When is the best time to apply for medical scholarships and other grants?

[dbrokut]

I am applying to med school this year so my question is, when do I start applying for medical scholarships and grants? Also should I wait until I get accepted to med school for all these stuff like FAFSA and Fastweb?

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[Mattabet]

Theoretically, as early as possible. That said, you're going to have trouble with a lot of this kind of thing until you're actually accepted somewhere (even military scholarships require you to be accepted somewhere). You can probably get a head start on some of the paperwork depending on the nature of the scholarship, but I wouldn't fret about it too much. I feel like a couple of the little scholarships I looked into had deadlines in February. The one I actually got was through the institution, and didn't have a deadline (or it's own applicatiton, info was provided from the school's secondary).

Even the FAFSA can be completed in a day or two - not something you need to worry about THAT far ahead of time.

 

[dbrokut]

Thanks Matt. I would still appreciate other takes on this as well.

 

[CCLCMer]

I am applying to med school this year so my question is, when do I start applying for medical scholarships and grants? Also should I wait until I get accepted to med school for all these stuff like FAFSA and Fastweb?

Most scholarships are institutional aid (awarded through the med schools). Depending on the school, you either get them automatically, or else you are invited to apply for them. Grants are also usually given out automatically by the schools when they calculate your financial aid package. It's good to be thinking about financial aid now, but you're way ahead of yourself. People usually fill out FAFSA in the spring, because you have to include your parents' taxes (and yours too, if you had a job).

Good luck with your apps.

 

[Mattabet]

If you decide on other routes for free money such as knocking over a casino; those things you should do ASAP so that you can list them as ECs. Adcoms understand that an Ocean's Eleven style casino heist takes intelligence, leadership, and initiative. Try not to get caught though, because it'll be killer if it shows up in a CBC.

 

[dbrokut]

If you decide on other routes for free money such as knocking over a casino; those things you should do ASAP so that you can list them as ECs. Adcoms understand that an Ocean's Eleven style casino heist takes intelligence, leadership, and initiative. Try not to get caught though, because it'll be killer if it shows up in a CBC.

I'll be sure to keep that in mind.