Medical school scholarships include need-based and merit-based options, as well as specialized programs like the Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP) and National Health Services Corps (NHSC). Need-based scholarships require FAFSA, while merit-based scholarships are awarded based on GPA, MCAT scores, essays, and interviews. HPSP and NHSC scholarships cover tuition in exchange for service commitments.
There are several types of medical school scholarships available for prospective students. As with undergraduate scholarships, there are need-based and merit-based medical scholarships, ranging from subsidized and unsubsidized loans to grants. In addition, there are several specialized scholarship programs available to medical students, including the Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP) with the military and the National Health Services Corps (NHSC), which pay part or all of the teaching of the faculty of medicine.
To receive need-based medical school scholarships, students must apply for financial aid using the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Since medical students are considered independent by the federal government, parental information is not required on the FAFSA if the student wants to receive federal subsidized and unsubsidized loans, but students can also receive Parent Loans for Undergraduate Students (PLUS), even though they are graduate students. If the student wishes to receive loans based on need for the individual medical school or if the student wishes to be considered for grants, parental information must be provided. There are some extenuating circumstances where parental information is not required, such as legal emancipation or if the student is over 30, but these circumstances are evaluated on an individual basis by each medical school.
Merit scholarships to medical schools are also relatively common. Most merit scholarships are awarded based on grade point average (GPA), Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) scores, admissions essays, and interview scores. Students often do not need to complete additional application materials to be considered for a merit scholarship, but some schools require additional materials for certain scholarships. Merit scholarships range from single scholarships to four-year scholarships of varying amounts. Students who want to earn an MD/PhD, sometimes referred to as medical scientists, are often offered full scholarships for joint medical and graduate programs.
HPSP Scholarships in Medicine with the Army, Navy, and Air Force generally pay a student’s full tuition in exchange for a commitment to serve in the armed forces. In addition to the full tuition fee, students receive a signing bonus of $20,000 (USD) in addition to a monthly stipend of $2,000. Upon completion of medical school, scholarship recipients are required to serve one year for each year spent in training on the scholarship.
Medical school scholarships with the NHSC can also cover medical school tuition. The dollar amount of the scholarship varies depending on the time spent in the program, as the program is a form of loan forgiveness. Students interested in this scholarship must commit to pursuing a primary care field such as obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, psychiatry, or primary care. In addition, students must also commit to practice in underserved areas such as urban or rural areas.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
