NEW MEDICAL SCHOOL TARGETS ENGINEERING STUDENTS | MEDICAL SCHOOLS MAKING PROGRESS WITH ENROLLMENT
The Magazine For Pre-Medical Students
July/August 2016
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FAST GROWING NONCLINICAL CAREERS
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A look at several non-clinical options that are becoming popular among students who graduate from medical school
HOW TO GRACEFULLY HANDLE REJECTION
LESSONS LEARN ON MY WAY TO MEDICAL SCHOOL One student’s advice after looking back on her medical school journey
PREMEDLIFE.COM
Getting not so good news about your admission to med school can be tough
GET DN TRACK FDR A
CAREER JE01CINE
GW SCHOOL OF MEDICINE + HEAL TH SCIENCES
Application deadline is June 15, 2016 for Fall 2016
To Gain an Edge in Advancing your Medical Education The Department of Anatomy and Regenerative Biology of the GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences is pleased to offer Two New Pre-Medicine Academic Enhancer Programs:
' Missions of the GCATS and M-ATS Programs Are:
- To Enhance Competitiveness of Applications to Medical Schools - To acquire a Solid Foundation in Basic Medical Sciences and Translational Sciences
- To Emphasize Clinical Relevance with a Problem-Based Learning Approach
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July/August 2016 ““The medicine of tomorrow will not be practiced in the way that it is today. Medicine is not just about biology, it requires technology development,.” p. 12
How to handle medical school rejection? Gracefully.
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HOW TO HANDLE MEDICAL SCHOOL REJECTION GRACEFULLY
A QUICK LOOK AT HOW TO FUND YOUR MEDICAL SCHOOL DREAMS
RULES FOR DECIDING A MEDICAL SPECIALTY FROM A MEDICAL STUDENT
HAVING A NEW PERSPECTIVE ON TAKING THE NEWS THAT YOU WEREN’T ACCEPTED TO MEDICAL SCHOOL CAN MAKE THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE FOR APPLICANTS
THE PRICE TAG ON GETTING A MEDICAL DEGREE IS NOT CHEAP. HERE’S A LOOK AT SOME WAYS TO HELP MEDICAL STUDENTS LESSEN THE BURDEN.
DECIDING ON A SPECIALTY IS A DIFFICULT DECISION FOR SOME STUDENTS AND A VERY EASY DECISION FOR OTHERS. HERE ARE SOME THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND
July/August 2016 | PreMedLife Magazine |3
contents
JULY/AUGUST 2016
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Graduating with a degree in medicine doesn’t mean you have to actually practice. More and more doctors are taking their training outside of the clinical and choosing non-clinical careers.
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What Type of Medical Student Will You Be?
When it comes to medical school, there are a few student traits that come up time and time again. One student shares his thoughts and experiences on people you’re sure to interact with along the journey.
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Lessons Learned On My Way To Getting My Medical Degree
One medical student looks about on her experience through medical school and shares some insight into what she’s learned over the years.
WHAT’S INSIDE...
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Fast-Growing Non-Clinical Careers for Medical Students
Have you ever thought about doing something other than practicing medicine in a clinical setting or conducting research once you graduate medical school?
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The Spectrum of Money
For some people, money drives most if not all of their decisions whereas for others it only plays a small role in their decision
4 | PreMedLife Magazine |July/August 2016
Follow your calling. The Premedicine and Professional Health Careers program prepares students interested in applying to medical school and other health-related programs. The concentrations are designed for students who have not completed the courses generally required for admission to these schools. All courses offer undergraduate credit.
Concentrations • Premedicine
• Preclinical Psychology
• Prenursing
• Prephysical Therapy
• Prephysician Assistant
• Prespeech Pathology
Apply today the fall quarter application deadline is June 1.
sps.northwestern.edu/health • 312-503-2579
JULY/AUGUST 2016
10 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Started Studying For The MCAT
As an eager pre-med student, I figured that studying for the MCAT would be like studying for an end-of-the-semester final exam.
What’s on Premedlife.com? The Case For Doing Nothing This Summer Anybody who is pursuing medical school admissions knows that being “busy” comes with the territory.
How to Maximize Your Summer Activities Gaining experience and exposure to the worlds for medicine, research, and heath is a necessary part becoming a physician.
Reminiscing My Years In Medical School I remember the first time that I watched a child being born. It was terrifying and yet so beautiful at the same time..
GO BEYOND THE PAGE
You’ll find this icon on selected pages throughout the issue. That’s your signal to grab your smartphone or tablet and go deeper with the content on that page. Here’s how: 1. Download the free Layar app from the Apple or Android store or at layar.com 2. Launch the app and scan any page displaying the icon. 3. Premedlife bonus content will instantly appear on your device.
6 | PreMedLife Magazine |July/August 2016
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Digital
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Your Career in Health Care is Closer Than You Think
College of Biomedical Sciences The Larkin Health Science Institute’s (LHSI) Biomedical Sciences Program offers unique learning experiences for students who are applying to professional schools such as osteopathic and allopathic medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, optometry and veterinary medicine. Among the experiences open to Biomedical Sciences students are opportunities to round with Larkin Community Hospital doctors and residents. Students spend a day conducting patient rounds and become an active member of an interdisciplinary team. Hands-on experiences such as these are what makes the LHSI Biomedical Sciences Program stand out among other post-baccalaureate professional preparatory programs. A truly unique experience is the state-of-the-art Miami Anatomical Research Center (MARC) where students interact with surgeons and other experts showcasing a variety of techniques utilizing fresh-frozen cadavers. Students in medical, osteopathic, and dental tracks are able to see the human body in a way they would not see until clinical clerkships in third and fourth years of their chosen professional schools.
