Acceptance or Non-Acceptance
After the interview an applicant may not hear from the medical school for weeks or, in most cases, months. Many students will interview in October and hear from the school in March or April. Students will be accepted or not accepted, put on a "wait" list or a holding category. In many cases a student may not receive final word until late August. If a student is accepted they will have a designated period in which to decide on accepting or rejecting the acceptance. Starting in 2008, the AAMC and most medical schools will conduct criminal background checks before students matriculate. Acceptance requires that the applicant submit a refundable deposit. A student may initially hold multiple acceptances but must select one medical school by May 15 and submit a more substantial deposit. A financial aid application may be submitted to the medical schools before final acceptance is received. Most financial aid is in the form of loans, usually Stafford loans and are $8500 subsidized and up to $30,000 in unsubsidized.
Once accepted, the student should contact the medical school's Financial Aid Office. A few scholarships exist with one potential fund, the Torrison Scholarship, which is for students who are active members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (see Ted Johnson for details). The average debt loads for a public medical student for 2005 graduates $120,000. Mayo Medical School gives substantial financial aid with a total debt load of $50-60,000. Many good references and information is available including excellent advice in the MSAR. Go here for additional advice regarding financial planning.
Some schools such as the U. of Minnesota allow students to defer entrance for one year, but the reasons for the deferment must be significant. Other medical schools such as Creighton will not allow deferments. If students are not accepted it is beneficial for them to contact the school in the summer to set up an appointment to discuss why their application was unsuccessful. With the trend at many schools such as Colorado and Wisconsin towards older students, age and/or experience may be a major factor. Reapplication is encouraged at most schools, and, in some cases, a necessity to gain admittance. Students should determine what has changed in their approach or application before reapplying. Students must demonstrate that they are different and have made the recommended changes. Re-applicants may have to use the login created with the first application. Medical schools may review the old applications and the current application.
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