Money for post bac

Nontraditional Premed Discussion
1

So I have been accepted and I am starting a post bac at a 4-year this summer, but am seeing that many of the deadlines for potential scholarships have passed, or are for high school students.


I am thinking I may have to take a Grad PLUS loan- but I already have student loans, and I am not sure what the minimum credit score acceptance is for the Grad PLUS loan.


I have figured I will have to mortgage my life for medical school (loans, loans, and more loans) and I am okay with that, but I was wondering what others thoughts were when they attended or as they are attending. I am in early talks with the financial aid office and as soon as my taxes are done my FAFSA will be too.


I have a little saved, but unfortunately with a husband and a kid - more was not saved.


Thanks people.


RB



2

Soda -


Depending on how you enrolled for classes, you may still be eligible for some regular federal subsidized and unsubsidized loans. If you enrolled as continuing ed or non-degree, you are eligible for federal loans to take courses that are pre-requisites for admission into a professional program (med, vet, law, etc). The catch is that you can only borrow for 12 consecutive months, and it is very difficult to do the med school pre-reqs in 12 months. If you enroll as a “degree-seeking” undergrad (doesn’t matter whether or not you are actually going to seek said degree), you may be eligible for federal loans up to either a credit hour or dollar amount cap. I don’t think there is any “cap” on loans for the first strategy. For the second, you will need to ask your financial aid office how many hours/dollars you are still eligible to borrow for undergrad courses. The plus to both of the above is that credit score is irrelevant.


Good luck!

3

thanks emergency!


your feedback spurred me to review my loan information again and now I am thinking I may have to go with my second choice due to money. But before I get discouraged I am going to talk in depth with the Financial Aid office too.


Either way, I am still closer to getting to medical school which is my goal. As Old Man Dan says its a marathon.


thanks,


RB (aka Soda)