Posts filed under 'grad school'
My sweetie and I have found the entire medical school admissions process so far to be both fascinating and terrifying, especially when it comes to working out the numbers. There’s really no way around it: medical school is crazy expensive.
The Numbers
Just to give you a brief picture, I want to share some numbers from AspiringDocs.org, a website created by the Association of American Medical Colleges (also called the AAMC; they’re the ones who put on the beloved MCAT).
Average 1st Year In-State Public Medical School Tuition: $22,199
or Average 1st Year In-State Private Medical School Tuition: $39,964
Average Other Expenses (Living, etc.): $18,000
Yikes, right? That is a grand total of between $40,199 and $57,964 per year. I’ll let you go ahead and multiply that by four yourself if you want to think about how big that number is. I certainly don’t.
Considering Military Scholarships
Looking at that grand total four-year number took our breath away. We both still have some student loans from undergrad to pay off, and adding a potential $200,000 plus to those was absolutely unthinkable.
We had both known about the military medical scholarships, but it had never seemed appealing before. However, we decided to do a little research, just to see what it was all about. My husband ended up pursuing a scholarship with the Air Force, but it took a lot of consideration. Let me break down all that the scholarship entails for you.
The Air Force Health Professions Scholarship Program
First, fancy disclaimer: I am not a member of the Air Force, paid by the Air Force to endorse this program, or any kind of expert on military scholarship programs. We’ve simply gone through the process and done a lot of research, so don’t bank on me as your only source, and I apologize if I got anything wrong. If you’re considering these, you need to make sure you get all the facts for yourself. Okay. That’s it.
Okay, so the basics of the Air Force Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP) are as follows:
You Give:
- 45 days of active-duty service per year (usually during summer break), for which you get paid a salary and entitlements,
- One year of post-residency service as a doctor for every year of school the HPSP paid for (so if you got a four-year scholarship, you serve for four years).
You have to be fully qualified to get all the perks of the HPSP, but if you are eligible…
During School You Get:
- Fully paid
- Tuition (in-state or out-of-state, public or private school),
- Fees,
- Books, and
- Various other educational expenses, as approved by the program,
- A stipend for monthly living expenses during the school year,
- Payment for your annual 45 days of service, and
- Insurance coverage (as approved),
- A substantial signing bonus the first year (three and four-year scholarships only, as approved).
After School and Residency You Get:
- A job as an Air Force doctor (any time you’re guaranteed a job is good!),
- The option to list your top choices for service locations (potential to work abroad as a doctor could be cool!),
- A salary (Obviously. And salary range varies by specialty),
- Paid housing,
- Insurance,
- Etc.
You also have the option of going into civilian practice after your service commitment is up, or staying in the Air Force and retiring, with a pension, after about 25 years of service–not bad.
It is definitely a personal decision however, so if you want to learn more you can contact an Air Force recruiter, or look in to the other HPSPs offered by different military branches.
photo: onatos
August 4th, 2009
If you’re a long-time reader you might remember catching a mention that my sweetie has been working hard at applying to med school for some time now. We started discussing his goal to be a doctor right about when we met.
Well, finally, almost four years later, he got accepted!!!
It was a long, hard road, but it was worth it. I wanted to share our story with you pre-med students out there so you can get a feel for what the med school application process is really like.
The First Time Around
I’m not going to sugar-coat it: med school prep was hard, discouraging work, and we were completely in the dark about the process, which made it that much harder.
Ideally, he would have:
- Studied for 6 months beforehand, and taken his MCAT during his Junior year of college,
- Done some volunteering at a hospital or other medical facility,
- Had some medical-related work experience,
- Had lots of other volunteer service in non-medical fields to show diversity,
- Built a bond with several professors and medical professionals who could write him letters of recommendation,
- Gotten straight A’s,
- Found out about financial aid for the application fees for low-income med school applicants,
- Gone to the career center to find out more about writing an essay, interviewing, the services they offer to med school applicants, and deadlines, and,
- Submitted his application at the very beginning of the cycle, in early June. (Most schools interview and admit as the applications come in, so waiting too late can make it much harder to get accepted.)
