FAQ

IPREP Fellows are considered IU Indianapolis employees. As such, you are not in school. Not being in school prohibits you from using the in-school deferment option. If you graduated or left school in May, then you do have a 6-month grace period on your Federal student loans that will take you to November when payments begin on your Federal Student Loans. You can request the Graduate Fellowship Deferment that can be used in lieu of repayment until you complete the program in June. Thereafter you will likely be asked to begin repayment until you begin a Ph.D. program or are back in school. As an alternative to the Graduate Fellowship Deferment, you will be able to use one of the income-driven repayment plans, specifically PAYE or RePAYE whereby you may be able to get a zero payment or a low payment that is manageable using the IPREP stipend information or paycheck information. Questions related to your student loans should be directed to your Loan Servicer.

Yes, with the mentor's and Director's approval. Fellows can take one class per semester. The class should be in an area/subject that will make the Fellow more competitive for admission to a Ph.D. program. Because of the NIH classification of Fellows as university employees, Fellows will be required to use an IU Employee Tuition Discount. The institution provides some funding towards in-state tuition, and Fellows may have to pay for some portion of the course's tuition. Keep in mind the tuition benefit from the university will be taxed. Please consult with IPREP director before enrolling and to obtain permission.

http://hr.iu.edu/benefits/tuition.html

No, you do not need a GRE score to apply or be accepted into IPREP. If you have already taken the GRE, there is a place to report your score on the application; however, this is not required. During the first month of the program, all scholars participate in an extensive GRE review course. Taking the exam prior to this course can be helpful since you’ll know firsthand what to expect on the test. Our own research shows that GRE scores do not predict future success in graduate school.

No. The goal of IPREP is to prepare individuals who are interested in pursuing research-oriented graduate degrees (Ph.D.). Thus, all of the program components are specifically tailored to help students be prepared for entry into and success in Ph.D. programs. For example, all IPREP scholars participate in preparation for the GRE (which is required for Ph.D. program applications), but there is no programmatic preparation for the MCAT (required by MD programs). If you are interested in an MD degree and could benefit from some additional support, IU offers the MED Program, which has been highly successful in preparing students for medical (and dental) school for almost 40 years.

https://medicine.iu.edu/education/graduate-degrees/masters/medical-science/

Maybe. As you probably know, the application process and timeline for MD/Ph.D. programs differ from Ph.D. programs (for example, requiring the MCAT vs the GRE). While IU Indianapolis PREP does not offer direct programming related to the MD/Ph.D. application and admission process, we have a close relationship with the IU School of Medicine. However, please be aware that the IPREP programming is specifically focused on preparation for Ph.D. programs.

IPREP can often offer a limited housing option for the 1st month of the Fellow's employment. This will give Fellows time to explore places to live near campus and options to rent housing together (cheaper). IPREP will provide Fellows' advice on places to live as well as public transportation options and parking on campus. If you choose to live far away from campus you will need a car and most likely a university parking permit.

https://international.indianapolis.iu.edu/indianapolis/housing/off-campus.html

https://international.indianapolis.iu.edu/indianapolis/index.html

Depends where you live! Indianapolis has limited transportation options.

https://international.indianapolis.iu.edu/indianapolis/transportation.html

https://parking.indianapolis.iu.edu/parking/permits/index.html

1. 1. Were or currently are homeless, as defined by the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (Definition:  https://nche.ed.gov/mckinney-vento/);
   2. Were or currently are in the foster care system, as defined by the Administration for Children and Families (Definition:  https://www.acf.hhs.gov/cb/focus-areas/foster-care);
   3. Were eligible for the Federal Free and Reduced Lunch Program for two or more years (Definition:  https://www.fns.usda.gov/school-meals/income-eligibility-guidelines);
   4. Have/had no parents or legal guardians who completed a bachelor’s degree (see  https://nces.ed.gov/pubs2018/2018009.pdf);
   5. Were or currently are eligible for Federal Pell grants (Definition:  https://www2.ed.gov/programs/fpg/eligibility.html);
   6. Received support from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) as a parent or child (Definition:  https://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/wic-eligibility-requirements).
   7. Grew up in one of the following areas: a) a U.S. rural area, as designated by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Rural Health Grants Eligibility Analyzer ( https://data.hrsa.gov/tools/rural-health),  or b) a  Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services-designated Low-Income and Health Professional Shortage Areas  (qualifying zipcodes are included in the file). Only one of the two possibilities in #7 can be used as a criterion for the disadvantaged background definition.