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September 2, 2019 In Apply Smarter, Veterinary pre-vets, Veterinary questions & answers, Veterinary resources, Veterinary school, Veterinary student debt, Veterinary student loans, Webinars By Tony Bartels, DVM, MBA

Apply Smarter Q&A: Student Loans and Financial Aid

Here are some questions and detailed answers about Student Loans and Financial Aid asked during the 2019 Apply Smarter webinar. We also covered questions and answers about veterinary school application and veterinary income.

“What is a “standard” amount of financial aid offered by vet schools? I know it varies a lot, but would you say it’s easy to get some aid?”

“Can Dept of Education Stafford loans cover the entire veterinary program? Are there options for anyone unable to secure a co-signer?”

The “standard” amount of financial aid offered for your veterinary education is defined by the Cost of Attendance (COA) published by each school. The COA includes Tuition & Fees as well as living expenses.

August 30, 2019 In Apply Smarter, Veterinary pre-vets, Veterinary questions & answers, Veterinary resources, Veterinary school, Veterinary student debt, Webinars By Tony Bartels, DVM, MBA

Apply Smarter Q&A: Veterinary Income

Here are some questions and detailed answers about Veterinary Income asked during the 2019 Apply Smarter webinar. We also covered questions and answers about veterinary school application and veterinary student loans.

“How does the type of animals you treat (small/large/exotic) factor into how much money you’ll make a year in veterinary medicine?”

“What is the difference between starting salary and earning potential 5, 10, 20, or 30 years into your career?”

Type of practice, experience, and location are major factors in a veterinarian’s income.

VIN Foundation | Supporting veterinarians to cultivate a healthy animal community | Blog | Aspiring Veterinarians Apply Smarter

July 29, 2019 In Apply Smarter, Veterinary resources, Veterinary school, Veterinary student debt By Tony Bartels, DVM, MBA

For the Aspiring Veterinarian – Apply Smarter!

Veterinary medicine is experiencing a student debt crisis. Yes, many higher education graduates experience loan repayment hardship; however the magnitude affecting recent veterinary graduates is unique. Every day I counsel pending and recent graduates through the Veterinary Information Network (VIN) and via VIN Foundation who report student debt balances in excess of $200,000, $300,000 and $400,000 with incomes between $70,000 and $90,000 depending on where they choose to live and what type of veterinary medicine they are pursuing.

While we can help veterinarians navigate these repayment challenges, the old adage “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” is a significant part of the solution. A key driver of the crisis is the decreasing availability of discounted tuition seats for veterinary school; those seats that allow you to pay an in-state or otherwise discounted tuition rate.

We’re knocking on the door of another veterinary school application cycle. The Veterinary Medical College Application Service (VMCAS) for the veterinary class starting in Fall 2020 is now open. As you apply for veterinary school this year or beyond, Apply Smarter!

Did you miss the recent Apply Smarter?

Visit the Apply Smarter page on the VIN Foundation Vet School Bound website for the webinar recording and additional Apply Smarter resources.

What is “Apply Smarter”?

VIN Foundation | Supporting veterinarians to cultivate a healthy animal community | Blog | You Want to be a veterinarian? Apply Smarter!

July 28, 2019 In Apply Smarter, Press releases, Veterinary pre-vets, Veterinary school, Veterinary student debt, Webinars By VIN Foundation

Apply Smarter Webinar in Collaboration with SDN and APVMA

VIN Foundation announces pre-veterinary school webinar in collaboration with Student Doctor Network and the American Pre-Veterinary Medical Association

Free webinar helps hopeful pre-veterinary students apply smarter to veterinary school, improve their chances and save thousands in student debt

Davis, CA: The VIN Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing tools and resources to support veterinary students and veterinarians throughout their careers, is excited to announce an educational webinar on strategies for applying to veterinary school and minimizing student debt for pre-veterinary students. In collaboration with the Student Doctor Network (SDN) and the American Pre-Veterinary Medical Association (APVMA), the webinar will be held Wednesday, August 7, 2019, 5pm PT / 8pm ET. Interested attendees can register using the Apply Smarter registration link.

