Strategies to Select the Right Medical School to Attend

Strategies to Select the Right Medical School to Attend 

​If you have interviewed at multiple medical schools and the acceptances are coming your way, you are now faced with weighing the pros and cons of each school. Every applicant uses various criteria to choose a program, and you have to determine which are the most relevant to you. 

Let's take a look at how to navigate the many considerations.

• Cost: Cost is a common consideration. For some, the principal factor may be comparing thecost of attending a private school with that of a state school. The tuition alone can be staggering, let alone the cost of living in a city such as New York or San Francisco. And don't forget the cost of traveling back and forth from your hometown.)

This decision is highly personal and depends on such factors as scholarships, family finances and projected future earnings. ​

[Learn to decide between multiple medical school acceptances.]

• Personal relationships: Perhaps you need to stay close to an aging parent with failing health, or you have a partner who can't move to another city. Some of these relationships will thrive at a distance, while others will wilt.

Consider how your loved ones will deal with the extraordinary amount of time required for your studies. If the time commitment has already been a problem, don't underestimate how the problem will increase when you're in medical school. 

For the foreseeable future, the time demands will only grow. There's tremendous benefit in being with someone who can be happy on their own when you are busy.

Perhaps your loved one got accepted at only one medical school, and you have various options. Can the relationship last until you are both in clerkships, when each of you can take rotations in the other's hospital?

Relationships can be difficult under the best of circumstances. That said, my physician friends and I believe that marrying the right person is more important than where you go to medical school. If you have a solid relationship now, do your best to preserve it.

[Know your priorities to balance personal life and medical school.]

• Status and history:​​ For some, the pedigree of a school may be the most important consideration. Perhaps one of your parents attended – or wanted to attend – a particular school. There is nothing wrong with placing a high value on these reasons, but be sure to consider if the school is truly a good fit for you.

Some say that the status of the school is an advantage when you are applying for residency, assuming your United States Medical Licensing Examination scores and other performance markers are all equal. Most students expect older established schools to have great influence and networking power, but don't underestimate what newer schools are doing to advocate on behalf of their students.

If you're considering a new medical school, you may be wondering about the risks. If the school is so new that it cannot produce its board pass rate or demonstrate residency match results, there is some risk. However, my observation is that pioneer students want to prove themselves, and they do very well. 

Generally, you will get greater personal attention and support in a new school and the faculty will expend greater effort to validate their curricular preparation.

• Match results: Outcomes of the match and the entire process of career advising are critical aspects to explore. Competition for residency slots has become more challenging as the number of graduates increases every year. Only primary care residencies have grown in recent years and this does not appear likely to change under the current federal regulations.

 Make career mentoring a top priority in picking your school. Asking how many students went through the Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program – abbreviated SOAP – in the past few years could be enlightening. SOAP is the process similar to a rematch for those who did not match with a residency program initially ranked. 

Ask this question after you are accepted to a medical school, as you don't want to inadvertently touch a nerve. Senior students are likely to know through the grapevine about the prior year's SOAP results and might be willing to tell you.

It is hard to tell precisely how pleased students are with their match. Students are no longer required to disclose their first, second and third choices to faculty, and most schools would not even ask. Newer or smaller programs that are closely connected with their students may still receive this information voluntarily from residency applicants, which helps with future advising.

[Remember to connect with current students when choosing a medical school.]

• The right fit: My final thoughts on medical school selection are: How do you feel about the program? How happy are the students? Does the teaching style fit with what you need to do your best? 

Some students love freedom to explore, while others need very specific structure and clarity. Some schools may have more of an active political agenda that challenges the current health care model and, thus, attracts students of a similar mindset. Other schools may see that as a distraction and prefer to focus on the basics.

You may wish to add more criteria as you dive into the selection process. If the entire process feels overwhelming, create a large spreadsheet and rank each category from one to five. This exercise may help you see the medical school that best fits your needs.

Less Common Ways to Decrease Medical School Costs

Becoming a doctor is an expensive career path.

Among 2012 medical school graduates, 86 percent had debt. The median debt for indebted graduates was $170,000, according to a 2013 report from the Association of American Medical Colleges.

“Debt levels for indebted medical school graduates and medical school cost of attendance have both increased faster than inflation over the last 20 years,” the report states.

For prospective students who want an M.D. but don't want the student loans that often come with it, there's hope. There are a number of ways to offset the cost of medical education during and after school.

1. Plan to specialize in primary care: To lure prospective medical students into primary care – an area of medicine that often comes with long hours and a less-competitive salary – a number of schools offer scholarships for students who agree to go into the field, especially in certain regions.

