Same as the thread-maker....
10-year medic w/ wife and 3 kids, and I'm starting in '07. Mercer gives additional loans to students that will commit to specialites like EM because they're mission compliant. If you decide on something different, the interest rate on the loan doubles (roughly). This isn't so much a 'post-grad' incentive.
Maybe this should be reserved for another thread, but....
From my perspective, getting loans isn't a problem; plenty of loan opportunities and you're cut-off on getting loans anyway once you reach the schools student budget (based on a single student in a one bed/bath apartment). I can live on a nickel, but my family can't. If my wife doesn't work (and, no, neither will the kids), is there a way to get more $$$ while in school? I thought about continuing to work in EMS part-time, but that might be too daring....or illegal.