The LHSI Biomedical Sciences curriculum is specifically tailored to improve student performance on admission/aptitude tests such as MCAT, DAT, PCAT, OAT and others by concentrating on Basic Sciences content and objectives for the USMLE Step 1 board examinations. Many of our graduates have improved their scores by 20 to 30% on MCAT and DAT exams. Since Fall 2015, 15 of our graduates have been accepted into the professional schools of their choice. The College of Biomedical Sciences is accredited by the Commission for Independent Education (CIE) and is in candidacy status for accreditation with Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS). For more information please call Leann Doyle, LHSI Biomedical Sciences Admission Coordinator at 305-760-7515 or email at Ldoyle@ularkin.org. Dr. Rick Mroz, Assistant Program Director may be reached at rmroz@ularkin.org. Dr. Mercedes Perez, Program Director may be reached at mperez@ularkin.org.
TO LEARN MORE, VISIT WWW.ULARKIN.ORG 1-855-640-LHSI (5474) Larkin Health Sciences Institute is a private, not-for-profit educational institution.
From the
Publisher
IT’S BEEN GOOD. It is not by muscle, speed, or physical dexterity that great things are achieved, but by reflection, force of character, and judgment. - Marcus Tullius Cicero One of the greatest rewards of my position as publisher of PreMedLife is that I have a frontrow seat to the many ups and downs taking place in the lives of pre-medical students. From the thoughtful submissions and queries about story ideas that we receive to the new programs and initiatives that we learn about, and from the conversations I have with future and current medical students, to the many press releases we receive about all things MCAT- or medical school-related, it is clear that going to medical school is still the “thing” to do. As a matter of fact, in May, the Association of American Medical Colleges announced that U.S. medical school enrollment has increased by 25 percent since 2002. This is especially great given that we’ve been working so hard at PreMedLife to encourage and support students interested in pursuing careers in medicine. I still remember when we published our first issue when the enrollment trend was increasing and I thought and knew in the back of my mind that it would only continue to go up from there. So, l hope this summer has been a good one for you. Did you take any of the advice from the May/June issue to find some time to “be still?” And if not, did you make the best out of whatever it is you were up to? Either way, the warm days will soon be behind us and like rapper Jay-Z says, you’ll be “on to the next one.” Yes, the next chapter of your pre-med journey will soon drop right onto your lap ready for you to unwrap. So, take the next couple of weeks to reflect on how far you’ve come, where you currently are, and where you’re going. Now’s the time to get ready for being ready. I’d love to hear what you’ve been up to this summer and what you’re doing to gear up for an awesome Fall season so go ahead and send a note to tprince@premedlife.com. I hope all of you are keeping well and I look forward to an awesome year with you all.
Tasheema Prince Publisher @PrinceSheem tprince@premedlife.com
Tasheema Prince
PREMEDLIFE the lifestyle magazine for premedical students www.premedlife.com
Founder & Publisher | Tasheema Prince VP, Development| Monique Terc Contributing Editor | Njeri McKenzie Online Marketing Consultant | Portia Chu Contributing Writers Seemal Awan, Marilyn Chau Find us on Twitter @premedlife Find us on Facebook.com/premedlife Here’s How to Reach Us: Kisho Media, LLC P.O. Box 7049 New York, NY 10116 Main Office (347) 857-7491 Have a Story Idea? Email us at editor@premedlife.com Want to Subscribe? Visit www.premedlife.com and sign-up to our mailing list to receive an email when the latest issue is available online Want to Join Forces? (a.k.a. Partner With Us) Email us at info@premedlife.com Advertising Inquiries? Email advertise@premedlife.com PreMedLife magazine is published six times per year by Kisho Media, LLC. and copies are provided to select colleges and universities free of charge. The information in PreMedLife magazine is believed to be accurate, but in some instances, may represent opinion or judgment. Consult your pre-medical/pre-health advisor with any questions you may have about the medical school admissions process and related topics. Unless otherwise noted, all articles, photographs, artwork, and images may not be duplicated or reprinted without express written permission from Kisho Media, LLC. PreMedLife magazine and Kisho Media, LLC. are not liable for typographical or production errors or the accuracy of information provided by advertisers. PreMedLife magazine reserves the right to refuse any advertising. All inquires may be sent to: Kisho Media, LLC. P.O. Box 7049 New York, NY 10116 To reach us by phone call (347) 857-7491 or email us at info@premedlife.com.
8 | PreMedLife Magazine |July/August 2016
Premedlife
S T U D E N T A D V I S O RY B O A R D
The PreMedLife Student Advisory Board is an exemplary group of premed students from a variety of backgrounds who have a wide range of accomplishments. They will help keep us informed about what we need to know to make PreMedLife magazine the go-to resource for aspiring doctors.
Follow us @premedlife
Tisha Berg UCLA Extension
Viven Chen University of Miami
Samantha Culver University of Vermont
Caitlin Draper University of Arkansas
Jared Eaves The University of Texas at Austin
Austin Greer Indiana Wesleyan University
Charis Guinto Evangel University
Hannah Hoekstra University of Minnesota
Lisa Lachhman Pace University
Austin Newsman Georgia State University
James Rock Slippery Rock University
Tyra Turner Agnes Scott College
10 | PreMedLife Magazine |July/August 2016
M I NOS CAN ACH IEVE ANYTHING. We make sure they get to college. Federal Student Aid provides more than $150 billion each year in grants, loans, and work-study funds to make college possible for anyone with the mind to get there. Learn more about money for college at StudentAid.gov.
