How would I afford medical school?

[FutureNeuroSurgeon]

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Surely i do not need to be rich right off the bat, in order to get through college and medical school right?
Hello everyone. I am a 16 year old male looking to go into surgery in the future. As to what type of surgeon i want to be? I'm not sure yet. I'm thinking of Neurosurgery but that could always change in the future.
As a 16 year old who is home schooled, i have plenty of time to think about my future. I find surgery fascinating and hope to be a surgeon in the future. I am sure i could do it, as i am very dedicated and know that I'll be studying lots in college so i get accepted into a medical school for sure. But here is where my problem comes in.
Money. How in the world, will i, my 18 year old self, make it through college? I mean surely i could pick up a part time job and that would help with a bit of the expenses. But how would i afford all my books, classes, and what not? I am from Texas and plan to go to school in Texas as well so i do not need to pay for out of state tuition. What about scholarships? Those have certainly crossed my mind. What I'm saying is. I'm certain i have what it takes to be a surgeon, but my own limiting factor is money. I am by no means rich and my parents never saved any money up for me as a kid. Any ideas on what i could do to afford all of 14 years of schooling lol? I do not wish to discard my dream because i never had enough money. The military is also an option. But i highly doubt I'd have enough time to effectively study and what not for college in the military. The military's needs come before my own. I have also thought about going to reserves, that way I'd be able to focus on schooling. But there's still that chance that I may get deployed and have to put all my schooling on hold.
As you can see, my 16 year old brain is in a bit of a pickle. Also, i know that i still have plenty of time to figure all of this out, but i love planning ahead and what not. I love knowing what i want to do right off the bat.

Thank you to everyone who answers. Take care~~

 

[neusu]

Moving to HS

 

[grapp]

You get student loans like every other medical student or college student... Some med schools have some scholarship opportunities, but there not super common. Student loans.

I've gotten a few scholarships myself, FASFA is important too. Federal Aid for Financial Needs..

 

[neusu]

These are all great questions and important to think about. Try not to stress out too much.

Many students do obtain scholarships for undergraduate education. Many also take out student loans. There are federal student loan programs (https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/sites/default/files/federal-loan-programs.pdf and http://www.direct.ed.gov/ ) that students use.

Medical school has less opportunity for scholarships, and most students take out loans.

 

[KinesiologyNerd]

Loans, man. There's a reason your average med student graduates with $200k of debt.

 

[ortnakas]

Not sure where you're getting 14 years of school-- 4 college plus 4 med school is typical.

Med school loans are available for the full cost of attendance (federal loans). For college, loans are available, and you might be able to find need-based aid as well.

 

[grapp]

Not sure where you're getting 14 years of school-- 4 college plus 4 med school is typical.

Med school loans are available for the full cost of attendance (federal loans). For college, loans are available, and you might be able to find need-based aid as well.

Of course.. Residency can be considered a learning experience... Some don't require residencies, while others like neurosurgery and cardiothiracics require 7-8, sometimes people add fellowships. E.g. trauma surgeon 5 years (general surgery) + 2 years (trauma)

 

[kcehreuhcs]

Of course.. Residency can be considered a learning experience... Some don't require residencies, while others like neurosurgery and cardiothiracics require 7-8, sometimes people add fellowships. E.g. trauma surgeon 5 years (general surgery) + 2 years (trauma)

Keep in mind it's also a money making experience.

 

[Instatewaiter]

How in the world, will i, my 18 year old self, make it through college? I mean surely i could pick up a part time job and that would help with a bit of the expenses. But how would i afford all my books, classes, and what not? I am from Texas and plan to go to school in Texas as well so i do not need to pay for out of state tuition. What about scholarships?

Most of us have paid for it by either providing back alley abortions or through prostitution... Oh yeah, or student loans. The third option is less popular though.

Just a quick question, ever think of googling the question?

I am a 16 year old male looking to go into surgery in the future. I'm thinking of Neurosurgery

But of course you are thinking neurosurgeron. I'm guessing your second choice is trauma... Note that no one on hSDN ever says they want to do colorectal surgery. I'd be willing to guess a quarter of those on hSDN want to do neurosurgery. It'd be an interesting exercise to see how many people on SDN who wanted to be a neurosurgeon actually become a neurosurgeon (or even get into medical school)... But I digress

 

[ortnakas]

Of course.. Residency can be considered a learning experience... Some don't require residencies, while others like neurosurgery and cardiothiracics require 7-8, sometimes people add fellowships. E.g. trauma surgeon 5 years (general surgery) + 2 years (trauma)

All specialties require residency and clearly it's a learning experience, but it's one you get paid for, not the other way around.

 

[grapp]

All specialties require residency and clearly it's a learning experience, but it's one you get paid for, not the other way around.

I was talking with a medical school student in the OR with me on Wednesday, from what I heard... He's an MS3 looking at residency programs in the future... looking at Oncology which to my knowledge doesn't require a residency but has an option for fellowships.

 

[grapp]

Most of us have paid for it by either providing back alley abortions or through prostitution... Oh yeah, or student loans. The third option is less popular though.

Just a quick question, ever think of googling the question?



