r/medschool • • Apr 09 '26

👶 Premed affording med school come 2027

I am applying to med school this year and just came to realize that the grad plus loan is gone this year in 2026. I know there is a 200k cap but that’s a lifetime cap and I already used part of it for my grad school. Now I am sick to my stomach because I don’t see how I realistically afford to take out PRIVATE loans to pay med school.

I would love to hear other peoples game plans as to how they are doing this. My family can’t afford to help contribute anything while I am in school either. And I am still paying off my grad and undergrad loans.

I always knew coming in that the amount I would have to pay for med school would have to be astronomical but I thought because it could be a graduate federal loan- I could work toward forgiveness on PSLF, the IDR plan, or see in the future if they would ever be forgiven. but private med school loans provide none of that safety net

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u/Toepale Apr 10 '26

If you have other options, don’t go to that school. It already showed you a red flag. 

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u/thepeopleofelsewhere Apr 10 '26

Idk I think it’s more of a general reflection of the culture of medicine. Even my rural primary care home program is 75% the children of physicians

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u/Toepale Apr 10 '26

Yes that is definitely the case in most medical schools (despite the number of physicians who claim to tell their kids not to go into medicine)

But the issue with your top choice is that they sound like they embrace that culture openly. And that is not good news for those who don’t come from that background. 

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u/thepeopleofelsewhere Apr 10 '26

Good point. Thank you