The Unforeseen Costs of Medical Education.

Objective: Financial burdens of medical education are a major barrier for many students. The goal of this study is to identify and quantify unforeseen costs associated with being a medical student. Methods: Medical students at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center were surveyed on unforeseen financial costs. Qualitative data were collected. Results: Students spent significant extra funds in professional development, social spending, living, and technology. Conclusion: Schools and students should consider all aspects of life to have a fruitful education and appropriately provide loan funding and financial education for both enough and thoughtful use of financial resources during medical education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]