Federal Student Aid
An OFFICE of the U.S. DEPARTMENT of EDUCATION
PROUD SPONSOR of the AMERICAN MIND '·
premedlife
NEWS
“First-year enrollment at medical schools in the United States has jumped by ore than 25 percent from 2002, according to findings published by the Association of American Medical Colleges.” {PAGE 15}
istockphoto / anyaivanova
Brand New Medical School Targets Students Interested in Engineering
A brand new medical school for physician engineers will open at Texas A&M University, according to an announcement made by the school. The innovative school, called Engineering Medicine School (EnMed), will be located at Houston Methodist Hospital and is designed for training students who will invent health care technology that will transform the field. “The medicine of tomorrow will not be practiced in the way that it is today. Medicine is not just about biology, it requires technology development,” said John Sharp, Chancellor of The Texas A&M University System. “This school would not only train doctors, but allow them to invent new products and take their inventions to the marketplace. EnMed would expand the health care technology market at the Texas Medical Center. The potential economic impact to the region would be huge.” As one of the first and few options for students interested in medicine and engineering, EnMed “would be an integrated educational and research medical school focused on innovation and entrepreneurship.” With the field of health care technology grow-
ing at a rapid pace, EnMed comes at a great time for the space. Not only will students get the opportunity to gain the clinical skills needed to diagnose and treat patients, they will also get the chance to implement engineering practices and models to apply to practice. Moreover, they’ll gain the skills and experience to develop new technologies and discover ways to take their ideas from practice to the patient care setting. According to the schools website, EnMed is unique in a few ways. EnMed students will fulfill all academic and professional requirements for the MD degree, but will also engage in additional experiences involving engineering, innovation, and entrepreneurship. These experiences will be embedded within the curriculum from day one, uniquely preparing EnMed graduates to be leaders in inventing and applying cutting-edge technologies into medical practice. Closing the gap further than biomedical engineering programs, EnMed is becoming a part of a growing trend to combine design and problem solving with the world of medicine. Described as a school unlike
no other, EnMed will be tasked with taking on the health care issues that not only depend on bioengineering, but also mechanical, chemical, electrical, and computer engineers. ““There are other programs that link medicine with bioengineering, but this is different, Texas A&M Engineering Vice Chancellor and Dean of Engineering M. Katherine Banks explained. “All students in EnMed will be expected to invent something transformational before they graduate. These innovators, or “physicianeers,” will radically change the way that health care is delivered.” “As a physician who has long been interested in engineering, I’m particularly excited that EnMed will train a new kind of medical doctor who will be able to design technology to tackle the most complex problems in medicine,” said Marc Boom, M.D., President and CEO of Houston Methodist. “This new collaboration could quickly impact the future of health care.” The first group of medical students will begin their studies at EnMed in Fall 2017. To learn more about this program, visit enmed.tamu.edu p
12 | PreMedLife Magazine |July/August 2016
T:8.5”
Dr. Maurie Markman, MD Medical Oncologist
T:11”
WHEN YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT TO SAY,
STAND UP. When someone you love is diagnosed with cancer, you have the power to help. There are many ways you can stand up and show that you care. THEY TALK, YOU LISTEN. One of the most helpful and important things you can do is listen— without judgment and resisting the urge to give advice. DON’T ASK, DO TELL. Instead of waiting to be asked for help when it is needed, be specific about what you can do and when, such as: prepare a meal, babysit, pick up groceries, help with pets, or provide rides to and from appointments. Pamela Cromwell Cancer Survivor
LIVE AND LEARN. Educate yourself about your loved one’s diagnosis and treatment. When you understand what a cancer patient is going through, you’re better able to help keep information clear, track questions, and know how you can be most useful.
Christina Applegate SU2C Ambassador
STAY CONNECTED. After the initial diagnosis, people tend to drift away. Be someone to count on for the long haul. Check in, send a quick note, or drop off a book. Small gestures go a long way. Visit ShowThatYouCare.org to learn more about how you can stand up for someone you love.
