If offered an interview, what do you pay?

[thestrokes14]

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I was hoping someone could clarify this for me. I am trying to choose medical schools, but the money involved is on my mind. If I was offered an interview at a school, would they pay for transportation and/or a place to stay for a night. I have some interest in schools that are very far from me, but how does the interview process work in those cases?

 

[anfleisch]

They pay for nothing, except lunch and maybe coffee/tea when you get there.

 

[miabullitt]

you pay all your expenses

 

[dr zaius]

Start saving your money because it can get expensive.

 

[TooMuchResearch]

If you're lucky, they give you a list of students that might be willing to host you for a night. That is what they offer...if you're lucky.

You will need cash or credit to pay. I'd recommend getting a job or taking out (more) loans: http://studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/students/english/index.jsp

I took out a few thousand dollars in Stafford loans two weeks before graduation to help cover application and travel expenses.

 

[OhioDoc]

I was hoping someone could clarify this for me. I am trying to choose medical schools, but the money involved is on my mind. If I was offered an interview at a school, would they pay for transportation and/or a place to stay for a night. I have some interest in schools that are very far from me, but how does the interview process work in those cases?

These costs are almost always your responsibility.

 

[auburnO5]

When I first read the title, I thought that this thread was going to be about how much $$$ you would pay to bribe the adcom.

 

[pelliper]

I was hoping someone could clarify this for me. I am trying to choose medical schools, but the money involved is on my mind. If I was offered an interview at a school, would they pay for transportation and/or a place to stay for a night. I have some interest in schools that are very far from me, but how does the interview process work in those cases?

They won't pay for anything except lunch and maybe breakfast. In terms of lodging most places I went to had student hosts, but sometimes they can be unresponsive to e-mail so always have a backup plan.

 

[teenmachinery1]

I was hoping someone could clarify this for me. I am trying to choose medical schools, but the money involved is on my mind. If I was offered an interview at a school, would they pay for transportation and/or a place to stay for a night. I have some interest in schools that are very far from me, but how does the interview process work in those cases?

this question u ask reveals a staggering ignorance... i just don't get how some premeds can be so clueless.

edit: like yesterday someone's like "yeah, i might do medicine i think ill take the mcat and ill probably pass, i mean ill for sure pass and then take it from there..."

 

[The Poet Sings]

this question u ask reveals a staggering ignorance... i just don't get how some premeds can be so clueless.

edit: like yesterday someone's like "yeah, i might do medicine i think ill take the mcat and ill probably pass, i mean ill for sure pass and then take it from there..."

maybe they have friends who were applying to grad school and got everything paid for? my boyfriend's interviews were mostly paid for. either they paid up front or he did and mailed in his receipts to them so they'd cut him a check. so it happens. just not with med school.

 

[TexasFight]

this question u ask reveals a staggering ignorance... i just don't get how some premeds can be so clueless.

edit: like yesterday someone's like "yeah, i might do medicine i think ill take the mcat and ill probably pass, i mean ill for sure pass and then take it from there..."

C'mon now, you could be a little nicer.

The schools don't actually post this information anywhere (to my understanding). I learned about paying your way from all the posts on SDN talking about how expensive the process is. Also many grad schools offer to pay for interviews - so it's not a lapse in logic either.

 

[Kevin Baker]

I was hoping someone could clarify this for me. I am trying to choose medical schools, but the money involved is on my mind. If I was offered an interview at a school, would they pay for transportation and/or a place to stay for a night. I have some interest in schools that are very far from me, but how does the interview process work in those cases?

Very valid question. If you interview for a lot of good jobs, they put you up in a nice place, take you out to a meal, and woo you, even in this economy. But for schooling, I've never seen a school do this.

 

[Asyouwereatrio]

I can understand someone's lack of information about this, if they haven't had many people advise them about it. I knew about the costs just from being exposed to it through school and family experiences. Some people don't have that luxury so in that sense, I'm quite fortunate.

Unfortunately for medical school, the application process is very expensive and you will have to support yourself (pay for yourself) throughout the entire process..each step of the way, from application fees during the primary/secondary all the way up to moving to school when it starts!

 

[NickNaylor]

maybe they have friends who were applying to grad school and got everything paid for? my boyfriend's interviews were mostly paid for. either they paid up front or he did and mailed in his receipts to them so they'd cut him a check. so it happens. just not with med school.

