Medical School Dreamers
 

Does anyone know any dreamers in med school and how they paid for it. I will be curious to know what schools or cities you know that accept dreamers for med school.

Re: Medical School Dreamers
 

I have known of few people who had the grades and intentions of going to med school but none of them could find a single way of paying med school tuition when undocumented.

Re: Medical School Dreamers
 

I am in the process of applying right now. I live in Texas, and they base everything on Texas residency. Luckily for me, Texas medical schools are the cheapest in the nation. It is about 9,000 per year for tuition. The total cost each year, comes up to about 15,000. Over 4 years it will be 60,000 max.

How will I pay for it? Loans? A scholarship would help. If not, then I will try to find a loan. If worst comes to worst, then I will get a job to pay it off. Making 15,000 each year shouldn't be that bad.

Do I know anyone undocumented in medical school? No. I looked up some stats about undocumented students in Texas medical schools, and there currently aren't any, but there have been a couple in the past.

What would be the easiest way to pay? Apply to a private medical school, and have nearly perfect stats. I know Harvard Medical School is very generous with scholarships. There is also that story about that undocumented guy who got into Harvard Medical School. I was going to try this route, but I didn't know how I would get Boston for the interview.

Re: Medical School Dreamers
 

Thanks for the information- I would hope that there would be a loan to qualify for that would help. Is it really that inexpensive to go to medical school in Texas. wow that is very cheap- It is $60, 000 each year on the east coast.

I pray that DA passes in the summer so that med school can happen and I will continue to check from loans or from family members.

Re: Medical School Dreamers
 

$60,000 per year is pretty insane. What about USC medical school? They are private, so wouldn't they be able to give hardship aid?

Yeah, the DA passing would help. If you are planning to apply this year, go for it. If something happens in regards to legislation by next August, then you can adjust your status with the medical school and be eligible for aid. But the best option is to apply to a private school.

Re: Medical School Dreamers
 

QuestionsIHave, how did the people you know handle their 3rd year of medical school which usually requires employment papers? The people I know had to wait until they got their PR status before attending or they're hoping they get their PR status before their 3rd year. Were they able to work something out?

Re: Medical School Dreamers
 

I didn't know those people personally. Texas releases information about where undocumented students are, and it showed that a small percentage where in medical school/dental school/etc in 2006. Currently, on UT medical school's website, they release stats for students who are currently attending by different classifications. In the HB 1403 section it showed zero. That is how I knew there weren't any currently attending, at least in the UT system.

About 3 year, I'm guessing you are talking about clerkship rotation. Do they go to a Texas medical school or a medical school in another state? I guessing there must be a way, since that Harvard student was able to graduate. Maybe the situation is different from state to state. I will ask about it.

Here is a good story of what you are talking about. His situation does prove one thing, you can get into medical school. Even in Arizona.

http://immigration.change.org/blog/v...m_undocumented

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My name is Michael and I am currently a first year medical student in Arizona. My family and I immigrated to the United States when I was 10 years old and I have been living as an illegal immigrant for the past 18 years.

I remember the first time that I felt the limitations of being an illegal immigrant. While my friends were getting ready for college or the military service during my senior year in high school, I was left trying to figure out what the available options were present for me. All the college applications required a statement of residency status. I was neither an American citizen, permanent resident, or had visa documentations. "What do I write in?" I asked myself. On most applications I just left that particular portion blank. Hoping that my residency status did not matter, but as expected I received numerous notifications stating that I needed to clarify exactly what my residency status was, or my application would not be considered complete.

I eventually chose to attend a local college, C.S.U. Stanislaus. As stated earlier, I really had no idea how to even apply for college given my immigration status, so initially I had a meeting with an admissions counselor. To my surprise, she turned out to be very supportive and helped me with the application process.

My professional aspirations initially was to become a lawyer, from my personal experiences of being an illegal immigrant, I knew first hand how laws directly affected people in society and I felt that I could really do some positive things for the minority community as a lawyer in the future.

How I came to be a medical student from a pre-law student is rather a lengthy story, but in short my mother was in a horrendous car accident during my first semester in college. My mother had severe laceration of the tongue, broken nose, and a major leg injury as well. Through going to the hospital and helping my mom go through the healing process, I got to see some of the positive aspects of being in a health care profession. I was inspired and from that point on to become a doctor and my current goal is to become a surgeon.