Unfortunately, we had no clue about any of this, so instead he took his MCAT the summer after Junior year, which put his application far behind, which meant that he got fewer secondaries and only one interview. We didn’t know about fee assistance, so we paid out a LOT of money for primary and secondary applications. He also was unable to take advantage of all the Career Center had to offer, because he didn’t know about it.
For more about how to prepare, check out this post about how to prepare for med school early.
The Second Time Around
When the rejection letters started arriving one after another, it was a big, painful hit to the heart. Every day my sweetie would head straight to the mailbox upon getting home, only to pull out another of the dreaded small envelopes. To say it was hard on him would be a gross understatement.
I was so proud of him, though, because it really lit a fire under him. He scooped up a collection of really good recommendation letters, started volunteering at a hospital, worked two jobs, and got straight A’s the last few quarters of college. He went to the Career Center and found out about a lot of the things in that list I wrote above, and almost the first day applications were open, he submitted his second round of applications to medical school.
Easy As… Rocket Science
But then came the waiting. Secondaries came, and then more waiting. Three months later he had his first interview, but not until the following February did he finally finish his last interview.
And then… you guessed it. More waiting. Rejections. Waitlists. Checking the mailbox every day. calling admissions offices periodically to check his status. Watching his email inbox like a hawk. Passing deadline after deadline, until finally, just last Wednesday, two years after he started studying for his MCAT, he finally got an acceptance. We were excited, relieved, and awed that the day finally came. (And we celebrated true broke-student style by getting some Chinese takeout. Haha.)
The Moral of the Story
Unless you are the rare “perfect candidate,” the med school application process is going to be a very humbling process. You’ll feel defeated, exhausted, and under-qualified again and again. The good news, however, is that you can (and should!) try again. Do your homework, research, talk to other students, and take every opportunity to improve your application, essay, and interview skills. (Try StudentDoctor.net for message boards and helpful articles.)
Good luck, and remember, don’t give up!
photo: be healthy 2 by lusi
April 28th, 2009
Studying for (and taking) the MCAT is definitely one of the biggest hurdles any pre-med student faces, so it’s no wonder students put it off. It’s big, it’s important, and it’s intimidating! Who wants to deal with that?
Once you’ve finished breathing into a paper bag, though, you’re probably going to want to study. Remember to give yourself ample time to prepare (I’d say 6 months is ideal during school… sorry!) so you can take your study time in segments. Here are a few MCAT study options:
Free Help
Maybe it’s because they made you hand over $210 to take the MCAT, or maybe it’s just philanthropic, but either way, the AAMC (Association of American Medical Colleges) offers a free MCAT Practice website. Just enter your email address and you get access to a database of 1000 previously used MCAT questions and solutions, sample essays, and other helpful tools. Kaplan also offers a free practice MCAT.
Price: Free
Of course, the AAMC is not above selling you practice tests, either. $35/ea for 1 year of access. If you plan to sign up for a study course these will probably be included.
Books, Books, Books
There are a huge number of study guides for the MCAT out there, so if you feel comfortable learning from a book this could be a good option for you. They can be helpful, and cost much less than taking a prep course. Check out Kaplan’s MCAT 2007-08 Premier Program or Examkrackers MCAT Complete Study Package, which both got good customer feedback on Amazon-or head over to your local bookstore and flip through some study guides to get a feel for what you need.
Price: The books listed above are about $80 each
Tutoring & Classroom Courses
Tutoring and other MCAT prep courses can be expensive, but they can also be very worthwhile (if you’re willing to put in the effort). Several well-known test prep centers offer MCAT prep courses. Princeton Review’s MCAT Courses allow you to choose between private tutoring, group tutoring, or a classroom course. Kaplan’s MCAT Courses offers all those options, plus the option of completely online MCAT prep (great if you have a weird or changing schedule).
Price: $1000+
Good luck!
photo: be healthy 2 by lusi
July 8th, 2008
There are few things pre-med students dread more than the MCAT (a.k.a. the Medical College Admissions Test), and too little preparation can make a big difference in your overall score. I almost feel like an expert on this topic since I’ve recently observed my husband prepare for and successfully take the MCAT. Here’s what you need to know to get started. (If you want a lot of detailed info, take a look at AAMC’s Official MCAT Essentials guide.)
