Army Confused/Worried about chances.

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Hey guys, I am confused and now worried about my chances of being awarded a HPSP for dental school. I know I am late to apply (due to a bunch of things happening at the same time) but my recruiter told me there are still a lot of spots available still for the 4 year HPSP and I have a great chance. However, after reading the forums here, I have lost my optimism for the 4 year program and even the 3 year program. It has always been a dream of mine to be able to serve in the Army and I guess reading the forums and knowing I'm late has made me worry a little bit; my application is being sent out this week sometime. Does anyone have any incite on the HPSP being this late in the game? I have a 3.54GPA, 18/18/20, great LORs and PS, great extracurriculars and have been accepted into dental school already. Thanks guys, good luck to everyone!

Originally Posted by Idrill

Hey guys, I am confused and now worried about my chances of being awarded a HPSP for dental school. I know I am late to apply (due to a bunch of things happening at the same time) but my recruiter told me there are still a lot of spots available still for the 4 year HPSP and I have a great chance. However, after reading the forums here, I have lost my optimism for the 4 year program and even the 3 year program. It has always been a dream of mine to be able to serve in the Army and I guess reading the forums and knowing I'm late has made me worry a little bit; my application is being sent out this week sometime. Does anyone have any incite on the HPSP being this late in the game? I have a 3.54GPA, 18/18/20, great LORs and PS, great extracurriculars and have been accepted into dental school already. Thanks guys, good luck to everyone!

Chances are low for a 4 yr scholarship. Most of them have been given away, and the few that remain or the ones that open up as people decline will be competed for by yourself and all the other individuals that are on the wait list from previous boards.

You will have a shot at the 3 yr if you get on the waitlist for the 4 yr scholarships. Those are not given out until 1 Oct.

Originally Posted by Idrill

Hey guys, I am confused and now worried about my chances of being awarded a HPSP for dental school. I know I am late to apply (due to a bunch of things happening at the same time) but my recruiter told me there are still a lot of spots available still for the 4 year HPSP and I have a great chance. However, after reading the forums here, I have lost my optimism for the 4 year program and even the 3 year program. It has always been a dream of mine to be able to serve in the Army and I guess reading the forums and knowing I'm late has made me worry a little bit; my application is being sent out this week sometime. Does anyone have any incite on the HPSP being this late in the game? I have a 3.54GPA, 18/18/20, great LORs and PS, great extracurriculars and have been accepted into dental school already. Thanks guys, good luck to everyone!

You got into dental school with those stats? wow thats great to hear. I am worried I won't get in if I can't get a 20+ DAT

Do you mind sharing what and how many schools you got into? What about interviews?

thanks.

Spoke with a recruiter this week and was told 52 people are on the OML for 4 yr scholarships.

I can verify that there are 50 people on the OML as well...quite a pool of applicants this year

Originally Posted by dentaluofm

I can verify that there are 50 people on the OML as well...quite a pool of applicants this year

Is it possible to get a rank in line off this list?

Originally Posted by dentaluofm

I can verify that there are 50 people on the OML as well...quite a pool of applicants this year

You will see this trend continuing for the forseeable future. When economy is bad and the chance of war has decreased like this, more people will be looking to come on.

The scholarships will get more competative and you will see the waitlists increasing.

Originally Posted by krmower

You will see this trend continuing for the forseeable future. When economy is bad and the chance of war has decreased like this, more people will be looking to come on.

The scholarships will get more competative and you will see the waitlists increasing.

I had the privilege to enlist three weeks after 9/11 and I've been in since. I remember there were lots of schmucks whining and crying because they "just joined for the college money." It pisses me off to see people like this who just want a free education and couldn't care less about the sacrifices of those who have gone before. Screw them. They don't deserve it. If you're not here to serve, go mooch somewhere else.

The stage is set for larger conflicts in the future - not smaller ones.

