How much will a clinical elective in the US cost?

A lot of international medical students who are looking for US Clinical Experience consider doing electives. These electives give you a feel of what exactly a residency in the US will be like. One of the common questions people have is “How much will a clinical elective in the US cost?”

While the cost of the elective will vary from program to program, as well as where in the US you do your elective, there are a few basic expenses you need to consider.

Below I discuss the cost on an average, just to get a rough estimate of how much your elective can cost you.

The Application Fee

$300 to $500. Some may be as high as $1000 but $500 is a safe bet on an average.

The Elective Program Fee

$1000 to $2500. A few programs do not charge you for the elective. These programs generally require Step 1 scores. ( Check out the article on 6 Clinical Electives with Step 1 scores). Some can be as high as $6000.

Accommodation

$500 to $1000. Depending on which part of the country your elective is in, this is highly variable. For example, a room in New York could easily cost you at least $1000. This number will be lower in smaller towns.

Airfare

$500 to $1000. Again, depending on factors like when you book, which airlines you choose,etc.

Miscellaneous

$500. Consider this additional expense for food and other utilities you will pay for.

As mentioned earlier, the cost of an elective is highly variable depending on a lot of factors.

Considering an average expense of $4000 per month is a safe bet.

If you are looking to have a rough budget for electives, do take all these expenses into consideration.

Find more articles on USMLE and Electives.

This article has been written by Dr. Rohit Nathani who is a medical graduate from Seth GS Medical College. Ask your questions in the comments section below.

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