Money not letting me send secondaries

[YaNkEE-DoOdLe]

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man this so sux. im gona be so behind

 

[chapinsita]

🙁 I feel you. I solved my problem by applying for a credit card though, and I was approved for $5k! Applications (and debt) here I come.

 

[XCanadianRagwee]

then don't apply.🙄

 

[peterockduke]

Just rob a smug premed student. Anyone will do, they're all practically the same. 🙄

Think about it, you're even doing them a favor b/c they'll probably write it into their personal statement! See, everybody wins!

 

[Paws]

XCRag -

Dude ! what's up with you? Why are you trying to bumm people out?


To the OP, you are in good company and I'm sure alot of us are silently suffering under the burden. Credit cards stink, but I think alot people end up using them. You just have to research the interest rate.

Good luck -

 

[Anka]

Paws, ignore the canadian ragweed. It just makes you sneeze, itch, and water at the eyes.

Yankee Doodle -- totally with you, man. I gotta wait for my next paycheck. Keep the faith.

Anka

 

[coldchemist]

I'm on my third round of applications, and part of the reason for this is my inability to complete applications because of a lack of money. This year I decided not to screw around and I got the money from a wealthy relative--before the application season started. I'm not bragging here--just saying that with a little planning it's possible to make this work.

 

[Anka]

This year I decided not to screw around and I got the money from a wealthy relative--before the application season started. I'm not bragging here--just saying that with a little planning it's possible to make this work.

A little planning and a rich relative!

 

[LapisLazuli]

donate sperm. $50 a shot.

ladies, eggs can get you $500. AND the hormone injections make you extremely horny.

 

[ms. a]

I hope no woman settles for just $500 for her eggs! It's major surgery, you lose eggs that you can never replace, and it's not an easy process. Ads asking for egg donors in my undergrad offered upward of $20,000. Still, not worth it, though, at least for me.

 

[YaNkEE-DoOdLe]

yea im sorta waiting for my next pay cheque too. 2 weeks from now. well my goal is to send some out atleast b4 the aug mcat scores come out.

 

[Ms. Dawson DO]

alot of people are in the same boat. what really burns me are secondaries that dont want anything but a signature and check. what's the point..they aren't getting any extra information..not even whether my parents or family are alum....they basically just taking your money. Furthermore, I have found that most of my secondaries do not take credit card....only the few that are online.

 

[tkim]

Just a little food for thought.

From what I've heard anecdotally, the average number of applications submitted hovers around 15-20. While I understand that from start to finish, each AMCAS/AACOMAS app to secondary is about $100, this is really not the time to skimp on expenses.

These expenses are a drop in the bucket compared to what you will take out in loans, etc., for medical school. To reduce your chances of getting in somewhere because of the lack of hard cash could put you at a disadvantage.

Personally, I would shoulder the additional instant debt and apply to as many schools as I am interested in the first time. Having to go through the expense of multiple AMCAS/AACOMAS application cycles obliterates any cost savings by only applying to a limited number of schools per application cycle.

Though it isn't the most financially responsible thing to do, if the situation warrants it, you can come up with a instant cash transfusion by utlilizing a 'credit transfer' from a credit card to your checking account. Or, you can use those preprinted checks that some credit cards send in the mail with your monthly statement. Of course, borrowing from family is much, much better.

I am not telling anyone to dig a financial hole that one can't climb out of, but if it means the difference between applying to fifteen schools versus ten ... Well, you can see the benefits.

Good luck!

- Tae

 

[lessismoe]

I have a Chase credit card, and they keep sending me their cheques to use. I wonder if it would be alright to use those for our secondaries? I don't see why not...

