The American Medical Association (AMA) offers scholarships to students who demonstrate financial need. One such award is the annual AMA Foundation Physicians of Tomorrow Scholarship, which awards third-year medical students $10,000. In order to be nominated for the scholarship, you will have to speak with your dean and tell him you are interested. Nominations are based on financial need. The deadline for this award is late May.
Another scholarship offered through the AMA is the AMA Foundation Minority Scholars Award, which gives $10,000 to 12 first- and second-year minority students annually. These students are nominated by their medical school and the deadline is mid-April.
Another way to offset the costs of medical school is to apply for a scholarship from the National Health Service Corps (NHSC). The scholarship is basically a trade-off: you dedicate two to four years of medical service in an area with a doctor shortage after you graduate, and the NHSC pays your tuition, living fees and also provides you with a small stipend. This scholarship accepts people studying to be primary-care doctors, dentists, nurse practitioners and physician's assistants. Students with financial need or disadvantaged backgrounds are given preference for this scholarship.
According to CollegeScholarships.org, many universities offer their own scholarships based on merit. Usually these scholarships are awarded to students who maintain a high grade point average or score exceptionally well on their MCAT exams. However, each school has different guidelines for scholarships, so it is important to cast a wide net while applying. Some schools even automatically award scholarships based on merit, so research all grant and scholarship opportunities at the schools that interest you.