The University of California—Riverside welcomed its inaugural medical school class this school year and has a handsome reward for hopeful M.D.s with an interest in primary care.

[Stay financially healthy during medical school.]

Students can receive a four-year scholarship that covers all tuition and fees if they agree to practice primary care in the Inland Empire region of California for five years after graduation.

Ohio residents in medical school can take advantage of a similar opportunity. Funded through the Choose Ohio First Program, medical students can receive $30,000 per year for four years to decrease tuition if they agree to practice primary care in the state for at least three years and serve a high-need population.

In Massachusetts, students who go on to specialize in primary care may be eligible to use the state’s loan repayment program to receive up to $50,000 for a two-year contract once they become practicing physicians in federally designated Health Professional Shortage Areas.

2. Volunteer with the Peace Corps: The volunteer service organization has multiple options for former medical students to decrease their debt – their Global Health Service Partnership is one of them. Launched in 2013 through a partnership with SEED Global Health, an organization that aims to improve health conditions globally, and the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, this program awards doctors up to $30,000 to reduce educational debt and other kinds of debt.

"Volunteers primarily function as physician or nursing educators and also participate in direct clinical care as appropriate to their teaching roles," says the Peace Corps’ website.

In 2013, about 30 physicians and nurses participated in the program, which sent participants to Tanzania, Malawi and Uganda. Doctors and nurses are required to serve for one year, but can apply for a second term.

[See the best medical schools for research.]

Students who volunteer with the Peace Corps outside of the Global Health Service Partnership may also slash much of their debt.

Those who volunteer after medical school may be eligible to have some of their Perkins loan forgiven if they contribute service and don’t consolidate the loan with a non-Perkins loan. A graduate who volunteers for four years can be eligible to have as much as 70 percent of a Perkins loan forgiven.

Students should know that the U.S. Department of Education sets the guidelines for partial Perkins loan cancellations, not the Peace Corps. Because this option is not exclusive to medical students, premed students may consider it for undergraduate debt.

[Explore the best medical schools for primary care.]

3. Seek out merit scholarships: In a few instances, medical students may find themselves eligible for a high-dollar scholarship while in the midst of their studies. At the Howard University College of Medicine, students can receive the Board of Trustees Scholarship, which is available to top performing medical students, says Rozanna Aitcheson, the college’s financial aid manager.

“Approximately 10 students in each class receive Board of Trustees Scholarships,” she says – a sizable number at a school where medical school classes usually consist of 110 students. Of the 10 scholarship recipients, two students receive scholarships that cover the entire tuition.

The school offers a number of other scholarships as well, Aitcheson says, to minimize the likelihood of cost preventing someone from pursuing their medical education. Howard also offers a number of workshops to inform students about the benefits of learning how to manage their finances during and after school.

Searching for a medical school? Get our complete rankings of Best Medical Schools.

Shoot for These 5 Big Deal College Scholarships

Shoot for These 5 Big Deal College Scholarships

​When it comes to scholarships, every student dreams of getting a full ride from his or her chosen school or a massive award from a well-known company or organization. Unfortunately, these scholarships are few and far between, and receiving one is rare.

However, that doesn't mean you should ignore these prestigious scholarships. Send in your application if you meet the requirements. Shoot for the stars and you may land one of these highly coveted awards.

[Target these quick and easy college scholarship applications.]

Being one of the recipients of the Central Intelligence Agency's undergraduate scholarship program means you've been given a unique opportunity to work for the U.S. government while completing your degree. You'll need to demonstrate financial need in addition to strong academic achievements and commit to working for the CIA every summer before graduation, among other things. In turn, the CIA will pay an annual salary, up to $18,000 annually in tuition expenses, offer benefits and give you some incredible work experience to list on your resume.

If you have expert knowledge in a certain area and are working on a major project to prove it, you could qualify for a Davidson Fellows scholarship.

Applicants need to be 18 or younger on Oct. 1, and must have completed a significant piece of work in one of the STEM fields of science, technology, engineering and math, or in music, literature or the humanities.

These aren't just any projects – yours should be recognized as exceptional by experts in the field and and demonstrate unique applications of existing knowledge, creative ideas or significant advancements in a certain field. Awards can be enormous and range from $10,000 to $50,000.

[Try talking to these people to find more college scholarships.]

Is the health care field more interesting to you than other careers? The National Institutes of Health Undergraduate Scholarship Program awards students from disadvantaged backgrounds up to $80,000 over the course of four years. 

