A dental school will require not only that you invest a large amount of time, but also that you invest a large amount of money. Most dental schools have very high tuitions, and there are typically a series of costs that you will be required to pay in addition to a school’s tuition , including books, dental tools, the gowns used in clinical courses, and a large number of other similar expenses. You will need to come up with a lot of money to pay for dental school, which may be extremely difficult in some cases. It is important to note, however, that there are a number of different ways in which you may be able to lower your costs or find the money that you need. One of the best ways for you to find the money that you need, in many cases, is to use financial aid.

Financial aid (AKA finaid) refers to a series of programs in which schools and other organizations offer money to students to help pay for their education. These programs, which include college scholarships, loans, and grants, can make it much easier for you to pay for your undergraduate and/or dental school education. Unfortunately, the schools and other organizations that offer these programs can only help some students because there is only so much money that these organizations can afford to spend. Many financial aid organizations, as a result, use a series of eligibility requirements to ensure that the money is going to the students that need it the most or who are the most deserving. This means that you will have to meet a series of requirements in order to receive the benefits of one of these programs, and you will have to find a program that is designed to help an individual in your position. In other words, you will only be able to obtain financial aid if the organization feels that you need the money and/or that your record merits receiving the money.

Scholarships

One of the types of financial aid that many use to fund their dental school education is a scholarship. A scholarship is a financial aid agreement in which a school or organization agrees to pay for some or all of the educational expenses that an individual may incur while he or she is attending an undergraduate and/or graduate school. There are a number of different scholarships that dental schools and financial aid organizations offer, and you may want to know a little more about some of the major scholarships that you may be able to obtain.

• One of the major scholarships that you may be able to obtain is the American Dental Association Foundation’s Dental Student Scholarship. This scholarship is intended for dental students who are about to enter their second year of dental school, and it pays at least $2,500 toward tuition. It is important to note, however, that the Dental Student Scholarship is a needs-based scholarship, and you will have to prove that you do not have the financial resources to pay for your education without assistance. In order to apply for the Dental Student Scholarship, you must be currently enrolled in an accredited dental school, have a GPA of no less than a 3.0, be a citizen of the United States, have at least one letter of reference from a professor or another official at the school, submit an essay, and submit an application that provides information about you and your financial status. The application for the Dental Student Scholarship is typically available at a school’s financial aid office.
• Another major scholarship that you may be able to obtain is the Health Resources and Service Administration’s Scholarship for Disadvantaged Students (SDS). This scholarship is intended for students who are about to enter a dentistry program, a nursing program, or another similar program in the medical field. The exact amount that the scholarship will pay varies from school to school, but the SDS will typically pay for some or all of the expenses for your tuition, books, dental tools, room and board, and other similar educational expenses. It is important to note, however, that the SDS is a needs-based scholarship, and you will have to prove that you do not have the financial resources to enter a dental program or that you do not have the educational background that you need to enter a dental program because of the home environment in which you lived. In order to apply for the SDS, you must be currently enrolled in a school with an accredited dental or medical program, be a citizen or a legal resident of the United States, meet the low income or disadvantaged background requirement established by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, meet the financial requirements of the school at which you are applying for aid, and file an application with your school’s financial aid office.
• The third major scholarship that you may be able to obtain is the Health Resources and Service Administration’s National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Scholarship. This scholarship is intended for students who are about to enter a dentistry program, a nursing program, or another similar program in the medical field and who are willing to offer their dental and/or medical services to individuals who cannot afford or are unable to obtain those services. The NHSC Scholarship will pay for all of your expenses for dental tools, school fees, tuition, room and board, and other similar expenses for up to four years. It is important to note, however, that the NHSC Scholarship will require you to work for no less than two years in a facility or in an area in which it is typically difficult for individuals to receive dental care; you may be required to work up to four years in one of these areas if the NHSC pays for all four years of your dental school. In order to apply for the NHSC Scholarship, you must be currently enrolled or eligible to enroll in a school with an accredited dental or medical program; be a citizen of the United States; be in a program that will grant you a degree that is eligible for the NHSC; and submit a college transcript, an essay, a resume, and an application to the NHSC.

Loans

One of the types of financial aid that many individuals use to fund their dental school education is a student loan. A loan is a financial aid agreement in which a school or a financial aid organization agrees to pay for some or all of the educational expenses that an individual may incur while attending an undergraduate and/or graduate school; the individual must then repay the school or the organization at a later time. College loans are the most common type of financial aid, and over 90% of the students in dental schools take out some sort of school loan. There are a number of different loans that dental schools and financial aid organizations offer, and you may want to know a little more about some of the major loans that you may be able to obtain.

The first type of loan that you may be able to obtain is a Federal Stafford Loan. A Federal Stafford Loan is a loan of up to $40,000 a year for educational expenses that the U.S. government offers to individuals to pay for their undergraduate or graduate education. There are two types of Stafford Loans. The first type is a subsidized Stafford Loan, in which the federal government agrees to provide you with the money for your educational expenses without requiring you to repay or accrue interest on that money until you are out of school. Subsidized Stafford Loans are needs-based, and you will have to prove that you cannot afford your education without a subsidized loan in order to receive one.

• An unsubsidized Stafford Loan is a loan in which the federal government agrees to provide you with the money for your educational expenses, but interest accrues on that money while you are still in school. While a subsidized Stafford Loan saves you more money on interest than an unsubsidized Stafford Loan, the maximum amount that you can borrow for a subsidized loan is lower. A subsidized Stafford Loan will only allow you to borrow up to $65,000 for your entire education. An unsubsidized Stafford Loan, on the other hand, will allow you to borrow up to $224,000 for your entire education (or up to $224,000 minus the amount that you received in subsidized loans).
• In order to apply for either type of Stafford Loan, you must have a high school diploma or a General Educational Development (GED) credential, be a citizen of the United States, have a valid Social Security number, be enrolled or be eligible to enroll in an accredited college or university, meet all of your Selective Service requirements, and complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). (If you don’t have a high school diploma, you can find information about getting your GED online.)

The second type of loan that you may be able to obtain is a Federal Perkins Loan. A Federal Perkins Loan is very similar to a subsidized Stafford Loan, but there aren’t as many fees and you have to obtain the loan through your school rather than the federal government.

• A Perkins Loan is a type of federal loan in which the U.S. government gives the loan funds to the schools that participate in the program; each school then decides whether a particular student will receive the money. A Perkins Loan, like a subsidized Stafford Loan, is needs-based, and you will have to prove that you cannot afford your education without a Perkins Loan in order to receive one. The limits on a Perkins Loan are much lower than the limits on a Stafford Loan, however, and you will only be able to borrow $8,000 a year, for a maximum loan amount of $60,000 for your entire education. In order to apply for a Perkins Loan, you must have a high school diploma or a General Educational Development (GED) credential, be a citizen of the United States, have a valid Social Security number, be enrolled in a school that participates in the program, meet all of your Selective Service requirements, and complete the FAFSA.

Grants

One of the types of financial aid that many individuals use to fund their dental school education is a grant. A grant is a financial aid agreement in which a school or a financial aid organization agrees to pay for some or all of the expenses that an individual may incur while attempting to accomplish a specific goal, such as conducting research or completing school, as long as the individual can prove that the money is going to expenses that are related to the goal for which the grant is intended. There are a number of different grants that dental schools and financial aid organizations offer, and you may want to know a little more about some of the major grants that you can obtain.

One of the major grants that you may be able to obtain is the Federal Pell Grant. The Federal Pell Grant is intended for undergraduate students who are attempting to earn a certificate, an associate’s degree, or a bachelor’s degree, but who have not yet earned a bachelor’s degree. (You can, however, apply for the Pell Grant if you already have a certificate or an associate’s degree.) The Pell Grant won’t help you pay for dental school, but it will pay up to $5,500 a year toward the undergraduate program that you must complete to earn the bachelor’s degree that most dental schools require. The Pell Grant is needs-based and to receive it you will have to prove that the value of your family’s assets and your family’s income are below the limits established by the U.S. Department of Education. In order to apply for the Pell Grant, you must have a high school diploma or a General Educational Development (GED) credential; be a citizen of the United States; have a valid Social Security number; be enrolled or eligible to enroll in a school that participates in the program; be enrolled in an undergraduate program that will allow you to obtain a certificate, an associate’s degree, or your first bachelor’s degree; meet all of your Selective Service requirements; and complete the FAFSA.

Another major grant that you may be able to obtain is the F. Gene Dixon Student Leadership Award. This grant is intended for dental students about to enter their second, third, or fourth year of dental school. The exact amount that the grant pays varies from school to school, but it typically pays at least $2,500 toward your tuition and/or other dental school expenses. It is important to note, however, that the F. Gene Dixon Student Leadership Award is both a needs-based and a merit-based grant, so to receive it you will have to prove both that you do not have the financial resources to pay for your education without assistance and that you have excellent grades. It is also important to note that the F. Gene Dixon Student Leadership Award is only offered to students in certain states. The specific eligibility requirements that you will be required to meet for the F. Gene Dixon Student Leadership Award will vary from school to school, but to apply for the grant you will typically have to be a resident of the state in which the school is located and file an application with the school.

The third major grant that you may be able to obtain is the Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (Kirschstein – NRSA). This grant is intended for dental students pursuing a degree in dentistry and a doctorate degree in research. The exact amount that the grant pays varies from school to school and year to year, but it typically pays up to $50,000 toward your tuition and school fees. The Kirschstein – NRSA grant is merit-based and to receive it you will have to prove that you have excellent grades. In order to apply for the Kirschstein – NRSA grant, you must have a bachelor’s degree, be enrolled in a program that will lead to a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or a Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) degree, be enrolled in a program that will lead to a PhD, have a professor or researcher willing to act as your sponsor, submit an application, and meet a series of other similar requirements.