 

[Ms. Dawson DO]

I'm sorry tkim, its hard for me to visualize....with already almost 40k in loans from Princeton...i know what debt is like but its debt that i don't have to deal with right now. unfortunately credit cards and/or regular bills especially with a family is RIGHT NOW. It's kind of hard to chalk it up to 'ah well, i will be in so much more debt later...this is no biggie"....when i need to feed my son and pay my current bills. It especially sucks when its clear the sole purpose is just for more money from applicants, as opposed to really asking me questions that may impact my application as a whole. but that's just my sentiment...no amount of food for thought is going to change this unfortunately.

 

[tkim]

Originally posted by Ms. Dawson, DO
I'm sorry tkim, its hard for me to visualize....with already almost 40k in loans from Princeton...i know what debt is like but its debt that i don't have to deal with right now. unfortunately credit cards and/or regular bills especially with a family is RIGHT NOW. It's kind of hard to chalk it up to 'ah well, i will be in so much more debt later...this is no biggie"....when i need to feed my son and pay my current bills. It especially sucks when its clear the sole purpose is just for more money from applicants, as opposed to really asking me questions that may impact my application as a whole. but that's just my sentiment...no amount of food for thought is going to change this unfortunately.

I completely understand, though I don't think I necessarily characterized taking on additional debt as 'no big thing'.

It's calculating risk versus benefit: will being able to apply to X more schools in my first cycle offset the additional cost it incurs - and possibly save if one can avoid having to enter another application cycle.

There are some people who are willing to take that risk.

- Tae

 

[Ms. Dawson DO]

I agree it is a risk....and thus i have applied to 16 schools of course to increase my chances. but those lower on my list will be last to get secondaries back unfortunately...

i think that was the point of the original post..money is tight and therefore secondaries will be received when money becomes available...which might be a lil later than normal. i don't think anyone was suggesting to apply to less schools or that they did so to remedy their financial woes. in that aspect, i would have to agree with you about taking the risk. i just wish schools didn't just blatantly take your money by just sending a signature card with no additional information requested to actually help your application....

🙁

 

[tkim]

Originally posted by Ms. Dawson, DO
i just wish schools didn't just blatantly take your money by just sending a signature card with no additional information requested to actually help your application....

🙁

Oh I don't know about that. I would rather not have to fork over the money for secondaries at all.

But if secondary fees are non-negotiable, then I'd rather send back a card and a check instead of retyping the answer to essentially the *same* question on every secondary. That's just a wast of time.

- Tae

 

[Ms. Dawson DO]

I tend to like secondaries with essays..although they can be time consuming. (especially witha baby) But i think its another opportunity to enhance my amcas/aacomas application. I would never think to use/reuse my first personal essay...or even information enclosed. so i always feel cheated/pimped for my dough when the secondary is nothing but a request for money...

but perhaps this is just my take 😉

 

[ddmo]

Originally posted by lessismoe
I have a Chase credit card, and they keep sending me their cheques to use. I wonder if it would be alright to use those for our secondaries? I don't see why not...

Read your contract, a lot of companies charge surcharges, fees, or higher rates for using those checks. The same thing with cash advances.

Everyone be careful, bad credit can really come back to haunt you when it comes time to get loans. In fact, I know Georgetown for one actually requires a credit check before accepting you. If you have unpaid bills or high balances they will deny you. They believe this behavior is an indication that you are more likely to default on your loans.

 

[Tezzie]

Originally posted by Ms. Dawson, DO
I'm sorry tkim, its hard for me to visualize....with already almost 40k in loans from Princeton..

I am sorry but did you absolutely HAD to go to Princeton? Your state U wasn't good enough? Usually the superstars that go to Princeton turn down merit scholarships in other places just so they can go to a more "prestigious" school. For people who are sure they want to do post-grad or professional degrees it is insane to run into debt in big named schools so you can have the prestige of a famous undergrad.

My parents could afford my undergrad and med school bills but i decided that i would much rather go to wherever i was awarded money. I was admitted to Princeton, Yale, Harvard and Stanford and got scholarships from 2-3 schools. I knew that i wanted a professional degree so i decided to go to a free ride undergrad so that i can be more free with my post-grad choices.