But of course you are thinking neurosurgeron. I'm guessing your second choice is trauma... Note that no one on hSDN ever says they want to do colorectal surgery. I'd be willing to guess a quarter of those on hSDN want to do neurosurgery. It'd be an interesting exercise to see how many people on SDN who wanted to be a neurosurgeon actually become a neurosurgeon (or even get into medical school)... But I digress

Haha I like Trauma, but I'm thinking of General Surgery when I get there.. Then perhaps a fellowship... But, general surgery intrigues me more due to the better lifestyle it could provide compared to trauma.

 

[Instatewaiter]

I was talking with a medical school student in the OR with me on Wednesday, from what I heard... He's an MS3 looking at residency programs in the future... looking at Oncology which to my knowledge doesn't require a residency but has an option for fellowships.

Oncology requires a 3 year IM residency followed by a heme/onc fellowship which will differ in length based on teh program (tends to be 3-4 years).

 

[ortnakas]

I was talking with a medical school student in the OR with me on Wednesday, from what I heard... He's an MS3 looking at residency programs in the future... looking at Oncology which to my knowledge doesn't require a residency but has an option for fellowships.

I'm a current medical student. EVERYTHING requires a residency. Oncology is a subspecialty, which means you do a fellowship (in that case, after internal medicine).

 

[mcloaf]

Haha I like Trauma, but I'm thinking of General Surgery when I get there.. Then perhaps a fellowship... But, general surgery intrigues me more due to the better lifestyle it could provide compared to trauma.

Lmao general surgery and "better lifestyle" do not belong in the same sentence.

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[grapp]

Lmao general surgery and "better lifestyle" do not belong in the same sentence.

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Lol! It's funny because I see what you are saying, I've conversed with several and understand that it demands long hard hours. So I totally see why you say they shouldn't be in the same sentence, but I think it's significantly better than trauma (80-110 hour week) < (50-70 hour week). Medicine is the most unstable field for time related schedules. I understand that. I just wouldn't want to make my full life my career, yes, general surgery takes a good part of it.

 

[Winged Scapula]

Lol! It's funny because I see what you are saying, I've conversed with several and understand that it demands long hard hours. So I totally see why you say they shouldn't be in the same sentence, but I think it's significantly better than trauma (80-110 hour week) < (50-70 hour week). Medicine is the most unstable field for time related schedules. I understand that. I just wouldn't want to make my full life my career, yes, general surgery takes a good part of it.

As a general surgery trained subspecialist with a trauma fellowship trained former fiancé, I can verify that while both have long hours trauma/ critical care tends to be shift work.

Once he was out in practice he worked less than we did in residency and less than our general surgery friends. Trauma attendings do not work 80 to 110 hours per week and very few general surgeons work only 50 hours a week unless thetre in a lifestyle specialty.


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[grapp]

As a general surgery trained subspecialist with a trauma fellowship trained former fiancé, I can verify that while both have long hours trauma/ critical care tends to be shift work.

Once he was out in practice he worked less than we did in residency and less than our general surgery friends. Trauma attendings do not work 80 to 110 hours per week and very few general surgeons work only 50 hours a week unless thetre in a lifestyle specialty.


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How many hours do trauma attendings work per week then? I'm curious, I must've heard wrong.

 

[Winged Scapula]

It's going to vary from person to person.

What I think you're missing is that while it would not be unreasonable to work 80 hours during a busy week (as even with shift type of employment if you're in the middle of an operative case or trauma, you're not clocking out), you aren't working those hours every week.

Let's use my ex as an example:

1 week Trauma attending; usually works 7a-7p M-F; rounds on weekends, first call for incoming traumas

1 week ICU attending; as above but does not come in for/respond to trauma. Done after rounds although has to be available for new admissions or problems with patients.

1 week general surgery: routine clinic and ED call either day or night shift. Might not come in at all generally does routine elective cases. Second backup for trauma every 3rd night

1 week "administrative": this means he can do research or nothing at all

My attendings during residency and fellowship were similar schedules usually rotating one week on trauma and one week on ICU.

Even the big players in trauma (Scalea, Mattox, Ivatury etc) aren't working 80-110 hours per week EVERY week. My ex trained with Scalea so I was somewhat familiar with their grueling schedule but even he wasn't on service every week.


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[grapp]

It's going to vary from person to person.

What I think you're missing is that while it would not be unreasonable to work 80 hours during a busy week (as even with shift type of employment if you're in the middle of an operative case or trauma, you're not clocking out), you aren't working those hours every week.

Let's use my ex as an example:

1 week Trauma attending; usually works 7a-7p M-F; rounds on weekends, first call for incoming traumas

1 week ICU attending; as above but does not come in for/respond to trauma. Done after rounds although has to be available for new admissions or problems with patients.

1 week general surgery: routine clinic and ED call either day or night shift. Might not come in at all generally does routine elective cases. Second backup for trauma every 3rd night

1 week "administrative": this means he can do research or nothing at all

My attendings during residency and fellowship were similar schedules usually rotating one week on trauma and one week on ICU.

Even the big players in trauma (Scalea, Mattox, Ivatury etc) aren't working 80-110 hours per week EVERY week. My ex trained with Scalea so I was somewhat familiar with their grueling schedule but even he wasn't on service every week.


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Thank you a lot for clearing this up for me. Thank you for your help. Much appreciated! 🙂