Financial Aid Advice

If you’re having a difficult time figuring out how you’re going to pay for any of the dental schools you’re looking at, financial aid may be the way to go. There are a lot of different kinds of financial aid and a lot of different organizations that offer it. You may be able to obtain student loans, grants, scholarships, work-study opportunities, and a variety of other similar financial aid benefits from the federal government, the state in which you reside, your school, and a number of other places. This means that you need to know not only whether a particular type of financial aid makes sense for you but also where you can find financial aid. You may want to familiarize yourself with some of the different types of financial that are available so you can find the financial aid that you need.

First, it is important to remember that if you have a choice between a loan and another type of financial aid that doesn’t have to be repaid, you should always choose the latter. A loan is the only type of financial aid that you will typically be required to repay, and there’s no reason to take out a loan if you can get a scholarship, grant, or work-study assignment that pays you the same amount of money. It is important to note, however, that scholarships and grants are typically more difficult to obtain than loans, and you may have to obtain a loan in addition to a scholarship or a grant to pay for your entire education. It is also important to note that there are certain conditions under which a financial aid organization or a school may require you to repay your scholarship or grant, such as if you drop out of school halfway through the year or if you fail to meet the eligibility requirements that the organization has set.

Second, it is important to note that while most grants and scholarships are needs- and/or merit-based, there are also some grants and scholarships that won’t require you to prove that you need or deserve them. Some organizations have contests that give you the opportunity to win a scholarship or a grant. These contests typically have a series of requirements that you are required to meet, but the requirements usually have nothing to do with your financial status or your academic performance (although some contests may require you to write an essay or perform another similar task). However, contests are typically more difficult to find, and there is often more competition for a contest scholarship than for a standard scholarship.

Third, it is important to remember that grants, scholarships, and loans are not the only types of financial aid that you can obtain. Another type of financial aid that you may want to consider if you’re trying to find a way to earn some extra money while you’re in school is a work-study program. A work-study program is a financial aid program in which a school will offer you a part-time job on campus. Work-study programs are typically designed to ensure that your work hours do not interfere with your school schedule. You will be able to earn some extra money, but you won’t have to skip your classes in order to do so.

Finally, your school’s financial aid office (FAO) is typically the best place to look for financial aid, but it is not the only place that you can look. If you’re looking for a scholarship or a grant, you may also want to check local businesses, your local library, the U.S. Department of Education’s student.gov and studentaid.ed.gov websites, as well as websites of the American Dental Association (www.ada.org), the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (www.nationalmerit.org), other similar financial aid organizations, the dental specialty that you are planning to practice, and scholarship clearinghouses like FastWeb.com or FinAid.org. If you’re looking for a loan, on the other hand, you may want to check your local bank, the U.S. Department of Education’s student.gov website, and the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) website.

Student Finances

If paying for dental school is a problem, a financial aid program may be able to help. However, it is important to note that most financial aid programs will only cover certain expenses and pay a limited amount. This means that to complete a dentistry program and earn your dental degree you will have to find a way to make up the difference between the amount that the financial aid program pays and the total cost of your dental school education. Making up this difference can be difficult, and you may want to know some of the ways that you can come up with the finances and/or protect the finances that you will need.

• First, if you’re still a few years away from college or dental school, you may want to try to save some money now. Dental schools are expensive, and it can take a while to save up the money that you may need to pay all of your school expenses. It will be easier for you to save up the amount that you need if you start a college and/or dental school fund now rather than later. You may want to establish a separate savings account (preferably one with a high interest rate) or a stock account that will allow you to invest your money, so you can earn some interest or dividends on the money that you are putting away now.
• Second, if you don’t know what your credit rating is, you may want to look it up. Most banks and most of the other private organizations that will loan you money for school will want to see some proof that you will actually be able to pay that money back. In most cases, this means that banks and other lenders will want to see your credit rating to make sure that you have a history of paying off your debts. You may want to try to pay off some of your debts or get a credit card and lock it in a drawer to improve your credit rating (the amount of unused credit that you have is typically a key factor in your credit rating). To look up your credit rating, you may want to try annualcreditreport.com. You are entitled to a free credit report from each of the major credit bureaus each year, and this website allows you to obtain your free credit report from all three bureaus without having to pay a monthly fee.
• Third, if you’re trying to figure out if you can pay for school or not, you may want to compare the amount of money that you are earning now to the amount that you expect to earn when you go to school. There are a number of expenses that you may have to pay while you’re in school, including some of the debts and expenses that you are paying now, and the amount of money that you earn in school may not be as much as you’re earning now. You need to make sure that you are putting away enough money to cover all of the costs that you will have to pay when you can’t work full-time.
• Fourth, whether you’re trying to put some money away now for when you attend school later or you’re already in school and trying to make sure that your money lasts, you should try to establish a budget. You have different expenses both before and after you go to school, and the best way to keep these expenses under control is to set limits on the amount that you can spend on each. For example, you may set a limit of $500 for your food and $50 for your entertainment expenses each month. Limits allow you to keep your costs down and to get an idea of how to live within a budget while in school.