister]

Will I still be able to borrow the money from the books and supplies allocation and apply it to other expenses? I am sorry if this sounds dumb but I am new to taking out loans.

Yep! You can take up to the full CoA, they don't check what you actually spend it on.

Edit: and at least make sure you take out enough for board review. First aid is like $50, each question Bank is a couple hundred, etc.

 

[bengirlxD]

Yep! You can take up to the full CoA, they don't check what you actually spend it on.

Awesome! I really appreciate this 🙂

 

[MD-2021]

$170 stethoscope
$40 Netter's Cards (probably didn't even need these)
$100 Pathoma
$40 First Aid
Total: $350

 

[Crayola227]

I've said before, take out the max. Emergencies happen. You can pay the money back to your loans no penalty if you don't end up needing it, but you likely will.

Also board prep, board exams (CS isn't going to happen until 3/4th year, and it's like $1200 not counting flight and hotel (if that's needed)). That screwed a lot of people.

Also, your residency interviews costs are not included either. You can often get private loans for this and residency relocation, which isn't included either. That's going to need first month last month security deposit, moving your stuff, buying stuff for your place, and money to live on until you get your first residency paycheck.

Never too soon to start saving for these expenses not covered by aid.

Please read other threads on this very topic.

 

[operaman]

I've said before, take out the max. Emergencies happen. You can pay the money back to your loans no penalty if you don't end up needing it, but you likely will.

Also board prep, board exams (CS isn't going to happen until 3/4th year, and it's like $1200 not counting flight and hotel (if that's needed)). That screwed a lot of people.

Also, your residency interviews costs are not included either. You can often get private loans for this and residency relocation, which isn't included either. That's going to need first month last month security deposit, moving your stuff, buying stuff for your place, and money to live on until you get your first residency paycheck.

Never too soon to start saving for these expenses not covered by aid.

Please read other threads on this very topic.

Came here to post exactly this. Tuck some money away for interviews and post Med school moving costs. You can always pay back what you don’t need. Yes there is some interest cost associated with it but I felt it was negligible compared to the value of having liquid cash reserves.

To flesh out what Crayola227 is saying that is probably obvious but bears mentioning: while you can take out the full cost of attendance for each term, you cannot retroactively take out money you didn’t take in prior years. So if you get to MS4 and realize you need 7-10k for interviews and moving expenses, you cannot just go back and take out any more money than the max cost of attendance just for 4th year which obviously doesn’t include 2k for boards and 6k+ for interview costs and the like.

As for the original question I find those number funny. Given the increasing cost per year, I wonder if they are counting the cost of board exams in those numbers.

I was a textbook person but obviously that’s just personal choice as there are plenty of PDFs. As a resident I do all my reading on my iPad. As a student, I would buy used book on Amazon that were 1 edition old and usually get them for around $5 each.

My school made us buy some physical diagnosis supplies which took a chunk from that allocation you mentioned. They bought them for us and did not give us a choice. If I had it to do over again, I’d sell them on eBay immediately and recoup the cost but that’s just me. We were given nice stethoscopes which i think is a worthy investment even if I don’t use it anymore. Learning to listen is hard enough and you don’t want crappy equipment impeding your learning.

I think a general rule for most is don’t buy anything at all until you need it.

 

[libertyyne]

I think some schools already increase COA for boards and residency interviews.

 

[bengirlxD]

Came here to post exactly this. Tuck some money away for interviews and post Med school moving costs. You can always pay back what you don’t need. Yes there is some interest cost associated with it but I felt it was negligible compared to the value of having liquid cash reserves.

To flesh out what Crayola227 is saying that is probably obvious but bears mentioning: while you can take out the full cost of attendance for each term, you cannot retroactively take out money you didn’t take in prior years. So if you get to MS4 and realize you need 7-10k for interviews and moving expenses, you cannot just go back and take out any more money than the max cost of attendance just for 4th year which obviously doesn’t include 2k for boards and 6k+ for interview costs and the like.

As for the original question I find those number funny. Given the increasing cost per year, I wonder if they are counting the cost of board exams in those numbers.

I was a textbook person but obviously that’s just personal choice as there are plenty of PDFs. As a resident I do all my reading on my iPad. As a student, I would buy used book on Amazon that were 1 edition old and usually get them for around $5 each.

