by Jennifer Wilcox, former associate director of financial aid at Albany Medical College

Congratulations—you did it! You completed your undergraduate degree, MCAT, and the medical school interview process. You are now taking your first steps toward becoming a doctor. If you borrowed student loans for your undergraduate degree, however, there are a few things you need to think about before you get caught up in daydreaming about your Gross Anatomy lab, white coat ceremony, reciting the Hippocratic Oath.

by Michelle Richardson, former Assistant Vice President at Chase Student Loans

Congratulations! You graduated with your undergraduate degree, studied diligently for the MCAT, and applied to medical school using the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS). You have put in many hours, blood, sweat, and even a few tears to prepare for medical school. One question remains: have you prepared financially?

by Lauren DiProspero, former admissions officer at Columbia University

To become a doctor, you must graduate from medical school. To practice medicine, you must be licensed. To become licensed, you must complete a residency program. Given this requirement, I am sure that many people assume that residency is simply the next step in a medical student’s journey, and maybe they even assume residency is a guarantee. That is, unfortunately, not the case.

by Lauren DiProspero, former admissions officer at Columbia University

In our previous medical school blog post, we talked about the two degree paths to becoming a physician. If you are about to begin your application to medical school, you may have noticed that there are three different common application platforms. The platform you use will be determined by the type of degree you are seeking—MD or DO—and whether or not you are applying to medical school in Texas.

by Lauren DiProspero, former admissions officer at Columbia University

Did you know that there are two medical degrees that lead to becoming a physician?

There is the MD (allopathic) and the DO (osteopathic). Application requirements for these degrees are similar: they both require the MCAT, experience in the field in the form of clinical exposure and research, and pre-requisite courses. Each degree’s medical training is similar: both are four-year medical school programs followed by three or more years of residency. Post-graduation outcomes are also similar: each program’s graduates are physicians who are trained and licensed to practice medicine – prescribing medicine, performing surgery, and practicing in specialty areas.

As admissions decisions start to come in, you may receive scholarship offers from some of your schools. Did you know you can negotiate for more? Learn more about the dos and don’ts of the scholarship negotiation process. For those finding college too expensive even with scholarships and financial aid or those who want a different college experience, we have information about options to have your degree funded by your employer. Tune in for another story from our team. Hear about how one of our college finance experts started with an associate’s degree before getting his bachelor’s.

In another segment in our Med School Series, we’ll consider post-baccalaureate programs, including what they are and who would benefit. We’ve been giving a lot of attention to early action, early decision, and priority decision admissions plans, but this week we’re all about regular decision lists and planning. Finally, for those of you hoping to establish better financial habits in the new year, we have suggestions on developing a spending plan.

by Lauren DiProspero, former admissions officer at Columbia University

As college students studying pre-med progress towards the end of their junior year, they may start to wonder if they should begin applying to medical school. If you happen to be one of these pre-med juniors, it may feel like all of your peers are on track to do just that.

by Lauren DiProspero, former admissions officer at Columbia University

When we think of the healthcare field, we often envision professionals working directly with patients. Last week, we discussed careers in Allied Health. We hope it has become clear that healthcare is a big field with many professions and jobs! This week, we will focus on advanced degrees in the healthcare field that do not involve direct patient care yet have a big impact.

Guest Post By Valerie Jaquith, Senior Manager on the Academic Coaching team with Bright Horizons EdAssist

If you have started the journey toward medical school, you may have a good understanding why it is not for everyone. The path to becoming a doctor is a very long and arduous, though rewarding, one that requires a hefty investment of your time and money.

Even though you may be at the beginning stages of your path toward a lifelong dream, it is still worthwhile to consider other opportunities in the vast world of healthcare. At the very least, you may discover a new-to-you field that piques your interest and can serve as a viable backup plan!