Know the Format
Once upon a time the MCAT was a handwritten “paper-and-pencil” test. Lucky for you, you’ll be taking the new computerized MCAT which, at about 5 hours, is significantly shorter than its predecessor (can you imagine having to take the old one?!? Ugh!). The test is divided into four parts:
1. Physical Sciences (Chemistry and Physics)
2. Verbal Reasoning (Reading comprehension, evaluation & application)
3. Writing Sample (Essay questions)
4. Biological Sciences (Organic Chemistry and Biology)
Generally there are breaks between each section that are about 10 minutes long.
Choose a Practical Test Date
Your med school applications will be due two summers before you want to enter med school (so for most of you, the summer following your Junior year of college). That means you need to take the MCAT before then, and remember to allow time for the test to be processed and your results sent out. A late application to med school can affect your chances of getting in, so don’t let anything push it back!
You can see a list of 2008 test dates & times here.
Register on Time
Registering for the MCAT is pretty easy. Just go to the AAMC’s MCAT website (http://www.aamc.org/students/mcat/start.htm), and click on the “Registration” link. You need to create and AAMC username and password if you haven’t already. Then you simply select a date, fork over the fee ($210 for 2008), and mark the date on your calendar so you don’t accidentally sleep through it or show up on the wrong day…
Check out AAMC’s PDFs with 2008’s registration deadlines to keep yourself on track.
Study Early (and Often)
Since you probably have a life outside the MCAT–school, a job, a social life, etc.–its better to start studying ASAP, and give yourself a good few months.
If you have a busy schedule, I personally recommend giving yourself at least 6 months of study time, and really dedicate yourself to putting in the hours every week (or every day!). If you have a long stretch of nothing where you can study often (like summer break, for example) 3 months might be enough.
Want to Know More?
Stay tuned… I’m planning to discuss some of your MCAT study options & resources as we get into summertime, so if you haven’t already subscribed, do it now! Otherwise just keep your eyes peeled (and feel free to email or comment with questions or suggestions!).
Already taken the MCAT? What helped you get through it?
photo: Xray of Hands by adamci
June 2nd, 2008
There’s a lot more to applying for med school than just picking out a major with “Pre-Med” attached to it.
Good Grades Start Now. I’m sure you know that your grades are a big deal if you’re applying to med school, so don’t be tempted to give in to too many parties or late-nights when you should be studying. Take your studies seriously starting now-its easier to maintain a steadily growing GPA than to try to recover a bad one late in the game.
Know Your Deadlines. Unlike regular college apps, your med school applications will be due the summer before your senior year of college. In fact, it is best if you apply long before the application is due, to position yourself for the best possible opportunity. Learn how to apply here.
Start Researching Schools. Learning what schools look for and want can help you prepare to be a good candidate. Whether you need to boost your GPA or raise your MCAT score, researching now can save you a lot of stress come application time. The Princeton Review’s annual Best 166 Medical Schools is a great resource (the title could change as med schools are added, so watch for that).
Know and Take all the Required Classes. Just because your major doesn’t require certain courses, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take them. Some colleges waive courses like basic Biology based on AP scores, but a lot of med schools still want you to take the class. Peruse the admission requirements of a few schools you might want to apply to, and plan to schedule those classes for yourself.
Prepare for the MCAT by Junior Year. Since applications have to be in the summer of your Junior year, you don’t want to wait too long to take the MCAT. (Your application can be delayed while schools wait to receive your scores). Start by taking a practice MCAT, and then plan to devote about 6 months to studying beforehand. If you think you can stick to it, invest in a preparatory course like a Kaplan course-they can really help you raise your MCAT score. Find out more here.
Make Friends With Your Professors. Med schools require letters of recommendation from both science and non-science professors, so don’t skip out on classes in your liberal arts fields. If you’re not planning to take many non-science or math courses, make sure you do really well-and make an impression on your professor-in the ones you do. Work hard in class, and get some face time at office hours so your professors know who you are, and respect you.
Be Extra-Curricular. The more well-rounded you are, the better (but don’t over-do it-don’t be in clubs just to get the hours). Get involved in volunteer activities, clubs, and organizations that you feel passionate about. Work a part-time job. Get some real-world experience in the medical field, but don’t neglect the wider spectrum of opportunities you have in college.
Photo: Medical Book 1 by lusi
February 11th, 2008
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