I am $160,000 in debt from a 5 year undergraduate program. That translates to a $1000 monthly payment.
(People always ask how this happened: I was not financially educated. I think I was the first foster child in my district to make it into college. My 1st year, I received only grants, scholarships and tiny federal loans. Every year thereafter, I was asked to either take out a whopping private loan or transfer. Those numbers got larger each year. I went to a financial advisor who told me to trust my college's financial aid office that all student loans were good debt. I believed that.)
This leaves me unable to afford any more undergraduate or post bacc classes unless they are funded without loans. I might have trouble financing medical school too and welcome advice about that.
What is my chance at getting a large scholarship? What can I CHANGE to qualify for one? Which scholarships are my best bet? Which schools would be the best match for my profile?
Cumulative gpa=3.33
Science gpa = 3.8
Minor gpa (completed last year and a half, after BA was earned but not received - barely missing the definition of "post bacc"): 3.8
Worst grades were freshman year.
MCAT = 29P (I would like to retake but that might not be financially possible.)
11PS
10BS
8VR
6 years of Volunteer experience (surgery and ER)
2 years of Research experience (counting internships and minor)
(Suggestions about how to get more experience while holding at least a 40K job, necessary to pay bills, are welcome.)
I've started a few clubs/organizations that still exist.
Held offices in school clubs (non-student government).
Played extracurricular sports and in so-so music groups.
Co-organized local events that may have helped to change state laws.
Invented several medical items which I will try to patent (once I can afford it).
I am from a poor family, was an unadopted foster child (and therefore have learned to recognize a number of societal problems that land people in the ER - since children talk to each other a lot), am from a medically underserved area but don't want to return to it.
I don't want to practice primary care. My first choice is to be an ER doctor and stay in Massachusetts for school and for my career. I know everyone says to wait for rotations to decide so I reserve the option of changing my mind but probably won't need it since I've volunteered so much.
I am not a URM.
(People always ask how this happened: I was not financially educated. I think I was the first foster child in my district to make it into college. My 1st year, I received only grants, scholarships and tiny federal loans. Every year thereafter, I was asked to either take out a whopping private loan or transfer. Those numbers got larger each year. I went to a financial advisor who told me to trust my college's financial aid office that all student loans were good debt. I believed that.)
This leaves me unable to afford any more undergraduate or post bacc classes unless they are funded without loans. I might have trouble financing medical school too and welcome advice about that.
What is my chance at getting a large scholarship? What can I CHANGE to qualify for one? Which scholarships are my best bet? Which schools would be the best match for my profile?
Cumulative gpa=3.33
Science gpa = 3.8
Minor gpa (completed last year and a half, after BA was earned but not received - barely missing the definition of "post bacc"): 3.8
Worst grades were freshman year.
MCAT = 29P (I would like to retake but that might not be financially possible.)
11PS
10BS
8VR
6 years of Volunteer experience (surgery and ER)
2 years of Research experience (counting internships and minor)
(Suggestions about how to get more experience while holding at least a 40K job, necessary to pay bills, are welcome.)
I've started a few clubs/organizations that still exist.
Held offices in school clubs (non-student government).
Played extracurricular sports and in so-so music groups.
Co-organized local events that may have helped to change state laws.
Invented several medical items which I will try to patent (once I can afford it).
I am from a poor family, was an unadopted foster child (and therefore have learned to recognize a number of societal problems that land people in the ER - since children talk to each other a lot), am from a medically underserved area but don't want to return to it.
I don't want to practice primary care. My first choice is to be an ER doctor and stay in Massachusetts for school and for my career. I know everyone says to wait for rotations to decide so I reserve the option of changing my mind but probably won't need it since I've volunteered so much.
I am not a URM.