- Joined
- Jul 26, 2007
- Messages
- 185
- Reaction score
- 3
A couple things I've thought of to help those applying for HPSPs:
1. Try to spend some time at a clinic shadowing a dentist to see what it's like, try a private practice clinic too if you can.
2. Don't rush in and say you need the scholarship, or you just lost your biggest bargaining chip.
3. Don't sign the contract the first day you see it, take it home and read it over, make sure you know what you are getting into.
4. Stay in shape during dental school, you will need to pass the physical fitness test when you go to Officer Basic Course.
5. Get it in writing. If your recruiter makes any statements that seem unbelievable or makes a promise or will have a big impact on your decision ask to see it in writing. If it's a regulation he should be able to pull it up for you.
6. Remember you are interviewing the Army as much as they are you. They aren't paying for your dental school for nothing, it's a tough job and a big commitment so treat it as such.
7. If you have your heart set on a particular base or region, you might try asking for your first base to be put into your contract. This is used heavily to entice people when dentists want to go straight to active duty, or when a dentist's commitment is up and they want to keep them, I haven't heard of it being used by HPSP students, but that's probably because most don't know to even ask. The Army is hurting now, so you may be able to pull it off, by making it a condition of you signing up. The recruiter will have to contact the branch manager at Human Resources to get an answer on it, don't let him tell you dentists always get their first choice. Again get it in writing.
Good luck
1. Try to spend some time at a clinic shadowing a dentist to see what it's like, try a private practice clinic too if you can.
2. Don't rush in and say you need the scholarship, or you just lost your biggest bargaining chip.
3. Don't sign the contract the first day you see it, take it home and read it over, make sure you know what you are getting into.
4. Stay in shape during dental school, you will need to pass the physical fitness test when you go to Officer Basic Course.
5. Get it in writing. If your recruiter makes any statements that seem unbelievable or makes a promise or will have a big impact on your decision ask to see it in writing. If it's a regulation he should be able to pull it up for you.
6. Remember you are interviewing the Army as much as they are you. They aren't paying for your dental school for nothing, it's a tough job and a big commitment so treat it as such.
7. If you have your heart set on a particular base or region, you might try asking for your first base to be put into your contract. This is used heavily to entice people when dentists want to go straight to active duty, or when a dentist's commitment is up and they want to keep them, I haven't heard of it being used by HPSP students, but that's probably because most don't know to even ask. The Army is hurting now, so you may be able to pull it off, by making it a condition of you signing up. The recruiter will have to contact the branch manager at Human Resources to get an answer on it, don't let him tell you dentists always get their first choice. Again get it in writing.
Good luck
