Military after Undergrad

[esketeat]

Hi everyone,

I'm currently a sophomore double majoring in public health and neurobiology and have been thinking about what avenues I could take after undergrad. I've always been interested in joining the military (37A or a medical MOS) and I think it'll be a great learning opportunity life skills wise.

Do you think it's worth it to join the military for 3-4 years before applying to medical school? I have a good application and have my GPA, research, and EC's in order so joining the military's more of a personal venture for me (I'm not interested in doing HPSP or USUHS). I did have a couple of questions for anyone who's gone through a similar process though:

1) Do you think your time in the military was worth it? Would you do it again? What are some takeaways you got from your service?
2) How difficult was preparing for the MCAT? I know it expires in ~3 years and prereqs in ~5 so I'm a little apprehensive on that part.
3) How much 'icing on the cake' is military experience? I know it doesn't substitute for anything on a med school application but I feel my application isn't terrible (3.86; 1 publication, 400 clinical; 350 nonclinical volunteer hours). If I'm aiming for a top medical school should I focus on that instead?

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[DMBandFan86]

Joining the military for personal choice and service is a good reason for joining. If you want to serve then think long and hard.

Sure, it will add a unique experience to your resume. But It is not a guarantee to get accepted into med school. However, Might get you an interview easier.

Time is money, so the opportunity cost will be higher this route by delaying physician salary. Financially, you would most likely be better to wait and join with an active duty or reserve medical program. Also, would talk to a recruiter to see what jobs are even available as an officer. I would think the jobs you listed would be hard to get and likely you would end up an infantry officer or something like that.

MCAT is probably the hardest part about getting into medical school historically. Brain power goes down each year you get older, so recommend taking closer to your science classes and close out of school / end of school.

 

[BC_89]

My story is somewhat different than the traditional route and "somewhat" fits in your narrative with 2 big differences:
1) Unsure of a specific profession
2) Financial blanket for family

I had a pretty generous scholarship (covered) when earning my undergrad degree in Biochemistry. Leading up to graduation, I was aiming for either MD/DO, PA, or Pharmacy. A huge factor that caught my eye was the sky-rocket cost of student loans for a career choice I wasn't 100% sure of. I remember deciding to use my degree to get a job while I further think about my career-decision and low and behold, I did some research on the army and they sold me on choosing my MOS after taking my ASVAB (before committing).

So yes, I enlisted and ended up as a 68Q (pharmacy specialist) amongst other duties. After a few years, I decided to make a career of it and have them further assist in my education (pushed for PA but switched back to pharmacy). Eventually however, I ended up getting a medical retirement package that ended up covering and going beyond my career goal expectations (afforded me to take further risks and now doing my pharmacy residency).

The challenges? Studying. Yes, I was competitive in the sense that I had a great GPA and rigorous courses in undergrad, but I signed the dotted line for a minimum 5-year obligation (the more they invest in you, the more they want from you). I was dangerously close on still keeping my prereq window open for specific institutions, which ultimately led me to push more toward PA or Pharmacy. The certificates and experiences I had between working in field units and training down in different hospitals was more than enough to grant me interviews. It was because of my experiences that my family now has a financial blanket while I gained some leverage in preparing for my professional studies.

Would I change my decision? Only if I knew without a shadow of a doubt what my professional goal was. The experiences I received are memorable (both good and bad), but opportunity cost mingled with fear of separating myself from the classroom year after year of service was a real bothersome. If you know med school is it, do med school. Unless you're lost in a career choice or need a VISA status, put in the drive and dedication to focus on your learning. The military isn't going anywhere, and you'll be more useful with a meaningful skill after school/residency if you still choose to serve.

 

[pgg]

Are you talking about enlisting?

As a high achieving person with a hard science degree, give some thought to the boot camp experience of being stripped down and stuffed into the same lowest-common-denominator box as the average recruit. Yeah, it's an adventure, and anybody can put up with anything for a couple months ... but is that where you want to go? And then your neurobiology and public health knowledge isn't going to be exercised as an E4 no matter what MOS you end up in. Junior enlisted aren't flying drones or hacking cyberspace code or doing any of that cool **** the recruiting commercials show. You will not reach a position of significant leadership or responsibility in the span of a single enlistment period. But you'll sure get bossed around and told to do a whole lot of menial ****. Bet on it.

This is not to say that people with degrees shouldn't enlist, but the more natural path is commissioned service. You've achieved something impressive and special - there will be far more room for personal and professional growth as an officer, if you want to join.


You should only join if you want to serve in the military. Don't let the idea that it'll make you a more competitive medical school applicant sway you.

 

[xffan624]

Hi everyone,

I'm currently a senior double majoring in public health and neurobiology and have been thinking about what avenues I could take after undergrad. I've always been interested in joining the military (37A or a medical MOS) and I think it'll be a great learning opportunity life skills wise.

Do you think it's worth it to join the military for 3-4 years before applying to medical school? I have a good application and have my GPA, research, and EC's in order so joining the military's more of a personal venture for me (I'm not interested in doing HPSP or USUHS). I did have a couple of questions for anyone who's gone through a similar process though:

1) Do you think your time in the military was worth it? Would you do it again? What are some takeaways you got from your service?
2) How difficult was preparing for the MCAT? I know it expires in ~3 years and prereqs in ~5 so I'm a little apprehensive on that part.
3) How much 'icing on the cake' is military experience? I know it doesn't substitute for anything on a med school application but I feel my application isn't terrible (3.86; 1 publication, 400 clinical; 350 nonclinical volunteer hours). If I'm aiming for a top medical school should I focus on that instead?

