
This request irritated me on so many levels. Let me present the following exchange:
Friend: "Hey, I really need $160. Could you help me out?"
Me: "I can't, but..." (reaches into pocket) "...here's 15 cents! That should help ease your burden."
Friend: (throws 15 cents in my face)
Basically, getting a letter from the school complaining about how much they themselves are charging the poor medical students and can't we help them out with some token amount of money is not going to get a donation from me.
I have no idea how the tuition at a state medical school got so high. It was only $11,000 a year when I started, and I only graduated about 10 years ago. The out-of-state tuition they quoted seems impossibly high. I think $80,000 a year might be a bit pricey for medical school.
But still, my sympathy is a little bit limited. When I donate money, I'd rather give it to somebody who really needs it, rather than some medical student I've never met who will probably be making more money than me in 10 years.