Application Process

[ToJesusMyHeart]

Those applying for religious life usually are required to get:

-eye exam

-dental exam

-physical exam

-psychological exam

 

My question is, is there a way to get these without going broke? Is it common for doctors to give free exams to ladies entering convents? Or should the applicant just start saving up and pay for the full cost of all the exams and not pester them for free stuff?

[OnlySunshine]

Those applying for religious life usually are required to get:

-eye exam

-dental exam

-physical exam

-psychological exam

 

My question is, is there a way to get these without going broke? Is it common for doctors to give free exams to ladies entering convents? Or should the applicant just start saving up and pay for the full cost of all the exams and not pester them for free stuff?

 

Most parishes (if not all) have Knights of Columbus and they appreciate paying for vocations.  You might consider asking them for financial assistance.  You could also contact your diocesan vocation office and ask if they can put you in touch with the psychologist who does the evaluations for the future seminarians.  That's how I got mine done -- my pastor put me in touch with the psychologist.  As for the medical, dental, and vision exams -- do you have insurance?  If not, and you aren't working, you can probably take advantage of the free clinic in your city. 

 

Physical exams, usually, are no more than $100.  Sometimes, you can find a good deal if you go to a chiropractor who does sports and school physicals.  We have one down the road from our house who does physicals for $25.  Eye exams can be helped with coupons.  Here, we get magazines of coupons for local businesses and they ALWAYS have eye exam coupons that bring the cost down considerably.  As for dental exams, we get coupons here quite often for new customers where you only have to pay $49 to $59 for a dental exam and x-rays.

 

If you want to PM me with your general location, I would be more than happy to help you search for good coupons to use.  You don't have to go broke.  :)

[TheresaThoma]

Something else is if you have had a physical or eye exam recently you may not need another. If you have insurance see if the physical is covered under preventative care which is typically little to no cost.

[OnlySunshine]

Since you are a student, you might want to look into health services provided at your school.  I sent you a PM with more information.

 

Another idea is to get a physical at an urgent care clinic like MinuteClinic or TakeCareClinic.  They have a set price for physicals, usually.  :)

[AnneLine]

Very often dental schools will do a free cleaning, x-ray and exam for their students' final exams.  :)   And that way you are helping some other person by being their patient.  AND if they find you do need some dental work done, usually you can get it free or very low cost.   Same might be true if you have a med-school connected hospital for the physical... certainly worth checking into this!

[OnlySunshine]

Very often dental schools will do a free cleaning, x-ray and exam for their students' final exams.  :)   And that way you are helping some other person by being their patient.  AND if they find you do need some dental work done, usually you can get it free or very low cost.   Same might be true if you have a med-school connected hospital for the physical... certainly worth checking into this!

 

Ah, yes!  I forgot to mention the possibility of dental schools.  The one in my area does free cleanings for children and adults.  We also have a volunteer dental clinic where dentists come in once a month and work for very little.  If someone needs a comprehensive cleaning or exam, they are referred to a specialist.

 

TJMH, since you are a TAMU student, I searched for dentist schools in your area.  There is one connected to TAMU!  They provide cleanings and screenings:

 

http://bcd.tamhsc.edu/patients/

 

Edited June 6, 2013 by MaterMisericordiae

[nikita92]

Universities usually have dental schools within them. Semar walk-in clinic (in my state) is adjusted to ur income. Our local men's shelter has a dental van come around once a month. They of course will take low income females as well. Just have to go in and speak with the Chaplin or whoever is in charge. Just a idea.