A veterinary degree can cost as much as or more than a medical school degree and more than the average U.S. home mortgage. However, starting veterinary salaries are about ½ to ⅓ of what a new physician can earn.

In an effort to save future veterinarians years of heartache and financial stress, the Apply Smarter webinar will help pre-veterinary students narrow their target list of schools to those where they have the best odds of acceptance and also save them hundreds of thousands of dollars in student loan debt.

“Educating pre-veterinary students on the wide range of veterinary school costs and student loan impacts prior to applications is vital to helping them make educated decisions and reducing the financial stress we see with many new graduate veterinarians,” said student debt educator and VIN Foundation board member Tony Bartels, DMV, MBA. “By collaborating with SDN and APVMA we are bringing together organizations on the forefront of educating pre-veterinary students and the future of the veterinary profession.”

“Student Doctor Network is excited to partner with VIN Foundation and the APVMA,” said Student Doctor Executive Director, Laura Turner. “We share their passion for helping pre-veterinary students with free resources to aid in their application process.”

“APVMA is excited to partner with the VIN Foundation and Student Doctor Network,” stated APVMA Vice President Ian Brown. “We’re looking forward to informing future veterinary students on smart ways on applying to veterinary school and how to save an extra penny in the process!”

Those who register for the Apply Smarter Webinar will be kept up to date on student debt and application information for veterinary school. They will also receive a recording of the webinar and the ability to ask further veterinary school application and student debt questions.

About the VIN Foundation

The VIN Foundation was created by members of the Veterinary Information Network (VIN) in 2005. VIN is an online community of veterinarians and veterinary students with over 70,000 members worldwide. Learn more about the VIN Foundation and its resources at https://VINFoundation.org. The VIN Foundation, a platinum level nonprofit, is made possible through generous gifts by individual donors and grants; all gifts made to the VIN Foundation are tax deductible.

About Student Doctor Network

Student Doctor Network (SDN) brings together thousands of current and future healthcare students and professionals into one community where they can share information, offer guidance, and provide encouragement to their peers and those coming up behind them. Whether considering a gap year, struggling with the intensity of their classes, or navigating the Match, members can find someone who understands what they’re facing.

About American Pre-Veterinary Medical Association

The American Pre-Veterinary Medical Association (APVMA) is a national organization of students. Our goal is to promote and stimulate interest in the field of veterinary medicine, provide open communication between pre-veterinary clubs and organizations nationally, provide resources to students on pursuing the field of veterinary medicine, and hold the annual national APVMA symposium.

July 24, 2019 In Veterinary resources, Veterinary student debt, Veterinary student loans By Tony Bartels, DVM, MBA

How Income-Driven Repayment Works: The Rules

“I was looking at the income-driven repayment plans, and the Pay As You Earn (PAYE) option seems like it will cost me the least amount of money. However, everything I read online says that the income-driven repayment plans cost you more money because although they lower your monthly payment, you ultimately pay more interest in the long run. I was wondering if you could break this down for me? I don’t understand how it will cost me the least amount of money if I never hit the principal balance and pay more interest?”

This question, asked by a 2019 veterinary graduate who attended the recent new graduate webinar we presented on student debt, is one of the most confounding aspects of income-driven repayment (IDR). Unfortunately, this confusion often prevents veterinarians from accepting the student loan repayment relief and other benefits provided by an income-driven repayment strategy.

July 23, 2019 In Veterinary resources, Veterinary student debt, Veterinary student loans By Tony Bartels, DVM, MBA

How Income-Driven Repayment Works: The Math

“I was looking at the income-driven repayment plans, and the Pay As You Earn (PAYE) option seems like it will cost me the least amount of money. However, everything I read online says that the income-driven repayment plans cost you more money because although they lower your monthly payment, you ultimately pay more interest in the long run. I was wondering if you could break this down for me? I don’t understand how it will cost me the least amount of money if I never hit the principal balance and pay more interest?”

