Smu Loses All Fin Aid Programs

[Jason Howard]

The word is that many students education will be interrupted beginning this fall semester due to the loss of all loan companies-either the students will have to fork-out the money on their own, or wait until SMU can lobby a company or two, to loan monies.Its a shame bc this school is readily becomiing one of the top Carib.medical programs. Any comments on this matter.

[Aleksander]

Unless you actually work in the FA department how can you know all of this absolutely? I think it is irresponsible to post such things based on your personal conjecture.

[kirk9]

:!: Being responsible is certianly not a requirement for posting an opinion OR a rumor. At least until some facts are posted everyone should remember this is a rumor and take it as such.

[gschneid]

The word is that many students education will be interrupted beginning this fall semester due to the loss of all loan companies-either the students will have to fork-out the money on their own, or wait until SMU can lobby a company or two, to loan monies.Its a shame bc this school is readily becomiing one of the top Carib.medical programs. Any comments on this matter.

Umm...SMU already lost all the financial aid sources (except Davenport). That is the current problem. You are about one semester late with your post.

[cavalletti]

Umm...SMU already lost all the financial aid sources (except Davenport). That is the current problem. You are about one semester late with your post.

Maybe the OP has recent news about Davenport.

To the OP...... do you have any supporting document/info?

[Jason Howard]

Thank you for your response, however, lets remind ourselves that any admin dept, esp those based in a free country such as the USA, do not have a communistic, "wall of silence ", surrounding there day-to-day activities;esp those activities that are found to be in the students best interest to know. SMU does not hold this type of information a secret-but they work diligently in trying to ascertain loan companies to provide for their great student body. I myself am about to apply to SMU, and my long-time friend told me to be aware of this fact-no more, no less. Knowledge is definitely equitable to power, and in this case, this bit of knowledge(no loan companies currently) gives me the power to make an informed decision with respect to what medical school to apply to. Kindest regards...

[Aleksander]

Haha, check out the OP's previous posts. Most of them are regarding his "Criminal record" and him asking about background checks. Also, in his last post, he said he was an AUC student. I wouldn't give much credit to anything he says.

[cavalletti]

Haha, check out the OP's previous posts. Most of them are regarding his "Criminal record" and him asking about background checks. Also, in his last post, he said he was an AUC student. I wouldn't give much credit to anything he says.

Ohhhh................:shock:

[gschneid]

I guess he didn't see the other six threads about this topic.

[WSUCougar]

The word is that many students education will be interrupted beginning this fall semester due to the loss of all loan companies-either the students will have to fork-out the money on their own, or wait until SMU can lobby a company or two, to loan monies.Its a shame bc this school is readily becomiing one of the top Carib.medical programs. Any comments on this matter.

where have you been the last 6 months, because this is old news..... SMU, AUA, MUA, Saba, and every other Carib School except for St. George, Ross, AUC, and UMHS are experiencing the same exact problems, and have been for the last 3-6 months.

Thank you for your response, however, lets remind ourselves that any admin dept, esp those based in a free country such as the USA, do not have a communistic, "wall of silence ", surrounding there day-to-day activities;esp those activities that are found to be in the students best interest to know. SMU does not hold this type of information a secret-but they work diligently in trying to ascertain loan companies to provide for their great student body. I myself am about to apply to SMU, and my long-time friend told me to be aware of this fact-no more, no less. Knowledge is definitely equitable to power, and in this case, this bit of knowledge(no loan companies currently) gives me the power to make an informed decision with respect to what medical school to apply to. Kindest regards...

Every body has a friend of a friend, who's 2nd related cousin has inside info into "knowing" behind the scenes info. This is a constant problem of people being mis-leaded and mis-informed while attending here.

I talk to some students who say, "I can go back home and set up my own rotations, because so and so told me that you could do it",

then I say "really.... have you asked the "actual" clinical department about this"

so they then call and come back to me.... saying "you were right, they immediately say there's no way I could unless the hospital lets other students."

Then the same goes for California. Some students will say "I heard from a friend of a friend that his relative graduated from SMU and is practicing in California, so we also can practice in California based on a "case by case" scenario".

So then I say "oh really..... have you directly got this info from the California Medical Board", so they contact the board and find out that there is no loop hole.

Contact FA department yourself to get any info, its been discussed (for what seems like a year) that SMU has no loan companies as of right now, but we are to hear about a new private loan company within 2 weeks.

So stay tuned...... do a search on loans on this forum to read the billion-trillion threads dealing with this process, and speak "directly" to the FA department to learn about any new info.

[kryptik]

this no loans issue has been beaten to death...:beat:

[camryllionareMD]

Looks like "chicken little" got busted.

[gschneid]

Looks like "chicken little" got busted.

Is that some sort of small phallus joke?

[goldenyen]

i just spoke with ellen on tuesday. i sat in her office as she called florida. as of right now they are not taking loan applications and not sure if TAP will be available for next semester, they will know more in july is what the lady told us.

[senz_asian]

The TAP or the DAP ????


i just spoke with ellen on tuesday. i sat in her office as she called florida. as of right now they are not taking loan applications and not sure if TAP will be available for next semester, they will know more in july is what the lady told us.

[gschneid]

Total Assistance Program........free school!!!!

[enigma00183]

I'm at MUA, and I'm guessing that's the Tuition Assistance Program (given that we're owned by the same company). I don't really like this DAP/TAP program, b/c it seems like its set up by the school itself with its own funding. It doesn't seem like something safe to me (just my feeling). On a better note, I heard that we're in the middle of securing a "private lender". I just hope it's a bank.

[the_punisher]

i think TOTAL Assistance Program sounds better....

[Bignshiny]

ote=gschneid;846114]Total Assistance Program........free school!!!![/quote]

gschneid will begin his first comedy tour coming this summer and into the Fall. He will be opening for JM at the "Deans' only" meeting tomorrow and is scheduled to headline next semester's White Coat. For those staying for the ceremony and show, tickets are an extra $50 to cover his tuition and a few trips to Prime - The House of Gluttony. He'll be there till next Thursday - try the wings. Kudos to you gschneid on your future success, and I am sure I echo the sentiments of the masses who implore you not to stop with your qid Value MD posts. BTW, did I mention that

you have. too. much. time. on. your. hands?

[gschneid]

Make sure to bring your ponchos. I'll be smashing watermelons and perhaps some small mammals.


Is it my fault that I find VMD highly entertaining? I guess it's some sort of release. Better than switching to IV heroin.

[Bignshiny]

I hear you - VMD is my crack. Keep it coming.

[BTP Julian]

This is defintally a Top 5 Topic to date for me on here.....i like how the first guy posted all the mumbo jumbo...then goes...well im about to apply to SMU....so you know about the situation and your still going to apply to the school....ill take that as a compliment

[gschneid]

Methinks he was just trying to stir the poopy and said he was going to apply so we didn't flame him too bad. Tough luck dude.

[smithmd]

Has any one heard anything about the loan situation for fall 2008? I think we are all screwed.

[senz_asian]

Pretty much it. ... they are avoiding calls and not return any message whatsoever down in Orlando.. and the guessing game is still on, and now, I'm looking for some private fundings through friends and family.



Has any one heard anything about the loan situation for fall 2008? I think we are all screwed.

[neeL24]

This is so frustrating, you know that self pay students are going to get pushed up in clinicals ahead of loan borrowers because smu wants their money...What kind of school doesn't have loan options?...Every answer to any questions u ask is that "we are working on it." How long can a school exist without loan options?

[quickmart123]

I think the school is just trying to prevent those students who were thinking of transferring to another school (Ross, AUC). The application deadline for those schools to start this fall semester is sometime end of June-early July... why not just make students wait and let them think they have a chance of continuing their education even if there really is no shot in hell of getting these private loans. Maybe it just buys them some time(another full semester) to get another loan provider. ...OR maybe Im just being paranoid with all this and they will shock us very soon with another loan option..lol

[neeL24]

Yea and how long will the next loan option last us, like two weeks?..

[summerwind]

I think the school is just trying to prevent those students who were thinking of transferring to another school (Ross, AUC). The application deadline for those schools to start this fall semester is sometime end of June-early July... why not just make students wait and let them think they have a chance of continuing their education even if there really is no shot in hell of getting these private loans. Maybe it just buys them some time(another full semester) to get another loan provider. ...OR maybe Im just being paranoid with all this and they will shock us very soon with another loan option..lol

Will Ross or AUC accept SMU credits?

[neeL24]

not sure about AUC but Ross does, you would have to repeat one semester....

[butterflymd]

Yes I asked both schools and I think for AUC you have to have taken the USMLE step I but please verify this information because I asked this question a long time ago

[JTP73]

I think the school is just trying to prevent those students who were thinking of transferring to another school (Ross, AUC). The application deadline for those schools to start this fall semester is sometime end of June-early July... why not just make students wait and let them think they have a chance of continuing their education even if there really is no shot in hell of getting these private loans. Maybe it just buys them some time(another full semester) to get another loan provider. ...OR maybe Im just being paranoid with all this and they will shock us very soon with another loan option..lolIf that is the case, that is the epitome of shadiness. That being said, nothing they do now suprises me.

[butterflymd]

I agree that is extremely shady and now that I think about it that could be why they are waiting until this late to announce that they have no loan program in place, because they don't want their students transferring even thought they can't get it together. That would be extremely selfish on their part.

[senz_asian]

Just imagine the scenario... no loans for the next semester, .. I bet you 60-70% of the student body will transfer out.... and the whole bussiness will collapse like a punctured lung!


I miss the days where I could put 100% of my time and effort and dedication into medicine.... now, .. I dont know where I am going next.



I agree that is extremely shady and now that I think about it that could be why they are waiting until this late to announce that they have no loan program in place, because they don't want their students transferring even thought they can't get it together. That would be extremely selfish on their part.

[quickmart123]

Yes... ross and AUC will accept our credits...well for ross...they are on a combined curriculum like SMU's 3rd and 4th semester..with Ross's 1st and 2nd semester taking Anatomy(histo, nuero,anatomy), Biochem, Physio, Pat. Doctor....with their 3rd and 4th semester looking like ours. So it will be easy to transfer credits if you are transferring end of 2nd semester...and especially end of 4th semester. AUC requires you to do their 5th semester on the island(Pre-clinical semester) even if you passed the step 1 and want to transfer into their clinical rotations. Ross im not too sure of but from what I hear you might have to do their 5th semester in Miami as well/or you can probably just go into their rotations if you passed the step.

[AmericanIMG]

regardless it would take quite sometime to transfer. the new school would want immunizations, tb, police report and transcript. these take AWHILE, plus the loan paperwork for the new school would take awhile. use common sense people, THERE IS NO CONSPIRACY.

seriously, you think the school WANTS to lose students and money? i'm sure they're busting their behind trying to get things done.

[butterflymd]

I don't think that any business wants to lose its customers but that can and will happen when lack of communication continues. Lack of communication feeds the paranoia of students already under severe stress from studying. Although, the clinical years maybe a bit more laxed for students entering and or completing their first 2 years of med school this time is extremely stressing. Hopefully,SMU will come up with some options for current and new students because we are coming down to the wire with traveling to the island being just a month away you want to make sure you have financing in place. I think it may be easier for students in doing their rotations in the US because if financing does not come through you have the option of quickly returning home.

[AmericanIMG]

what hasn't been communicated? didn't the school send out an email that stated its in final dealings w/ a private lender?

[WSUCougar]

what hasn't been communicated? didn't the school send out an email that stated its in final dealings w/ a private lender?

no...

we got an announcement before the semester started, telling us that they were going to establishing the DAP through their parent company. And.... that it would be finalized, etc come mid this semester.

through talking to FA in the last week, it was stated that as of right now, there isn't any funding for this falls semester. But.... that they hope to get one going this July.

I kind of get mixed responses. One person in FA, will tell me that they're working with a private lender, while another says that they don't have anything right now, but hope that one will come available this month.

[AmericanIMG]

no...

we got an announcement before the semester started, telling us that they were going to establishing the DAP through their parent company. And.... that it would be finalized, etc come mid this semester.

through talking to FA in the last week, it was stated that as of right now, there isn't any funding for this falls semester. But.... that they hope to get one going this July.

I kind of get mixed responses. One person in FA, will tell me that they're working with a private lender, while another says that they don't have anything right now, but hope that one will come available this month.

hmm i recall getting an email stating that they are in talks with a lender...can't find it though.

[WSUCougar]

hmm i recall getting an email stating that they are in talks with a lender...can't find it though.

I'm sure we'll be getting one, especially since its getting closer to the end of this semester. I hear that Teri is announcing a new private loan program today, so maybe there will be some potential there.

[BinLoddn]

I recieved an email of a letter written by John Marvin today stating that they WERE in fact in talks with a private lender for its students. Here is that letter pasted for your reading enjoyment: :shock:

One of our most important priorities is our efforts to continue to find more high-quality clinical rotations for our students. To that end, I am very pleased to announce that our parent company has hired Ron Lavater as an Executive Vice President responsible for leading our clinical development efforts across all three medical schools. Ron’s background includes 15+ years of senior management experience with various U.S. hospitals, most recently at the CEO level. We’re thrilled to have him on board, and look forward to accelerating our progress in this important area.

To better reflect our collective mission, our parent company has changed its name to R3 Education. The title stands for Resources, Reputation, and Recognition, all of which are enhanced via our collaborative efforts with our parent company and sister schools.

I encourage you to review the new medical school research section of our web site, which was created by Dr. Andy Vaithilingam. It highlights the recent successes of our students, alumni, and faculty in research. Please also note that we have added video to our website which highlights life as an SMU student.

Finally, we expect to share good news on the financial aid front soon. We are finalizing arrangements to make available a new credit-based loan program which will be offered beginning with the fall semester. It will provide funds for both tuition and living expenses. Loans are expected to be available both with and without a co-borrower, based on a student’s credit quality. As soon as the agreement is finalized, we will provide additional details.