This is definitely a pro for grad school interviews (especially basic science programs). They provide some pretty fantastic times from what I've heard from friends that have gone through the process.

 

[Dianyla]

When I first read the title, I thought that this thread was going to be about how much $$$ you would pay to bribe the adcom.

That's exactly what I thought.

 

[deleted244469]

C'mon now, you could be a little nicer.

The schools don't actually post this information anywhere (to my understanding). I learned about paying your way from all the posts on SDN talking about how expensive the process is. Also many grad schools offer to pay for interviews - so it's not a lapse in logic either.

Agreed. If it wasnt for SDN I would be lost with all of this stuff. 🙂

 

[betheltim]

When I first read the title, I thought that this thread was going to be about how much $$$ you would pay to bribe the adcom.

Hahaha, that's why I jumped in this thread too... I was so excited to hear some juicy gossip... Or something...

this question u ask reveals a staggering ignorance... i just don't get how some premeds can be so clueless.

edit: like yesterday someone's like "yeah, i might do medicine i think ill take the mcat and ill probably pass, i mean ill for sure pass and then take it from there..."

Maybe off-topic, but I hear that from people all the time:

Me: Have you gotten secondaries back yet?
Guy: No, I haven't started my primary yet.
M: Why not?
G: Well, I haven't signed up for the MCAT, but I figured I'd get about a 34-36, so I'm not worried.
M: You know you're still going to be late though, right?
G: Yeah, but with a good MCAT and a great application, I'm sure I'll get in.
M: K.

But yeah, to be fair, it's a good question if you don't have a good premedical support system at your school, etc.


On topic:

OP, whatever you do, make sure you abuse all the free food and lodging they give you. In my experience, I already knew everything about the school when I went to pre-interview and host nights, but the free food was really where it was at...

 

[miniagent007]

If you wanted other options to save some money, I googled churches near where my interviews were and called asking if they knew anyone willing to house a student for a couple nights. They asked around, and the pastor could kind of screen for me, and I ended up with some wonderful people who were willing to house me and even take me to and from the airport and feed me! The only thing I had to pay for was my plane ticket!

Some big churches even have places to sleep, shower, etc. in their church building. Applying is an expensive process, but it doesn't have to be prohibitively so! Just get creative...

 

[betheltim]

If you wanted other options to save some money, I googled churches near where my interviews were and called asking if they knew anyone willing to house a student for a couple nights. They asked around, and the pastor could kind of screen for me, and I ended up with some wonderful people who were willing to house me and even take me to and from the airport and feed me! The only thing I had to pay for was my plane ticket!

Some big churches even have places to sleep, shower, etc. in their church building. Applying is an expensive process, but it doesn't have to be prohibitively so! Just get creative...

Wow, that's a great story! I'm pretty impressed, I'll have to try that if I apply to a faraway land...

 

[Lokhtar]

My sister went to grad school interviews and everything was paid for. But then again, at grad school, they love you because you're a highly qualified minimum wage laborer for the next five years (and then another five for a post-doc, and then another 10 as slightly more expensive assistant professor...).

 

[Suenya]

this question u ask reveals a staggering ignorance... i just don't get how some premeds can be so clueless.

Because mixed in with the nice ones, there are so many premeds like you that act like jerks instead of helping. That's how.

Alot of grad school programs (less so ones that are professional-y like clinical psych or nursing) will pay for some aspects of the stay and travel. I'm pretty sure that at least one or two of the schools I was invited to interview at had sections with contact information if the travel would be a financial hardship. I don't really know what they cover, and I don't remember which schools (maybe HMS and Albany? really unsure though), but I wouldn't count on that at most schools. I would imagine the need would have to be really high, too, since most of us are in debt already and just get further into it for interviews.

Also, if a school doesn't have student hosts (which would seem rare) I noticed that people who have already interviewed might have found good deals or ways to save money on the trip to that particular school. The school specific threads will probably be helpful in saving some money if you ask partway into the interview season.

 

[SusGob711]

When I first read the title, I thought that this thread was going to be about how much $$$ you would pay to bribe the adcom.

Haha, me too! I'm glad it's not though 😛

Seriously though...applying to medical schools will probably be your biggest out-of-pocket expense throughout medical school, minus applying for residencies of course. It sucks but as others have said...either save, save, save or break down and take out another one of those nasty loans, lol. Best of luck to you.