 

[twinklz]

She probably didn't HAVE to go to Princeton, like I didn't HAVE to go to my undergrad institution. But there is a HUGE difference in the quality of education I would have received from a free ride at State U and the education I actually got. My pre med friend from aforementined State U was a biochem major and managed to only get a 22 on her MCAT, and I an English major cramming in all my pre-med classes into my last 3 semesters of college, got 10 points higher.

I think maybe a better route is to pick a little more carefully which schools you're going to apply to. Maybe I'm feeling a little over confident by "only" applying to 7 schools. Seven schools is still setting me back 2 months rent, and I can't imagine having to attempt to pay back the credit card bills when I'm all of a sudden (crossing fingers) enveloped in the loans for med school.

 

[supersunny]

Originally posted by twinklz
She probably didn't HAVE to go to Princeton, like I didn't HAVE to go to my undergrad institution. But there is a HUGE difference in the quality of education I would have received from a free ride at State U and the education I actually got. My pre med friend from aforementined State U was a biochem major and managed to only get a 22 on her MCAT, and I an English major cramming in all my pre-med classes into my last 3 semesters of college, got 10 points higher.

sorry, but i think your case kinda reeks🙄

there are way more factors than "the quality of education". ask anyone who attended a state school who scored higher than you. from what i've seen there are plenty here on sdn.

 

[Tezzie]

Originally posted by twinklz
She probably didn't HAVE to go to Princeton, like I didn't HAVE to go to my undergrad institution. But there is a HUGE difference in the quality of education I would have received from a free ride at State U and the education I actually got. My pre med friend from aforementined State U was a biochem major and managed to only get a 22 on her MCAT, and I an English major cramming in all my pre-med classes into my last 3 semesters of college, got 10 points higher.

First of all there are plenty of State Us that compete with elite private schools : Berkeley, Michigan, Virginia. Then you have other powerhouses such as IL,WI, UCLA, Texas,NC, Indiana, OH, the list goes on.

A 4 year education at Berkeley with 15k a year out of state tution comes to 60k. Compare that to Stanfords ~30k tuition. You save 60k over a 4 year period of time and you still graduate a prestigious school.

Plus as i said, a lot of Princeton,Yale etc people are offered full rides to other private colleges.

I was offered a scholarship at WashU and Amherst. By attending WashU i saved my parents 120k and now i don't have to worry about how many schools i apply to etc. Had i not received a scholarship i would have gone to UVA.

Regardless of how much money your parents have or don't have a person that is going to seek a post-graduate education oughts to think about the high costs of that. Plus when you do post grad work people will care more about your graduate school than your undergrad.

Oh and come on! How different could basic chemistry, math or microeconomics between local state U and Harvard be ?

 

[doc05]

Originally posted by Tezzie
First of all there are plenty of State Us that compete with elite private schools : Berkeley, Michigan, Virginia. Then you have other powerhouses such as IL,WI, UCLA, Texas,NC, Indiana, OH, the list goes on.

A 4 year education at Berkeley with 15k a year out of state tution comes to 60k. Compare that to Stanfords ~30k tuition. You save 60k over a 4 year period of time and you still graduate a prestigious school.

Plus as i said, a lot of Princeton,Yale etc people are offered full rides to other private colleges.

I was offered a scholarship at WashU and Amherst. By attending WashU i saved my parents 120k and now i don't have to worry about how many schools i apply to etc. Had i not received a scholarship i would have gone to UVA.

Regardless of how much money your parents have or don't have a person that is going to seek a post-graduate education oughts to think about the high costs of that. Plus when you do post grad work people will care more about your graduate school than your undergrad.

Oh and come on! How different could basic chemistry, math or microeconomics between local state U and Harvard be ?

actually, there is quite a significant difference. Having attended WashU, you don't realize how awful your experience would have been at the typical state school. The elite schools are elite for a reason.