After attending California State University of Stanislaus for one year, due to financial constraint, I left school for two semesters, in hopes of returning with the tuition money to pay for the rest of the semesters. Thankfully AB 540 was passed in California just in time for my return, allowing me to pay instate tuition. The law definitely help lightened the financial load for my family, without it I don't think I would have been able to graduate.

While attending college, I took night courses and worked 40 hours a week at a local swap meet to earn the money for my tuition, although I was paying instate tuition, I was still unqualified for financial aid. In the winter of 2004 I graduated with a B.S. in Biology, but was for a second time faced with a daunting limited choices, due to my immigration status.

After graduation I worked in swap meets again for four years, until I gained the courage to try to get into medical school. I am now a first year student at a medical school in Arizona paying my tuition through a private loan. I still face the same daunting obstacles that were present when I graduated from college. The third year of my medical school will require that I rotate among various hospitals and doing so will require that I provide proper identifications, which I do not have at this time. And even if I were to graduate from medical school, I would still be faced with a limited opportunity that exists for many illegal immigrant students today. I would not be given the opportunity to apply for a medical license and would not be allowed to practice medicine in the U.S. I am hoping for the passing of the DREAM act, so that I may be able to become a great surgeon sometime in the near future.

I would like to thank the individuals who have volunteered much of their own time and resources to campaign for the passing of the DREAM act. For those students who are reading this, and even remotely thinking about giving up hope, GET INVOLVED !! We can make a difference!!

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Re: Medical School Dreamers
 

That is great news to hear about the success of a dreamer. Any indication of scholarships or private loans for medical school dreamers? I know there is always a way to finance education. I have heard about accessgroup, afford.com and salliemae but are they still viable today?

Re: Medical School Dreamers
 

ACCESSgroup no longer provides private loans we can apply for. i used it once 2 years ago but they stopped giving it out.

Re: Medical School Dreamers
 

Did you get into an out of state school?

Re: Medical School Dreamers
 

Sem, let me know how that goes!

Re: Medical School Dreamers
 

^^^^ Interesting. I wonder why other states don't follow that policy? I mean even Arizona doesn't follow that policy, and undocumented students have it pretty bad there. At least it is convenient that they actually list their policy in a manual.

About the changing of policy. It would be best if groups in the UNC system can talk to the president or dean of the school. From my experience of calling NC senators/reps, they really don't like when non-NC residents call since they don't live in the state. If there is a DA group at the school, try to get them to talk to the higher ups. You could lead it since you have been personally affected by their policy. That is how Minnesota dreamers got some of their schools to give instate tuition for them, even though a law wasn't passed by their legislature. I would be willing to take part in the emailing though, but you really need to get instate groups to speak up.

I have one more question? Did you apply to private schools in NC? Do they have the same policies as UNC system? Can't private schools set their own rules for the most part? If they don't follow those policies, I would suggest you apply. Even if things would get complicated when clerkship (3rd or 4th year) comes around, you would be able to get at least two more years of school, and some sort of legislation could pass by then.

Re: Medical School Dreamers
 

ok, so I am confused, can you go to dental school being an undocumented allien? is that even possible,? how would you complete your application?

Re: Medical School Dreamers
 

You'd have to leave the status question and social blank... or talk to admissions about whether they accept undocumented students (could be done anonymously via email)

Re: Medical School Dreamers
 

good luck with that man, I would never be able to afford Med school here in the states. In Mexico I have the money to pay for it but not in the states =(

Re: Medical School Dreamers
 

I'm applying to pre-med or pharmacy schools :'( but it seems so impossible
and for money I'll try to get loans hopefully ... if not ill have to have something figure out

Re: Medical School Dreamers
 

Welcome to the party =S

Re: Medical School Dreamers
 

during my life and times as an undergrad i too inquired to the majority of the Texas medical schools only to find that all reject my hopes of being accepted into a medical program being undocumented. Hell, some even stopped responded to my emails after various exchanges with their admittance committees. They could care less. It tears your heart out but it is what it is.