Applicants have to commit to a career in biomedical, behavioral or social science health-related research, undertake a paid 10-week training each summer after receiving the scholarship and dedicate one year of full-time work after graduation to the NIH for every year they've received the award. A massive scholarship and guaranteed job after graduation don't sound too bad to us.

[Look into scholarships for college degrees that employers want.]

​The Dr Pepper Tuition Giveaway requires a little bit of work, but it has the potential to really pay off. Submit a short story about yourself and your goals and encourage everyone you know to vote for it on the Dr Pepper Tuition Giveaway website. 

Applicants who get enough votes will be allowed to make a short video and have the opportunity to win anywhere from $1,000 to $100,000 to pay for college. Remember to add this scholarship to your list - you could be the next big winner!

Students who have a 2.0 GPA or above, meet financial aid requirements and can demonstrate they've overcome adversity while remaining active in their communities may qualify for one of the many scholarships awarded by the Horatio Alger Association. 

The organization gives away more than $10.5 million in scholarships every year, some of which are worth up to $22,000. Scholarships are awarded on a national and state level, and a few more are targeted to students who plan on attending specific colleges and universities.

With some perseverance, hard work and a little luck, you could be a lucky winner of one of these prestigious scholarships.

Saying 'I Do' Could Affect Your Student Debt

Saying 'I Do' Could Affect Your Student Debt

For richer, for poorer.

For centuries, couples have said this – or a variation thereof – on their wedding days. However, student loans are one thing prospective spouses haven't been dealing with for centuries, and this subject seems to be giving a lot of them cold feet nowadays.

Wedding season is traditionally the summer; however, the Student Loan Ranger has recently received many questions from borrowers about the relationship between marriage and student loans. Since our sacred vow is to help any way we can, we'll answer a couple of them here.

Note: These are real questions sent to the Student Loan Ranger, though the text has been edited for grammar and clarity.

[Find out how getting married could affect your student loan repayment.]

Q: My son married a young lady with over $200,000 in student loan debt. Yes, you read it correctly. If something were to happen to her, is he responsible for her debt?

A: This is the biggest concern we hear from borrowers. After all, marrying someone means you accept his or her faults and quirks – but it doesn't necessarily mean you want to accept his or her six-digit loan balance as well.

The good news is that all federal student loans have protections in place should something unfortunate happen to the borrower, such as an accident that impairs his or her ability to earn income or results in death. You certainly don't want to have to take advantage of these loan discharges, but it's reassuring to know they're there if you need them.

With private student loans, things get trickier. Many of these do not come with death discharges, and some lenders have come after the borrower's family for payment in the past – though this is not always the case.

Note that in many cases, the amounts discharged due to death or disability are taxed as income, which could cause the borrower or estate to owe funds to the IRS.

Whether a lender comes after you for your spouse's loans will depend on that lender and that loan. In short, this is another good reason to read private loan paperwork thoroughly before signing it. If you want to protect yourself, obtaining life insurance for the borrower that covers his or her debts may make sense for you.

Of course, the advice above applies to any individual debt a spouse might bring into a marriage. Should you cosign a new loan with your husband or wife – for instance, to help him or her return to school – you would be a co-borrower for this debt and responsible were it not repaid.

[Know what questions to ask before you borrow a private student loan.]

Q: I'm 62 years old and in December will receive my first Social Security check. I am also receiving a small pension check.

I am considering marrying someone who has a deferment on his student loan, whose principal owed is about $65,000.

I am requiring a prenuptial agreement setting forth that I accept no responsibility of the student loan.

Under those conditions, is it correct to assume that, even if I marry this person, the federal government cannot tap into Social Security and pension benefits paid directly to me?

[Take a quiz to test your student loan repayment knowledge.]

A: One of the consequences of federal student loan default is the government gaining the ability to garnish your wages and seize any federal payments you receive – including Social Security – to cover what you owe. This penalty could dramatically affect your life as you get older and potentially move to a fixed income, so it's no wonder this borrower is concerned about it.

When a federal student loan defaults, the borrower becomes responsible for paying its full balance immediately. Failing to do so can eventually result in the consequences mentioned above, among others. However, it does not result in the government gaining the right to go after a borrower's spouse for the amount the borrower​ owes.

You would have to live with the default in other ways. For instance, if you wish to buy a house with your husband or wife, you may not be able to apply for the loan together, due to the damage a default causes to credit score. They could garnish your spouse's income and tax refund, which could affect you financially as well. You may also experience the collection calls and general stress of the situation, courtesy of your spouse.

