Schools COA (10 mo vs 12 mo)

[The OTC]

Hi there

Fortunate to have a few acceptances and was browsing COA at each school. For some, COA only covers 10 months of MS1 and MS2 while others cover the whole year MS1-MS4. For schools with only 10 months of coverage, what do medical students do meet their financial need during the 2 months not covered? Are students expected to stretch their funds? Work a side gig? Thank for the insight in advance!

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[SCOOPEER]

If you are in the situation most people are in where loans are what you are living on exclusively, yes, you must stretch them for the summer. However, many students find paid research programs/work during the summer in between M1-M2, use money saved up before starting med school, parental support, or a combination of those.

 

[LizzyM]

As above. The schools that cut you loose for the summer are incentivizing you to get a research stipend or some kind of employment for the summer to cover your living expenses for that time period, or to stretch what you had to live on for the school year to cover those vacation months.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Welcome to the "teacher's/adjunct's life" where you have two months "free." Concur with the above: there is an expectation you will find a stipended opportunity doing research or working a temp position. Of course, with federal grants not being disbursed (in 2025), there's no guarantee you'll find something. Ask questions.