Why do I need Support?

Hello, my name is Ozzie Tavares. I am honored and excited to begin medical school this August at the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine as a member of the Class of 2029. As a first-generation college student from a working-class family, I am launching this GoFundMe campaign in response to the unprecedented financial challenges posed by exceptionally high student-loan interest rates (7.94 and 8.94%), the lingering burden of self-funding my eight-year undergraduate education, and recent federal legislation that has created unprecedented uncertainty in funding graduate and professional degrees. My total uncovered need for medical school is $253,216, and I am seeking to raise any amount of money to contribute towards the $63,304 in loans I'm taking this year, which will help reduce the staggering amount of interest that will build on these high-interest loans over the next 7-10 years of my training.

Who am I, and why medicine?

My journey toward medicine began far from the halls of a hospital or the pages of a textbook. As a child deeply immersed in tennis, my future seemed destined for athletics rather than academics. From the age of five, I was fortunate to be involved with the Inspiring Children Foundation (ICF) in Las Vegas, Nevada, an organization that supports youth through mentorship, athletics, and education. Guided by mentors such as Ryan Wolfington, the foundation’s co-founder, and alumni including Frideric Prendecki, Dr. Ashley Prandecki, and Trenton Alenik, I absorbed the values of discipline, resilience, and gratitude that continue to guide me today.

Over the past decade, I have taken three gap years at different points, one immediately after high-school graduation and two more between completing my post-baccalaureate studies and beginning medical school, and devoted each of these years to giving back to ICF and the wider Las Vegas community. During my time with the foundation, I served in five summer internships, five winter internships, completed a year as an intern applicant and a year as a post-graduate intern, and participated in fifteen consecutive winter retreats. I also led numerous projects and community-service initiatives. Through these experiences, I stood on both sides of the mentorship spectrum, learning from dedicated mentors and later guiding younger participants in cultivating habits of health, wellness, and personal growth. Working with physicians who volunteered at our wellness programs revealed how medicine can be a powerful form of community service. It inspired me to elevate others, especially underserved populations, through a medical career.

Medicine, however, was not an obvious path at first. Homeschooled for nearly my entire K–12 journey, I focused on tennis until a severe illness caused by a ruptured appendix changed my perspective. During that crisis, I witnessed the transformative impact physicians have when they serve as advocates and caretakers at a patient’s most critical moments. Their compassion and expertise crystallized my decision to pursue medicine as a lifelong calling.

When I began my undergraduate studies, I faced the stark realization that I was unprepared for the academic rigor of a Biochemistry and Molecular Biology degree. My first year in college was marked by significant struggle, evidenced by a challenging 1.9 GPA at the end of the year. However, drawing upon the resilience instilled in me by my mentors and early experiences, I committed myself fully to my education. Through unwavering determination and disciplined study, I achieved two consecutive years totaling 60 units of rigorous coursework with a 3.97 GPA. This effort culminated in scoring a 515 on the MCAT, placing me in the top 9 percent globally of test takers.

Thanks to these efforts, I am now proud to join the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine Class of 2029. I am profoundly grateful for the Inspiring Children Foundation, the mentors who shaped me, the challenges that tested me, and the experiences that clarified my purpose. Medicine is more than a career choice; it is my commitment to serve others, give back, and embody the compassion that once saved my life.

Financial Details.

Despite this academic success, my undergraduate education was extremely burdensome, costing me over $100,000 in tuition alone. This was particularly challenging for someone primarily financing their education independently, with only sporadic support from my family. Due to initially poor academic performance in my first year, I lost my entire financial aid package. Consequently, I was forced to work multiple jobs throughout my undergraduate years, including landscaping, tutoring, tennis coaching, nannying, serving as a teaching assistant and research assistant, and even working at a meat processing facility to finance my education. Through hard work, I graduated debt-free, but I was financially burned out.

In the past, I could partially rely on my parents for financial support, and between our combined efforts, we managed to scrape by to cover undergraduate costs. However, during my post-baccalaureate year, my father suffered a heart attack. Due to his declining health, he is no longer able to work as many hours as before. Additionally, my parents, who have been living with my sister for the past four years, are working to regain financial stability and secure a house for themselves. As a result, I am no longer able to rely on them for financial assistance.