Ultimately, your best bet may be to talk about your loans with your spouse before you tie the knot to know what you're getting into. After all, communication is key to a successful marriage – whether you're richer or poorer.

Don't Be Afraid to Connect With Online Classmates

It took an urgent email from my instructor earlier this week to make me realize that my online personal finance class was quickly coming to a close.

Our final project was due in two weeks, she wrote. We should all be in high gear, well on our way to finishing.

Not only was I not in high gear, I hadn't even revved up my engine. I still had plenty of work to do before I even started the final project.

Spurred to action, I visited our class discussion boards and started asking questions that I'd been putting off for days.

In our discussion board for general questions, I asked about a confusing mortgage rate formula tied to our second case study, which was due in days. In our "syllabus" discussion board, I asked if it was possible to get extra credit, which would have helped me make up some lost points from a missed assignment.

I even went to the "student lounge" discussion board and asked for advice on what to do with $5,000 I wanted to invest. I was hoping to use this class to get advice on the issue, but felt like I was running out of time.

[Learn whether online education is right for you.]

Weeks ago I was penalized for being disobediently mum on our graded discussion board. Now I was the online version of that annoying student in class who raises her hand after every question.

I expected some of my classmates to roll their eyes at my activity – I've certainly been there. To my surprise, though, a handful of my fellow students jumped at the chance to interact.

The day after I posted my question about what to do with $5,000, three of my classmates responded with suggestions. Then my professor weighed in, posting links to two articles with helpful advice for what to do with the money: pay off debt first, then turn to mutual funds.

[Make the best impression possible in an online course.]

In a discussion board post, my professor said she struggled with how to address the extra credit issue. While she didn't have anything against extra credit, she said the students who ask for the option tend to be particularly behind and need to focus on their regular work.

Touche.

She asked my peers to weigh in, but they upheld her verdict: Apparently the highest grade I'll be able to get is a B-plus.

Still, I was so impressed by the thoughtful responses from my classmates that I sent a few of them emails thanking them for their help. Some even wrote me back, and I was happy to learn through our virtual chitchat that I was not the only one behind in class.

I was a long way from forming the kinds of Internet friendships I'd imagined at the start of the semester. But with online learning, I'm learning that you get what you give.

Trying to fund your online education? Get tips and more in the U.S. News Paying for Online Educationcenter.

4 Tips for Creating a Winter Break ACT, SAT Prep Schedule

4 Tips for Creating a Winter Break ACT, SAT Prep Schedule

​Winter break can seem like an illusion. You might think that the world stops when school does, but every passing day brings your ACT or SAT exam closer.

Instead of panicking and ruining your vacation with worry, set aside an hour to create a plan that will keep your test prep progressing.

• Create a review plan: Begin your vacation prep by realistically assessing how much work you need to do. By this point, you have hopefully completed a practice test or two under simulated exam conditions. If not, take one now, and then finish reading this article—remember that you cannot decide on a plan until you know the true size of the project. 

Also pay attention to the exam version that you will be taking. Studying for the radically redesigned SAT may be enlightening, but it may not be a wise investment of your time if you are sitting for the SAT in January.

[Get five tips for SAT and ACT procrastinators.]

Simply reviewing your score is not sufficient. Look at each subject area and question type to gauge your performance on each section of the test. 

Are you struggling with vocabulary questions? Reading comprehension? Algebra? Missing one or two questions in an entire section, or incorrectly answering only the most difficult questions, may mean that you can focus your attention on other areas.

If your practice score is significantly below your target result (as defined by the admissions standards at your top-choice schools), plan for multiple hours of studying – per day – over winter break. If you treat your vacation as an extension of school, with test prep replacing your normal class and homework schedule, you will be on track. 

A medium-intensity plan may involve three to five practice tests per week, plus several hours a day to focus on target areas. While this may not be an ideal way to spend winter break, keep in mind that this next ACT or SAT exam may be your last chance to strengthen your college applications.

[Check out free apps to help jump-start SAT and ACT studying.]

• Set aside time for homework: As you develop your prep plan, remember to set aside time for any homework that you have been assigned over vacation. Completing your homework in a timely manner is important, as it will help you ensure that your prep schedule suffers minimal interruption. If you procrastinate on class work even as you bear down on test prep, you may find that your last days of winter break are utterly consumed by finishing homework assignments.

Scientific studies, as summarized in this advice column for graduate students in psychology, have shown that regular repetition is much more effective than cramming. Two 10-hour days per week will be much less effective than five days of four-hour study sessions. Remain current on your homework so that you are able to maintain a steady review schedule.

