Even though becoming a doctor is a very common dream most of us have harbored at one point or another in our lives, it is not always achievable. Going to medical school and getting your medical certificate is a very expensive endeavor. Unless you’re fabulously wealthy, there just isn’t any chance of making it happen. In fact, the average cost of medical school per year has significantly increased as the years went on and it shows no signs of stopping. So what must little aspiring doctors do? Of course they can always apply for medical scholarships, but there simply aren’t enough scholarships for everyone.

If you’re determined to become a practicing physician no matter what, here are some tips on how to pay for medical school.

Scholarships

As previously mentioned, the best case scenario is scoring one of the many coveted medical scholarships. Some say that getting a scholarship or a grant is too good to be true but it’s still achievable. All you have to do is increase your chances of getting them by being the most desirable applicant. Get your grades up, be active in extracurriculars and present yourself as the most outgoing and confident candidate around. Then, apply to every medical scholarship you can find online. Who knows, you might get lucky and receive this holy grail that will settle all of your financial problems at once!

Financial Aid

If you’ve had no luck with scholarships and grants, try appealing to your medical institution for aid. Upon entry, you will have to disclose your parents or guardians income. Your institution uses this information to decide which students need financial aid the most. Sometimes they will also provide need-based grants or loans with better terms such as extending the amount of time you have to pay back the loan. By receiving financial aid from your medical school, you can cut down up to half of the cost of your degree. 

Side Income

Now when you’re in medical school, the last thing you need is to burden yourself with another side job. Learning medicine is difficult enough as it is. But unfortunately, when all else fails, getting another source of income is the only option left. But be sure that you have exhausted all other means to get financial help before making this choice.

Pick a side income that is as less of a hassle as possible. Don’t go looking for work in the Food and Beverages industry! Instead, choose a simple and easy job like translating documents if you know more than one language. If you don’t, apply for jobs such as transcribing audio or writing articles. Work that only requires you to sit in front of your laptop all day is doable and less of a burden than working in customer service. These jobs also pay well too. Learn how to save up and manage your finances as best you can to afford your time in medical school.

We all know the saying, “where there’s a will, there’s a way.” Don’t give up on your dreams, work hard to achieve them. They are not as out of your reach as you think.