Multiple Financial Need Bursaries

[MedSchoolHope101]

Hi everyone  

Has anyone from uOttawa applied to these bursaries in the past? I would really appreciate if you could give me some insight regarding the whole process, the amount that one can expect to receive, etc. I am a bit nervous about the amount of debt that I might be in at the end of med school haha

[DocBrown9]

It's literally a click on a website sometime in September. You have to fill a financial questionnaire on the Ottawa student page. If you get OSAP, you can expect probably around 1000 or maybe a little more (it's very random). Ottawa is not known for large scholarships or bursaries (there's a couple that require you be going for a specific specialty or be from a certain demographic but they aren't huge amounts). Med schools expensive, and unless you have rich parents that pay for you, you are very unlikely to find a scholarship or bursary that makes a significant dent. The majority of med students are are in the same situation (Average debt is somewere around 180K to 200K). Luckily staff earnings make debt manageable. Get a LOC at prime -0.25, don't overspend in med school but live comfortably for your own sanity and know that as long as you don't up your lifestyle dramatically from residency to staff life, you'll be good. 

Tldr: med school debt is high and it sucks. We will all make enough to pay off this debt easily as staff as long as we aren't stupid with money

[MedSchoolHope101]

Thank you @DocBrown95! I calculated a similar amount of debt (~180K), but I really want to try to keep it as low as possible haha

[DrOtter]

5 minutes ago, MedSchoolHope101 said:

Thank you @DocBrown95! I calculated a similar amount of debt (~180K), but I really want to try to keep it as low as possible haha

That seems manageable! Did you include parental contribution to that estimate too? Or just OSAP + LOC (+- bursary) 

[MedSchoolHope101]

Just now, DrOtter said:

That seems manageable! Did you include parental contribution to that estimate too? Or just OSAP + LOC (+- bursary) 

Just government financial aid and LOC! (hopefully some bursaries too hahah)

I am pretty scared of getting into this much debt, but I guess most med students are able to manage it, right? 

[DrOtter]

4 minutes ago, MedSchoolHope101 said:

Just government financial aid and LOC! (hopefully some bursaries too hahah)

I am pretty scared of getting into this much debt, but I guess most med students are able to manage it, right? 

Yeah I'm so debt-averse too but hopefully we'll make it through and be able to manage it. 

[DocBrown9]

6 hours ago, MedSchoolHope101 said:

Just government financial aid and LOC! (hopefully some bursaries too hahah)

I am pretty scared of getting into this much debt, but I guess most med students are able to manage it, right? 

Most can manage it eventually. Only way to keep your debt low is to spend less. Ie don't go on trips, rent a small room, eat out less. Not exactly a fun way to live 4 years so most people end up accepting that the slight increase in debt for living comfortably will be better than screwing up their mental health. By the end of med school you also become immune to spending money because carms is so expensive with all the traveling for electives and interviews. (some of my friends dropped 10K on interview travel and accommodation alone)

[Curiousaboutapps1]

14 hours ago, DocBrown95 said:

Most can manage it eventually. Only way to keep your debt low is to spend less. Ie don't go on trips, rent a small room, eat out less. Not exactly a fun way to live 4 years so most people end up accepting that the slight increase in debt for living comfortably will be better than screwing up their mental health. By the end of med school you also become immune to spending money because carms is so expensive with all the traveling for electives and interviews. (some of my friends dropped 10K on interview travel and accommodation alone)

Im over here just hoping that the ‘rona has changed the CaRMS grind for good. Im not looking forward to travelling around the country like that. I did it for med interviews back in the day and I really don't want to do it again.

[DocBrown9]

2 hours ago, Curiousaboutapps1 said:

Im over here just hoping that the ‘rona has changed the CaRMS grind for good. Im not looking forward to travelling around the country like that. I did it for med interviews back in the day and I really don't want to do it again.

The whole traveling to interview thing is really dumb. Especially when it doesn't have to be done. Dal does there family med interviews regionally. Urology does everything in Toronto. MUN always gets snowed in and has to virtual interviews. There are examples of why the tour doesn't have to happen. The only downside is the lack of socials which is why virtual interviews may not stick. Socials are a very important part of the selection process (for smaller programs) despite what people may say. 

[DrOtter]

32 minutes ago, DocBrown95 said:

The whole traveling to interview thing is really dumb. Especially when it doesn't have to be done. Dal does there family med interviews regionally. Urology does everything in Toronto. MUN always gets snowed in and has to virtual interviews. There are examples of why the tour doesn't have to happen. The only downside is the lack of socials which is why virtual interviews may not stick. Socials are a very important part of the selection process (for smaller programs) despite what people may say. 

Another way that is commonly done in the US too is to have the interview during or at the end of the away elective. Not applicable to all but definitely some sites! 

[DocBrown9]

13 hours ago, DrOtter said:

Another way that is commonly done in the US too is to have the interview during or at the end of the away elective. Not applicable to all but definitely some sites! 

Careful what you wish for on that one. One of my friends ended up getting interviewed at the end of her elective because all the committee members were free. She was given like 2 days notice lol. Makes you wonder what's the point of interviews if you've already done an elective. 

[dopamineislife]

Does anyone possibly chime in as to what first year costs specifically will look like? 

[DocBrown9]

Tuition something around 26-28K

Rent anywhere from 600 to 1800 a month

Textbook 0 unless you care about that stuff

Stethoscope 200 dollars 

Living expenses variable 

I'd assume on average 40 to 50 K per year. 

[@.@]

10 hours ago, DocBrown95 said:

Tuition something around 26-28K

Rent anywhere from 600 to 1800 a month

Textbook 0 unless you care about that stuff

Stethoscope 200 dollars 

Living expenses variable 

I'd assume on average 40 to 50 K per year. 

$0 for textbooks? Do most students use online resources or borrow from library ... or not use textbooks at all? 

Thank you for the clarification in advance 

[DrOtter]

55 minutes ago, @.@ said:

$0 for textbooks? Do most students use online resources or borrow from library ... or not use textbooks at all? 

Thank you for the clarification in advance 

There have been med students in the past who said that they checked 0 books out from the library the whole time they were there. So I suppose that might be the case haha

[DocBrown9]

2 hours ago, DrOtter said:

There have been med students in the past who said that they checked 0 books out from the library the whole time they were there. So I suppose that might be the case haha

Up-to-date and lectures are amazing for getting info (cheo gives you free access) There's usually a good pdf of Toronto notes that makes it way through the class. Plus there's a legendary alumni who's notes everyone still uses even though there a little outdated. You may end up buying a book or 2 come carms time but it's not that much.