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Medical School is Now More of a Gamble
Medical school just became a lot more expensive for some students and potentially impossible for others, thanks to the “Big Beautiful Bill.” We sit down with Chris Roling, University of Iowa’s financial aid guru, alongside M1 students Anna Royer and Isa Perez-Sandi, and M2 Maria Schapfel, to break down the most significant changes to medical student financial aid in decades. The new federal loan cap of $200,000 sounds generous until you realize the average four-year cost at public schools exceeds $280,000 and private schools hit $390,000. We talk through what happens when roughly a third of the student body already borrow more than the new limit would allow.
Chris explains how private loans work, why your credit score suddenly matters as much as your board scores, and what interest rates actually look like when federal options disappear. We examine the new Repayment Assistance Plan that replaces income-driven repayment, run the numbers on what unexpected life events could cost you, and discuss whether Public Service Loan Forgiveness is worth banking on (spoiler: Chris says don’t count on it).
Anna, Isa, and Maria share how these changes would’ve altered their medical school decisions, particularly for out-of-state students facing tuition bills that federal loans won’t touch. We also explore three-year MD programs as a potential cost-saving measure, debate whether institutions will actually lower tuition or just pass costs to students, and consider how these changes might further stratify who gets to become a doctor.
Plus, we tackle the week’s news: the Trump administration’s acetaminophen-autism claims, why AI still isn’t replacing radiologists despite 700 FDA-approved models, and the American College of Physicians calling for RFK Jr.’s removal from HHS.
Episode credits:
- Producer: Dave Etler
- Co-hosts: Maria Schapfel, Anna Royer, Isa Perez-Sandi
- Guest: Chris Roling, CCOM Assistant Director of Financial Services
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Continue reading Federal Loan Caps & Medical School Debt: What Future Doctors Need to Know
Former co-host and now PM&R Doctor Cole Cheney returns for a discussion of what he’s discovered about the 
It’s winter break at the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine. For most people, that means there are a couple weeks to relax and rejuvenate their minds, bodies, and familial relations. Despite a lack of available co-hosts, The Short Coats never take a break, which is why Dave had to invite fellow student affairs staffers Chris Roling (Financial Services) and Kate McKenzie (Admissions) to join MD/PhD student Aline Sandouk and physician assistant student and noob co-host Paul Kretkowski on this week’s show. To give Chris and Kate the full experience, we visit with the fine patients at the Yahoo! Answers Doctor’s Office to hear and answer their questions on concussions, nail gun injuries and impressive DIY treatments, and the potential dangers of floor pizza.