1
Cancer Treatment Centers of America is a proud supporter of Stand Up To Cancer, an initiative designed to accelerate groundbreaking cancer research for the benefit of the patient. Stand Up To Cancer is a program of the Entertainment Industry Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
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NEWS
premedlife
istockphoto/ andreusK
New Report Shows Medical Schools Enrolling Greater Number of Students
The results are in – first-year enrollment at medical schools in the United States has jumped by more than 25 percent from 2002, according to findings published by the Association of American Medical Colleges in the Results of the 2015 School Enrollment Survey report. “Our nation’s medical schools have stepped up to meet the challenge the AAMC put before them in 2006,” said AAMC President and CEO Darrell G. Kirch, MD. “They understand the integral role they play in meeting the future health workforce needs of this country which, according to our latest data, will
now require up to an additional 94,700 physicians by 2025.” The report also projects that this number will increase to 30% by 2017, which is the goal the AAMC put before medical schools across the country over 10 years ago. The AAMC’s report highlighted another important topic within the medical education space – diversity among the student body. The survey, which asked schools to respond to whether or not there were specific admissions programs or policies designed to recruit a diverse student body interested in caring for under-
served populations, 84 percent indicated that it was in their plans. “Eighty-three percent of schools that responded to the survey indicated that they have or plan to have specific admission programs or policies to recruit minority groups currently underrepresented in medicine, and the majority of schools have or plan to have programs or policies to recruit students from other groups,” the report indicated. To read about the other findings from the report, visit members.aamc.org/eweb/upload/2015_Enrollment_Report.pdf . p
July/August 2016 | PreMedLife Magazine |15
Premedlife
ADMISSIONS
The letter arrives from the medical school you have applied to. You eagerly tear open the envelope that you have been waiting anxiously for months to receive. You have spent countless hours filling out forms, writing essays, and compiling your previous education and accomplishments into your medical school application. You might even have had an interview or been waitlisted. Now, after a nervous, lengthy period of silence from your school, you finally have an answer. Greeting you with the miserable lines of text that consist of something like, “Dear John, I write in regard to your application for admission. After careful consideration, the [insert name of medical school here] regrets to inform you that you have not been selected to interview for the entering Fall [insert year of entering] class,” reads the letter and you suddenly begin to feel a flood of emotions. You re-read the letter as agony and despair begin to settle in and your plans for the next four years evaporate as the words harshly stare back at you. You silently shout, “This can’t be happening! What I am going to do now?” Well, unfortunately, rejection letters or rejection emails from medical schools hit most applicants. Hopefully, you’ve applied to other medical schools which send you acceptance letters instead. Yet, for those students in which that is not the case and they get rejected from all of the schools, they need try to understand the reason for their rejection without becoming annoyed or upset at the medical school(s) they placed their future hope(s) in. Students need to realize that medical schools are looking for a certain type of applicant, with certain attributes and academic achievements that the school thinks will be a great match for them. After all, the medical school takes a significant chance with each student they accept – if they fail to pass their STEP 1s and 2s or fail at getting into a residency program, the medical school’s percentages go down and they could possibly lose their accreditation. Although you might
think you are the best applicant for them, the fact that you were rejected should let you know that there are others whom the school saw as a much better fit. Students should try to identify the reason for their rejection. Did you simply have a lower MCAT score than the school preferred? Did your college GPA take a hit during your freshman year and never recover? Did you fail your interview? Schedule a meeting with your advisors and see what their thoughts are about the situation. Then, after identifying the areas in
which you apparently weren’t as strong as the other medical school applicants, you might want take some time to think about whether or not medical school is the right choice for you. If you aren’t too sure whether or not this path is for you, take some time to figure that out. Go travel or take off on a long hike (e.g. do a section of the Pacific Crest Trail or the whole thing if you really want to) and spend some time in the backcountry asking yourself deep questions about why you really want to become a doctor. Get away from the societal pressures surrounding you, especially if you are feeling immense
pressure from your family to become a doctor. Ask yourself if medical school is really what you want to do, and ponder that maybe you are actually unknowingly being saved from a life that you were not meant to lead. Things might become clearer to you and you might even decide on not attending medical school. After all, it is an extremely big commitment that can be severely penalizing to one who decides on dropping out partway through. But for those who do truly want to become a doctor, taking some time off can be a refreshing re-charge and hopefully cause one to be even more motivated to do what needs to be done in order to get accepted. So from there, move forward in life. If you still aspire to become an M.D. or a D.O., fix the areas that were weak in your initial application – whether that means taking graduate school classes to boost your GPA or taking a different MCAT review course and re-taking the MCAT, go for it! Then re-apply with those top-notch and hard-earned scores and trust that your application is strong enough to be accepted. For those who decide on other careers, hopefully you’ve learned some life lessons throughout that long, grindingly tedious process of applying to medical school. If you are still desiring to work in the medical field, take a look at going into nursing or becoming a physician assistant, especially since you probably have a good science background from all of your pre-med classes. Finally, as you handle your rejection from medical school and try to discern what is next for your life, avoid the tendency to become cynical toward those who chose to continue on to the life of a medical doctor. Just because you didn’t get in to medical school right after college like the rest of your pre-med pals (some of whom you might think you’re smarter than), doesn’t give you any right to become cynical at their accomplishments. The same can be said regarding institutions and those who are in charge of accepting students. And for those who choose a different career path, beware of false pride and false humility, more so years from now when you might look back and be tempted to say something like, “Oh, I could have become a doctor if I really wanted to,” when you didn’t, and that’s all to be said. Instead, simply try again or move on. p
16 | PreMedLife Magazine |July/August 2016
istockphoto/ ASIFE
How to Gracefully Handle Medical School Rejection
dream big.
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F E AT U R E A RT I C L E
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Premedlife
18 | PreMedLife Magazine |July/August 2016
6 FAST GROWING
(NON-CLINICAL) CAREERS FOR MEDICAL SCHOOL GRADUATES
Have you ever thought about doing something other than practicing medicine in a clinical setting or conducting research on ce you graduate medical school?
July/August 2016 | PreMedLife Magazine |19
istockphoto/ shironosov
Medical Informatics Officer
With a little bit of training in health informatics, chief medical informatics officers (CMIOs) are tasked being the go-to person for matters related to health technology and who to design, apply, and utilize certain tools within a clinical setting. So while physicians who are Medical Informatics Officer may work within the clinical environment, they are not directly involved with caring for patients. CMIOs may also serve as the individual who will use their scientific and medical training and judgment to help develop and improve procedures and processes around health data.
