Med School on the Cheap

[seracus]

If I wanted to attend an upper tier research medical school for the least amount of money possible, where should I apply? Do some top programs have reputations for giving out more scholarships or more generous financial aid? Do any medical schools offer very cheap housing in expensive geographical areas?

I have heard speculation that University of Chicago and Vanderbilt give out many merit scholarships, though the information I found was anecdotal at best. Anyone know of any other programs?

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[xXIDaShizIXx]

If I wanted to attend an upper tier research medical school for the least amount of money possible, where should I apply? Do some top programs have reputations for giving out more scholarships or more generous financial aid? Do any medical schools offer very cheap housing in expensive geographical areas?

I have heard speculation that University of Chicago and Vanderbilt give out many merit scholarships, though the information I found was anecdotal at best. Anyone know of any other programs?

Vanderbilt does and it is a beautiful school, but believe me you have to have a spotless record. Like 3.8+ GPA, good ECs and a 35+ MCAT.

 

[NickNaylor]

U of C, Vandy, WashU, and Penn are the programs I can think of that are known to give out significant scholarship money. I'm sure there are others, but for the Ivy-grade institutions this seems to be more of a hush hush thing.

 

[eHombre]

If I wanted to attend an upper tier research medical school for the least amount of money possible, where should I apply? Do some top programs have reputations for giving out more scholarships or more generous financial aid? Do any medical schools offer very cheap housing in expensive geographical areas?

I have heard speculation that University of Chicago and Vanderbilt give out many merit scholarships, though the information I found was anecdotal at best. Anyone know of any other programs?

Mount Sinai has a low-ish tuition and offers ultra-cheap housing (think ~$500/mo) in a desirable upper UES location a block from Central Park.

 

[IMSingular]

Mayo seems to have lowest indebtness accept for Military.

 

[chronicidal]

People above have said: WashU, Penn, UChicago, Vanderbilt.

Mayo and Stanford have low tuition and among the lowest indebtedness averages. Cleveland Clinic (CCLCM), I think, should also be counted in this group.

I'd add to the list of schools with merit money: Northwestern, Duke

In terms of good financial aid, HMS has that middle income initiative that eliminates family contribution if household income is lower than $100k. But you get a unit loan of about $25k/year.

 

[Megatron2016]

Better schools (and I just mean schools with a lot of endowment money, which tend to have good USNews rankings) tend to have great need-based aid programs. At a school like Harvard or Yale, if your family makes under $120k, you probably qualify for max need-based aid. This would equate to graduating with about $100k-120k in debt at many of these schools. (Obviously if your family makes $30k and has $1 million in assets, this wouldn't apply to you).

Being URM qualifies you for a lot of scholarships you might not have heard of at various schools. It also might make you more likely to get normal merit scholarships at some places.

 

[Megatron2016]

People above have said: WashU, Penn, UChicago, Vanderbilt.

Mayo and Stanford have low tuition and among the lowest indebtedness averages. Cleveland Clinic (CCLCM), I think, should also be counted in this group.

I'd add to the list of schools with merit money: Northwestern, Duke

CCLCM is free, right?

 

[eHombre]

Better schools (and I just mean schools with a lot of endowment money, which tend to have good USNews rankings) tend to have great need-based aid programs. At a school like Harvard or Yale, if your family makes under $120k, you probably qualify for max need-based aid. This would equate to graduating with about $100k-120k in debt at many of these schools. (Obviously if your family makes $30k and has $1 million in assets, this wouldn't apply to you).

I don't know about Harvard, but I know that Yale recently decided to exclude primary residences from their calculation of family assets. So, um, all you peeps with $1 million cribs can rest easy cause Yale's got your back.

 

[Megatron2016]

I don't know about Harvard, but I know that Yale recently decided to exclude primary residences from their calculation of family assets. So, um, all you peeps with $1 million cribs can rest easy cause Yale's got your back.

Yea, but on your 2nd-9th residences you get screwed. :'(

that's life I guess.

 

[MT Headed]

FAFSA does the same thing, discriminate against renters and favor owners. Seems kinda backwards to me.

The should take into account now much equity you have in the home. It's not like it's diffficult to access it anymore.

 

[Megatron2016]

FAFSA does the same thing, discriminate against renters and favor owners. Seems kinda backwards to me.

The should take into account now much equity you have in the home. It's not like it's diffficult to access it anymore.

The reason Yale stopped taking into account the value of your primary residence was because of the housing bubble. Students weren't qualifying for aid based on inflated home prices. Pretty difficult for financial aid offices to assess the quality of your home's valuation and you can make good cases both for and against this. The richer schools have the luxury of the more inclusive policy.

Most schools do look at the value of your home (though not necessarily the equity) through supplemental forms like the CSS/Profile or NeedAccess.

 

[phltz]

If you're from California or Michigan, your course is clear. Actually, even if you aren't from Michigan, UMich can offer good financial aid to students they really want to attract.

Realistically, most applicants are lucky to just be accepted to a top research school, let alone to also get scholarships. But as long as we're ignoring that, Mayo may well be the bestest, cheapest option.

 

[Megatron2016]

If you're from California or Michigan, your course is clear. Actually, even if you aren't from Michigan, UMich can offer good financial aid to students they really want to attract.

Realistically, most applicants are lucky to just be accepted to a top research school, let alone to also get scholarships. But as long as we're ignoring that, Mayo may well be the bestest, cheapest option.

I disagree with the Cali statement. Schools from Cali are actually pretty expensive. UCSF alone has $35k tuition for instate students (Okay, this call this $35k 'fees'. you say tomato....)

Props to Mayo for being so affordable.

 

[deleted393595]

If I wanted to attend an upper tier research medical school for the least amount of money possible, where should I apply? Do some top programs have reputations for giving out more scholarships or more generous financial aid? Do any medical schools offer very cheap housing in expensive geographical areas?

I have heard speculation that University of Chicago and Vanderbilt give out many merit scholarships, though the information I found was anecdotal at best. Anyone know of any other programs?

1. Move to Texas
2. Establish Texas Residency
3. Go to UTSW

 

[imymemine]

1. Move to Texas
2. Establish Texas Residency
3. Go to UTSW

Baylor and UTSW have low sticker prices (Baylor ~28k/yr and UTSW ~15k/yr). UTSW offers in-state tuition to everyone who is admitted regardless of residency through merit scholarship. UTSW is also more OOS-friendly than you would think (if you have good stats and research exp), probably because so few non-Texans want to take the time to fill out TMDSAS and/or they think Texas sucks. IMO UTSW is one of the best kept secrets for med school bargain-hunters.

 

[gettheleadout]

Baylor and UTSW have low sticker prices (Baylor ~28k/yr and UTSW ~15k/yr). UTSW offers in-state tuition to everyone who is admitted regardless of residency through merit scholarship. UTSW is also more OOS-friendly than you would think (if you have good stats and research exp), probably because so few non-Texans want to take the time to fill out TMDSAS and/or they think Texas sucks. IMO UTSW is one of the best kept secrets for med school bargain-hunters.

http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/wrtk/

 

[Morsetlis]

Well, it does suck*, but that doesn't mean you can't save money in Texas ;p




*Statement of fact.

 

[NickNaylor]

http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/wrtk/

Hey, as long as you're not trying to get an abortion or aren't gay, Texas is awesome.*

*only half-kidding