We covered how income-driven repayment (IDR) works and broke down the conceptual aspect of this question in How Income-Driven Repayment Works post. Now we’re going to put those concepts into practice.

VIN Foundation | Supporting veterinarians to cultivate a healthy animal community | Blog | VIN Foundation Reaches GuideStar Platinum for Third Year in a Row

June 27, 2019 In Press releases, VIN Foundation news By VIN Foundation

VIN Foundation Reaches GuideStar Platinum for Third Year in a Row

VIN Foundation Reaches GuideStar Platinum for Third Year in a Row

Allows Donors to Focus on Progress and Results

Davis, CA: The VIN Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, has earned the Platinum GuideStar Nonprofit Seal of Transparency for the third year in a row. Platinum is the highest level of recognition offered by GuideStar, the world’s largest source of nonprofit information. By achieving and sharing metrics highlighting the progress VIN Foundation is making in line with its mission, GuideStar and VIN Foundation are helping donors move beyond simplistic (e.g, overhead ratios ) ways of evaluating which organizations to support..

June 5, 2019 In Consolidation, Veterinary questions & answers, Veterinary resources, Veterinary student debt, Veterinary student loans, Webinars By Tony Bartels, DVM, MBA

New Grad Student Loan Questions and Answers: Income-Driven Repayment (PAYE, REPAYE, IBR)

Here are some questions about Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) that we tackled live during the 2019 New Veterinary Graduate Student Loan Repayment Webinar.

“Do we have to select a repayment plan every year or will we stay in the first one by default?”

If you do not select any repayment plan you will be placed in the standard 10-year repayment plan by default after your grace period expires. Your monthly payment will be calculated based on your starting repayment principal, interest rate, and the amount needed to pay each loan to zero in 120 months (10 years).

May 31, 2019 In Consolidation, Veterinary questions & answers, Veterinary resources, Veterinary student debt, Veterinary student loans, Webinars By Tony Bartels, DVM, MBA

New Grad Student Loan Questions and Answers: Consolidation

Here are some questions about consolidation using a Federal Direct Consolidation Loan that we tackled live during the 2019 New Veterinary Graduate Student Loan Repayment Webinar.

“How do we know if our student loans are able to be consolidated?”

To receive a Direct Consolidation Loan, you must include at least one Direct or Federal Family Education Loans (FFEL) program loan in the consolidation*.

Your Direct and/or FFEL program loans need only be in their grace period, deferment, or repayment in order to include them in a Federal Direct Consolidation Loan.

Your Direct Unsubsidized veterinary school loans should enter their grace period shortly after your last semester ends or after graduation. I wish I knew the rhyme or reason for each school’s timing on the loan status switch, but it’s highly variable. Some schools switch over quickly and some even a few days before graduation. Others can take a few weeks or even a month to reflect your graduation status.

The NSLDS is usually updated at least monthly, so you might see your status update with the change of the month following your graduation. You might even call your school financial aid office after graduation to see when they might report your graduation status to the Department of Education. Sometimes that request can nudge your school into updating your status or reporting your status change earlier.

*Special Note: If you were to only have Perkins, Health Professions Student Loans, or Loans for Disadvantaged Students, you would be able to utilize a Direct Consolidation Loan. I regularly meet a handful of veterinary students who fall into this category — the good news is that your loan balances in those cases are relatively low and have not been costing you interest during school so you’re in great shape to pay those back without having to consolidate.

“Can you consolidate after the grace period?”

Yes. But, the timing of your Federal Direct Consolidation is important.

Your Direct Loans and/or Federal Family Education Loans (FFEL) need only be in their grace period, deferment, or repayment in order to include them in a Federal Direct Consolidation Loan.

