Medical School Scholarship Aid
'Checkup' on Opportunites for Every Level of Medical Education
Financing medical school can be more daunting than a medical student's actual course studies. It takes resourcefulness and perseverance to find scholarships to pay for that path to a medical degree.
Merit Scholarships
There are a number of medical schools that offer scholarships based on merit. In scholarship funding, merit is defined as a high grade point average (GPA) in baccalaureate studies, a high score on the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) or both. 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 increase their chances of qualifying for a scholarship at a school.
- Mayo Medical School in Minnesota offers three types of scholarships based on performance. Medical students have to fill out an application and go through an interview process. These competitive scholarships include:
- Merit scholarships offer recipients fifty percent tuition and are renewable based on academic performance.
- Dean awards are full scholarship rides awarded to those medical students who show the greatest potential in medicine and are renewable.
- Outstanding Achievement scholarships are bestowed on students that fall within non-traditional roles and based on diverse backgrounds. These scholarships are renewable based on academic performance.
- The University of Miami Miller School of Medicine awards several million dollars in scholarships a year. When students are accepted into the school, they automatically are considered for a scholarship based on merit. Those students with high GPAs and/or high MCAT scores are given more credence.
The Armed Forces Route
The Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP) is a military program offered through the United States Army, Air Force and Navy. The United State Marine Corps does not offer HPSP because they receive medical support from the Navy.
The military pays for medical schooling which encompasses tuition, books and other fees. Medical students in the HPSP also receive a small remuneration each month for living expenses. In return, students must serve a year for year match in terms of active and reserve duty. Students can typically attend the medical school of their choice. It is important to note however that they must be accepted by the medical school prior to applying for HPSP. The military does not help students get admitted.
Accepted students in HPSP are commissioned as an inactive reservist during their studies in school. However, they are required to participate in forty-five days of active duty each year as part of their participation. Upon graduation, students will apply for medical residency through a military match program and are elevated in rank to officer status. Typically this residency is served in one of the military hospitals, although in some special instances, it can be served in a civilian hospital.
Upon residency completion, the next step in four years of active duty. Upon completion of the four years, doctors can either continue as career military or serve in the civilian sector. If the civilian route is chosen, the doctors serve four additional years as a reservist.
Medical Association Scholarships
The American Medical Association (AMA) Foundation recognizes the financial need of medical students. In response to that need, the Foundation issues several scholarships each year. Medical students must visit the dean's office or financial aid at their respective schools for nomination and application forms. Below are two of those scholarships:
- Minority Scholars Award - Students must be in their second or third year of medical school and be of a minority background. Ten scholarships worth $10,000 each are award yearly.
- Physicians of Tomorrow - Two scholarships are awarded each year worth $10,000 each to fourth year students. Recipients should have committed to psychiatry career or expressed interest in medical journalism.
Service-Oriented Scholarship Programs
The National Health Service Corps (NHSC) offers a scholarship program that pays for all expenses incurred in medical school and even pays a monthly living expense. The caveat is that the medical student must gain admittance to a medical school on their own merit. In addition, scholarship recipients must commit to four years of service in an underprivileged area once medical residency is complete.
Part of the NHSC program is the commitment of choosing a specialty of primary care where there is the most need. Family practice, gynecology and pediatrics are often fields of practice where there are shortages in the underprivileged areas.
Medical Specialties
We list other scholarships available to students in certain medical fields:
