Active military...how did you do it?

[Knpnfa]

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It’s been a long time since I last posted here. But how did you all on active duty get your undergrad done? The threat of constant unplanned TDYs has really put me off from taking classes. I’m taking some of the basics from a local CC and planned to apply to UT San Antonio. But UTSAs undergrad class offerings don’t seem line up with very well with someone with a traditional job/schedule.

How did you all overcome this hurdle?

 

[95ragtop]

I took about 20ish hours with UMUC at my first duty station during my first 3 years in the Army. At 9 years time in service I began attending college again. I picked a college that had 1) online classes, 2) most of the premed requirements in the degree, and 3) gave me college credit for my medical MOS. With my prior 20ish hours with UMUC and credit given by the university, I needed to complete about 64 hours.

Over the next 2 years I knocked out the major coursework online while deploying. After that I volunteered to do a 3 year tour to teach at our medic school house. I knew this would provide a stable 3 years of no deployments and a routine schedule that would afford me the opportunity to knock out med school prereqs at night. I began looking at the schools and classes offered on and off post, and found a local university that offered the prereqs. They were night classes and fast paced 8 week semesters. So, for 2 years I would work 7 am - 5 pm Mon-Fri, then classes 6 pm - 10 pm Mon-Thur.

 

[astrostellar]

I'll be real; I'm drowning and considering just waiting until I get out. I've knocked out about all I can without getting into more complicated classes that need to be taken in person.

 

[rg2o3]

Tried to take a few classes and ended up having to wait until I got out. Was a good choice in my opinion.

 

[B4y 4RE4 N4Tiv3]

I simple got out lol or you can get your undergrad in lets say something random like (Leadership lol) and apply to usuhs to do postbacc finish in 1 to 2 yrs and apply to med schools

 

[FlightMedicine]

It's hard to do. Honestly, the best thing that happened was deployment. Solid internet, if a little pricey, and fills the downtime. If you can get an instructor gig that is more predictable timeline but potentially less time for school. Otherwise just talk with your CoC and let them know what your plans are. I had a PSG when I was young in my career who let me take stuff to the field in order to keep up with classes. Doing any kind of science pre-req's is really hard though. That might have to wait until ETS or EMDP2 like others have suggested.

Chech UTHSCSA too for classes, they have strong ties to the Army through their Flight Paramedic program and I'm sure they would work with you.

It is possible you just have to keep at it. I had 2.5 years of college completed before joining and it still took me a solid 4 years of off and on classes to get done.

Good luck!

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

It was really hard. I was at two sea commands back to back while getting my degree, one of which was "arduous" (which just means we were underway a lot). So I was gone a lot and therefore had to take a lot of my courses online. Even with taking them online, my children were small at the time. So basically for two years (I had done almost all my gen ed requirements pre-Navy, so I just needed the 60 credits for my major and the school-specific requirements), I went to work all day, came home and had dinner and play time with my wife and kids, then did homework and studied from around 1900 until 2300 or midnight. Then my daughter would usually wake me up at 0330 or 0400.

It was rough. I'm glad I did it because having my degree done while active duty allowed me to apply for and get selected to the EMDP2. But if I didn't have kids and wasn't in my 30s, I would totally have waited until I was out.

 

[Knpnfa]

Thanks for the replies all. I’ve got just under 7 years till retirement. So I’m going all the way in that aspect. For you all that got accepted to med school, was it easy to “explain away” lighter than normal course load/time it took to finish your undergrad?

 

[95ragtop]

Thanks for the replies all. I’ve got just under 7 years till retirement. So I’m going all the way in that aspect. For you all that got accepted to med school, was it easy to “explain away” lighter than normal course load/time it took to finish your undergrad?

I considered being asked this during interviews, but it never happened. My reply would have been along the lines of "I took as many classes as I could while maintaining solid grades and not having them interfere with my job. "

 

[daw05]

Thanks for the replies all. I’ve got just under 7 years till retirement. So I’m going all the way in that aspect. For you all that got accepted to med school, was it easy to “explain away” lighter than normal course load/time it took to finish your undergrad?

Have you considered military medicine? I also have about 13 years in, but am applying this year. Should all go to plan, I will be well over 20 before my obligations are complete.

 

[MusicDOc124]

Thanks for the replies all. I’ve got just under 7 years till retirement. So I’m going all the way in that aspect. For you all that got accepted to med school, was it easy to “explain away” lighter than normal course load/time it took to finish your undergrad?

1) be careful with how you choose to complete your degree. While online isn't as big a deal as it used to be, you should still be taking the pre-reqs in person. Some schools allow for a limited number of classes or credits for pre reqs to be online, but that will limit where you can apply

2) Since you're active duty, there are numerous programs out there, regardless of service, that will put you into a post-bacc esque 2 year course at USUHS I believe, and if you get in, you go to medical school while on active duty with a promotion to 2nd Lt. Then Capt at graduation. Since that all counts, once you service that additional commitment, you'd be past retirement.

3) Most seem to get out, get their degree after service (most of who get out sooner than retirement at least). You could still consider this option. For instance, rather than going to retirement immediately.. you could get out, get your degree (maybe do some reserve or guard time while in undergrad), and then do HPSP. If not HPSP, you could just finish med school and do FAP or TMS in residency, or direct commission afterward. You'll be a doctor sooner, still get to go back in to retirement, but you'll retire at a higher rank.

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

2) Since you're active duty, there are numerous programs out there, regardless of service, that will put you into a post-bacc esque 2 year course at USUHS I believe, and if you get in, you go to medical school while on active duty with a promotion to 2nd Lt. Then Capt at graduation. Since that all counts, once you service that additional commitment, you'd be past retirement

This is called the Enlisted to Medical Degree Preparatory Program and is the program I am in. If OP is curious about it (or anyone really), I’m happy to answer any questions. But yes, you get to complete a premed postbacc at George Mason University (via USUHS) along with a Kaplan course for free while remaining on active duty and then take graduate science courses while applying to med school. It’s pretty awesome.

 

[BC_89]

It’s been a long time since I last posted here. But how did you all on active duty get your undergrad done? The threat of constant unplanned TDYs has really put me off from taking classes. I’m taking some of the basics from a local CC and planned to apply to UT San Antonio. But UTSAs undergrad class offerings don’t seem line up with very well with someone with a traditional job/schedule.

How did you all overcome this hurdle?

Due to unfortunate / blessed circumstances, I ended up joining with a degree. To brush up on more (and upper) courses while in was frankly near impossible DUE to what you have mentioned. I am focusing on shadowing and volunteering to take care of any EC's that continue and correlate well with my job title. However, due to most courses needing to be in a brick-and-mortar setting (PA and MD/DO route pre-reqs) I am just waiting til I finish my enlistment and join while in reserves to take care of what I can...

 

[esob]

There was no way I could have taken classes on active duty. I'm sure my MEPRS hrs were 80+ weekly. It's funny, b/c when I filled out my applications this cycle I think I put something like 55 hrs as the avg hrs I worked but the real average was probably never lower than 70 actual hours and that was only if I had a break from the PROFIS units. So my hat is off to those who manage to get classes done while on active duty. I never knew anyone on active duty who took courses outside of correspondence stuff.

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

There was no way I could have taken classes on active duty. I'm sure my MEPRS hrs were 80+ weekly. It's funny, b/c when I filled out my applications this cycle I think I put something like 55 hrs as the avg hrs I worked but the real average was probably never lower than 70 actual hours and that was only if I had a break from the PROFIS units. So my hat is off to those who manage to get classes done while on active duty. I never knew anyone on active duty who took courses outside of correspondence stuff.

Yep. I had to take them online mostly. I was able to do 12 credits per semester while working ~80 hours per week (more on deployment). It sucked though.

I do know one guy who was able to take in person courses while working that much, but he could only take one at a time.

 

[esob]

Yep. I had to take them online mostly. I was able to do 12 credits per semester while working ~80 hours per week (more on deployment). It sucked though.

I do know one guy who was able to take in person courses while working that much, but he could only take one at a time.

The funny thing is, I went in with this big expectation that once I was finished with AIT that I was going to settle in at my permanent duty station and work overnights and then enroll in classes like a regular college student. I couldn't have been more wrong, lol.

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

The funny thing is, I went in with this big expectation that once I was finished with AIT that I was going to settle in at my permanent duty station and work overnights and then enroll in classes like a regular college student. I couldn't have been more wrong, lol.

Lol same here.

 

[Bullseye_18]

Still working on pre-req's! But to piggy back on the topic...
CURRENTLY doing it.

BLUF: Talk with your schools about your Non-Trad situation. Do your research for online classes. Study in the morning. Volunteer on saturdays. Network, network, network.

I had all of the biology courses and advanced biology courses completed in my undergrad. So basically I need/ed my Chemistry, Physics, and Orgo knocked out, WITH LABS.

