Chances of receiving NHSC scholarship?

[technocrat626]

I plan on applying for matriculation in 2015. I want to apply for the NHSC rural physician scholarship. How competitive is it? I don't know exactly where my stats will end up, but I am shooting for a 3.6 cgpa, a 3.5 sgpa, a 28-32 mcat (somewhere in that range). I volunteer at the VA hospital (patient transport) and Habitat for Humanity. I have a job as an EKG tech at my local hospital. I am committed to spending my entire career serving under-served communities. I grew up in a rural area and have personally experienced homelessness, which motivates me to focus on serving those populations. My financial status will almost certainly qualify more for EFN grants. Also, I am classified as coming from a "disadvantaged background", as I am in the first generation of my family to attend college, I have a GED, and I have a mental illness (severe Major Depression Disorder) which has interfered with my access to education. My assumption is that, since I meet all three of the priority criteria for the scholarship (EFN, disadvantaged, likely to remain in HPSAs), I have a good chance of receiving it. However, is my less-than-stellar academic performance going to hinder my chances? Also, I intend to apply primarily to DO schools. Will that hurt my chances?

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[Bumbl3b33]

There aren't a lot of Scholar slots, a lot more loan-repayment slots last I heard. It probably makes sense to do loan repayment than scholar anyways, just in case you decide not going into primary care after your experiences in3rd and 4th year of med school

 

[akwho]

You have certain advantages in the "extra" qualifications they are looking for, but it is a highly competitive program and you will need to apply and hope for the best. Good luck, its a noble and needed mission.