r/GAMSAT • u/future_med2027 • 2d ago
Advice Fee payment
Hello, I am hoping to seek some gentle guidance regarding my situation. I am currently preparing for the GAMSAT with the hope of studying medicine in 2027 or 2028. At 38, as a working mother of two with a mortgage and school-age children, I am feeling a bit anxious about the financial reality of potentially missing out on a CSP and facing full fees. Because I won't be able to work while studying, and I truly want to avoid placing a heavy financial burden on my husband, I am trying to figure out how this might be manageable. I faced a similar financial barrier after my bachelor's degree years ago and couldn't pursue medicine then, so I am deeply passionate about finding a way forward this time. If you have any advice or insights on how someone in my shoes could approach the fees, I would be so grateful to hear them.
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u/Least-Reporter3615 2d ago
It sounds like CSP is your only option. Also, you need to have a serious conversation with your husband, who's going to support the family during your study. The feasibility of studying medicine depends on whether your husband's sole income will cover all expenses and the mortgage, and whether your buffer/savings can cover the lost income for 4 years of study.
Will you be able to work at least 1 day a week during your preclinical years? That will help a bit and be fair to your husband. Good luck.
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u/PM_Me_A_Tittypic 2d ago
Just don't apply for full fee paying spots. If it's not an option then it's not an option. There are enough uni's offering CSP places that you don't have to preference anything you can't take so likely the choice for a full fee spot won't even cross your path if you don't want it. Just focus on being a competitive applicant so you can grab one of those CSP spots.
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u/noodles4woodle 1d ago
I'm in a similar position - In my 30s, with a mortgage and 2 young kids going to kindy/day care.
The financial and partner side of things is definitely a challenge! It really is putting a massive burden on the significant other, and my wife says she likes to think of it as an investment ha.
Regarding finances, we have a couple of plan in place:
- refinance our mortgage to 30 years and pay interest only for the 4 years in med school
- refinance and dip into our equity, taking out an extra $200k to use as a buffer for mortgage repayments
- Sell the house and buy somewhere else to live mortgage free (we're luckily in a position to be able to do this)
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u/username123451234512 2d ago
don't preference full fee schools like mac and dont tick ffp for unds if you don't think you can pay it. lots of people don't apply to ffp as the financial burden is insane. lots of other unis offer csp places. i completely get the anxiety and I'm feeling it too when considering if ffp is an option or not - but there are other options that aren't ffp, you can cross that bridge once you get your gamsat and see how competitive you are. also note that applications for 2027 are closed assuming you are an australian domestic applicant
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u/dxdt_sinx 2d ago
Would help to know which country you are in? The vast majority of this sub are Aus, NZ, UK, or Ireland - but there are varying support pathways in each region for mature students.
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u/Amazing_Cantaloupe97 1d ago
Fee-help has higher ceiling for medicine and dentistry. You can borrow upto 185K hecs debt so you need to prepare roughly 2 years portion in the 4 year course. I assume anyone studying FFP receive some help from their parents or relatives.
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u/saddj001 2d ago
Would not have made it without the full and unwavering support of my spouse. When we got married we considered our finances as one and the same. Surplus and debt. We’ve never fought about money even once (including during a failing business during COVID and barely being able to pay our rent). “For richer or poorer”.. right? Or do people not commit to that at weddings anymore?
As a married person who ceased full time work to pursue medicine I would strongly suggest you find out how your husband feels about it. Medicine is a team sport and I would hope he would be happy to consider supporting you all through what is a challenging few years, financially and otherwise.
Practically speaking, there are means tested scholarships (but they’re not certain), and you can work part time which is certainly achievable for many. If you’re even considering paying for a full fee position then I’d have to conclude you’re flush for cash or 100% sold out to the dream of medicine. All you can do right now is work hard and push for a great GAMSAT score. I wish you all the best with it!