My friend got a half tuition need-base grant. How common is that?

[Immortally]

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A friend of mine just got a 25k need-base grant for med school. I have always thought that unlike ungrad schools, med schools don't provide much financial assistance in the term of grants. Does this have to do with his school really wanting him, or was it purely based on his financial situation? Sign me up for med school that gives 1/2 tuition in aid lol.

 

[borrawin95]

A friend of mine just got a 25k need-base grant for med school. I have always thought that unlike ungrad schools, med schools don't provide much financial assistance in the term of grants. Does this have to do with his school really wanting him, or was it purely based on his financial situation? Sign me up for med school that gives 1/2 tuition in aid lol.

Private mid/high-tier MD schools often give half-tuition (or more) in need-based aid to folks with an EFC of $0.

Think T40 and higher with a few exceptions (looking at you USC)

I can’t speak to higher income brackets but there is always merit-based aid.

 

[KnightDoc]

A friend of mine just got a 25k need-base grant for med school. I have always thought that unlike ungrad schools, med schools don't provide much financial assistance in the term of grants. Does this have to do with his school really wanting him, or was it purely based on his financial situation? Sign me up for med school that gives 1/2 tuition in aid lol.

Both. It totally depends on the school, its resources, how good the candidate is, and how high his financial need is. But, yes, need-based grants and merit scholarships are definitely a thing at some, but not all, med schools. The rub is that the best aid is generally available at the top ranked schools, which are, of course, the most difficult to be admitted to.

 

[Immortally]

Private mid/high-tier MD schools often give half-tuition (or more) in need-based aid to folks with an EFC of $0.

Think T40 and higher with a few exceptions (looking at you USC)

I can’t speak to higher income brackets but there is always merit-based aid.

Thanks for this info. For some odd reason I always thought NYU is the only generous one out there. Guess I am wrong there 😅

 

[Immortally]

Both. It totally depends on the school, its resources, how good the candidate is, and how high his financial need is. But, yes, need-based grants and merit scholarships are definitely a thing at some, but not all, med schools. The rub is that the best aid is generally available at the top ranked schools, which are, of course, the most difficult to be admitted to.

Why is it that the lower tier schools don't give out need-base grants/scholarships? I get it that top tier schools have a large endowment but is there anything else i am missing here

 

[KnightDoc]

Why is it that the lower tier schools don't give out need-base grants/scholarships? I get it that top tier schools have a large endowment but is there anything else i am missing here

No, that's it. Some lower tiers do while others don't, but none of them have the resources of the more prestigious schools, so none of them are as generous to as many people. All schools determine your need pretty much the same way. Better endowed schools are able to meet some or all of it with grants, while the others direct you to loans. It's the same with merit scholarships.

 

[Banco]

It's not that uncommon. I received something similar from 2 schools back in the day.