I agree with the above posters. Residencies don't pay off loans with the exception of some stipends already mentioned. Also, be careful of the special programs that "trap" med students early by paying for medschool up front if the student signs a contract to go into a particular primary care field/underserved area. Many of these programs turn into some of the worst loan terms if you should change you mind and not want to go into the contracted field of medicine. Trust me, by the end of your third year of medical school there are some good odds that you may have changed your mind about what type of doc you want to be. Or, you may end up wanting to practice in another area after residency than the one you signed up for in medical school...just be careful.
As for now, you could try to figure out the least amount you could get by with for the year and take a loan out for that amount. At my school, you could go back at almost any time throughout the year and ask for additional funds if you need them (up to a max amount). Just check with your financial aid office about your school's policies about taking out the extra cash when it is needed. There wasn't even a fee for doing this at my school. Loans aren't any fun, but if you have to have the money and don't have anyone else to give it to you, then you just have to deal with the loans.
