Anonymous
02/26/2026 22:30
Subject: How do middle class kids afford med school?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Join the Air Force before med school. That's what my uncle did. Came from a poor family.
So Air Force officer during med school, residence, and then afterward for a while. Then resigned his commission and joined a private practice.
Many such cases. Never a penny of debt.
This, or Navy, or Army. I think Army is the best medical experience of the branches though.
The Air Force and Navy are much better in terms of housing, bases, and other things. Since the army partially took over walter reed, its gone downhill.
Anonymous
02/26/2026 22:29
Subject: How do middle class kids afford med school?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:My kid graduated from med school this year. we used 529 and paid 100% of it. Owes no loan. it is dang expensive. we probably paid 320k+
This post isn't about you.
OP asked "how" and I answered "using 529 savings". Don't be a jerk
The discussion was about middle class. You aren't middle class if you full paid college plus 320K.
Anonymous
02/26/2026 22:26
Subject: How do middle class kids afford med school?
They get loans. It sucks (ask me how I know!) but if what’s she wants it’s worth it and as long as she sticks with it she can pay them back.
Anonymous
02/26/2026 22:25
Subject: How do middle class kids afford med school?
My spouse can from poor family. He had to take out some loans for med school, but minimal. He worked stocking at a grocery store, never partied, lived extremely frugally. He had med school classmates blowing through tons of (loan) money on recreational things and takeout, the nice appts, trips on breaks, etc. My DH had his loans payed off after only a couple yrs into practice.
Anonymous
02/26/2026 22:19
Subject: How do middle class kids afford med school?
Anonymous wrote:Join the Air Force before med school. That's what my uncle did. Came from a poor family.
So Air Force officer during med school, residence, and then afterward for a while. Then resigned his commission and joined a private practice.
Many such cases. Never a penny of debt.
This, or Navy, or Army. I think Army is the best medical experience of the branches though.
Anonymous
02/26/2026 21:40
Subject: How do middle class kids afford med school?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:My kid graduated from med school this year. we used 529 and paid 100% of it. Owes no loan. it is dang expensive. we probably paid 320k+
This post isn't about you.
OP asked "how" and I answered "using 529 savings". Don't be a jerk
Anonymous
02/26/2026 21:34
Subject: How do middle class kids afford med school?
Anonymous wrote:My kid graduated from med school this year. we used 529 and paid 100% of it. Owes no loan. it is dang expensive. we probably paid 320k+
This post isn't about you.
Anonymous
02/26/2026 21:19
Subject: How do middle class kids afford med school?
Uniformed university - military. Commit to a few years agree med school. I have friends who got dental degrees that way. We're stateside on bases their whole commitment.
Anonymous
02/26/2026 21:15
Subject: How do middle class kids afford med school?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Join the Air Force before med school. That's what my uncle did. Came from a poor family.
So Air Force officer during med school, residence, and then afterward for a while. Then resigned his commission and joined a private practice.
Many such cases. Never a penny of debt.
Yup. We live close to a large military base with a hospital and their doctors often rent in our neighborhood and their kids have gone to school with ours. They get school paid for, do their time, often moonlighting for extra money, and go into private practice when their military commitment is over or when they're eligible to retire. Same with dentists. It seems like the docs don't have to move as often as other officers.
Yes, they move a lot, can be deployed, etc. and they aren’t allowed to moonlight without permission. It’s not an easy life. And, most docs at the military hospitals are civilians. There are very few dentists as they only see active duty. It’s a hard place to work as they are forced to regularly deny care.
Anonymous
02/26/2026 21:13
Subject: How do middle class kids afford med school?
My kid graduated from med school this year. we used 529 and paid 100% of it. Owes no loan. it is dang expensive. we probably paid 320k+
Anonymous
02/26/2026 21:08
Subject: How do middle class kids afford med school?
Anonymous wrote:In many countries kids start med school right after HS. And the governments cover the fees and even give students a small stipend. As a result, the socio economic background of Drs in those countries is quite diverse.
Not in the US. I wouldn't be surprised if most Doctors trained in the US came from affluent families. At least the vast majority don't come from poor or middle class families.
Her best bet is to be a medical scholar MD/PhD. But as you may imagine you need stellar academic credentials
And their comparative lack of education shows, and they cannot get licensed in the US. I have some of these "doctors" in my family and they are the last people I go to for medical advice. Dr. Google is better.
Anonymous
02/26/2026 20:33
Subject: How do middle class kids afford med school?
Anonymous wrote:Get in-state residency and only go to school where you can pay in-state tuition. Go to private universities for internships, residency, and fellowships. If you get in out of state, see if you are able to get in-state tuition after one year of medical school. Varies by state.
That is my daughter’s plan but she’s heard that state med sxhools are actually sometimes harder to get into than private schools because a certain number of spots are reserved for state residents. Thanks for the tip about seeing if you qualify for in state tuition after one year- if you go private.
Anonymous
02/26/2026 20:29
Subject: How do middle class kids afford med school?
Get in-state residency and only go to school where you can pay in-state tuition. Go to private universities for internships, residency, and fellowships. If you get in out of state, see if you are able to get in-state tuition after one year of medical school. Varies by state.
Anonymous
02/26/2026 20:03
Subject: How do middle class kids afford med school?
Talk to the military recruiters about getting Med School paid for by the US govt.
Anonymous
02/26/2026 20:02
Subject: How do middle class kids afford med school?
MD,PhD programs are funded w a stipend. Tacks an extra 4+ years on, but worth it for me.