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How to Handle a Personal Crisis as Prospective Medical Student

By U.S. News & World Report

People die, accidents happen and illnesses occur. How you handle unforeseen events builds grit and determination that is integral to success in life — and this includes the medical school application process.

A calamity is not a single bad grade but a life-altering event, such as the death of an immediate family member, personal or parental illness such as cancer or a major event that interrupts your studies. Given the importance of your undergraduate years to preparing for medical school, what should you do — or not do — as a prospective medical student when faced with a significant unforeseen circumstance?

Here are several do’s and don’ts for handling unforeseen situations as you prepare for medical school.

[See if you are ready to apply to medical school.]

— Don’t ignore the situation: You cannot continue business as usual when life stressors pile up, whether that’s a parent’s death, housing disruptions or financial problems. Not dealing with the situation could significantly affect your grades, undermining your medical school dreams.

Ask for help. Speak to a family member or trusted mentor and develop a plan to determine your options and create a path to success, such as taking reduced course load, determining whom at university to inform of new events and deciding whether professional counseling is necessary.

[Learn how to plan for a successful gap year before medical school.]

— Don’t give up your dream of becoming a physician: If the unforeseen situation pauses your undergraduate academic pursuits or leads to a dip in your grades, look for alternative ways to accomplish the necessary next steps to get to medical school.

Have a candid conversation with your premedical adviser to craft a distinct strategy, which may include expanding your medical school applications to schools with a proven track record of accepting students from your undergraduate institution, from out of state or in your GPA and MCAT score range. You may also consider delaying your medical school applications so you can pursue a postbaccalaureate program or even a master’s program in science.

Every path to becoming a physician is distinct; simply because you won’t meet the timeline you originally envisioned does not mean that becoming a physician is out of reach. Resist the impulse to compare yourself with other classmates who are also applying to medical school. This calamity can further cement your dedication to becoming a physician.

[Discover six types of applicants who would benefit from a postbaccalaureate program.]

— Do talk with advisers: Know you are not alone. Your major, college or premed advisers have heard a lot of stories.

They can provide suggestions on how not to amplify the bad along with methods to mitigate the aftermath in different ways, such as an emergency loan, funds for students or extensions for projects, possibly even by interceding with a professor on your behalf. Then when the time arrives for you to request medical school recommendations, these advisers can address the unforeseen circumstances you endured and highlight why these make you an extraordinary candidate.

When my mother was undergoing chemotherapy for lymphoma, I spoke with my major adviser. She provided a compassionate ear and concrete advice, as well as spoke with my teaching assistant and professor on my behalf to ensure they understood the extreme stress I was under and the affect it could have on my studies.

— Do identify lessons learned and use your personal statement to discuss the impact: Use your medical school personal statement to write what you learned from this unforeseen event.

For instance, did you learn how to create a realistic budget to prevent financial shortfalls or how to better balance life and school by honing time-management skills? Did you take time to practice self-care and communicate your need for support?

Personal experience with death and dying may have driven home the fragility of life and now you are more empathetic. Or direct involvement with the health care system from the patient’s perspective may have improved your communication and given you a greater perspective on how to speak to future patients. Remember, calamity does not encompass the totality of a person, although it may be a further motivation for you pursuing medicine.

— Do prepare to use the medical school interview to expound on the event: Remember that anything you include in your application is fair game for the medical school admissions committee to ask in interview questions.

The admissions committees may ask you about the lessons your learned, request an update on your current status or ask about the situation’s applicability to a career in medicine. For example, in my personal statement, I discussed my mother’s illness and then prepared to share further in person. Embrace the line of questioning as a golden opportunity to infuse more humanity into your application, creating a memorable impression.

If asked during interview, be as candid as you feel comfortable without oversharing. And focus on lessons learned and how they are applicable to your success in medical school and life.

Persevere after adversity with support from family, friends and your advisers so that you may successfully navigate the event and identify the good. Then use your medical school personal statement and interview to give admissions committees context for the incident. Rebounding from calamity not only contributes to the richness of life experience, but it also it fortifies resilience in you that is indispensable for medicine.

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How to Handle a Personal Crisis as Prospective Medical Student originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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