Medical school is becoming a luxury good and universities must step in to support students

While many students interested in medicine aspire to attend medical school, it is becoming increasingly inaccessible due to rising costs and selectivity. 

The cost of medical school itself is upwards of $300,000, not including food and housing, according to Inspira Advantage, a national medical school admissions consulting firm. We acknowledge that some schools currently offer free tuition; however, these institutions have become highly selective. 

Additionally, one needs to cover a plethora of expenses just to be admitted to a medical program. To start, there is the cost to complete a required bachelor’s degree, then the MCAT, the required admissions exam. 

The MCAT costs $355 per attempt, in addition to study materials that are often upwards of $1,000 for a one-year study plan. Once the MCAT is completed, the application process can also become very costly. 

Both primary and secondary applications cost a lot of money, with no guarantee of acceptance. Aside from the required expenses, it is highly recommended that applicants gain experience in the medical field to be competitive. 

Such experiences can be costly and time-intensive, leaving less time to work and, therefore, to save money for all the necessary medical school expenses. Additionally, in Alaska, there are fewer opportunities than in the Lower 48, making it harder to stand out as a competitive applicant.

With that being said, we appreciate UAA’s resources that make these hardships a little easier to bear. UAA is a great option for in-state students in terms of affordability, which helps minimize debt and costs in the long term. Additionally, the University of Alaska Anchorage campus is closely connected to the WWAMI School of Medicine. 

Students at UAA can connect with UAA's two pre-medical advisors, Dr. Uffenbeck and Dr. Van Tets, who are also WWAMI faculty. These advisors are very well-versed in the WWAMI medical school process and are willing and able to provide guidance on everything related to getting into medical school. 

Furthermore, Dr. Uffenbeck offers an MCAT preparatory course at UAA, as well as a course on preparing a medical school application. Both of these courses are very helpful for those planning to attend medical school. 

While UAA does have great resources available, students have reported a few things that would help make the difficult journey to medical school easier. 

Several students noted that having more accessible research opportunities directly related to healthcare would be excellent. Additionally, a broader range of course availability would help students balance their often busy schedules. For example, it was noted that Principles of Biochemistry II, a course many pre-med students seek to complete, is offered only on a two-year rotation. 

Conflicts like these impact students’ ability to complete their degrees in their desired timeline. Moreover, peers noted that many science courses conflict, making it difficult to create an ideal course schedule each semester. 

Recognizing the limitations and resources at UAA is imperative to better understand how to support and guide pre-med students to success.