[Here are four ways to set realistic SAT or ACT study goals.]

• Take multiple practice tests: Just like engaging in regular repetition, completing frequent practice exams is one of the best test prep methods. Each practice test should be taken in a single sitting, just like the actual ACT or SAT exam. Work in a quiet place with only those items that you will have during the test (i.e. a calculator, pencil and scratch paper). Adhere to all timing stipulations. Your goal is to become familiar with the "feel" of the exam—when you sit for the actual test, you will, mentally, just be working through yet another repetition.

The regular repetition of practice exams is also useful for building stamina. More than three hours of intense mental effort is challenging to sustain. Just like runners prepare for a marathon, you will want to build your mental stamina before your actual test day.

During the school year, it is easy to fit 30 minutes of vocabulary practice in between classes and band practice. Completing a full practice exam, however, is a task that most people can only tackle on weekends. Thus, over winter break, you can do the daily practice that will truly shape your ACT and SAT skills.

When building your plan, keep in mind that you will likely have competing demands for your time. Work with your parents to clarify when you will be needed at family functions. It is also a great idea to make time for friends or general relaxation. While it is all right to take a day off here or there, try to review for the ACT or SAT on most days. After all, quality prep time is a precious commodity.

U.S. News Data: Online Education Isn't Always Cheap

As a working mother of two, 37-year-old Heather Blair felt the only way she could get a bachelor's degree was to find an online program that accommodated her busy schedule.

Cost-wise, she thought she knew how it would compare with the price of an on-campus degree.

"I thought it would be less," says Blair, who started a bachelor's degree in dental hygiene with Vermont Technical College in 2009. "In the end, I don't think it was."

[Explore whether online ed is right for you.]

Many believe that online education is easier on the bank account than taking classes on campus. But in many cases, an online degree is actually more expensive than a degree from a brick-and-mortar institution, according to data from U.S. News and other sources.

When it comes to paying in-state tuition at a public school, for example, a U.S. News analysis of about 300 ranked programs shows that it's more expensive on a per-credit basis to take an online undergraduate course than a comparable on-campus course.

The average per credit, in-state cost for an online bachelor's program is $277, compared with $243 per credit at brick-and-mortar schools.

Online undergraduate education is less per credit, however, than traditional education at private schools and for out-of-state students at public institutions.

A 2013 survey conducted by the American Association of State Colleges and Universities and the Learning House also found similar results.

[Discover five job search tips for online students.]

The survey, which will be published this October and involved 400 public universities, concluded that more than 60 percent charged the same tuition for face-to-face courses as they charged for online courses. Thirty-six percent of the schools charged more for online tuition.

For schools that don't already have an online program up and running, creating one is a significant investment, says Susan Aldridge, a senior fellow at the association.

"The courses cost more to develop, take more time to develop and take more time for the faculty to teach," says Aldridge. "In order for students to succeed in these online courses, 24/7 technical support, reference librarians, writing labs, automated degree plans and tutoring need to be available."

In addition, schools often have to train their faculty to teach effectively on online platforms – an expensive, ongoing endeavor, says Ray Schroeder, associate vice chancellor for online learning at theUniversity of Illinois—Springfield.

"Most faculty members come prepared to teach face-to-face," Schroeder says. "They need substantial training and support in order to teach effectively. It's not a one-time training."

Not everyone, however, agrees that online education must or should be more expensive.

John Ebersole, president of Excelsior College, a New-York based institution that offers online education, believes that online education is cheaper for colleges to provide because they don't have to invest in creating or maintaining facilities. Those savings, he said, should outweigh the cost of any initial investment in technology.

"If my online students aren't going to take advantage of the cafeteria, going to the student union, participating in the extracurricular activities and we don't have the building costs, why isn't it cheaper?" he says.

[Finish an online degree via credit by exam.]

One reason, according to online education experts, may be faculty costs beyond training.

It's hard to make an online program more inexpensive for students when schools are using the same faculty for their online programs that they are using in their brick-and-mortar programs, Schroeder says.

Full-time faculty members are expensive, he says, which is why some online programs hire instructors who don't receive benefits and who may not have advanced degrees.

Penn Foster is one example of an online school that charges students less than the average cost of credits among U.S. News-ranked schools, a move made possible in part by trimming faculty costs. CEO Frank Britt says the for-profit school, which has national and programmatic but not regional accreditation for its postsecondary degrees, has a different instructor-student ratio.