When are you committed to HPSP program?

[sfoksn]

Hello,

I have applied to the HPSP program, and the recruiter just sent me a document titled "HPSP Bonus Request" that will be sent to the headquarters after, and he has requested me to initial and sign the paper and return it to him.

If I send this in, does it mean that I am committed to the program completely, and cannot back out? I thought there was some kind of swearing solemnly procedure that I must go through to commit myself to the program.

I would like to wait out on the commitment because if I get enough scholarships from the schools to cover for my tuition, then the HPSP program would not work out in my favor.

Any advice is appreciated.

Thank you for reading!

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[MatthewLeeDDS]

As far as I understood it, you're "locked in" when you take your oath.

Think about the pros and cons for YOU before committing to the scholarship. The last thing you want is to get into it and dread it. If you don't want to be in the military, don't do it! The money aspect is great because you come out debt free and will earn about $100,000 while you're in school, but you will also come out and not only be a dentist but also an officer in the military. If you like that first part but not the second, then think hard about whether or not it's really for you. The military aspect really excited me, and I think the extra practice will be good out of school without having to worry about running a practice right away. Your situation may be (and probably is) much different than mine. This scholarship isn't for everyone, or else everyone would apply for it! With that said, it can be great for many people, so decide if that's you, regardless if you get those scholarships or not. Best of luck in your decision!

 

[sfoksn]

Thank you for your response.

I am not saying that I don't like the military aspect of the scholarship, but a large portion of my motive in applying for HPSP is the financial aspect that I can be debt free and come out positive after serving 4 years of military dentistry.

But if I were to be fortunate enough to receive significant amount of scholarships at the dental school of my choice that reduced my debt to being much less than expected (so maybe I can plan to easily pay it off in less than 4 years), then I may be hesitant to continue with HPSP.

I hope you understand where I am coming from.

But to clarify, before taking oath, if I choose to give up my spot in HPSP, I won't be penalized, correct?

What exactly is taking oath?

Thank you.

 

[MatthewLeeDDS]

Thank you for your response.

I am not saying that I don't like the military aspect of the scholarship, but a large portion of my motive in applying for HPSP is the financial aspect that I can be debt free and come out positive after serving 4 years of military dentistry.

But if I were to be fortunate enough to receive significant amount of scholarships at the dental school of my choice that reduced my debt to being much less than expected (so maybe I can plan to easily pay it off in less than 4 years), then I may be hesitant to continue with HPSP.

I hope you understand where I am coming from.

But to clarify, before taking oath, if I choose to give up my spot in HPSP, I won't be penalized, correct?

What exactly is taking oath?

Thank you.

No I fully understand where you're coming from. Im very excited about the military aspect but I can tell you if the money wasn't involved, it would make no sense! Money is part of it no matter what, but many people take it as just a money thing and end up unhappy.

Especially in the economy right now, I think this option looks more appealing because you are more or less locked in to a specific amount of money for the next 8 years. 4 years of dental school and 4 years of military dentistry, and you know EXACTLY how much you're getting. The financial aspect is extremely attractive.

If you receive scholarships for dental school, I could totally understand not going to the HPSP if you get the scholarship because then all you'd be doing is saying "no thanks" to a bunch of free money. If you manage to get a bunch of money for dental school, I think that completely negates one of the large benefits of the HPSP.

As far as the oath... It's when you will officially be sworn in as an Air Force (or any other branch) officer, essentially committing to the HPSP scholarship. Even if you apply for the scholarship and receive it, you could technically say "no thanks" before your oath but don't expect them to give you much time to decide. It's somewhat of a given that if you get the scholarship, you're going to take it. Just to clarify, you apply for the scholarship, get accepted, and then take your oath a month or so later. If you don't want it, tell them ASAP because they need to fill the spots.

Feel free to PM me if you have any questions!

 

[agent2362]

Hello,

I have applied to the HPSP program, and the recruiter just sent me a document titled "HPSP Bonus Request" that will be sent to the headquarters after, and he has requested me to initial and sign the paper and return it to him.

If I send this in, does it mean that I am committed to the program completely, and cannot back out? I thought there was some kind of swearing solemnly procedure that I must go through to commit myself to the program.

I would like to wait out on the commitment because if I get enough scholarships from the schools to cover for my tuition, then the HPSP program would not work out in my favor.

Any advice is appreciated.

Thank you for reading!

I feel for you bro. I had many of the same questions as you and thought long and hard about it before signing. Still not a hundred percent sure now if it was the right choice all the time... At some point you have to make a choice and just roll with it.

here's my two cents: the average dentist is making about 200K if they own their own practice. Thus only going to some of the more expensiveschools leans it more in your favor monetarily than in the military's favor. That much being said, I personally would not take HPSP unless at UoP, because then it is clearly in my favor and I only have to serve 3 years...which is good if I happen to hate it. If I love it then no harm done and I take those re-signing bonuses sooner... I would not take HPSP at a four year school personally, unless it was USC or NYU or something comparable in price to those. I almost took my spot at U Penn with the Dean's 120K scholarship and turned down the HPSP, but then UoP came through so that was a better monatary deal than U Penn in the long run.
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=704934

If you plan on specializing in the military, then I would NOT sign the 20K bonus. you owe four years for taking that bonus. If you do a residency in the army right out of school with that, then you add those years to the 4 you already owe. If you take the army residency right out of school, then you can pay the time for the residency and the HPSP concurrently, so you only have to serve a max of 4 years. Look at armyjawbreaker's stuff about his experience with specializing on OMFS.

Seems like getting into a specialty is much heigher in the army than in civilian, so the army is not a bad place to specialize. They also pay residents 2x what civilian residents make, so that helps if you have a family... you are more likely to deploy as a resident I think, but they are typically 6 month deployments only.

you sacrifice some time of building your own practice by serving, but at the same time everyone else is struggling with debt and most are associates for a few years outta school and then move on. Many also take bad dental mill jobs like Western dental because they have too much debt and want guaranteed salary....lots of horrer stories about that. HPSP is proly one of the safest things in the world, honestly.

I cant speak for air force and those navy surfer dudes tho...

 

[sfoksn]

Thank you for your insight.

I know it may sound silly coming from a pre-dental student, but I do want to specialize.

My plan was to go to 4 year dental school, get out, serve 4 years, and apply to residency separately, independent from the military.

Then I would not owe extra 4 years, right?

Also, I thought working as a military dentist for 4 years would be beneficial in getting into various residencies.

What do you think? Isn't having 4 years of extra experience a big boost in being selected in residency programs?

 

[AFDDS]

Let me throw in my 2 cents worth.

Money is no doubt a factor, but don't let it be the only one. Don't forget the intangibles like health insurance, no need for malpractice insurance, no employee issues, no added practice debt.

I see many quotes on what people that own their own practice make, but don't forget to consider this. Avg dental school debt is $200+k. If you start or buy a practice you have to add that $$ into your debt. If you are making $200k and are planning on living the high life and investing some money and paying off your debts in 4 years, something will have to give.

Training opportunities in the military are excellent. Some statistics show graduates of AEGD programs are 5-7 years ahead of their peers clinically. Military residents draw their full pay while in training.

I've worked with several people who took the HPSP for the $$ only. They tend to be unhappy, because they forget that they owe the military some time when they are done. Now, don't get me wrong, they show up to work and spend their time in the military, but they don't have a good concept of "payback" or "owe". You need to want to serve to take the HPSP. If you don't want to serve, reconsider.

 

[New2Philly]

Let me throw in my 2 cents worth.

Money is no doubt a factor, but don't let it be the only one. Don't forget the intangibles like health insurance, no need for malpractice insurance, no employee issues, no added practice debt.

I see many quotes on what people that own their own practice make, but don't forget to consider this. Avg dental school debt is $200+k. If you start or buy a practice you have to add that $$ into your debt. If you are making $200k and are planning on living the high life and investing some money and paying off your debts in 4 years, something will have to give.

Training opportunities in the military are excellent. Some statistics show graduates of AEGD programs are 5-7 years ahead of their peers clinically. Military residents draw their full pay while in training.

I've worked with several people who took the HPSP for the $$ only. They tend to be unhappy, because they forget that they owe the military some time when they are done. Now, don't get me wrong, they show up to work and spend their time in the military, but they don't have a good concept of "payback" or "owe". You need to want to serve to take the HPSP. If you don't want to serve, reconsider.

Very well said

 

[sfoksn]

Thank you so much for your replies.

I understand that, and I do like the military aspect of the HPSP. My father is a retired Coronel from Air Force, and I have heard lots of good things about military and I think it would be nice to join the military.

Could you please take a look at my naive road I set for myself, and see if anything could be changed to be optimized?

First get accepted to HPSP -> go to 4 year university -> if possible, try to go into specialty (I heard this is possible if your grades are outstanding and if you have a letter from the Dean or something like that, my recruiter told me this) -> if not, then do 4 years of active duty -> get out, apply for specialty programs -> practice as a specialist.

I was wondering if me being a military dentist for 4 years is a bonus in applying to specialty programs. I would think it would definitely be a plus, but I want your opinions as well.

Can my road be planned any better? Any inputs would be appreciated.

Thank you.

 

[MatthewLeeDDS]

Thank you so much for your replies.

I understand that, and I do like the military aspect of the HPSP. My father is a retired Coronel from Air Force, and I have heard lots of good things about military and I think it would be nice to join the military.

Could you please take a look at my naive road I set for myself, and see if anything could be changed to be optimized?

First get accepted to HPSP -> go to 4 year university -> if possible, try to go into specialty (I heard this is possible if your grades are outstanding and if you have a letter from the Dean or something like that, my recruiter told me this) -> if not, then do 4 years of active duty -> get out, apply for specialty programs -> practice as a specialist.

I was wondering if me being a military dentist for 4 years is a bonus in applying to specialty programs. I would think it would definitely be a plus, but I want your opinions as well.

Can my road be planned any better? Any inputs would be appreciated.

Thank you.

That looks good if specializing in private practice is your ultimate goal. The first dentist I ever shadowed was an orthodontist who did the Navy program, and his path was identical. School --> Navy --> civilian specialty school --> private practice ortho.

Just keep in mind that things can change a lot while you're in school. What if you get to dental school and decide you don't want to specialize? What if you CAN'T specialize? What if you want to stay in the military? What if you do a 1 year AEGD?

You're smart to think ahead, just remember, things rarely work out as we hope they will. Just stay positive, work hard, and do what makes you happy!

 

[AFDDS]

When I came in, I had planned on specializing early and then get out and back to private practice. 13 years later, I'm still here. It's been a great way to practice and do some things outside a normal practice.

Why not specialize in the military? You'll be hard pressed to find better programs.

All that being said, I think some of the advice above is the best you'll get. Don't get too set in your ways. Things may change. You may love the military, you may not. You just don't know

 

[NAVY DDS 2010]

Don't get too set in your ways. Things may change. You may love the military, you may not. You just don't know

My family for many generations have served our country. I knew I would serve, not out of obligation but as I felt it was my duty. BUT, I was going to serve my 4 years and get out because I LOVE to have fun. Well, 4 years went by and look at me now. Been in since 1998 and plan on retiring from the Navy. I will probably never work in a civilian dental practice. As AFDDS stated, "you just don't know."

 

[sfoksn]

Thank you for all your comments.

A quick clarification:

It is 4 years AD and 4 years IRR, right? Does that mean I can apply to different residency programs after 4 years of AD even though I will be in IRR?

If I were to be accepted to the residency programs, it would be neutral year, right? Meaning I don't owe extra years of AD corresponding to the years I spent in the residency programs after?

 

[teeth63a]

Thank you for all your comments.

A quick clarification:

It is 4 years AD and 4 years IRR, right? Does that mean I can apply to different residency programs after 4 years of AD even though I will be in IRR?

If I were to be accepted to the residency programs, it would be neutral year, right? Meaning I don't owe extra years of AD corresponding to the years I spent in the residency programs after?

Almost correct.

All contracts are 8 years. The amount of active duty years depend on the amount of scholarship you take. 4 year scholarship=4 years active duty, 4 years IRR and 2-3 year scholarship=3 years active duty, 5years IRR. If you do your active duty time and then seperate from the military, you can do whatever you want, with the understanding that there is a very small chance you may be called back from the IRR (no dentist as of yet has been called back). When your complete 8 years obligation completely runs out, you then need to resign your commision to be completely free and clear. If you don't I think there's some roundabout way the army can somehow drag you in past your initial military obligation.

I defer to others re: year neutrality.

 

[sfoksn]

Thank you.

One question:

Will serving 4 years of AD as HPSP recipient be looked upon favorably when applying to various civilian residency programs?

 

[krmower]

Thank you.

One question:

Will serving 4 years of AD as HPSP recipient be looked upon favorably when applying to various civilian residency programs?

In the Army you will not have the option of applying for a civilian residency program from dental school. If you are in the HPSP program - you can apply for a military residency. They do have a few agreements with civilian programs - but the Army decides who goes to those.

Whether you do HPSP or not - when you apply for an Army residency program I don't believe it makes much difference.

 

[del Sol DOHC]

In the Army you will not have the option of applying for a civilian residency program from dental school. If you are in the HPSP program - you can apply for a military residency. They do have a few agreements with civilian programs - but the Army decides who goes to those.

Whether you do HPSP or not - when you apply for an Army residency program I don't believe it makes much difference.

I think you misunderstood his question. Sfoksn is asking about applying for a civilian residency after his military commitment is over. He wants to know if having served in the Dental Corps is generally seen as a positive thing by residency directors.

 

[sfoksn]

I think you misunderstood his question. Sfoksn is asking about applying for a civilian residency after his military commitment is over. He wants to know if having served in the Dental Corps is generally seen as a positive thing by residency directors.

Spot on, sir.

 

[krmower]

I think you misunderstood his question. Sfoksn is asking about applying for a civilian residency after his military commitment is over. He wants to know if having served in the Dental Corps is generally seen as a positive thing by residency directors.

In that case - I don't know. I have known dental officers leaving the military and applying for civilian residencies and getting in. Doesn't seem to have affected them. One thing to realize is that you will be going from receiving a salary to either receiving a much smaller stipend or having to pay tuition based upon your residency/school.