Applying for medical school scholarships takes time and research.
Start early to find and apply for medical scholarships. Scholarship opportunities exist from the American Medical Association (AMA), the military, the U.S. government and private sources for students entering medical school. Applying for them requires submitting paperwork about your academic history and work history, and recommendations from schools. Prepare for the applications by contacting people who can write positive, in-depth evaluations about you.
Instructions
1. Locate available sources of scholarships. Search scholarship databases on the Internet for opportunities. For merit-based scholarships, check with the financial aid office of medical schools in which you are interested. Also check the National Health Service Corps for available scholarships -- however, understand that recipients must give service to underprivileged communities after they graduate. Consider the military-based Health Professions Scholarship Program, which requires service in the military. Look into the American Medical Association (AMA) for scholarship programs for students, as well as private grants and funding.
2. Prepare a scholarship application packet of required materials for submittal. Required materials include school transcripts and MCAT scores. If your MCAT scores are low, prepare to retake the exam to improve your score. Other materials needed include a resume detailing professional and medical-related experience, personal essays and recommendations from schools. You will also need proof of U.S. citizenship, such as a passport or birth certificate.
3. Submit applications for chosen scholarship programs along with support materials. Pay the required application fees. Some scholarship applications can be completed over the Internet. Most sites will allow you to save incomplete applications for convenience in case the application cannot be completed in one session. Also, online sites allow you to submit supporting paperwork by uploading electronic versions. To prepare these, use a scanner or have your paperwork -- such as MCAT scores, resume, essays and recommendations -- saved electronically.
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