There are a couple of issues with waiting until your veterinary school loan grace period expires to start the Direct Consolidation Loan:

1. You continue to accrue interest on all of your unsubsidized loans during the grace period. Thus, when you do enter repayment or consolidate later, the increased unpaid interest balance will be added to your principal resulting in a higher starting repayment balance. You are charged interest on your principal — the higher your principal, the more you’ll pay during repayment.

2. The Direct Consolidation Loan takes 30-60 days to process. Once processed your first payment will be due 30 days after that. If you wait until after your grace period, there is nearly 9 months of time that you are not in repayment, thus not making qualifying payments towards forgiveness. Better to get the clock ticking, especially if you anticipate having a balance forgiven under an income-driven repayment plan.

“Can you consolidate and waive your grace period if you’re planning to do Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)?”

You can and you should, especially if you’re starting a PSLF qualifying employment soon after graduation.

In order to make qualifying PSLF payments, you have to be 1) in repayment using an income-driven repayment plan, 2) paying federal Direct Loans on-time, and 3) employed full-time (average of 30 hours per week) with a qualifying employer.

The sooner you can get most or all of your federal student loans consolidated into a Direct Consolidation Loan, the sooner you can officially start making payments using an income-driven repayment plan, which are 2 of the 3 primary requirements for working towards PSLF. And if you can get the $0/mo payment due for the first 12 months of repayment, you’ll have more of your loans forgiven when you reach PSLF.

Per the PSLF Employment Certification Form, “A qualifying employer includes the government, a not-for-profit organization that is tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or a private not-for-profit organization that provides certain public services. Serving in an AmeriCorps or Peace Corps position is also qualifying employment.”

I would recommend bringing a PSLF Employment Certification Form to your employer after you’ve started working with them and made a few monthly payments towards your student loans. Repeat that process each year so you have 9 or 10 of those certification forms to submit with your actual application for PSLF.

After you’ve made 120 of those qualifying PSLF payments, you should have an easier time (in theory) having your remaining student loan balance forgiven tax-free if you have all of your employment certification forms documenting your progress along the way.

“My Perkins Loans, Health Professions Student Loan, and Loans for Disadvantaged Students aren’t listed as eligible under income-driven repayment. Can I consolidate them in order to pay them using PAYE, REPAYE or IBR?”

Yes, you can consolidate those non-Direct loan types as long as you are including one Direct or FFEL program loan in the consolidation. That is one of the primary reasons to utilize a federal Direct Consolidation Loan — to include non-Direct federal student loan types that do not qualify for income-driven repayment (IDR) on their own, but will once you consolidate them.

The most beneficial income-driven repayment plans (PAYE, REPAYE, IBR) and Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) can only be used with Federal Direct Loans. The only way to make federal non-Direct Loan types qualify for IDR and PSLF is through a Direct Consolidation Loan and the best time to consolidate your loans is as soon as you can after you graduate veterinary school.

“Can you do Federal Direct Consolidation once you have started payments on an income-driven repayment plan?”

You can. However, if you are already in repayment, you should be extremely careful using a Direct Consolidation Loan. This is why the timing of your Federal Direct Consolidation Loan is so important.

When you consolidate, you receive a new loan(s) that pays off all of the loans included in the consolidation. If you have made qualifying income-driven payments or PSLF payments to loans that you consolidate, you will lose credit for those qualifying payments. Essentially, you reset your forgiveness clock on any loan you consolidate. That is another reason to start the Direct Consolidation Loan process as early as possible, ideally right after you graduate veterinary school.

“Should I consolidate my spouse’s federal student loans with mine?”

You can no longer combine federal student loans with your spouse as part of a federal consolidation loan. That is likely a good thing because it is a mess to deal with in the event of separation/divorce.

You could probably still do a consolidation with your spouse using a private loan, but for many other reasons in addition to the fact it would still be a mess in the event of separation/divorce, I would highly discourage consolidating your student loans with your spouse’s student loans.