I have my top school (THANK GOD) and basically any other school willing to accept online credits for admissions. These schools said that they would accept the credits due to, basically, the military being impossible for brick-mortar schooling. I study for 4 hours every morning before going in to work; because after work (much like working out), motivation can die. Especially with an 80hr work week.

For volunteering: I looked up clinics/hospitals on the Red Cross' website. If you're stationed internationally, this can be a huge advantage. It just so happens that a lot of military bases allow Red Cross volunteers at your on-base hospital. Maybe your hospital is actually open on Saturday mornings?

Need to shadow? Just start talking with your PCP! (Except I haven't yet.. ). Maybe take a day of leave. If your family/leave situation allows, take personal leave to maybe shadow physicians at a hospital for an entire week.

For LoR's? Hit up one of your old professors from college MANY years ago. Start that networking again. Snag a letter from the physician or PCP you had been shadowing. Maybe a letter from your volunteer organization.

For the MCAT? You've already started prepping. Every move you make.... every course you take, every step you make every breath you take.. umm.. Be prepping! With every class, incorporate one of them fancy lil' Kaplan books. Or maybe the Khan Academy.

Finally: REST! Maybe every Sunday. Just don't lay a finger on a book. Have fun.

Of course, I can imagine how much more difficult it would be if you had kids... Don't volunteer then; mention ALL volunteering at you've done with the military.. list ALL awards/decs. And shadowing doesn't have to be something that takes up all of your time. 50 hours can definitely be doable... maybe knocked out in 4 days, if done full-time.

And being healthy? Well... intermittent fasting saves money lol... But HIT saves time. Running 30 minutes can be pretty quick too. And a great social activity if you need to check that box too.

Okay, enough with the novel! Like I said, CURRENTLY in progress, but it is being accomplished verrrrryyyyy carefully..... lol

 

[Knpnfa]

Still working on pre-req's! But to piggy back on the topic...
CURRENTLY doing it.

BLUF: Talk with your schools about your Non-Trad situation. Do your research for online classes. Study in the morning. Volunteer on saturdays. Network, network, network.

I had all of the biology courses and advanced biology courses completed in my undergrad. So basically I need/ed my Chemistry, Physics, and Orgo knocked out, WITH LABS.

I have my top school (THANK GOD) and basically any other school willing to accept online credits for admissions. These schools said that they would accept the credits due to, basically, the military being impossible for brick-mortar schooling. I study for 4 hours every morning before going in to work; because after work (much like working out), motivation can die. Especially with an 80hr work week.

For volunteering: I looked up clinics/hospitals on the Red Cross' website. If you're stationed internationally, this can be a huge advantage. It just so happens that a lot of military bases allow Red Cross volunteers at your on-base hospital. Maybe your hospital is actually open on Saturday mornings?

Need to shadow? Just start talking with your PCP! (Except I haven't yet.. ). Maybe take a day of leave. If your family/leave situation allows, take personal leave to maybe shadow physicians at a hospital for an entire week.

For LoR's? Hit up one of your old professors from college MANY years ago. Start that networking again. Snag a letter from the physician or PCP you had been shadowing. Maybe a letter from your volunteer organization.

For the MCAT? You've already started prepping. Every move you make.... every course you take, every step you make every breath you take.. umm.. Be prepping! With every class, incorporate one of them fancy lil' Kaplan books. Or maybe the Khan Academy.

Finally: REST! Maybe every Sunday. Just don't lay a finger on a book. Have fun.

Of course, I can imagine how much more difficult it would be if you had kids... Don't volunteer then; mention ALL volunteering at you've done with the military.. list ALL awards/decs. And shadowing doesn't have to be something that takes up all of your time. 50 hours can definitely be doable... maybe knocked out in 4 days, if done full-time.

And being healthy? Well... intermittent fasting saves money lol... But HIT saves time. Running 30 minutes can be pretty quick too. And a great social activity if you need to check that box too.

Okay, enough with the novel! Like I said, CURRENTLY in progress, but it is being accomplished verrrrryyyyy carefully..... lol

Thanks for the encouragement! If you don’t mind me asking what schools are accepting of the online courses?

 

[FlightMedicine]

Thanks for the encouragement! If you don’t mind me asking what schools are accepting of the online courses?

The MSAR is going to be your best resource. It has all the MD programs and their requirements. It is just a guide though and sometimes does not truly reflect the schools requirements. I attached a simple excel sheet that I've started for schools that accept online req's or do it "case by case"