My immediate objective is to raise any amount of money towards the $63,304 in uncovered costs this year, so that I may avoid borrowing as much as possible at today’s elevated interest rates. For context, my comprehensive budget for each academic year is $76,304. An $8,000 tuition waiver and a $5,000 scholarship from a Northern Nevada nonprofit reduce that figure to $63,304, leaving the balance to be paid out of pocket or financed with loans. Over four years, my net cost after scholarships is projected at $253,216.

Even if I borrow the full $253,216 at current interest rates of 8.94 percent and 7.94 percent, the debt would swell to roughly $450,000 over the next decade while I'm still in training. By paying one year’s tuition in advance, I would avoid $57,648 in accrued interest; combined with the $63,304 in principal that would otherwise be borrowed, your contribution yields a total impact of roughly $120,952.57, representing almost a 2:1 return on every dollar you give, while keeping my total borrowing within a financially manageable range.

I'm reaching out through GoFundMe because the current economic climate has resulted in unprecedentedly high student loan interest rates, substantially higher than they've been historically. Specifically, my medical school loans currently have interest rates of 8.94% for Direct PLUS loans and 7.94% for Direct loans. To put this into perspective, many of my medical student peers secured interest rates as low as 4% during the pandemic, and the average pre-pandemic rate hovered around 5% to 7%.

With these elevated rates, the financial implications are severe. Every dollar borrowed today nearly doubles in value by the time I can even begin repayment at the end of my residency and fellowship, potentially 10-11 years after starting this fall. Borrowing at these rates means the balance on my loans could balloon significantly, placing tremendous financial strain upon me before I've even begun my career as a physician. I have laid out my budget and loan details below.

Moreover, financing a medical doctorate is doubly challenging, as covering tuition and related expenses is just part of the difficulty. Equally critical are essential research and internship opportunities during academic breaks, which are vital for securing a competitive residency. Unfortunately, many students spend summers working jobs unrelated to their medical aspirations to manage financial obligations for the upcoming academic year. Reducing my reliance on loans would significantly alleviate this burden, allowing me to focus my breaks on experiences directly enhancing my medical training, rather than spending summers coaching tennis or working unrelated jobs to raise necessary funds. Finally, due to the rigorous demands of medical school, it is simply not feasible for me to rely on traditional methods of working my way through school; I must instead dedicate my full attention and energy toward completing my medical education, which is precisely why I require aid from this GoFundMe.

Thank you sincerely for your support, generosity, and belief in my dream to serve others through medicine.

How Support from This GoFundMe Will Make an Impact

Free from the burden of high-interest loans, I can pursue my education without compromise, including more extended residencies or specialized fellowships.

Contributions will help me avoid loans with rates as high as 8.94%, potentially saving nearly double the amount in long-term interest.

Eases the burden on my parents, who are already managing health and economic difficulties of their own, by assuring them I am financially supported.

I will be able to operate more comfortably within my full cost of attendance, without the added stress of managing high-interest debt or constantly needing to cut essential expenses to avoid higher rates.

With reduced financial strain, I can pursue extracurricular programs such as medical research, study abroad, and internships that are inaccessible without independent funding.

With funding secured, I can delay taking additional loans until interest rates potentially drop next year, allowing for more responsible financial planning.

Cost of Attendance

The estimated total cost of attendance for one year is $76,304.00, and for four years is $305,216.00.

This includes Tuition and Fees of $33,450.00 per year ($133,800.00 over four years), Educational Fees of $5,500.00 per year ($22,000.00 over four years), and Books and Supplies estimated at $1,516.00 per year ($6,064.00 over four years).

Loan-related fees are projected at $1,250.00 annually ($5,000.00 for four years). Student Insurance costs are estimated at $4,704.00 per year ($18,816.00 over four years).

Housing expenses are broken down into Room, at $15,206.00 annually ($60,824.00 over four years), and Board (meals), at $7,120.00 annually ($28,480.00 over four years).

Additional personal expenses are estimated at $4,292.00 per year ($17,168.00 over four years), and Transportation costs are projected at $3,266.00 per year ($13,064.00 over four years).