Spouse and Financial Aid

[curious lately]

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Hey, I was wondering if anyone know how it works if you are married and applying to medical schools.
1. Do schools still calculate your parent cnotribution? Is it thus more expensive if you are applying married regardless of how much your spouse makes?
2. Are there any circumstances where a married couple can be considered independent and parent contributions are not taken into account?

Thanks!

 

[Rogerswife]

Hey, I was wondering if anyone know how it works if you are married and applying to medical schools.
1. Do schools still calculate your parent cnotribution? Is it thus more expensive if you are applying married regardless of how much your spouse makes?
2. Are there any circumstances where a married couple can be considered independent and parent contributions are not taken into account?

Thanks!

In my experience, schools do not count your parental contributions regardless of whether you're married or not. I am married, and both my husband and I were working full-time when I got into med school. My EFC was quite high (about $16,000), but it basically didn't mean anything because they will give you loans up to the full amount that your school determines is appropriate regardless of what your EFC is. In my experience there are two basic kinds of financial aid for med school: loans and private scholarships. You really don't get government grants or things like that, so the only thing that your EFC will affect might be your eligibility for need-based private scholarships. I hope this helps. Just remember that there will be some variation from school to school, so make sure you contact your specific school to be absolutely sure.

 

[Wifey]

At the school my husband attends they DO count the parental contribution regardless of whether or not the student is married or meets another qualification for being considered independent. This was a bit frustrating for us as we were married for 3 years before my husband started medical school and certainly not "dependent"; however, his parents made much more money than we did and this disqualified my husband for any type of need-based aid that he would have potentially qualified for without his parents income being taken into consideration. It was not a huge deal really though because you can get loans for the full amount of tuition (actually for the full amount of cost of attendance if necessary) regardless of what your EFC ends up being.

All this to say that I think it really is up to the school so you may want to check with the financial aid office of the school you or your spouse is thinking of attending (or is attending).

Good luck!

 

[TopDocChick]

My husband's parents make a lot of money but my parents don't. When I apply, they won't check his background will they?