Association of American Medical Colleges

Review: The aamc offers a Fee Assistances Program for applicants to Medical School who live below 300% of the federal poverty line for their family size. As stated on their website, "The AAMC Fee Assistance Program (FAP) assists MCAT® examinees and AMCAS® applicants who, without financial assistance, would be unable to take the MCAT exam or apply to medical schools that use the AMCAS application. In addition, most AMCAS-participating medical schools waive their supplemental application fees for applicants who have been granted fee assistance by the AAMC."

I have completed the FAP application only to be ruled ineligible despite the fact that my situation is exactly the demographic the program is intended for. I have appealed multiple times only to be told the decision is final. I do not accept this. I find it very suspicious that somebody who genuinely needs the help of this program, someone who's circumstances are the exact reason the program exists, is blatantly denied. I contacted the AAMC and their response has been that my parents' income is to high for me to qualify for the program, despite the fact that I haven't lived with my parents for 9 years. Yes, they are emotionally supportive of my medical pursuits, but I receive no financial help from them, they are not to be considered as part of my family as I am a grown adult. I am the only member of my family and live entirely off my own means just as I have since graduating university several years ago.

The email sent from the FAP program stated that parental income is assessed separately from mine and that an incorrect family size entry will reopen my eligibility. I have mistakenly entered my parents as part of my family when I am the sole member of my family. I twice requested a new FAP application so that my situation could be accurately represented. And both times they refused to honor what their so-called "Fee Assistance" program offers.

I have already spent the majority of my financial resources applying to medical school through the AAMC during the previous cycle. I refuse to use the remainder of the money I live off of to repeat that this cycle, I would then have no resources to pay rent and utilities, and for food. This program exists to help those who need it. I am one of those people. If the AAMC does not intend to give aid to those who really need it, they should not be advertising a program like this in the first place.

The denials I have received are from an individual named [redacted]. Revdex.com, please help me hold this organization accountable and receive the help they promise for applicants precisely like myself. Thank youDesired Settlement: The AAMC has outright refused to honor the promised service it advertises. They either need to grant me the Fee Assistance for all associated fees in applying to medical school, or they need to reword the text describing the the program to specifically state and clarify the following. Only those applicants living in poverty who's parents also live in poverty will be eligible for the fee assistance program.