The cost of attending med school is well over $100,000 (yikes!), and on top of that, you’ll need to pay to apply to med school.
Medical school application cost breakdown
Let’s look at how much the different application components cost:
MCAT costs
The MCAT registration fee is $320. This includes the cost of the exam and the distribution of your scores. Additional fees can include late registration ($375 for those registering within 8 days of the exam), changes to your registration, and testing at a site outside the U.S. Those taking the exam outside the U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Guam pay an additional international registration fee of $115.
Additionally (though not required), most applicants choose to take an MCAT prep course. These courses can set you back anywhere from $400 to more than $2500. The cost depends on factors such as whether the course is in-person or online, and on the number of hours of class and practice tests. Private tutoring can cost between $88/hour and $135/hour.
And don’t forget to include the cost of MCAT study materials.
Primary application
AMCAS application cost
To use the AMCAS primary application (which is what most schools require), you’ll need to pay $170 for the first school and $40 for each additional school. There is an AAMC fee assistance program for qualifying applicants. Not all schools use AMCAS. If the med schools you’re applying to don’t accept the AMCAS app, you’ll need to pay their individual application fees.
AACOMAS application fee
Application fees for DO programs, which are done through AACOM, are $195 for the first program and $45 for each additional program, even if you submit those applications at a later time. AACOM has a fee assistance program for those students meeting the criteria. Some programs charge additional fees. Check each program’s website to determine if there are supplemental fees.
Applicants to public medical schools in Texas can submit their primary application via TMDASAS (the Texas Medical & Dental Schools Application Service) for a flat fee of $185.
Secondary application
Most med schools require a secondary application. This will run you between $75 and $150 per application. Students eligible for AAMC’s Fee Assistance Program may have the secondary app fee waived at some med schools. This program is directly tied to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ poverty-level guidelines. Other benefits of the Fee Assistance Program include reduced MCAT fees, MCAT prep materials, and a waiver of AMCAS fees for one application submission including up to 16 med school designations.
College registrar services
This will vary based on where you went to college, as some schools charge a fee (around $10) for transmitting your transcript and/or letter of recommendation and some don’t. Check with your school for details.
<< READ: Tuition-Free Medical School: Everything You Need to Know in 2020-21 >>
Interview expenses
The most recent survey about med school interview expenses showed that, on average, students attend 4.5 interviews with a cost of $406 per interview. The total of these costs per student is a whopping $2202! The students were asked about the following categories:
• Number of interviews
• Travel costs
• Miles traveled
• Hotel stay prices and number of nights
• Whether the interviewing program offered a free stay
• Days off
• Clothing costs
• Whether the students decided not to attend
• Other (included food, interview books, cabs)
Acceptance deposit
The fees don’t stop once you’ve been accepted to med school. You’re allowed to hold multiple acceptances until May, when you have to decide which program you will attend. However, many schools require a (sometimes refundable) deposit of anywhere from $500 to $3000 to hold your spot.
Admissions consulting/editing fees
This is where we come in! While you may not want to think about the cost of admissions consulting and application services, keep in mind that these services will considerably help you get in…minimizing your chances of incurring reapplication fees next year!
What do all of these numbers mean to you?
It’s vital that you retain strong credit as you start the med school application process. Med schools have been known to defer admissions for students with extremely poor credit until the issues have been resolved.
The average future med school student applies to 14 programs. The cost of just primary applications to 14 schools through AMCAS would be $667, and $780 for DO schools. You’re looking at up to an additional $2100 if you are fortunate enough to do secondary applications at all 14 schools. Adding in the cost of interviews ($2020.12), and you’re looking at over $4,000!! It’s easy to see how quickly application costs add up, so do your research carefully.
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