Medical school is undeniably expensive. Without accruing savings from jobs during gap years or applying for federal or private loans, tuition bills can seem overwhelming. Thankfully, there are some medical school scholarships that can support medical school costs. Despite varying in the amount offered, each dollar truly makes an impact when paying for tuition. Below, we have listed some medical school scholarships that you can still apply for before the term starts.
Scholarships
Tylenol Future Care Scholarship
The Tylenol Future Care Scholarship is awarded to students pursuing careers in healthcare. The application requirements are 2 essays focused on your passion for healthcare and career goals. Additional information such as your transcript, resume, and demographics also need to be provided. Last year, around 40 applicants were selected and up to $10,000 were given for each applicant. The application this year is due July 30, 2020. See below for information on applying:
https://www.tylenol.com/news/scholarship
White Coat Investor Medical School Scholarship
The White Coat Investor has been offering scholarships for 5 years to support medical, dental, and other professional degree students. The White Coat Investor offers two levels of prizes: 5 second-place prizes, which are $2000 in cash, and 5 grand prizes which will split all remaining cash. In addition, you receive a WCI online course. Applications are accepted till August 31, 2020. See below for information on applying:
https://www.whitecoatinvestor.com/medical-school-scholarship/
United Health Foundation/NMF Diverse Medical Scholars Program
The Diverse Medical Scholars Program was established in 2013 in order to increase healthcare providers committed to improving access to medically underserved communities. This scholarship is renewable and provides $7000 to 38 students that are in their 2nd, 3rd, or 4th years of medical schools. Scholarship eligibility requirements include enrollment in a US medical college, underrepresented minority group background, and leadership and commitment to service of underserved communities. Once selected, 200 hours of self-directed community health service are required. Application opens on August 3, 2020 and is due September 14, 2020. For more information on this scholarship, see below:
Annual Healthcare and Life Sciences Scholarship
The Expert Institute is a legal services institute that connects attorneys to experts across different specialties, including healthcare and life sciences. Expert Institute offers a $1000 scholarship. The requirement is a 1000-2000 word essay on how your specialized knowledge and training could improve the practice of law. Requirements for this scholarship are few: you must be pursuing a degree related to healthcare or life sciences and maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA. See below for more information on this scholarship:
https://www.expertinstitute.com/writing-contest-medical-scholarship/
James “Rhio” O’Connor Mesothelioma Scholarship Fund
The James “Rhio” O’Connor Mesothelioma Scholarship Fund was established after Rhio O’Connor was diagnosed with mesothelioma. Rhio O’Connor used alternative therapies to treat his cancer and has since been cancer-free for nearly 20 years. This scholarship is essay-based with 5 prompts very specific to cancer and alternative therapies. If you have an interest in cancer and alternative treatments, you can apply for a $1000 prize. See below for more information:
https://survivingmesothelioma.com/scholarship/
Kaiser Permanente Northern California Residency Programs Medical Student Scholarship Application
Kaiser Permanente offers $5000 scholarships to 4th-year medical students that have demonstrated their commitment to underserved communities and are seeking a residency in Northern California. Online application involves the submission of a CV, short essay, letter from your institution regarding your academic standing, 2 letters of recommendation. Applications are accepted from September through November. The final review of applications also involves a phone interview. For more information, see below:
https://residency-ncal.kaiserpermanente.org/med-students/scholarships/
Dr. Richard Allen Williams Scholarship
This medical school scholarship was established in honor of Dr. Williams, founder of the Association of Black Cardiologists, for medical students that have proven commitment to the health of the African American community. Eligibility requirements include a one-page statement of interest, transcript, recent CV, and 2 letters of recommendation. The deadline to apply is August 28, 2020, and more details can be found below:
https://abcardio.org/scholarships-and-awards/rawilliams/
Endowment for South Asian Students of Indian Descent (ESASID) Scholarship
The ESASID scholarship is offered to medical students of South Asian descent enrolled in their 2nd, 3rd, 4th year of a Pennsylvania medical school. The scholarship amount is $3000 and the deadline is September 30, 2020.
Clubs of America Scholarship Award for Career Success
The Clubs of America Scholarship Award for Career Success rewards undergraduate students passionate about their career path and with a GPA greater than 3.0. The only application requirement is an essay and the award amount is $1000. See below for more information on the award:
https://www.greatclubs.com/scholarship/
Medical Society Scholarships
Sometimes your local medical county societies offer medical school scholarships. Typically, these scholarships are intended to support students within their county. For example, if you live in Allegheny County, the Foundation of the Pennsylvania Medical Society offers a $4000 scholarship, and applications are accepted till September 30, 2020. A quick Google search or email to your local medical society on scholarship opportunities can help identify these opportunities.
Explore Other Medical School Scholarships
There are a wide variety of medical school scholarships available and websites that compile thorough lists of scholarships. Several of these scholarships have very specific eligibility requirements and variable award amounts, so keeping an organized table of scholarships, deadlines, and requirements can be helpful. I recommend doing an online search of medical school scholarships and reaching out to your medical school for opportunities. Several medical schools have compiled lists of medical school scholarships and even offer merit-based scholarships for their applicants.
Tips for Applying to Medical School Scholarships
Once you have identified a couple of medical school scholarships that you are eligible for, you may be wondering how to create the most compelling application. In order to increase your chances of a successful application, I recommend organizing your thoughts before writing and giving yourself enough time for the editing process. Before any application, I recommend writing an outline of what you want each paragraph to convey. Then, you should fill in the essay with your personal experiences and accomplishments. Remember, these applications are not the time to be humble! You should highlight how unique your qualities, characteristics, and experiences are and why you are the best candidate. Once you feel confident in what you have written, I recommend either sending your essays to colleagues or giving yourself time for at least 3 revisions. Additionally, for application materials that might take time, such as letters of recommendation and transcripts, you should give yourself sufficient time.
Medical school scholarships can be worth the investment. Ultimately, it’s up to you to evaluate whether they are worth it. One perk of medical school scholarships is that they also can introduce you to a new set of medical school colleagues and expand your horizon. So, if you have free time during this pandemic, I recommend checking out some of the above scholarships.
