Life after undergrad

[doctorcalifornia]

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Does anyone know about all of the costs and fees after undergrad trying to get into med school?

I have a distant cousin that just graduated from the University of Chicago with a BS in biology. She eventually wants to become a doctor. However, she's been out of school for an entire year now, just working and paying her loans back. She hasn't taken the MCAT yet because she wants to enroll in one of the classes (that she cannot afford so she started a gofundme) to ensure that she scores high. She appears to be struggling financially.

Can anyone with experience tell me about life after undergrad? From a financial stand point.
Factor in: the cost of the MCAT, study materials for the MCAT, flying to interviews, loans, filling out med school applications, room and board and whatever else I'm missing

Also, do undergrad loans continue in med school? How do you pay them?

 

[Atny]

Mcat review material: 2k
Food/rent/utilities/medical:12k
Transporation (ticket, gas ect..): 2k
Car tag renewal, govt related fee, insurance: 1k
Application/testing fee: 1.5k
loan: 5k
Total: 23.5k/year

Solution: be extremely frugal and get a job!!!

 

[pithy84]

I am a college graduate in the workforce currently, and I am applying to med school.

My impression is that the med school application process costs the exact same amount of money. One difference: My job schedule is more flexible than my college schedule was, so this is actually less painful.

When you have a job, you are making money. When you are in college, you are (usually) losing money as tuition. Cost of living is usually comparable, unless you had a scholarship in college.

All things considered, I would say it is strictly easier to afford med school applications if you have a job. However, it could still be a huge financial burden.

I worked for money during undergrad, but even if you do that, your income will probably go up after you graduate. If only because you take more hours at the same job.

 

[RC4L]

That depends so much on how you approach it. I spent maybe four hundred total on my MCAT prep but I didn't take any classes. I applied to two schools in state so I drove for my interviews and it was not very expensive. Application fees were roughly 200 bucks. Obviously, this would be far different if I took an MCAT class and applied to 30 schools across the nation.

 

[Dreamstoo]

Most people I know took a year off at least before med school. Some went non-trad and worked for 3-4 years and got in during their late 20s.

 

[ohkos1]

I've been out of school for 3 years now. You absolutely do not need to take classes. Obviously, if she's smart enough to attend UChicago, she's smart enough to self study. You can get away with spending 300-400 dollars on prep books and CBT's.

 

[valkener]

A course is really not required to do well. On the contrary, most people prefer home-study and some question the face value of a course when you can get the best materials out there for much less.

 

[dyachei]

closing. cross-posted in pre-allo