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istockphoto/ william87
Physician Entrepreneur
While it may seem a little crazy to give up the prestige and income of being a physician, more and more physicians are deciding to start their own business. Although it may not be as lucrative as practicing medicine, physician entrepreneurs are finding it rewarding to turn their ideas into reality. Using the skills and knowledge they acquired from their medical training, physicians who start their own business, whether it is to provide a service or create a product, are using their skills – and passion – to become successfully entrepreneurs. And for those worried about paying off their medical school loans, while not guaranteed, the payoff can be big. Aside from the typical ups and downs any entrepreneur may experience, most physician who enter this field say they truly love what they do.
July/August 2016 | PreMedLife Magazine |21
istockphoto/ UberImages
Health Care Consultant
Oh, the options for physicians who take on health care consultancies are endless. From health insurance companies and public health departments to education institutions and hospitals, there are endless opportunities for physician consultants in the health care field. According to one report, “major global demographic, economic, technological, and political factors including aging populations, rising affluence in emerging markets, and advances in medical techniques and technology have buoyed health care consulting through the recessionary period – and will continue to do so over the long term. Health care consultants can advise clients on clinical process flow and operations, provide recommendations for performance improvement, help manage projects, and more. When it comes to complying with the federal government’s meaningful use guidelines, large hospitals and health delivery networks are turning to private sector health IT consulting experts for help.
22 | PreMedLife Magazine |July/August 2016
istockphoto/ julief514
Chief Medical Officer
“The post is held by a physician who serves to advise and lead a team of medical experts on matters of public health importance.� In a presentation about the evolving role of the Chief Medical Officer, Mark Williams, MD, MBA, JD, Chief Physician Executive at a healthcare services company, points out that there is no shortage of opportunities when it comes to the CMO role. In general, the role of the CMO is to bring about change and innovation within a health care environment to ultimately improve overall patient experience. They actively participate with strategic planning within an organization and are actively involved with business development efforts.
July/August 2016 | PreMedLife Magazine |23
istockphoto/ Jacob Ammentorp Lund
Medical Writer/Editor
While some people who work are health and medical writers have degrees in Journalism of English, others have scientific or medical degrees (i.e. MD, PharmD, or PhD) and the demand for these medically-trained writers is growing. Medical writing is a diverse field and the types of work medical writers take on can differ greatly, depending on their area of training, experience, and work setting. From creating content for continuing medical education materials to writing and editing regulatory documents for clinical trial reports, there are many opportunities when it comes to working as a medical writer. According to the Glassdoor.com, the salary for a Senior Writer at a pharmaceutical company was $177,000. Due to the flexible nature of the job, medical school graduates who are completing their residency (and making on average $48-55K/year) can take on freelance jobs as a medical writer to supplement their (not-so-friendly post medical school debt) salary..
24 | PreMedLife Magazine |July/August 2016
istockphoto/ monkeybusinessimages
Medical Science Liaison
The success of an organization may very well depend on a Medical Science Liaisons. And when it comes to working through product development, MSLs are truly a big deal. According to the Medical Science Liaison Society, “the primary purpose of the MSL role is to establish and maintain peer-peer relationships with leading physicians, referred to as Key Opinion Leaders (KOL’s), at major academic institutions and clinics.” In other words, physicians who take on the role of MSL essentially provides support for and to activities related to education, research, information dissemination, and “scientific intelligence.” For the most part, MSLs are not only highly trained in the medical field, but are also well versed in clinical and basic science. If you’re a people person, the MSL option is a perfect role in that there is a lot of relationship building and interacting with many individuals and teams on a daily basis.
July/August 2016 | PreMedLife Magazine |25
Premedlife
FINANCES
istockphoto/ Jacob Ammentorp Lund
Tapping Resources For Financing Your Medical School Tuition
26 | PreMedLife Magazine |July/August 2016
According to the 2015-2016 AAMC Annual Student Tuition and Fees Report, the average tuition and fees for first-year medical students at public schools was $35,223 for state residents and $60,211 for nonresidents. For students at private schools, average resident tuition was $53,917 and nonresident tuition $55,345. To these costs must be added possible tuition and fee raises, books, housing, and other living expenses during the traditional 4-year programs. On average, medical students in the US graduate with an overwhelming debt load of $180,723. While medical school is expensive, most students receive some form of financial aid to help meet the costs. The key to financing your medical school education is to begin your search for funding early. If you wait until you’re accepted into medical school, you might be left frantically searching for a way to foot your medical school bill. Here’s a look at some ways to help you reduce the burden of costs for your medical school education: IN-STATE PERKS One easy way to reduce the cost of medical school is to attend a public school within your home state instead of a private school, which may come with a hefty price tag. Don’t have a medical school in your state? No worries - you may be eligible to attend other state schools as an in-state resident through an exchange program such as WICHE, the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education, which allows students from Alaska, Montana, and Wyoming to apply to and attend any western medical school as a state resident (with the exception of the University of Washington). But even if you do go to medical school in state, it is very likely that it will end up costing you $140,000, including room and board. If you do plan on attending a school in-state, the goal is now to get all of the financial aid that you can to help further reduce the cost of your degree. MERIT SCHOLARSHIPS Simply put - your goal should be to get as much financial aid for medical school that does not need to be paid back. You should make it your business to apply for as many scholarships as possible. The merit scholarship is one of the most popular and the most prevalent. In order to qualify for such a scholarship, you must first demonstrate a high GPA, as well as a high score on your MCAT. Once you’re accepted into medical school, you should find out if you qualify for any of the school’s merit-based scholarships. Each medical school that offers merit-based scholarships has their own rules. Therefore, students who need financial help are encouraged to apply at several medical schools to i crease their chances of qualifying for a scholarship at a school. Earning a full-ride merit scholarship can eliminate tuition costs, allowing academically qualified students to save hundreds of thousands of dollars over the course of four years. Many schools offer full scholarships for students with strong academic credentials. Naturally, the competition for these generous schol-