My school made us buy some physical diagnosis supplies which took a chunk from that allocation you mentioned. They bought them for us and did not give us a choice. If I had it to do over again, I’d sell them on eBay immediately and recoup the cost but that’s just me. We were given nice stethoscopes which i think is a worthy investment even if I don’t use it anymore. Learning to listen is hard enough and you don’t want crappy equipment impeding your learning.

I think a general rule for most is don’t buy anything at all until you need it.

I will absolutely take out the full amount then. I was already planning on getting a miles card so I can rack up points the next few years to pay for a couple of interview flights and having extra cash can always come in handy for emergencies.

 

[bengirlxD]

I think some schools already increase COA for boards and residency interviews.

My school increases COA by 1000 in MS2 and MS3 for boards but nothing for interviews so I am going to be saving as much as I can with whatever I don't spend at the end of the year. I don't eat out or have any expensive hobbies except the monthly gym membership.

 

[Crayola227]

My understanding is that they do not include residency interviews, relocation, or anything related to the licensing exams- it technically isn't part and parcel of your education and school attendance as far as the gov't financial aid goes - looking for a job a la residency interviews, certainly not. The cost of licensing exams also goes in that category based on what I was told.

Look at it this way, if you were in college to be a mechanical engineer, and started looking for jobs for after graduation.. how is that part of attendence and getting that education? it isn't

getting a residency has nothing to do with getting your MD

 

[Crayola227]

I may be wrong about the USMLE expense itself... however flying to take the test isn't specifically included, nor are qbanks, books, or review courses specifically for USMLE... they just aren't part of COA

 

[Crayola227]

nevermind the biggest not-covered expense are interviews and relocation

at my school they quoted an average of $7-12K for interviews. Relocation isn't cheap either.

 

[libertyyne]

My understanding is that they do not include residency interviews, relocation, or anything related to the licensing exams- it technically isn't part and parcel of your education and school attendance as far as the gov't financial aid goes - looking for a job a la residency interviews, certainly not. The cost of licensing exams also goes in that category based on what I was told.

Look at it this way, if you were in college to be a mechanical engineer, and started looking for jobs for after graduation.. how is that part of attendence and getting that education? it isn't

getting a residency has nothing to do with getting your MD

my school includes step exam related increases for year 2 , and 3 and money for applying to residency. Doesnt seem to include money for travel for interviews.

 

[libertyyne]

nevermind the biggest not-covered expense are interviews and relocation

at my school they quoted an average of $7-12K for interviews. Relocation isn't cheap either.

Do residencies give relocation bonuses?

 

[Crayola227]

Do residencies give relocation bonuses?

most do not to my knowledge, I certainly wouldn't count on it

 

[libertyyne]

most do not to my knowledge, I certainly wouldn't count on it

I am usually a huge proponent of burning /selling everything that cant fit in my car when moving anyway.

 

[Chelsea FC]

I am new to taking out loans.

I cried a little bit when I saw this.

 

[bengirlxD]

I cried a little bit when I saw this.

I have been very fortunate to receive a full COA scholarship during undergrad so I didn't need to take out any educational loans at all.

 

[Crayola227]

I am usually a huge proponent of burning /selling everything that cant fit in my car when moving anyway.

eh, I own everything I need, and when I sorta thought about the cost of shipping vs replacing whatever I would need... I moved all my stuff.

 

[mehc012]

I am usually a huge proponent of burning /selling everything that cant fit in my car when moving anyway.

I've always been that kind of person...even went back home halfway through college and threw out everything that I hadn't brought with me. Figured that if I didn't miss it at college, I didn't need it. BUT...this is the first place I've lived in that I've actually (partially) furnished myself, and I've got to say, the prospect of "hey, I'm going to keep this for the forseeable future, let's get something I actually *like*" has been really nice. I have the world's best desk setup, a bed that actually lets me sleep comfortably, and a little armchair to curl up in. I enjoyed the days of being able to pack every single belonging (except my cello, that was always a drawback) into a car almost as old as I was and take it...anywhere...sleeping in the front seat and wandering as needed. But I also really enjoy having furniture that actually suits my comfort and productivity. Maybe I'm just becoming a boring adult, who knows.