Cost and funding for the Accelerated Review Program (ARP)

The Accelerated Review Program is a one-semester preparatory program designed for select students who have the drive to become successful physicians, but who need additional academic and study skills support to ensure their success in UMHS' rigorous medical education program.

Students may opt to apply directly to the ARP program or may be considered for this program by the admissions department. ARP students may choose to attend classes online from the convenience of their homes and participate in class virtually alongside their on-campus classmates. For an in-person experience, we also offer the program at our state-of-the-art campus in St. Kitts, where you’ll have full access to our anatomy lab, library, and learning resource center.

Students who successfully complete the ARP Program are granted admission to the Basic Science or Extended Basic Science program.

Qualify for an ARP scholarship: Students who have successfully completed ARP can also qualify for a total award of $9,000 for the Basic Science Scholarship. This will be a merit-based scholarship reliant on the student’s academic performance in ARP. To qualify, the student must have achieved a grade of a B or greater in ARP. Students who have maintained a B or greater will automatically qualify for the scholarship.

If you have additional question about the ARP program you can speak with an ARP Alumn contact Allyson Shipp.

ARP cost of attendance

The cost of attendance (COA) for this one-semester program is outlined below (click to view) the details. The COA includes all direct charges that you will be billed for by the university, as well as all indirect expenses. This budget is calculated based on the average student, in a capacity to support a modest student lifestyle while enrolled in the program. It is important that you are aware of all anticipated costs for this program, so you can make sufficient financial plans.

These figures are calculated as follows:

Tuition: Actual amount billed by the school

Room & board:

• Costs for housing expenses are calculated at $1200.00 per month
• Food allowance is included at $125.00 per week.
• Students need to budget for typical living expenses incurred during daily life: housing, utilities, food, etc. The estimates provided anticipate that students will live in safe, comfortable, but modest accommodations-likely with a roommate.

Transportation:

• $900.00 for one round trip air-ticket for travel to St. Kitts at the beginning of the program and to depart the island when the term is over
• $35.00 per week, for transportation expenses on the island

Books & supplies: to cover cost of any books and school supplied need for the term

Personal incidentals: $50.00 per week allowance for any miscellaneous personal expenses

Health and evacuation insurance: All students are required to have medical and emergency evacuation insurance. If you do not have coverage you will be given the option to purchase insurance through UMHS. If you already have health insurance be sure to contact your provider to ensure coverage will remain effective while you are attending school outside of the U.S.

• A median rate, of the school sponsored health insurance policy, is included in the COA
• Actual per semester charge for air-evacuation insurance

Payment and funding options available for the ARP

Once you enroll in the program, you will receive a bill from the university Bursar. For information regarding payment options, please contact the Bursar’s office.

In general, you can choose to cover the cost of your ARP semester with:

• A direct payment: Submitting your payment in full prior to registration with our available online payment options.
• A payment plan: We offer the option to budget your semester bill into equal monthly installments over the course of the semester.
• Student loans: Sallie Mae has extended its undergraduate Smart Option Student Loan program to eligible UMHS ARP students. This program is only available to students of U.S. citizenship or Permanent Residency. (All eligible students who have been extended an invitation to attend the Accelerated Review Program will receive an email with all pertinent financial aid information.)

Sallie Mae Smart Option loan program

The Sallie Mae Smart Option loan is a private educational loan. This means that it is not subsidized by the federal government, nor is an approval guaranteed. The lender’s decision to approve a loan request will be based on the student’s (and any cosigner’s) creditworthiness as displayed by the data in their credit report. This may also include a review of the applicant’s debt-to-income ratio.

Features of the Smart Option Loan Program:

• Easy online application
• Three repayment options to choose from, including deferring until after graduation or making minimum monthly payments while in school.
• Competitive interest rates, with the choice of a variable or fixed rate once your request is approved
• Up to 20 years to repay with no prepayment penalties
• 36-month grace period
• Up to 48 months of residency and internship deferment

There is no cosigner requirement; however, applying with a creditworthy cosigner may help you qualify and/or receive a lower interest rate. 

Please wait until you receive your financial aid package email with all specific instructions for your term of interest before you apply for any loan.