Medical School: University of North Carolina School of Medicine
Expected Graduation Year: 2024
Undergraduate Institution: University of North Carolina Asheville
Major: Psychology
Minor: Neuroscience
Why I’m becoming a doctor
I want to go into medicine because I grew up in an underserved area. Many members of my family had chronic illnesses, and they would have to drive 45 minutes to an hour in order to receive care and proper management. I want to go into primary care so I can reach as many patients as possible and act as the initial and full-time point person for the patients that I work with.
My experience with the AAMC Fee Assistance Program
I used the following benefits during my premed journey:
- MCAT® Official Prep Online-Only Bundle.
- Reduced MCAT registration fee.
- Medical School Admission Requirements™ (MSAR®).
- Waiver for AMCAS® fees
The Fee Assistance Program was essential to helping me apply to medical school. I used the written guide, the practice exams, and the question banks that were given to me. I also used the MCAT registration fee reduction and MSAR benefit, which was a wonderful resource that helped me make wise choices about my application. I ended up applying to 20 schools, all of which were covered by fee assistance benefits. The Fee Assistance Program was absolutely vital to my premed journey and my ability to apply to medical school. I was able to apply to many more schools than I would have been able to otherwise, and I cannot thank the AAMC enough for all of the benefits of this program.
Other ways I benefited from the AAMC Fee Assistance Program
Most of the secondary fees were completely waived because I was a Fee Assistance Program recipient. This was done automatically through the school's secondary application process. I was also offered scholarships for travel and accommodations from certain schools that were far from home. This information was sent out by the interview coordinator(s), so be on the lookout for those emails when you are receiving interview invites!
Advice to future applicants
Do your research before you apply. The information is readily available, so make sure you do your due diligence. Also make sure you have you and your parents' tax forms on hand so you don't have to chase them down for your Fee Assistance Program application and eventually the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Use everything that the Fee Assistance Program program sends you. It is the gold standard (they write the exam!) so it will be the most representative resource you can use. Also, use the MSAR guide to strategically apply to schools. When looking at the MSAR guide, you need to have an idea of what your MCAT score will look like (Use those practice exams — they will help!) as well as your GPA. The MSAR guide has a filter so you can determine which schools are within your reach. Remember though, there is no such thing as a “safety school,” so make sure you apply broadly and do your best on every application. Good luck!
These students’ testimonials were selected because they represent diverse stories. The views expressed herein are those of the students and do not necessarily reflect the positions or policies of the AAMC.