arships is high, so not every student who meets the academic qualifications will necessarily earn a full scholarship to medical school. Check out the local corporations and organizations in your area, do some research, you never know what you might find. GRANTS & AWARDS You may also find it helpful to check with the university or medical school that you’ve been accepted into to see what awards and grants are offered. Alumni will often set up scholarships for students who meet certain criteria including anything from grades, athletics, volunteer work, or whatever the grantor wished to recognize with the award. You may find that you are eligible for an award because of your grades, volunteer work, athletic prowess or some other reason. TUITION-FREE SCHOOLS More recently universities have been helping medical students out in a big way by offering them the opportunity to attending medical school at no cost to them. Here are some schools that offer scholarships that every medical school student dreams of: The Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine (CCLCM) gives all incoming students scholarships to cover the annual tuition of more than $59,000. At Mayo Medical School every medical student receives financial assistance from the Mayo Foundation, with all students receiving at least half tuition scholarships. Through the generous support of donors, the University of Central Florida’s College of Medicine made medical college history with their four-year scholarship program. Each member of the school’s charter class received a full, four-year scholarship with living expenses. The school hopes to continue receiving support from generous donors so that they continue providing their students with a tuition free medical school education. SERVICE-ORIENTED PROGRAMS While programs may offer students the chance to obtain their medical education for free, it’s always important that you know the commitment involved. Whenever you find a program offering such a deal, make sure that you know what’s involved and what the long-term commitment may be. The military and the US Health Service Corps are two ways you can help finance your medical education. If you choose the military, you will receive the medical training you need in exchange for service to the country. The funding you receive for your education will be proportionate to the number of years of active duty you must provide in return. In the U.S. Health Service Corps, medical students can also receive assistance with medical school funding in exchange for a promise from the student to offer seRvice in a medically underserved area of the country once his or her education is complete. The National Institutes of Health will pay tuition and a living stipend for those interested in spending the eight years in school necessary to receive an M.D. and a research Ph.D. through programs like its Medical Scientist Training Program.
The National Health Service Corps provides up to $120,000 to medical (MD and DO) or dental (DDS or DMD) students in their final year of school in return for a commitment to provide primary health care full time for at least 3 years at an approved NHSC site in a Health Professional Shortage Area of greatest need. MEDICAL ASSOCIATION DOLLARS The American Medical Association (AMA) Foundation provides financial assistance through scholarships, grants and awards to deserving medical students and residents across the nation. The AMA offers the following scholarships: The Minority Scholars Award, The Physicians of Tomorrow Scholarship, The Scholars Fund and The Arthur N. Wilson, MD Scholarship. For more information about the AMA’s resources to help fund your medical school education, visit www.ama-assn.org. LOAN FORGIVENESS PROGRAMS There are government plans in place to help alleviate some of this debt for certain individuals. The AAMC’s searchable database provides detailed information about many of the state and federal programs available to medical and other health professions students. Groups like the National Health Service Corps offer medical school loan forgiveness programs to physicians who agree to practice for a set number of years in areas that lack a equate medical care (including remote and/or economically depressed regions). The are a few ways to qualify for medical school loan forgiveness programs. Finding work at a non-profit organization. There are many hospitals that are non-profit, so hospitalists and other doctors associated with these organizations may qualify for loan forgiveness loan programs. And even if the hospital that you work at is not a non-profit institution, they may just have an employee reimbursement benefit which will often offer student loan forgiveness as part of their financial package. Another way to become eligible for one of these programs is by performing public service for the elderly or disabled. Physicians who work for the under-served may be eligible to have a big percentage of their medical school loans deferred. Some may jokingly say that getting into medical school is the easy part - it’s getting through medical school without racking up a busload of debt that’s the hard part. But the honest truth is that many medical school graduates are left paying back student loans amounting to great sums of money. So as a pre-med student, whatever you can do to help ease the burden of medical school costs - do it. No matter what point you are at in you pre-medical career, whether you’re a freshman or post-baccalaureate student, there are many opportunities that will allow you to focus less on the money aspect of medical school and more on the learning part. Don’t wait to start thinking about paying for medical school - the time is now.
July/August 2016 | PreMedLife Magazine |27
Premedlife
S P E C I A LT Y
6
RULES FOR DECIDING A SPECIALTY
DECIDING ON A SPECIALTY IS A DIFFICULT DECISION FOR SOME STUDENTS AND A VERY EASY DECISION FOR OTHERS.
TAKE TIME WITH YOUR DECISION This is a really big decision and is almost as big as your decision to pursue Medicine, so it requires a lot of time and thought. Students always feel they need to be decided before they enter medical school but you actually get most of your exposure during medical school. I would say that it does not hurt at all to start thinking about it and explore different specialties if you have the time because that will only help you, not hurt you.
THERE IS NO RUSH. You have four years during medical school and I actually did not make my decision until the beginning of fourth year right before I apply. I liked a bunch of different specialties so it felt difficult to pick one specialty since I really liked a couple of them. Basically, let yourself have time to think about this and fully experience what medical school has to offer and not shut down specialties even before you experience them.
