Navigating medical school scholarships: An expert’s insight

5 min readPublished On: November 5, 2024Categories: Medical School
Scholarships

 

Scholarships are a powerful way to bring aspiring medical students closer to their dreams of becoming MDs. With years of experience working with future doctors, I take pride in connecting students with scholarships that make a quality education at St. George’s University (SGU) School of Medicine more attainable.

In my role, I often meet students who hesitate to complete their applications, concerned about the cost of medical school. These students risk missing out on invaluable opportunities that can bring their goal of a medical career within reach.

I’m excited to share that in the 2023-24 academic year, SGU awarded more than $71 million in scholarships to incoming MD students.1

At SGU we are dedicated to making medical education accessible for aspiring doctors. Here’s how we do it.

The scholarship process at SGU

Embarking on your journey to become an MD is an exciting path and sometimes a little support is just what you need. That’s where the SGU scholarship team comes in. With our experience and expertise, we’re here to guide you through the medical school scholarship process and make it as straightforward as possible.

You may have encountered scholarships in previous educational experiences, but what exactly are they? A scholarship is a financial award that helps you cover the cost of education. While receiving a scholarship is never guaranteed, they can significantly reduce the expense of medical school—and unlike loans, scholarships do not need to be repaid.

Upon admission, all accepted SGU applicants are automatically considered for a scholarship package, creating a seamless process for both admission and scholarship review. Our committee carefully examines each applicant profile, matching your unique qualities with our scholarship offerings to curate a personalized award package tailored to you.

 

Jaime Morgan

Jaime Morgan serves as director of scholarships at St. George’s University.

What scholarships does SGU make available?

At SGU, we recognize that your strengths and talents go far beyond academics. We are committed to supporting a diverse student body by offering scholarships that celebrate these exceptional qualities and achievements.

I work with prospective students from all walks of life: some are primary providers for their families, some are young newcomers to the US, and others come from non-STEM backgrounds with a newfound passion for medicine. Whatever the background or circumstances, I am here to help them explore their scholarship options.

I witness firsthand the sacrifices that aspiring medical students make to achieve their dreams—late nights spent studying, giving up personal and family time, conducting intensive research, balancing jobs, engaging in volunteer work, or even taking the courageous step of changing careers.

One student I worked with stands out: a mother of two who had been working as a healthcare systems consultant and aspired to become a physician in her community. While deeply motivated, she faced the financial challenge of affording medical school while supporting her family. As a non-traditional student, she received a scholarship package tailored to help finance her medical education and bring her closer to her goal.

At SGU, we strive to understand each applicant’s unique journey. Recognizing that each applicant brings individual strengths, we offer a wide range of scholarships, organized into four main categories to support your unique path to medical school.

Academic and Merit Scholarships

These scholarships reward your overall academic performance including GPA, standardized tests (when available), and predicted grades.

Difference Maker Scholarship

This scholarship celebrates outstanding individuals dedicated to making a positive impact on others’ lives through volunteerism, careers, service initiatives and/or innovative research.

Connections and Community Scholarship

Here we recognize the rich tapestry of connections within the SGU community, fostering excellence through siblings’ bonds, legacy achievements, institutional partnerships, and community collaborations.

Mission-To-Serve Scholarships

For individuals driven by a commitment to serve specific communities these scholarships are a testament to your dedication. Tailored to each program, these distinctive awards necessitate adherence to specific criteria, inviting applicants to articulate their aspirations through a separate application process. Scholarships included are:

  • Equity in Medicine Scholarship
  • CityDoctors Scholarship
  • CARE Scholarship

Things to consider about med school scholarships

Every med school will have its own set of criteria when evaluating an applicant for scholarship eligibility. Here some key points to know about medical school scholarships:

  1. Scholarships for medical school may focus on undergraduate and graduate academic performance (or international equivalents). This may include a focus on your science coursework, MCAT score (when available), research accomplishments, and involvement in the field of medicine.
  2. Some scholarships may be associated with external organizations and foundations narrowing the scope as to who is eligible. Be attentive to eligibility criteria and submission deadlines.
  3. Including items like a resume/CV, recommendations from healthcare professionals, research, and special projects will help make you stand out and make you a more competitive candidate.
  4. Understand and thoroughly review the terms and conditions of your scholarship award. The dollar value distribution of your earned scholarships may vary over your years of study.

Want to learn more about SGU’s scholarships?

Let us help bring you closer to your dream of becoming an MD through scholarships at SGU. You can find more information regarding SGU’s medical school scholarship opportunities.

Looking to connect with us further? Our Scholarship Committee would be happy to assist you at scholarships@sgu.edu.

 

1Data as of October 2024. The scholarship total represents assistance for the duration of students’ four-year MD program.

 


With over a decade in higher education, Jaime Morgan is dedicated to helping students achieve their dreams through accessible education. As SGU’s director of scholarships, Jaime manages all award offerings. Jaime has helped thousands of students over the course of her career. When she isn’t working to bring students closer to their goals of becoming MDs, she loves to bake, play with her dog, Archie, and spend time with her loved ones at her home in Massachusetts.

