3 answers
Annelvira
Student
Lewisville, North Carolina
1
Question
Asked
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How do I achieve my academic and career ambitions in the context of financial constraints to fund my education
I am aiming to become a medical doctor specialized in pediatrics. I am currently an undergraduate majoring in molecular biology.
How do I structure my programs/classes in way that ensure a timely achievement of my goal. Questions includes class selections, graduate school selection, but also navigating financial constraints.
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3 answers
Jennifer Bloomquist- CIPP/US/E, CIPM
Risk Specialist for Privacy and Confidentiality Impact Accessments
23
Answers
Clarksville, Tennessee
Updated
Jennifer’s Answer
I can't give medical advice, but here's a tip that might help. While you're an undergrad and haven't taken out all your loans for medical school yet, try working to cover the interest on your undergrad loans. I went to a private liberal arts college, and by doing this, I saved tens of thousands of dollars. When I graduated, I only owed what I borrowed, without any extra interest piling up. The more years you study, the tougher it gets as debt grows, but even doing this for the first four years can save you a lot in the long run.
Alyssa Browning
cardiologist
18
Answers
Blue Bell, Pennsylvania
Updated
Alyssa’s Answer
You are doing great if you are a molecular biology major, since a lot of the required classes for your major are going to overlap with the "required" classes to get in to med school. Make sure to keep your GPA up (does not need to be perfect, but the higher the better, particularly if you are not at a "famous" undergraduate school which may send a lot of students to medical school every year). Shadowing a few physicians could be helpful -I wish I had done more of this in my sophomore/junior years of college. You can call your state or local medical society in North Carolina if you and your family don't personally know any physicians - they can probably suggest someone to "shadow". Don't give up if the first person you call says "no", either. Also you might ask the career services or alumni office at your college or university if they can match you with a physician(s) who is an alumni of your university (to get advice and/or shadow this person). Volunteering at a local hospital can also be a good way to learn more about being a physician, though it can be hard to get a foot in the door and sometimes you end up doing not very exciting stuff, at first! In terms of the cost, probably the best way to avoid breaking the bank is for sure applying to all the state-supported medical schools in your state, once the time comes. However, there are several private schools that are now offering tuition discounts, particularly if your family does not have a super high income. So I would not let the cost that keep you from becoming a physician. The most important thing is making sure you really want to be a pediatrician, so go follow around a few of them. The worst thing is to be age 45 and then wish you'd picked a different career.
Loved reading this, thanks!
Sonia
And I guess, make sure to graduate in 4 years from undergrad. That way you aren't spending a lot of extra money on a college education. I did take a couple of summer school classes just to make sure everything got done on time, while I was doing quite a few extracurricular things while in college (sports, volunteer work, etc.).
Alyssa Browning
Bryan E
Solution Engineer for Software
1
Answer
Sterling, Virginia
Updated
Bryan’s Answer
Some great advice above and I truly admire your chosen path. I'll break down my advice into a few phases:
Financial Considerations
Explore Community College courses: If financial constraints exist, explore all transferable course credits at local community colleges. It does not matter where your college course credits come from early on.
Scholarship Research: Apply to every financial aid package eligible for. If you are eligible, apply. Applying for 20-30 scholarships and grants might lead to 3-4 awards that could create material savings.
Loan Forgiveness Programs: For medical school itself, look into the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) scholarship and state loan repayment programs. Pediatrics qualifies for many of these since it's a primary care specialty. Federal loans over private loans — they offer income-driven repayment and Public Service Loan Forgiveness if you work at a nonprofit hospital.
Class Selection
Typical Suggested Timeline: Year 1-2 (General Chem, Physics, and Bio sequences), Year 3 (Organic Chemistry, Biochemistry, and start MCAT prep in spring), Year 4 MCAT focused. Beyond coursework, your molecular biology major gives you a natural edge for research experience - use it. Shadowing a pediatrician (aim for 40+ hours), research involvement, and leadership in a health-related org will round out your application beyond GPA and MCAT.
MCAT Readiness: Your major natively covers the heavy biochemistry and biological principles tested on the MCAT. But your MCAT prep should focus on other areas as well. The best path to open up the door to a wider range of schools is to come out with a solid MCAT score.
Medical School Selections: State schools are typically 50-60% cheaper than private so you may want to prioritize in-state options if financial constraints persist. Note that if you are early enough in your undergrad, there may be BS-MD programs and some schools that offer guaranteed med school admission. Consider applying to both MD and DO (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine) programs. Both lead to the same residencies and the same ability to practice pediatrics. Applying to both widens your options.
To stay competitive when applying for schools, aim for a GPA at 3.5+ and an MCAT of 510+.
One Immediate Step: If your school has a pre-health advising office, connect with them now. They track requirements, write committee letters, and can confirm which courses at your institution fulfill med school prerequisites.
One Immediate Step: If your school has a pre-health advising office, connect with them now. They track requirements, write committee letters, and can confirm which courses at your institution fulfill med school prerequisites.
To stay competitive when applying for schools, aim for a GPA at 3.5+ and an MCAT of 510+.
Financial Considerations
Explore Community College courses: If financial constraints exist, explore all transferable course credits at local community colleges. It does not matter where your college course credits come from early on.
Scholarship Research: Apply to every financial aid package eligible for. If you are eligible, apply. Applying for 20-30 scholarships and grants might lead to 3-4 awards that could create material savings.
Loan Forgiveness Programs: For medical school itself, look into the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) scholarship and state loan repayment programs. Pediatrics qualifies for many of these since it's a primary care specialty. Federal loans over private loans — they offer income-driven repayment and Public Service Loan Forgiveness if you work at a nonprofit hospital.
Class Selection
Typical Suggested Timeline: Year 1-2 (General Chem, Physics, and Bio sequences), Year 3 (Organic Chemistry, Biochemistry, and start MCAT prep in spring), Year 4 MCAT focused. Beyond coursework, your molecular biology major gives you a natural edge for research experience - use it. Shadowing a pediatrician (aim for 40+ hours), research involvement, and leadership in a health-related org will round out your application beyond GPA and MCAT.
MCAT Readiness: Your major natively covers the heavy biochemistry and biological principles tested on the MCAT. But your MCAT prep should focus on other areas as well. The best path to open up the door to a wider range of schools is to come out with a solid MCAT score.
Medical School Selections: State schools are typically 50-60% cheaper than private so you may want to prioritize in-state options if financial constraints persist. Note that if you are early enough in your undergrad, there may be BS-MD programs and some schools that offer guaranteed med school admission. Consider applying to both MD and DO (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine) programs. Both lead to the same residencies and the same ability to practice pediatrics. Applying to both widens your options.
To stay competitive when applying for schools, aim for a GPA at 3.5+ and an MCAT of 510+.
One Immediate Step: If your school has a pre-health advising office, connect with them now. They track requirements, write committee letters, and can confirm which courses at your institution fulfill med school prerequisites.
Bryan recommends the following next steps: