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Member 187788 · 02-07-2008, 01:25 AM

Thanks to everyone for their insight on the various scholarships and military life. I have just received my acceptance letter from LMU-DCOM and will be attending Fall 2008. It all started with visiting my mother, civilian employee at her work on base, and since I was younger I again heard of the need for physicians. Family has a long history of active service in every war. At 38, I have reached the point I did not get earlier in life. Sure, I was an Alaskan crabber, etc...but today I have some major decisions to make. I have undergraduate loans, and am seeing someone I will marry who has three children.

HPSP is what I have mostly been going after for the past year. I interviewed at VCOM late on the day of the shootings in fact. This year, I am way ahead and have accepted this 1st year osteopathic school out of 9 schools (allopathic and osteopathic) that I was accepted for.....anyways reading these threads is bringing new info and insight.

Flat out, I got to be a surgeon. I would like to go all the way to cardio-thoracic but will aim for general surgeon. I'm alright with the Army life, I have no problem with that. However, between the HPSP, FAP I really need some help. My original health recruiter was promoted and moved, I am working with her replacement. He called today to say yes, 20K on top of the HPSP scholarship. I am mostly concerned about getting into a 5 yr general surgery residency. What is it going to take? Luck, or perfection at med school (pass/fail)?

Sure, take out student loans and owe a ton and then make a ton in the outside world. Or get onto HPSP and have it paid for and return service to my United States and have it all add up to about 17, 18 years towards retirement....at 58 I can get out and work somewhere I have no doubt. But what is the thing?

If I go HPSP, I've been told I will not get activated until I am done learning. I never thought that was true.

So, I go to four years med school, then the one year Army rotation and then
Either get the general surgery residency or get put into a GMO spot for two years? I am not too interested in the USHS avenue, sounds like its for a group of people that are not into being part of something bigger from what I have seen on this website. I need to know what are the real chances of getting into a general surgery residency, and being allowed to complete it. I am all for Army Strong. Still, I am going to heal. Is it better to just go all student loans? Is it better to go student loans then go FAP upon graduation. Is it better to just go HPSP all the way. Recruiter is new to his post and I actually saw last years files on residency matching. How tough is it to say Hey Army, thanks but now I have to go to civilian residency, if I can not match general surgery. Surgery is it, the best. I am into rural practice, but only if I can bring that as well. Sorry, I just need to make the right decision. Hope to hear a lot of responses on this. While I have had the liberty to be solo, within two years I will make permanent decisions for my family. They are accepting my Army goal along with medicine. I just worked 40 hours a week, took out student loans for undergrad in Hawaii, and just want stuff paid for....if all is true from each posting, then we should all just take out loans to be doctors, cause of the money coming in to pay it back.

02-07-2008, 01:25 AM	#148
Member 187788 Junior Member Status Medical Student Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 8	Seeking More Info Thanks to everyone for their insight on the various scholarships and military life. I have just received my acceptance letter from LMU-DCOM and will be attending Fall 2008. It all started with visiting my mother, civilian employee at her work on base, and since I was younger I again heard of the need for physicians. Family has a long history of active service in every war. At 38, I have reached the point I did not get earlier in life. Sure, I was an Alaskan crabber, etc...but today I have some major decisions to make. I have undergraduate loans, and am seeing someone I will marry who has three children. HPSP is what I have mostly been going after for the past year. I interviewed at VCOM late on the day of the shootings in fact. This year, I am way ahead and have accepted this 1st year osteopathic school out of 9 schools (allopathic and osteopathic) that I was accepted for.....anyways reading these threads is bringing new info and insight. Flat out, I got to be a surgeon. I would like to go all the way to cardio-thoracic but will aim for general surgeon. I'm alright with the Army life, I have no problem with that. However, between the HPSP, FAP I really need some help. My original health recruiter was promoted and moved, I am working with her replacement. He called today to say yes, 20K on top of the HPSP scholarship. I am mostly concerned about getting into a 5 yr general surgery residency. What is it going to take? Luck, or perfection at med school (pass/fail)? Sure, take out student loans and owe a ton and then make a ton in the outside world. Or get onto HPSP and have it paid for and return service to my United States and have it all add up to about 17, 18 years towards retirement....at 58 I can get out and work somewhere I have no doubt. But what is the thing? If I go HPSP, I've been told I will not get activated until I am done learning. I never thought that was true. So, I go to four years med school, then the one year Army rotation and then Either get the general surgery residency or get put into a GMO spot for two years? I am not too interested in the USHS avenue, sounds like its for a group of people that are not into being part of something bigger from what I have seen on this website. I need to know what are the real chances of getting into a general surgery residency, and being allowed to complete it. I am all for Army Strong. Still, I am going to heal. Is it better to just go all student loans? Is it better to go student loans then go FAP upon graduation. Is it better to just go HPSP all the way. Recruiter is new to his post and I actually saw last years files on residency matching. How tough is it to say Hey Army, thanks but now I have to go to civilian residency, if I can not match general surgery. Surgery is it, the best. I am into rural practice, but only if I can bring that as well. Sorry, I just need to make the right decision. Hope to hear a lot of responses on this. While I have had the liberty to be solo, within two years I will make permanent decisions for my family. They are accepting my Army goal along with medicine. I just worked 40 hours a week, took out student loans for undergrad in Hawaii, and just want stuff paid for....if all is true from each posting, then we should all just take out loans to be doctors, cause of the money coming in to pay it back.