<p>IIs are still coming out on SDN, albeit at a much slower pace, both for rolling and nonrolling schools. Many seem to show slots into Feb.</p>
<p>No action for D1, she’s assuming that her interview season is over and it’s sit and wait time for decisions from the remaining schools. </p>
<p>Next step is FA, I probably should have been on this earlier, but somehow it’s hard to get too excited when you’re pretty sure it’s going to be all loans…</p>
<p>Maybe so, entomom …but not all loans are created equal. ;)</p>
<p>That’s an area where I need some education! If anyone can point me to a good thread here on CC or another source, it would be much appreciated.</p>
<p>m2ck… do you know the timeline for this state SOM (not the “other” one assuming that is south) ie secondaries, interviews, acceptances etc. S2 wont be applying to the “other” as no mstp program,</p>
<p>Entomom- you might be surprised and Curm is right not all loans are the same. Depends on who is the source…the feds, state, the school and in some cases private entities. Sometimes grant money is thrown in just depends on the school, if its private or public…son never found a source to look this stuff up, just from fellow alums who were already in and who were applying same cycle as him and they all compared notes.</p>
<p>Since he had 2 undergrad sets of alums it made for a broader source of info than most. And his first school has a very tight knit alumni network. For all his interviews his overnights were hosted by his fellow alums already in place at the respective med schools. Since they all had the common background of the same undergrad experience it was easy for them to explain their med school experiences and contrast them to other schools they too had interviewed at.</p>
<p>When it came to the money and packages they were all very forthcoming with what they received and what they knew others were offered. Made his decisions easier and did help with the “negotiating” process.</p>
<p>Kat</p>
<p>m2ck… do you know the timeline for this state SOM (not the “other” one assuming that is south) ie secondaries, interviews, acceptances etc. S2 wont be applying to the “other” as no mstp program,</p>
<p>The secondaries come within a few days of the AMCAS app being verified (hopefully the LORs or Committee Letter has been sent in as well). After secondaries are submitted, the school may take a week or more to send an Interview Invite…for some, it can take a couple of months to get a II. After the interview, it can take 1-4+ months for an acceptance. </p>
<p>the acceptance process is a mystery. It seems like they accept in drips and drabs…and there isn’t always logic to the acceptances…such as certain non-URMs with lower stats getting accepted before other non-URMs with higher stats. Females seem to have an advantage since the M to F ratio is 60/40</p>
<p>If your son is applying to a MSTP program, I don’t know if that delays things or not.</p>
<p>thank you m2ck</p>
<p>entomom, One of DS’s loans was from the institute, neither from the federal nor from the state.</p>
<p>Also, for this particular intitution loan (or the “alumni’s loan”? not sure about its exact name):
<p>If the borrower can pay it off right at the graduation, it is essentially interest-free loans while still a med school student. It is good for the cash-flow management purpose in these 4 years.</p>
<p>For another kind of grants DS received, I heard he was expected to write some appreciation letter (and report his “progress” in medicine education) to the person who donates the money. For the grant funded by the school itself, the student is not asked to write this letter, just like the grant at college.</p>
<p>entomom. Kat and MCAT said it well. There may be few surprises and not all of them bad.</p>
<p>Thanks all, I will put my nose to the grindstone, get the documents together, submit, and hope for the best.</p>
<p>"Next step is FA, I probably should have been on this earlier, but somehow it’s hard to get too excited when you’re pretty sure it’s going to be all loans… "
-Did you consider equity lons / 401k withdrawals option? If it is available for you, this could be the cheapest option (aside from being on Merit scholarship).</p>
<p>^ Truthfully, I haven’t thought that far ahead :o. </p>
<p>Those are both options, it’s just sort of daunting as probably like many here, I have been very loan adverse all of my life. I remember signing the papers on our first mortgage, it was almost traumatizing for me. Interesting side note, since my husband was from Argentina with their hyper-inflation, he had no such fears, as he was used to the idea of buying things if you had the chance, since holding onto money ONLY meant that it would be worth less tomorrow.</p>
<p>"I have been very loan adverse all of my life. I remember signing the papers on our first mortgage, it was almost traumatizing for me. "
-The same here. We pay off loans as fast as we can and better yet, avoid them if possible. However, we are at the age when we do not pay fines for early 401k withdrawals any more, they are not early for us.</p>
<p>For better or worse, I too am over the age for IRA penalties on withdrawals :(. But I think the younger folks should be able to withdrawal without penalty too under the educational expenses clause:</p>
<p>[FinAid</a> | Saving for College | Retirement Plans](<a href=“Your Guide for College Financial Aid - Finaid”>Retirement Plans and Saving for College - Finaid)</p>
<p>Of course this is not a recommendation that people draw down their retirement savings, but it is something that could be tapped under certain circumstances.</p>
<p>^^And part of why I urged my kiddos to open Roth IRAs as soon as they started working.</p>
<p>Speaking of money, DS just received acceptance today to Boston University. 4 year tuition would be ~80k more than UConn Med but its his choice. He went to UConn undergrad on an Honors scholarship so we have funds leftover to help him with med school.</p>
<p>Congrats to your S! </p>
<p>No final decision here yet, but we’re in a similar situation, money saved from UG will likely see use for med school ;).</p>
<p>Yup. Same story here. UG choice allowed her some flexibility in choosing her med school. Some folks on cc have questioned her reasoning …but not her. She’s pleased as punch. ;)</p>
<p>Congrats to your S roberthhid!</p>
<p>Big Congrats to your boy Roberthhid!</p>
<p>Having choices is HUGE!!!</p>
<p>Kat</p>