Where can I get more information about loans and scholarships available for minority students?

There are some organizations, such as National Medical Fellowships, Inc., that direct financial aid funds specifically to disadvantaged students and students from groups underrepresented in medicine.  One good source for finding loans and scholarships is FinAid. The site contains lots of good, clear information and has a free scholarship search.  (Note:  Stay away from scam scholarship services.  These usually require you to pay a fee before you do a search or “apply” for a scholarship.) 

Minority students are also able to access the same funds as all other students.  And, although most of the money is in the form of loans, there is sufficient funding available to help you pay for your medical education. When you apply to medical school, be sure to connect early with each school’s financial aid advisor to discuss your financial aid options and eligibility requirements.

For More Information:

• AAMC Scholarship Page  - Free Resource!
  This resource page provides a listing of scholarships, including Herbert W. Nickens Medical Student Scholarships and National Medical Fellowships. 
  
  
• FinAid Web Site  - Free Resource!
  Although the site is not specifically geared to medical school financial aid, it is a useful, free source of information about financial aid in general and includes a scholarship search.  
  
  
• Find Funding Web Link on ExploreHealthCareers.org  - Free Resource!
  This link on ExploreHealthCareers.org takes you to an online, searchable database of scholarships, and other sources of financial aid. 
  
  
• Medical School Admission Requirements (MSAR™)
  Published by the AAMC, this book is the most authoritative guide for applying to medical school. This accurate, thorough, and reliable resource is the only complete guide to U.S. and Canadian medical schools fully authorized by the schools themselves. In it you will find information on application procedures and deadlines, selection factors (including MCAT® scores and grade-point averages), medical school class profiles, education costs and financial aid packages, and much more. Chapter 9 focuses on financing a medical education. 
  
  
• Minority Student Opportunities in United States Medical Schools (MSOUSMS)
  This guide is designed specifically for minority students to be used as a companion to Medical School Admission Requirements (MSAR^TM).  It presents information from individual medical schools about recruitment programs, admission, academic support programs, financial aid, and more. 
  
  
• NIH Clinical Research Training Program for Medical and Dental Students
  The Clinical Research Training Program (CRTP) for Medical and Dental Students is a 12-month program designed to attract the most creative, research-oriented medical and dental students to the intramural campus of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, MD. Participants, known as Fellows, spend a year engaged in a mentored clinical or translational research project in an area that matches their personal interests and goals. 
  
  
• HHMI-NIH Research Scholars
  The Howard Hughes Medical Institute – National Institutes of Health Research Scholars program is an additional resource available to medical students. Students in good standing at US medical, dental, and veterinary schools are eligible to apply to the program. Research Scholars spend nine months to a year on the NIH campus, conducting basic, translational or applied biomedical research under the direct mentorship of senior NIH research scientists.