Re: Medical School Dreamers
 

all i've heard from medical schools (and some pharm schools) is that you can apply and get accepted, as long as you can provide the full amount to fund your education preferably in an escrow account in the U.S. most of these schools are private schools, so it's ridiculously expensive. like everyone else has said, not quite sure how you go about the background checks and licensing exams that you have to endure.
many public med schools usually require that you have your permanent residency card in your possession as you're applying. if you submitted an application, or you're waiting for an interview, or waiting for the card to come in, they say don't bother.

really kinda stinks!

Re: Medical School Dreamers
 

Wondering if anyone else has been able to make it to med school and how do they plan to move ahead???
The problem is what happens during 4th year of med school when it's time to apply for residency programs. All residency programs require legal work status because they are full time paid positions. International medical graduates with either a J1 or a H1B visa are able to get a position but it depends on the program.

Re: Medical School Dreamers
 

I've been toying with the idea of going to medical school instead of law school (I've read that the law field is really over populated right now with new grads and firms have been deferring people left and right). I was working on my Biology degree before changing my major to Political Science, but I'll have to transfer out of Georgia and finish it up out of state.

My real question is: Is it even possible to go to medical or dental school in our situation? I don't want to start down this path when I know that other people have been able to successfully attend law school and medical school is pretty much a crap shoot. I enjoy doing both so either way I'll be happy. But, getting a medical related or science degree would pretty much guarantee me a job when the immigration issue is resolved.

Re: Medical School Dreamers
 

^You don't absolutely HAVE to have a science degree to get in to medical school, you just have to take a few required classes and also hospital volunteer work helps. You can have a degree in english even if you want. From what I've heard some med schools even encourage applicants with degrees outside the science field. Again, as long as you have the required classes (I believe they're general bio, physics w/lab, general w/lab chem w/lab, organic chem w/lab, calc, and english..it may vary depending on the med school) it also depends on your MCAT score.

Re: Medical School Dreamers
 

I know, and that's why I'm going to finish my Political Science degree. I said that stuff about the Biology major so that you guys knew that I was at one point taking Pre-Med requisite classes and I've got some of them done. So, I'm not just jumping in to this. :)

Do we know of anyone that has been successful in attending medical school? And does anyone know about scholarships, etc.? I know that in the case of private law schools, they will pretty much overlook your status if you have the LSAT score and grades. And I know several DREAMers in law school that even got scholarships.

So, has anyone been able to get at least 50-75% of their tuition paid for? If they could pay for at least the first two years, I think that maybe I could get a loan by then.

Re: Medical School Dreamers
 

Re: Medical School Dreamers
 

hi everyone,

i was amazed to find this thread. honestly, i thought i was the only one in this situation and i am so comforted to see that others are struggling like i am. like many of you said, medical school is already difficult enough to get into as a us citizen but in our situation, it just seems impossible.

currently, i am applying to medical school for the 2012 year. i have called many, many medical schools (both private and public) and have some answers to some of the questions you guys posted.

3rd year/4th year rotations are going to be our most difficult feat (besides paying for the school itself) because, in order to actively participate in a hospital, one has to have documentation that one can stay in the us legally. that includes green cards, visas, etc. since we don't have these, it will be extremely difficult, if not impossible, for us to do these rotations. also, some private schools, like stanford in CA, say that they need documentation of legal status before we even matriculate into the school. legal status must be determined before one can register for classes.

for many other private schools, the line is fuzzy between legal status and registering for classes and matriculating. the timeline (whether or not you need documentation prior or after matriculation) is hazy and no one really has affirmative answers.

my question is... have any of you already been accepted into medical school? or are currently in medical school? besides paying for it, what other difficulties have you encountered? also, how did you manage to matriculate without documentation of legal status?

thanks so much for the answers in advance. i really believe that undocumented students CAN get into medical school and prosper... if they would only give us a chance.

Re: Medical School Dreamers
 

Hey all,
i'm also glad that there is a forum dedicated to this issue. I'm currently in college hoping to go into medical school in the future. I remember walking into the pre-med office the first week of classes of freshman year and hearing the advisor say that students like me have less than 1% chance of going into medical school. Ever since then her words echoed in my head and I ask myself if I'm being realistic in trying to pursue this path. After reading some of the stories here of some dreamers who were able to through, it fills me up with some hope. To all dreamers applying this year good luck! at daisys the last comment ^ good luck. Do let me know how it goes and if you hear anything else from any school. If anyone knows of any specific schools or dreamer who might know more, i would like to know. Good luck to you all.