Bringing up the NAVY/Air Force Scholarship at Interviews?

[toothhornet88]

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Just wondering, do you think it has any effect if during your interviews you bring up the fact that you are applying for the US Navy or US Air Force HPSP scholarship and that you are interested in doing humaniatrian and relief organizations worldwide after dental school?

 

[toothhornet88]

so nobody has any input?

 

[TXistheReason]

Not sure that it has a big effect, but I think discussing your goals you have concerning dentistry (especially when they're noble like yours are) is not a bad idea. That is part of who are personally as an applicant.

 

[doc toothache]

Just wondering, do you think it has any effect if during your interviews you bring up the fact that you are applying for the US Navy or US Air Force HPSP scholarship and that you are interested in doing humaniatrian and relief organizations worldwide after dental school?

Applying for a scholarship is no more of a guarantee of success than applying/interviewing for ds. Incidentally, after dental school, you will be getting at least 3-4 years of "humanitarian" experience in the Navy of USAF.

 

[Kahr]

Applying for a scholarship is no more of a guarantee of success than applying/interviewing for ds. Incidentally, after dental school, you will be getting at least 3-4 years of "humanitarian" experience in the Navy of USAF.

Guess I don't need to mention that.

Personally I'll bring it up if it seems appropriately relevant to a question they ask during an interview (which I figure is a good possibility); so yeah, I think mentioning it is a good idea and could have an impact (hopefully positive). For me though, it probably won't matter if I mention it or not, as I commented on it in my PS, so they'll already be aware.

 

[pretzeldude66]

Can't hurt to mention it. Good answer to questions such as "do you know what you want to do after dental school?"

I actually had the 4-year scholarship in hand when I went to interview oh so many years ago. They loved it.

 

[woof44]

I am applying for the AF scholarship and it has come up in both of my interviews. Both people interviewing me were involved with the military, so its kind of luck of the draw. My dentist advised me NOT to say anything in interviews, but it has definitely worked in my favor by bringing it up so far. Maybe ease into it by saying "im considering the military for a scholarship...what are your thoughts on that" as opposed to "i'm doing the military, which is how school will be paid for."

 

[KittyPryde]

I mentioned it in my interview at UNLV (applying for AF and Navy HPSP) and both the student interviewing me and the professor (former military) said they were impressed, and that it was a great program. So, I would mention it. I also agree it shows that you won't have financial problems paying for everything, and especially for more expensive schools, will not be a factor in your decision to attend there over less expensive schools.

 

[PreDent321]

Mentioning that you are applying for a military scholarship is like telling the interviewer that you can do 50 push-ups. Big whoopie deal.

 

[woof44]

i can do like 64 push ups and 17 pull ups so its a pretty big deal.

 

[toothhornet88]

Mentioning that you are applying for a military scholarship is like telling the interviewer that you can do 50 push-ups. Big whoopie deal.

Lol that's not the same AT ALL! Applying for a HPSP is not the same as going to the military as enlisted people. I want the ADCOMS to see that after dental school I won't just open some private office and try to make as much money as possible but I actually want to contribute to the society as a dental professional in a way that will show my dedication to the country and the heroes that put their lives in harms way. your comparison sucks, no offense!

 

[Golfguy]

Lol that's not the same AT ALL! Applying for a HPSP is not the same as going to the military as enlisted people. I want the ADCOMS to see that after dental school I won't just open some private office and try to make as much money as possible but I actually want to contribute to the society as a dental professional in a way that will show my dedication to the country and the heroes that put their lives in harms way. your comparison sucks, no offense!

I admire and applaud your passion for our military heroes. Best of luck to you sir. 👍

 

[toothhornet88]

I admire and applaud your passion for our military heroes. Best of luck to you sir. 👍

Thank you!

 

[dmdluffy]

Depending on how it comes up, I think it's a great topic to talk about. Military dentistry is awesome. When my brother interviewed, one of his interviewers was a military dentist and they talked about his time in Iraq. Seemed to a great conversation topic for them. I wouldn't bring it up out of the blue, but if it drifts that way, it's a great topic!

 

[toothhornet88]

Depending on how it comes up, I think it's a great topic to talk about. Military dentistry is awesome. When my brother interviewed, one of his interviewers was a military dentist and they talked about his time in Iraq. Seemed to a great conversation topic for them. I wouldn't bring it up out of the blue, but if it drifts that way, it's a great topic!

Wow that's really good. Thank you for the advice. I will definitely keep that in mind.

 

[PreDent321]

Lol that's not the same AT ALL! Applying for a HPSP is not the same as going to the military as enlisted people. I want the ADCOMS to see that after dental school I won't just open some private office and try to make as much money as possible but I actually want to contribute to the society as a dental professional in a way that will show my dedication to the country and the heroes that put their lives in harms way. your comparison sucks, no offense!

You misinterpreted my post. I wasn't referring to pushups as physical fitness related to the military. I could have said it's like mentioning you can pat your hat and rub your tummy at the same time. No big deal. And c'mon let's get real here. 99.9% of people doing the HPSP is for the scholarship. Why would anyone want to get stuck on some base in the middle of nowhere surrounded by a bunch of dudes/no chicks for 4 years getting paid peanuts (not to mention getting deployed overseas in a combat zone in harm's way) when they can work in private practice after d-school, drive a luxury car, own a big house, date models, have a life and earn 10 times more? Plus, you may be technically "serving" the country as a military dentist, but c'mon you're basically a freakin' dentist filling cavities and not someone who truly earned the military officer rank by going thru boot camp, fighting on the front lines, dodging bullets, jumping on grenades and really serving the country in this way.

 

[dmdluffy]

You misinterpreted my post. I wasn't referring to pushups as physical fitness related to the military. I could have said it's like mentioning you can pat your hat and rub your tummy at the same time. No big deal. And c'mon let's get real here. 99.9% of people doing the HPSP is for the scholarship. Why would anyone want to get stuck on some base in the middle of nowhere surrounded by a bunch of dudes/no chicks for 4 years getting paid peanuts (not to mention getting deployed overseas in a combat zone in harm's way) when they can work in private practice after d-school, drive a luxury car, own a big house, date models, have a life and earn 10 times more? Plus, you may be technically "serving" the country as a military dentist, but c'mon you're basically a freakin' dentist filling cavities and not someone who truly earned the military officer rank by going thru boot camp, fighting on the front lines, dodging bullets, jumping on grenades and really serving the country in this way.

There is a difference between officers (ROTC type) versus enlisted (sign up after HS and go fight in a war). I don't think its common for officers to be on the front lines and boot camp is for marines 😛 That said, I think the money is a great part of the package and is likely an incentive for most people. It's not anything to be ashamed of, it is a scholarship after all. However, I don't think you should rag on military dentistry. They don't have enough dentists as it is and there are people who want to serve in military as a dentist. It's a damn shame if some kid needs some dental work done in Iraq but he can't get it because all the dentists chose to do private practice and live a cushy life. Military dentistry may not be for you, but you shouldn't go ragging on it because you may be missing some tangible luxuries in your life.

 

[Mr. Thirsty]

You misinterpreted my post. I wasn't referring to pushups as physical fitness related to the military. I could have said it's like mentioning you can pat your hat and rub your tummy at the same time. No big deal. And c'mon let's get real here. 99.9% of people doing the HPSP is for the scholarship. Why would anyone want to get stuck on some base in the middle of nowhere surrounded by a bunch of dudes/no chicks for 4 years getting paid peanuts (not to mention getting deployed overseas in a combat zone in harm's way) when they can work in private practice after d-school, drive a luxury car, own a big house, date models, have a life and earn 10 times more? Plus, you may be technically "serving" the country as a military dentist, but c'mon you're basically a freakin' dentist filling cavities and not someone who truly earned the military officer rank by going thru boot camp, fighting on the front lines, dodging bullets, jumping on grenades and really serving the country in this way.

This is an overly harsh way of saying that military dentistry is just not for you; obviously. There's much more benefit than just the scholarship, especially for people who want the traveling and experience after dschool . The part I bolded is a contradicting statement. The point of military dentistry is to serve your country AND to graduate debt free for doing so, meaning that you can THEN open a private practice and buy all of your materialistic wants. People graduating from NYU or BU would argue your statement on making 10x more by not choosing military dentistry..."they're either owned by the bank or the military" for a while after, and with the way the economy's going I'd say the military is probably a short option to tackling debt/ opening your own practice by age 30. Punch in the numbers, and ask a new, just graduated dentist from an expensive school how that 350k loan's going. Just my $0.02

There is a difference between officers (ROTC type) versus enlisted (sign up after HS and go fight in a war). I don't think its common for officers to be on the front lines and boot camp is for marines 😛 That said, I think the money is a great part of the package and is likely an incentive for most people. It's not anything to be ashamed of, it is a scholarship after all. However, I don't think you should rag on military dentistry. They don't have enough dentists as it is and there are people who want to serve in military as a dentist. It's a damn shame if some kid needs some dental work done in Iraq but he can't get it because all the dentists chose to do private practice and live a cushy life. Military dentistry may not be for you, but you shouldn't go ragging on it because you may be missing some tangible luxuries in your life.

👍

 

[dantemac]

I have asked every interviewer at my schools (4 interviews now) what their opinion of the scholarship is, and they all have been glowing about how great a deal it is. It is not a bad question to ask in my opinion.

 

[iralex801]

Ask if your truly interested. Don't just ask for the chance of brownie points.

 

[toothhornet88]

Ask if your truly interested. Don't just ask for the chance of brownie points.

Well of course i will ask, because I'm almost done with the application process, the only things that is left is my letter of acceptance and the medial physical that is scheduled this month and my app is complete.