<p>I am currently a freshman student at Loyola Marymount University. I already have medical experience working with an orthopedic surgeon and have watched numerous surgeries. I have a job set up at a physical therapy clinic this summer so I will still be in a medical setting. I have many family relationships with MD’s and Anesthesiologist’s and was wondering if shadowing them would be a good idea? Any other recommendations to help build a solid resume so that I can get into Med School? Thank you</p>
<p>shadowing, research, volunteering, or teaching are the standard things. Shadowing doesn’t impress anyone but you should do it to get a taste of what an MD does.</p>
<p>In your PT clinic, will you be working with physical therapists (not doctors) or rehab medicine docs?</p>
<p>I will be working with PT’s. I understand that may not look as strong, but as of right now, I do not have any other offers. Between researching, volunteering, and shadowing, which of these do you believe has the best stigma? And when you say volunteering, do you mean at local hospitals?</p>
<p>Volunteering both at medical sites (hospitals, free-standing clinics, nursing homes, group homes) and at community service projects. Community service is another expected EC for med school applicants.</p>
<p>Thank you. I appreciate your information. I know this may seem like a question I need not worry about now, however I am interested to figure this out…How do people pay for Medical School typically? I mean it seems overwhelming when you look and see a price tag of $80,000 a year. Just curious about the different ways people go about paying if they are not extremely wealthy.</p>
<p>Loans, loans and more loans. </p>
<p>Medical students are able to borrow up to $40,500 in unsubsidized federal direct loans (current rate 6.8%) plus if you have good credit you can take out Grad Plus federal loans (current rate 7.9%) up to the COA certified for your school.</p>
<p>Most medical students are heavily indebted at graduation. </p>
<p><a href=“https://www.aamc.org/download/152968/data/debtfactcard.pdf[/url]”>https://www.aamc.org/download/152968/data/debtfactcard.pdf</a></p>
<p>Unlike undergrad, merit aid is not commonly awarded. And private medical schools will require parent financial information for unmarried students well into the student’s 30’s.</p>
<p>Wow! So wait, am I understanding this right? You can get up to $40,000 in loans, so that means if the school cost $80,000 you would need to have $40,000 available to pay right then?</p>
<p>Yeah, it means you pay 40k initially and then more than 40k (interest) over time.</p>
<p>No, it means you will have to take out several kinds of loans each year: a federal direct loan for $40K (@6.8% interest), then a grad plus or a private loan (which usually requires a credit-worthy co-signer) at a higher interest rate to cover any balance owed.</p>
<p>Parents who have financial resources are expected to contribute significantly to the COA at private (and some public) medical schools. If parents cannot or will not contribute–then the student will need to take out loans to cover their expected contribution.</p>
<p>Medical schools require payment in full at the beginning of each semester. There are no monthly payment plans like there are at some private undergrads. Note, however, that COA includes the cost of food, housing and transportation–which are expenses the student can pay monthly. (Unless they’re living in a grad dorm–in which case, that needs to be paid in full before the beginning of each semester.)</p>
<p>Even at the handful of med schools that offer need-based aid, every student is expected to take out a certain base level (full federal loans at a minimum) of loans first, then pay a parental contribution–and only after that are any grants offered.</p>
<p>Wow that was very informative. Thank you very much WayOutWestMom. I have a much better understanding now!</p>