I second pgg's advice to not go enlisted. You can do officer for 4 years. Better pay, better quality of life, and you might actually use your brain/degree occasionally. Look in Army medical department (AMEDD) direct commission to do medical service corps if you want to stay medical related.

To answer your direct questions
1.) Yes. I think it was worth it. It was an an experience and achievement that I will have with me for the rest of my life. I think leadership experiences were the biggest takeaways I got from my service. Not only my own, but learning (sometimes painfully) how not to be a leader by seeing bad leaders in action.
2.) Funnily enough, it wasn't too bad. I was definitely worried as well. I had taken them in undergrad just as you will and had to refresh myself, but a second look seemed to do the trick and I actually improved on my MCAT from my undergrad attempt (I had taken it in undergrad got a decent score but had been unsuccessful and ended up giving up on medical school for a little while).
3.) I applied in 2012 and I think there was definite icing at that time (general public military support might have been at its zenith) as I was able to leverage my deployment experiences and other leadership experience into confident interview answers. YMMV, my application was much weaker so I was lucky to get in honestly looking back. Still this reason should the last on your list to join the military.

One benefit not mentioned yet is using the 9/11 GI Bill and/or Voc Rehab (if you get disability while you're in) for medical school tuition after you get out. This will help to significantly reduce or eliminate your medical school debt so your time is not completely wasted as far as opportunity cost goes. I left medical school older than most of my colleagues but also with no debt, so it was not as painful as it would otherwise have been.

 

[TheEarDoc]

Hi everyone,

I'm currently a senior double majoring in public health and neurobiology and have been thinking about what avenues I could take after undergrad. I've always been interested in joining the military (37A or a medical MOS) and I think it'll be a great learning opportunity life skills wise.

Do you think it's worth it to join the military for 3-4 years before applying to medical school? I have a good application and have my GPA, research, and EC's in order so joining the military's more of a personal venture for me (I'm not interested in doing HPSP or USUHS). I did have a couple of questions for anyone who's gone through a similar process though:

1) Do you think your time in the military was worth it? Would you do it again? What are some takeaways you got from your service?
2) How difficult was preparing for the MCAT? I know it expires in ~3 years and prereqs in ~5 so I'm a little apprehensive on that part.
3) How much 'icing on the cake' is military experience? I know it doesn't substitute for anything on a med school application but I feel my application isn't terrible (3.86; 1 publication, 400 clinical; 350 nonclinical volunteer hours). If I'm aiming for a top medical school should I focus on that instead?

I would focus on doing medical school now rather than later. As you get older you don't pick up things as fast or retain them as well. I know I've seen a big difference in my learning abilities in my 40's vs. my 20's.

If you have the military bug then you can finish med school and then join the reserves and still get good bonuses, good student loan repayment, and still get some military life, but more on your own terms. The other option is the health scholarship program which you can read all about here.

As for the military, I am a reservist so my path is a little different since I kind of got the Army more on my terms (I still get the green weenie from time to time, but not as bad as most active duty folks get it) and I must say I am still really enjoying it. I have a great civilian gig in the VA and my current VA and workplace really respect my military duties and don't hassle me about it. That wasn't the case at the previous VA I worked for. I would highly recommend the reserves or Air National Guard to anyone who wants to do military service, but not be completely emersed 24/7 in it and still keep up their civilian skills.

The MCAT is not joke. I had to take it when I was trying to go to medical school. I would definitely get a prep book and sign up for some of the online testing sites. It helped me and I didn't do poorly on it, but I was so burnt out from undergrad and I was looking at the debt I would incur (I was going to be an ENT) and the pay I would get and decided it wasn't worth it. I also was accepted to grad school for psychology as well, but I was tired of doing research (I had a ton of psychology and neuro research in undergrad) and the PsyD programs were joke at that time, so in the end I chose audiology. I wouldn't have done that hindsight if I knew about the health scholarship program and the narrow range of jobs audiology has. I would just study hard and take it and you will get into a medical school. I truly believe there is a medical school for everyone who actually wants in if you aren't geographically choosy. The programs are a dime a dozen and no matter what people say, a doctor is a doctor when it comes to being hired especially by the military! I would just go where you can get in and if you can get some cash thrown your way to lower the burden of debt even better!

Military experience isn't much of an icing on the cake in most things from what I can tell, unless you are trying for a DOD, Federal position, or VA job. Then military experience and service connection are worth their weight in gold!

My advice in the end is study hard, take the MCAT, get into medical school wherever you can. Either do the health scholarship program (read about the pros and cons in this forum!) or finish medical school and then go reserves or air national guard if you still have the military bug.

 

[DeadCactus]

If serving is a box you want to check and is important to you, then go for it. Life is short, not every decision has to be about optimizing our careers. I considered detouring to the military after undergrad but decided my priority was to be a physician. You have to accept that a detour may become more than a detour and I decided I would rather take the risk of not making it to the military than the risk of not making it to medicine. I would 100% not do it as some sort of scheme to get more competitive for medical school.

Personally, which may mean nothing from your perspective, if I was going to join before medical school I would do something unrelated to medicine. There's some cool opportunities in uniform that, again to me, make more sense than putting off being a physician to a medical service officer or fill a medical technician role in a peacetime military. I'd also encourage you to consider all the branches (even the Coast Guard); don't buy into the hype some of the branches put out because there are solid opportunities in all of them.