Originally Posted by Tirekicker

I had the privilege to enlist three weeks after 9/11 and I've been in since. I remember there were lots of schmucks whining and crying because they "just joined for the college money." It pisses me off to see people like this who just want a free education and couldn't care less about the sacrifices of those who have gone before. Screw them. They don't deserve it. If you're not here to serve, go mooch somewhere else.

I agree 1000%. I've already had a few 2016 HPSP recipients tell me about how they're anit-military or never want to serve, the military lifestyle is not for them, they just didn't want to take out student loans. These are the ones who will try to (unsuccessfully) weasel their way out of their commitment and just get out after 4 years. Its disappointing to think there are plenty of people who would gladly take their place and actually want to serve and make a career out of it.
Maybe it would be different if we had to do OBLC (or even OCS!) BEFORE commissioning for HPSP...

Originally Posted by NOLAdentist2016

I agree 1000%. I've already had a few 2016 HPSP recipients tell me about how they're anit-military or never want to serve, the military lifestyle is not for them, they just didn't want to take out student loans. These are the ones who will try to (unsuccessfully) weasel their way out of their commitment and just get out after 4 years. Its disappointing to think there are plenty of people who would gladly take their place and actually want to serve and make a career out of it.
Maybe it would be different if we had to do OBLC (or even OCS!) BEFORE commissioning for HPSP...

The truth is doing OBLC before commissioning would be impossible to execute or require. While students are applying for HPSP nearly all are still in school completing their degrees. This leaves little to no time to travel and complete OBLC. Also, doing so would add an even greater financial burden to the government for the application process. Unfortunately, there are going to be people who get the scholarship for all the wrong reasons. However, this is typically not the norm.

Originally Posted by Tirekicker

I had the privilege to enlist three weeks after 9/11 and I've been in since. I remember there were lots of schmucks whining and crying because they "just joined for the college money." It pisses me off to see people like this who just want a free education and couldn't care less about the sacrifices of those who have gone before. Screw them. They don't deserve it. If you're not here to serve, go mooch somewhere else.

Maybe I'm being naive when I say this and I'm sure deployment in a warzone is no cakewalk, but I think it would be a great experience. Even though I will most likely just do dental work, it would still be cool to be a part of history.

That's good to have that attitude. The truth is that it really matters what you do or more specifically what the mission of your occupation is. When I was enlisted the job entailed mixing it up and heading towards the flames lol. I imagine as a dentist - that would not be the case. I think that dentists tend to stay back from dangerous regions and are well protected by a large infrastructure. So you see - same war zone - two different occupations - two different experiences.

Originally Posted by pk62281

Maybe I'm being naive when I say this and I'm sure deployment in a warzone is no cakewalk, but I think it would be a great experience. Even though I will most likely just do dental work, it would still be cool to be a part of history.

I read some statistic that in America's 240 year history, there are only 21 years without a war. If people get in assuming that because the wars in Iraq and Afganistan are winding down, they won't be deployed in a warzone, there is a good chance they'll be wrong. A lot can happen in 4 years.

Originally Posted by dentaluofm

The truth is doing OBLC before commissioning would be impossible to execute or require. While students are applying for HPSP nearly all are still in school completing their degrees. This leaves little to no time to travel and complete OBLC. Also, doing so would add an even greater financial burden to the government for the application process. Unfortunately, there are going to be people who get the scholarship for all the wrong reasons. However, this is typically not the norm.

In truth, nobody can attend BOLC before commisioning. You have to be in the Army in order to attend.

Have we had some leave immediately after BOLC? Yep. It's the cost of doing business. And it's better that they leave early rather than costing us (the taxpayers) more by staying in. Are there bad apples that are trying to scam the system? Yep. However, the large percentage of those who enter HPSP (especially Dental Corps) do so with good intentions. It's not very often someone with the attitude that they're just going to take the money and run get away with it completely. There are more than a few fail safes along the way while in the program that usually trip them up. And they get weeded out early, with penalties.

Originally Posted by USArmyHPSP

In truth, nobody can attend BOLC before commisioning. You have to be in the Army in order to attend.