HAVE AN OPEN MIND
Some students come into medical school with preconceived notions about certain specialties but you want to try and come in with a blank slate. Unless you have had significant exposure in a field already, try not to knock down a specialty just because of something you may think you know about the specialty. Many students start medical school and think they will pursue one specialty but end up switching many times during their time in school. You have to allow yourself the opportunity to change your mind because that is the only way that you will be confident in your final decision.
DO NOT BASE IT SOLELY ON ONE ASPECT
DO NOT LET SOMEONE ELSE MAKE THE DECISION FOR YOU
Remember that you have you have to be the one that is okay with your decision for the rest of your life so do not let someone else convince you into or out of a specialty. When you are working late nights and have to be on call, it will be difficult to justify doing a specialty because someone else pushed you to do it. It is easier to be okay with something when it is your decision. Also, if you actually enjoy something, it will make life easier and more pleasant for you. Just think about it, when you are doing something enjoyable, the time flies and yet when you are doing something really boring, no matter what is on the line, it takes forever. Keep this in the back of your mind because
Choosing a specialty requires taking a look at many different aspects of a specialty and not just one part of it like how much money you will make. Although money is very important, there are other aspects that can be just as important, if not more. Right now because we do not make any money it feels like it should be very important. Lifestyle, type of people in the specialty, types of patients you will see, and your future are actually also very important and necessary to consider in your decision. When you talk to Physicians, do not just think about how much money you will make but ask the Physician what their life is like, if they have families, and other aspects of your life that are important to you. Try to imagine your life in the future and see if the specialty you are looking at would fit in with your personal needs.
DO THINK ABOUT WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT TO YOU
As a traditional medical student (went straight to medical school from undergrad) it is hard to think about what is important for you because you have not lived a real “adult� life yet. You will not always be a medical student and you have to think about your future after medical school. What are you looking for in your life and what is most important to you. For me, family life is a very big thing and is important to me. Based on that and other factors, I decided to pursue a specialty that would best accommodate my personal and professional goals. Do not be afraid to put yourself first. You are going into a career where you are relentlessly asked to put others first so take the time now to put yourself first.
28 | PreMedLife Magazine |July/August 2016
A CHART DOESN’T EMPATHIZE.
I DO.
Before reading a chart or lab report, a DO sees a human being. Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine practice their distinct philosophy in every medical specialty. A DO first considers the person within the patient.
Learn more at DoctorsThatDO.org
Premedlife
MEDSCHOOL LIFE
istockphoto/ Rawpixel Ltd
I guess, if you take the top students and put them all on a path to a competitive and challenging career, you’re likely to come across a few competitive and challenging people. It took some time, but after years of studying students, I’ve come across a few traits that come up time and time again. These are the types of medical students that you want to keep an eye out for.
30 | PreMedLife Magazine |July/August 2016
7 TYPES OF MEDICAL STUDENTS
Being in medical school, I have come across many different types of medics. Here’s what I’ve come to learn. By ‘Zed’ of The Medic Mind ARROGANT This is probably a given. The person who knows their talents and isn’t afraid to make you aware of it. You know a lot about their accomplishments but you don’t remember ever asking. It might be easy to avoid this person if you can, as they’re exhausting to be around. They probably have a career path, which has been set in stone since they were 2. HUMBLE You have a presentation or an assignment. The day arrives and everyone wishes each other luck. You mention how ill prepared you are and everyone does the same. It may or may not become a competition to see who has done the least. Until the moment arrives and they then go on to give a TEDx level presentation and you’re left choking on their dust. PRETENDER I always wonder why people have to pretend that they’re doing less work than they actually are. Another example is someone who lets you know that they’re off home. They’ve had a long day and they throw a yawn in for good measure. You go back to the ward because you have a few things to finish off and there they are, happily working away. GENIUS The one who seems to know everything and in such detail, you wonder where they’re storing all of this information. Surely, they must have 3 hemispheres and not just 2. How is it possible to know so much? “SLACKER” The ones who don’t attend as much as they’re supposed to. These people can be split into two groups. They ‘re either a genius like the above and go on to ace every exam and test or unfortunately they either drop out or get kicked out. OVERACHIEVER On the other end of the spectrum you have the students who go above and beyond to attend everything. All the seminars/lectures even extra ones that are sign ups. This type of student is not playing around. RISK TAKER Finally, you have the medical student who lives on the edge. Their behavior is borderline offensive and they’ve become quite a notorious member of the year. There are always whisperings about things they’ve done or said, all of which will be inappropriate. They’ve had a few meetings with the medical school and everything seems a bit touch and go in regards to them graduating. You can’t help but feel sorry for their future victims patients Medical school is a funny mix of personalities, it’s what makes the long years of studying more entertaining. It might be annoying sometimes but it’s all part of the process of being a medic. There’s always a feeling of camaraderie with medical students because at the end of the day, we all want the same thing.
July/August 2016 | PreMedLife Magazine |31
Premedlife
P E R S O N A L S TO RY
YOU WILL MAKE MISTAKES.
When I look back, it is my mistakes that taught me the most. Best piece of advice to give is to accept your mistakes and really learn from them. Everyone always says that they learn from their mistakes but learning from them does not just mean remembering that you made a mistake. An important part of learning from your mistakes is understanding why the mistake happened and what you can do to prevent it from happening again.
