Blog Archives

Medical Debt Can Be Crushing

I recently saw a short piece in US News that reported that the average debt among medical school graduates who borrowed for their medical education was $184,000, excluding undergraduate loans. 

There are many reasons to think hard about a career as a physician, and monetary ones are first or second on the list. For those with severe financial need, the AAMC offers their Fee Assistance Program (FAP). (Please note that I also offer a discount for those who have a current FAP grant.)

Most applicants, however, don’t qualify for the FAP and may be looking at hundreds of thousands of dollars of debt after they complete their medical education. For many reasons, make sure that a career as a doctor is the right one for you.

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What to Know about the AAMC Fee Assistance Program 

Now that the 2022-23 medical school application process is on the horizon, I want to remind candidates about the Association of American Medical Colleges’ (AAMC) Fee Assistance Program (FAP) and Insider Medical Admissions’ available discount for those with a current FAP. The FAP is designed to offer help to individuals with financial limitations who cannot pay the MCAT registration and/or AMCAS application fees without financial support. (Of note, there also exists an FAP for  dental school candidates through the American Dental Education Association.)

If you think you are eligible, it’s worth applying for an FAP grant early: When applicants submit their AMCASes prior to receiving decisions on their FAP applications, those candidates are ineligible to receive the FAP benefits for the AMCAS even if their FAP grants are approved. In other words, the FAP is not retroactive. You snooze, you lose.

For more information on the FAP, please click here. I offer a significant discount on one non-package service for any applicant who can demonstrate financial hardship through a current AAMC FAP grant. After researching the issue, I believe Insider Medical Admissions is the only medical consulting company that currently supports a discount for FAP grant recipients. (I apologize if I’m missing a company.) Once you have been granted the FAP and thus, can prove receipt, please feel free to contact me for more information.

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Fee Assistance Program

As the 2021-22 medical school application process ramps up, I want to remind candidates about the Association of American Medical Colleges’ (AAMC) Fee Assistance Program (FAP) and Insider Medical Admissions’ available discount for those with a current FAP. The FAP is designed to offer help to individuals with financial limitations who cannot pay the MCAT registration or AMCAS application fees without financial support.

If you think you are eligible, it’s worth applying for an FAP grant early: If an applicant submits his/her AMCAS prior to receiving a decision on his/her FAP application, that candidate will be ineligible to receive the FAP for the AMCAS. In other words, the candidate will not receive a refund.

For more information on the FAP, please click here. I offer reduced rates for applicants demonstrating financial hardship through a current AAMC FAP grant. After researching the issue, I believe Insider is the only medical consulting company that currently supports a discount for FAP grant recipients. (I apologize if I’m missing a company.) Once you have been granted the FAP and thus, can prove receipt, please feel free to contact me for more information.

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AAMC Fee Assistance Program Expands

In light of the COVID crisis, the AAMC has recently expanded its Fee Assistance Program income eligibility. Please take a look here for current requirements. For more information on the FAP, including an online webinar, see this AAMC page.  

To support those with financial need, l continue to offer a discount to those applicants who can demonstrate a current FAP. Contact me with questions. 

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Fee Assistance Program

As the 2019-20 medical school application process ramps up, I want to remind candidates about the Association of American Medical Colleges’ (AAMC) Fee Assistance Program (FAP) and Insider Medical Admissions’ available discount for those with a current FAP. The FAP is designed to offer help to individuals with financial limitations who cannot pay the MCAT registration or AMCAS application fees without financial support. 

If you think you are eligible, it’s worth applying for an FAP grant early: If an applicant submits his/her AMCAS prior to receiving a decision on his/her FAP application, that candidate will be ineligible to receive the FAP for the AMCAS. In other words, the candidate will not receive a refund.

For more information on the FAP, please click here. I offer reduced rates for applicants demonstrating financial hardship through a current AAMC FAP grant. After researching the issue, I believe Insider is the only medical consulting company who currently supports a discount for FAP grant recipients. (I apologize if I’m missing a company.) Once you have been granted the FAP and thus, can prove receipt, please feel free to contact me for more information.

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About Dr. Michelle Finkel

Dr. Michelle Finkel

Dr. Finkel is a graduate of Stanford University and Harvard Medical School. On completing her residency at Harvard, she was asked to
stay on as faculty at Harvard Medical School and spent five years teaching at the world-renowned Massachusetts General Hospital.
She was appointed to the Assistant Residency Director position for the Harvard Affiliated
Emergency Medicine Residency where she reviewed countless applications, personal statements and resumes. Read more

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Listen to Dr. Finkel’s interview on the White Coat Investor podcast:

Listen to Dr. Finkel’s interview on the FeminEm podcast: