Many schools offer scholarships and grants based on merit, need or both. It is also possible to receive financial assistance based on your personal or ethnic background. Some schools offer much more aid than others, so how much assistance you can anticipate getting depends on your school. Consult the office of financial aid at your school to see what forms of aid are available specifically for continuing students based on need, merit, or unique circumstances such as field of study or ethnic background.
Frequently, professional organizations in a particular area will offer assistance to students. For instance, a business organization in the proximity to your school may give financial assistance. Check with the local business and professional groups to see if they offer any aid to students at your college or university. These grants may not cover the entire cost of a year's tuition for a fourth-year student, but it always possible you will be awarded more than one small scholarship.
The federal government, your state and some local governments offer grants and scholarships to medical students. Most all government grant and scholarship applications will be available to you through the financial aid office of your college or university. Ask your financial aid office specifically for government grants and scholarships for fourth-year medical students.
Organizations dedicated to medicine and science offer grants and fellowships to students on the basis of need and merit. For example, the American Medical Association (AMA) provides scholarships, grants and fellowships for both tuition and to pay off medical student debt through its AMA Foundation (see Resources). Pharmaceutical companies, medical supply companies and foundations devoted to curing and treating specific diseases also frequently offer financial assistance to students, especially if the student is pursuing an interest in the same area of expertise as the organization.
Pharmaceutical companies, medical supply companies and foundations devoted to curing and treating specific diseases also frequently offer financial assistance to students. For instance, Bristol-Myers Squibb has a foundation which offers scholarships to medical students upon recommendation by the school (see Resources). You can see if there are any organizations that sponsor financial assistance specifically for fourth-year medical students by checking with the administrative offices of your college of university.