LEARN AS MUCH AS YOU CAN.
You don’t realize it now but this is the best time to learn. When you are older you will have more responsibilities and not have as much time to devote to learning. When I look back I wish I could go back to being an undergrad student whose only responsibility was to do well in school. The better your base knowledge is, the easier it will be to learn more.
HAVE FUN WHEN YOU CAN.
My family always tells me that I do not enjoy my life and that life is too short to not enjoy. Even though it is important to work really hard and try and do well it is also really important to have fun when you can. This does not mean try to have as much fun as possible the week before your final exams but when you do have the time to take a break, actually take a break.
LOOK UP SOMETHING WHEN YOU DO NOT KNOW IT.
TAKE CHANCES.
Most importantly take chances on yourself because there are only really a handful of people who would take a chance on you. So make sure that you give yourself the chance to follow your dreams because if you don’t, then who will? There is risk in almost everything that you dogoing to college is risky, trying to be a premed is risky, getting out of bed is risky. If you think that Medicine is what you absolutely want to do then the risk of not making it should not deter you from trying.
32 | PreMedLife Magazine |July/August 2016
istockphoto/ Nomadsoul1
LESSONS LEARNED ON MY WAY TO GETTING MY MD
You will meet people from all walks of life who have had experiences very different and sometimes very similar to yours. You can learn so much from these people because they know things that you may not know. If you come across something you do not know, just look it up so that the next time you do hear about it, you can add more information to your knowledge base.
T:8.5”
Two worlds. One dream.
Singers and Scientists share more than might be expected. Whether it’s a breakout melody or a breakthrough in research. When it comes together, everything fits. It can change lives forever. Stand Up To Cancer supports the collaboration, innovation and research that are turning discoveries T:11”
into viable treatments and possibly, one day, a cure. Stand up with us. Let your voice make a difference because when we work together, nothing is impossible.
Like, share and join SU2C. Find out more at standup2cancer.org
Jennifer Hudson, Stand Up To Cancer Ambassador
Shiva Malek, Ph.D.
Stand Up To Cancer is a program of the Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF), a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Photo by Nigel Parry.
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Premedlife
THE GOODS
Personality Desk Signs
Embellished with cheeky sayings, these retro-styled signs work overtime to liven up your study, or thinking spot.
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It’s Going To Be Okay Notepad
With our exceedingly clever and empathetic It’s Gonna Be Okay Notepad you can give a paper pep talk that can be tailored to virtually any situation, from cheering up to calming down.
Grumpy Notebook Set
The Grumpy Notebook Set includes three 48 page notebooks labeled Daily Disappointments, Things That Annoy Me and Fresh Rants. Each has ruled paper and a pocket in the back to hold extra complaints.
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34 | PreMedLife Magazine |July/August 2016
Chewable Coffee
Go Cubes Chewable Coffee Squares are made with real cold brew coffee for flavor.
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Each set of Brain Specimen Coasters comes with ten glass coasters. Each coaster has four rubber feet (to further protect the surfaces the coasters are protecting in the first place) and a slice of brain printed on it.
Focus On Happiness
With a little help from Canadian illustrator and blogger Marc Johns, you can focus on what’s really important in life. Our artistic What To Focus On Mini Gallery Easel features his words in white along with the concentric circles framing the central message “What to Focus On: Happy” against a vibrant summer-sky-blue background.
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July/August 2016 | PreMedLife Magazine |35
Premedlife
LAST WORDS
MEDICAL SCHOOL AND THE SPECTRUM OF MONEY
It is hard to understand why some of us place more importance on money and why others of us do not place the same importance. Of course, there is a significant role of how we were raised that plays a major role in the way that we perceive money. Understanding this is important for your future and what you decide to do with your future because although doctors do make a lot of money - according to the general public’s view of doctors- there are different paths you can take in medicine and based on your perception of money that path can be chosen differently. When trying to decide which specialty you want to go into, people consider a wide variety of factors which include, but are not limited to, the following: lifestyle, monetary compensation, call schedule, type of people that generally go into that field There are many other factors also but these are some of the major ones. However, there are some people who place a significant amount of weight on one factor alone – compensation. For some people it does not matter which field they are going into as long as they make enough money (according to their own standards). Many of these higher compensated specialties are also some of the harder specialties to get into. If you are in this crowd of students that do place a lot of weight on money then you need to be cognizant of that and be prepared to put in the work that it takes in order to pursue that competitive specialty. The reason it is crucial to be aware of this is because you need to do well during all of medical school in order to get into a competitive specialty. It is okay to make minor mistakes on the way but for the most part you need to do very well. Most students enter medical school not knowing what they want to go into and that is perfectly fine. But if you take some time to assess what is important to you, then you will be able to enter medical school with a better idea of what you hope to achieve by the end of med school. Take some time now, while you do have the time, to determine what is important to you, especially if money is very important. p
36 | PreMedLife Magazine |July/August 2016
istockphoto / Š kh_art
Money drives most of us because honestly without it, it would be difficult to do anything. For some people, money drives most if not all of their decisions whereas for others it only plays a small role in their decisions. It is important for you to understand where on that spectrum you are because it is a good idea to be aware of what drives our personal desires.
MACHINES DO NOT LISTEN.
I DO.
Before you talk to a doctor, choose one trained to listen. Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine practice their distinct philosophy in every medical specialty. A DO is trained to first consider the person within the patient.
Learn more at DoctorsThatDO.org