Scholarships

Navigating medical school scholarships: An expert’s insight

 

Scholarships are a powerful way to bring aspiring medical students closer to their dreams of becoming MDs. With years of experience working with future doctors, I take pride in connecting students with scholarships that make a quality education at St. George’s University (SGU) School of Medicine more attainable.

In my role, I often meet students who hesitate to complete their applications, concerned about the cost of medical school. These students risk missing out on invaluable opportunities that can bring their goal of a medical career within reach.

I’m excited to share that in the 2023-24 academic year, SGU awarded more than $71 million in scholarships to incoming MD students.1

At SGU we are dedicated to making medical education accessible for aspiring doctors. Here’s how we do it.

The scholarship process at SGU

Embarking on your journey to become an MD is an exciting path and sometimes a little support is just what you need. That’s where the SGU scholarship team comes in. With our experience and expertise, we’re here to guide you through the medical school scholarship process and make it as straightforward as possible.

You may have encountered scholarships in previous educational experiences, but what exactly are they? A scholarship is a financial award that helps you cover the cost of education. While receiving a scholarship is never guaranteed, they can significantly reduce the expense of medical school—and unlike loans, scholarships do not need to be repaid.

Upon admission, all accepted SGU applicants are automatically considered for a scholarship package, creating a seamless process for both admission and scholarship review. Our committee carefully examines each applicant profile, matching your unique qualities with our scholarship offerings to curate a personalized award package tailored to you.

 

Jaime Morgan

Jaime Morgan serves as director of scholarships at St. George’s University.

What scholarships does SGU make available?

At SGU, we recognize that your strengths and talents go far beyond academics. We are committed to supporting a diverse student body by offering scholarships that celebrate these exceptional qualities and achievements.

I work with prospective students from all walks of life: some are primary providers for their families, some are young newcomers to the US, and others come from non-STEM backgrounds with a newfound passion for medicine. Whatever the background or circumstances, I am here to help them explore their scholarship options.

I witness firsthand the sacrifices that aspiring medical students make to achieve their dreams—late nights spent studying, giving up personal and family time, conducting intensive research, balancing jobs, engaging in volunteer work, or even taking the courageous step of changing careers.

One student I worked with stands out: a mother of two who had been working as a healthcare systems consultant and aspired to become a physician in her community. While deeply motivated, she faced the financial challenge of affording medical school while supporting her family. As a non-traditional student, she received a scholarship package tailored to help finance her medical education and bring her closer to her goal.

At SGU, we strive to understand each applicant’s unique journey. Recognizing that each applicant brings individual strengths, we offer a wide range of scholarships, organized into four main categories to support your unique path to medical school.

Academic and Merit Scholarships

These scholarships reward your overall academic performance including GPA, standardized tests (when available), and predicted grades.

Difference Maker Scholarship

This scholarship celebrates outstanding individuals dedicated to making a positive impact on others’ lives through volunteerism, careers, service initiatives and/or innovative research.

Connections and Community Scholarship

Here we recognize the rich tapestry of connections within the SGU community, fostering excellence through siblings’ bonds, legacy achievements, institutional partnerships, and community collaborations.

Mission-To-Serve Scholarships

For individuals driven by a commitment to serve specific communities these scholarships are a testament to your dedication. Tailored to each program, these distinctive awards necessitate adherence to specific criteria, inviting applicants to articulate their aspirations through a separate application process. Scholarships included are:

  • Equity in Medicine Scholarship
  • CityDoctors Scholarship
  • CARE Scholarship

Things to consider about med school scholarships

Every med school will have its own set of criteria when evaluating an applicant for scholarship eligibility. Here some key points to know about medical school scholarships:

  1. Scholarships for medical school may focus on undergraduate and graduate academic performance (or international equivalents). This may include a focus on your science coursework, MCAT score (when available), research accomplishments, and involvement in the field of medicine.
  2. Some scholarships may be associated with external organizations and foundations narrowing the scope as to who is eligible. Be attentive to eligibility criteria and submission deadlines.
  3. Including items like a resume/CV, recommendations from healthcare professionals, research, and special projects will help make you stand out and make you a more competitive candidate.
  4. Understand and thoroughly review the terms and conditions of your scholarship award. The dollar value distribution of your earned scholarships may vary over your years of study.

Want to learn more about SGU’s scholarships?

Let us help bring you closer to your dream of becoming an MD through scholarships at SGU. You can find more information regarding SGU’s medical school scholarship opportunities.

Looking to connect with us further? Our Scholarship Committee would be happy to assist you at scholarships@sgu.edu.

 

1Data as of October 2024. The scholarship total represents assistance for the duration of students’ four-year MD program.

 


With over a decade in higher education, Jaime Morgan is dedicated to helping students achieve their dreams through accessible education. As SGU’s director of scholarships, Jaime manages all award offerings. Jaime has helped thousands of students over the course of her career. When she isn’t working to bring students closer to their goals of becoming MDs, she loves to bake, play with her dog, Archie, and spend time with her loved ones at her home in Massachusetts.