Kaiser Program FAQ
Q. What do students report as the main benefits of the Kaiser program?
A. Students who have participated in the program report a high level of autonomy and exceptional support from attendings and staff at Kaiser. Kaiser clerkships provide an extremely hands-on clinical experience, with a high volume of cases and opportunities for a variety of experiences based on student interest.
Q. How have past students rated the program?
A. Survey data from last Academic year found that 95% of the students who completed a core third year clerkship at Kaiser rated the quality of their educational experience on that rotation as “very good” or “excellent.”
Q. Where do the rotations happen?
A. Pediatrics, Radiology, Surgery, and Neurology take place at Kaiser Santa Clara. Family Medicine, Medicine, OB/GYN, Neurology, and Psychiatry take place at Kaiser San Jose.
Q. Do students work with residents at Kaiser?
A. Students work with Family Medicine Residents at Kaiser San Jose. Students may work with Stanford and Kaiser residents at Kaiser Santa Clara in surgery, psychiatry and radiology. Santa Clara also has Kaiser Residents in IM, Ob/GYN, and Podiatry.
Q. What other opportunities are there at Kaiser?
A. Kaiser faculty and staff are committed to supporting students’ clinical education goals. As one student put it, “If you are interested in pursuing a particular interest or experience, they will help you make it happen.” Students have also pursued research interests while in California.
Q. Can I apply to the program even if I am not yet ready to make a firm commitment to attend if selected?
A. Application to the program is not binding, but we do request that only those with a serious interest apply. We do require a firm commitment within one week of acceptance.
Q. How are acceptances decided?
A. Acceptance to the program is determined by the Kaiser committee. Students must be in good academic standing and determined to have the potential for success at the regional campus.
Q. Are full-year applicants given preference?
A. Yes, full-year applicants are given preference for admission, followed by six-month applicants. If available spots are not filled by qualified full year and half year participants, single rotations maybe offered.
Q. What are the housing options at Kaiser?
A. Students stay with friends and family or rent housing. Rental rates in the San Jose/Santa Clara area are comparable to Boston.
Q. How does housing work for six month participants?
A. In the past we have been able to secure a limited number of spots in MSR housing for six-month participants for the Boston portion of their year, but this is not guaranteed. Housing in California for six-month participants is the responsibility of the student. Many students sublet or use Rental Service.
Q. Do I need to have a car in California?
A. As with all third year rotations in Boston and greater New England, students are responsible for transportation to and from their clinical sites. Therefore it is strongly recommended that students have access to a car in California. Some students have shipped their cars while others have secured long-term rentals or purchased used cars in CA and resold them at the end of their stay.
Q. Do students participate in Transitional Clerkship in Boston before going to California and come back to Boston for end of third year assessment in the spring?
A. Yes, Kaiser students do both their third year orientation and end of third year assessments in Boston. However, we offer an abbreviated Transitional Clerkship to Kaiser students to allow for travel time/move in.
Q. Is there a scholarship or any other sources of funding for students going for the Kaiser program?
A. Unfortunately we do not currently have scholarship money available for Kaiser program participants.
Q. What are the steps to apply for financial aid for new academic year?
A: Complete the FAFSA online and any additional loan paperwork needed for your financial aid. Please submit your FAFSA by March 1, 2024.
Q: How do I apply for a Cost of Attendance Appeal if I need funds for additional living expenses?
A: If you need additional funding for your educational expenses after reaching the maximum Cost of Attendance, you can submit a Cost of Attendance Increase Form to osfs-camed@bu.edu. Attach supporting documentation to your appeal, which may include your lease, bills and receipts. Funds cannot be used to pay for a car.
The Cost of attendance will change for the 2024-2025 academic year and this information is typically available in mid-May.
Q: How do I request a refund and when can I expect to receive the funds for living expenses?
A: You can request a refund through your MyBU Portal. Per federal regulations, SFS can approve your request after the first day of classes for your program each semester. You can expect to receive your funds during the first 3-5 days of the semester.