Have we had some leave immediately after BOLC? Yep. It's the cost of doing business. And it's better that they leave early rather than costing us (the taxpayers) more by staying in. Are there bad apples that are trying to scam the system? Yep. However, the large percentage of those who enter HPSP (especially Dental Corps) do so with good intentions. It's not very often someone with the attitude that they're just going to take the money and run get away with it completely. There are more than a few fail safes along the way while in the program that usually trip them up. And they get weeded out early, with penalties.

This is extremely well said!!

Originally Posted by Idrill

Hey guys, I am confused and now worried about my chances of being awarded a HPSP for dental school. I know I am late to apply (due to a bunch of things happening at the same time) but my recruiter told me there are still a lot of spots available still for the 4 year HPSP and I have a great chance. However, after reading the forums here, I have lost my optimism for the 4 year program and even the 3 year program. It has always been a dream of mine to be able to serve in the Army and I guess reading the forums and knowing I'm late has made me worry a little bit; my application is being sent out this week sometime. Does anyone have any incite on the HPSP being this late in the game? I have a 3.54GPA, 18/18/20, great LORs and PS, great extracurriculars and have been accepted into dental school already. Thanks guys, good luck to everyone!

Sorry for the hijack Idrill.

Originally Posted by USArmyHPSP

In truth, nobody can attend BOLC before commisioning. You have to be in the Army in order to attend.

Have we had some leave immediately after BOLC? Yep. It's the cost of doing business. And it's better that they leave early rather than costing us (the taxpayers) more by staying in. Are there bad apples that are trying to scam the system? Yep. However, the large percentage of those who enter HPSP (especially Dental Corps) do so with good intentions. It's not very often someone with the attitude that they're just going to take the money and run get away with it completely. There are more than a few fail safes along the way while in the program that usually trip them up. And they get weeded out early, with penalties.

You're abosultey correct that is impossible for everyone to attend BOLC before signing. It would just be nice to do something that reminds people "oh yeah, I am signing up for the military. With the guns, camo, PT, and everything else that goes along with it". I just can't believe it, in the last few weeks I had a few people tell me to my face that they're doing HPSP but they are very anti-military. They made it past all the check points so far. Doesn't make much sense to me, but that's their own decision I guess.

That's too bad. How will they view their patients? Many of who may have killed in war? How will handle their supervising officer who has complete control over them, their career, and their freedom? How will they perform their duties as an officer as many enlisted will be relying on them?

I remember the feeling once I showed up as a young enlisted guy. This may sound small - but it finally hit me that my life was no longer my own when I was told to "sit down... get up.... sit down... scream!... sit down... get up.... sit down...." and I had to comply with everything or face the consequences even though the commands were ridiculous. At that point, with no real option of turning back, I realized that I was no longer free.

Originally Posted by NOLAdentist2016

You're abosultey correct that is impossible for everyone to attend BOLC before signing. It would just be nice to do something that reminds people "oh yeah, I am signing up for the military. With the guns, camo, PT, and everything else that goes along with it". I just can't believe it, in the last few weeks I had a few people tell me to my face that they're doing HPSP but they are very anti-military. They made it past all the check points so far. Doesn't make much sense to me, but that's their own decision I guess.

Is the OML a waitlist for the HPSP? I also agree with everything you guys have said. No one really realizes what our soldiers have to go through for our freedom... And for some people to go in there solely for financial reasons is just ridiculous and unfair for those who really want to be in the Army and serve the country, not have the country serve them by obtaining a free scholarship then half-assing their duties . HPSP or not, I plan on serving one day as an Army dentist.

Originally Posted by Idrill

Is the OML a waitlist for the HPSP? I also agree with everything you guys have said. No one really realizes what our soldiers have to go through for our freedom... And for some people to go in there solely for financial reasons is just ridiculous and unfair for those who really want to be in the Army and serve the country, not have the country serve them by obtaining a free scholarship then half-assing their duties . HPSP or not, I plan on serving one day as an Army dentist.

OML stands for Order of Merit List. Based upon the position on the OML people are given the scholarship, or placed on the wait list.