David S. and Ruth L. Gottesman Scholarship Fund The David S. And Ruth L. Gottesman Scholarship Fund at Albert Einstein College of Medicine was established in March 2024 with a transformational gift from Dr. Ruth L. Gottesman, Chair of the Einstein Board of Trustees and Montefiore board member. This historic gift — the largest made to any medical school in the country — ensures that no M.D. student at Einstein will pay tuition again. If you are a student who has additional questions about how the Gottesman Scholarship Fund affects your specific financial aid package beyond the answers provided below, please contact Einstein’s office of student finance at stufin@einsteinmed.edu. What expenses does the Gottesman Scholarship Fund cover at Einstein? The Gottesman Scholarship Fund covers tuition plus educational and technology fees for students who pursue an M.D. degree at Einstein. It does not cover living expenses, room and board, or any other costs associated with attendance. What is the purpose of the Gottesman Scholarship Fund? Its primary goal is to eliminate the financial barriers to medical education, and to attract students from all backgrounds, as well as those who may not have considered medicine a viable career path due to the cost. I am a current Einstein M.D. student with an existing institutional scholarship. How does the Gottesman Scholarship Fund affect my financial aid package? For current M.D. students who already benefit from institutional scholarships, the Gottesman Scholarship Fund will be applied to your account with careful consideration to ensure that your existing financial support is enhanced and not disrupted. The Gottesman Scholarship Fund will be integrated with your other institutional scholarships to maximize your financial benefit. Are there any academic requirements to receive the Gottesman Scholarship Fund? The only ongoing requirement is that M.D. students remain in good academic standing, which ensures you are fully committed to your medical education. How do I apply for the Gottesman Scholarship Fund? All M.D. students accepted into Einstein are automatically awarded the Gottesman Scholarship. There is no separate application process. If I have a 529 College Savings Plan, how does the Gottesman Scholarship Fund affect it? The Gottesman Scholarship Fund covers your tuition and fees at Einstein. Please review your 529 College Savings Plan for guidance on other qualified educational expenses that you can allocate your funds to cover. We advise that you consult with a financial advisor or tax professional regarding the tax implications and optimal use of your 529 College Savings Plan in conjunction with the scholarship. How does the Gottesman Scholarship Fund affect outside scholarships? If you receive an outside scholarship earmarked explicitly for tuition, you may have more flexibility in how your financial aid package is structured. The office of student finance will review your total scholarship awards to ensure they do not exceed your cost of attendance. If there is an excess in funding, the outside scholarship might be reallocated to cover other educational expenses, or, depending on the terms of the outside scholarship, it may be possible to adjust its use for future terms or to save it for other educational needs. It's crucial to communicate with the office of student finance and the outside scholarship provider to understand any restrictions on or flexibility in how the outside scholarship funds can be used. Now that all M.D. students at Einstein receive the Gottesman Scholarship, do I still need to complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)? It is highly recommended that all students complete the FAFSA annually, even if you receive a scholarship covering tuition and fees. Completing the FAFSA is essential for several reasons. Eligibility for Additional Aid: The FAFSA determines your eligibility for other financial aid forms, including federal, state, and institutional grants, work-study programs, and federal student loans. Even if your tuition and fees are covered, other aid forms can help with additional educational costs, such as books, supplies, and living expenses. The FAFSA is also essential in case your financial circumstances change. Completing the FAFSA gives you access to federal funding options more quickly. Institutional Requirements: Einstein requires a completed FAFSA for all students who intend to use Title IV. The FAFSA helps the office of student finance provide a comprehensive financial aid package and may be necessary for certain internal grants and funding opportunities. It also helps us provide better guidance regarding undergraduate and graduate debt upon graduation. Maximizing Educational Benefits: By completing the FAFSA, you ensure you are not missing any financial aid opportunities that could further reduce your educational costs. Does the Gottesman Scholarship Fund affect how service-related scholarships are managed? For students who benefit from service-related scholarships, our policy is to bill your respective organization directly for tuition and fees. This approach ensures that your service-related scholarship benefits are utilized according to the terms set by your organization.