How competitive is HPSP?

[rabiya]

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[colbgw02]

3...2...1...

 

[doctorJP]

Hey y'all,
I've been thinking about joining the military medicine to pay off medical school , and than do some service. I was wondering how competitive is getting into the program? I always imagine myself in the Army, although the Navy and Airforce isn't so bad either. I know it says somewhere on SDN that if you have a 29 and 3.5GPA, your an automatic in, but excpet on SDN, its really not written anywhere. Could someone tell me if this rule still holds and they haven't changed it? It seems to me that if that rule still held, wouldn't too many ppl be in the program?

Anyways, I'm really excited about this oppurtunity, and I'm hoping its not too competitive and all you need is a 29 and 3.5GPA!
Thanks

Before sailing away into the sunset on fantasy island, have you read this forum thoroughly? Forgive me for being frank, but if you had, you should already know the responses you'll get here. Nonetheless, I'm sure one of the HPSP recruiters might have something positive to say.

 

[MedicalCorpse]

Anyways, I'm really excited about this oppurtunity, and I'm hoping its not too competitive and all you need is a 29 and 3.5GPA!
Thanks

You need to read this:
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=4243768&postcount=1

and this:
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=4237240&postcount=1

and this:
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=4209449&postcount=1

and this:
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=4167967&postcount=1

and this entire thread:
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=316123

and this entire thread (long, but well worth your time):
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=203316

...then come back and tell us what you think after reading the above.

I left military medicine as a LtCol USUHS grad after 15 years toward retirement. I just walked away with nothing. I wish there had been an SDN forum back in 1985 when I was considering med schools...or in 1981, when I was considering ROTC. Thing is, times have changed, and not for the better.
Heed the warnings of those of us who have given years of our lives as staff physicians in the military, only to run away screaming the first chance we got. Read my site, while you're at it...then let us know whether you still think HPSP is such a good idea.

--
R

 

[rabiya]

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[rabiya]

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[rabiya]

PS> I have another question:
I wear a hijab, or scarf, over my head, for religious pruposes. Do you think they'll still allow me to do that in the army or any other branch? Thanks for your help.

 

[Galo]

oh yes. i have read through the forum, and I've just really excited about this scholarship, and really do want to serve my country. But I clicked on one if the sites www. armyhpsp.info that says
"First, let me clear up a common misconception: the Armed Forces (Air Force, Army, Navy) Health Profession Scholarship is not a "gimme". There is an application process and approximately 250 scholarships are awarded each year. In addition to MCAT scores and undergraduate GPA, selection criteria include extracurricular activites and an interview. (You must also pass a federal background check.) Scholarships are offered for 2, 3, and 4 years."

So i got a little concerned about the competitiveness of the program. I mean i've already made my decision. I just want in. I'm just waiting for my first acceptance (which I'm not too concerned about, because everything has been going well) until I actually talk to a recruier. And no where else but SDN does it say 29 MCAT and 3.5 GPA requirement for automatic accpetance. So i just concerned.

not sure if this is a joke, but you really seem like you have not read the forum well, or at all. If you have, and you still want to join, then as long as you are breathing they will likely take you.

Read this and hopefully that wont be you in a few months after joining.


http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=326839

 

[rabiya]

not sure if this is a joke, but you really seem like you have not read the forum well, or at all. If you have, and you still want to join, then as long as you are breathing they will likely take you.

Read this and hopefully that wont be you in a few months after joining.


http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=326839

Yeah, I know it does sound like that! lol. But i honesly have read(okay, okay.. skimmed) through it all, and the negatives and such, but i still do want to join. I really do feel like its an obligation for me, and has enough benefits to make me happy about it all. For me it has to do with serving the country, as well as avoiding loans, and so the negatives really don't amount too much. i've already made my decision. i was just worried about getting in (because i thought 250 was a bit low. I thought theire would be more than 250 that would like to join...but apparantly not), and the little things that go along with it.

thanks for your repsonses, though. i appreciate it.

 

[MedicalCorpse]

PS> I have another question:
I wear a hijab, or scarf, over my head, for religious pruposes. Do you think they'll still allow me to do that in the army or any other branch? Thanks for your help.

Fair use quote from: http://www.islamfortoday.com/america09.htm

"The (Islamic) chaplain said one of the obstacles for Muslim women serving in the U.S. military is that commanders may authorize them to wear the hijab or not. "Some do, some don't," he said."

As a non-Christian myself, you need to be concerned about the rapid, rabid, nearly unopposed, unconstitutional Christianization of the U.S. military. When I joined in 1981, it was all about tolerance, diversity, and the mission; religion/spirituality was a personal matter. Now, as the scandals at the Air Force academy attest, it is quickly becoming One Air Force Under Jesus: http://www.medicalcorpse.com/oneUSAFunderJesus.html

The other services aren't far behind the USAF in this. As a Muslim officer, you can expect to be treated as a second class citizen. You will receive orders via e-mail from NCOs instructing you to bring in canned goods for Christmas (not the "Holiday Season"...Christmas). You will attend mandatory Commander's calls where spirituality is discussed as "the fourth tiedown of wellness"-- spirituality defined as Christianity. Your supervisor may be authorized to quiz you about your "spiritual biceps"; you can assume your supervisor will be 100% ignorant of the true meaning of Islam (vs. prejudices from the ubiquitous Fox News Channel always running in military workplaces). You won't be able to wear your hijab 90% of the time (doesn't work too well in full battle gear...tends to muck up the donning of your protective [gas] mask in the 15 or so seconds you are allotted). You will become estranged and embittered. You will complain up your chain of command. They will first ignore you, then reprimand you on trumped up charges. You will be sent to worse places because you are not the same as all the others. You will be unhappy.

Then you will remember posting to SDN in Oct 2006 in your ignorant, well-meaning exuberance, and wish to your deity that you had listened to us.

There are many more pleasant, useful ways for you to serve your country than HPSP. Here's a thought from a veteran: go through your civilian med school and residency, then join the VA to help those who have given their limbs and nearly their lives for our freedom.

Pleasant dreams.

--
http://www.dreamquencher.com

 

[rabiya]

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[MedicalCorpse]

I just cant believe 4 years can be that bad! Its only 4 years, and 4 your country. Afterall, if nobody goes there, than how will those poor soldiers, get the health care they need? They need someone. And that someone will be people like ME!

I give up. Your optimism is unquenchable. Best of luck in your career as a military physician. Be sure to drop by here from time to time after you get in to tell us what you think.

P.S. The bits about not complaining when clothes are taken off your back and servicing your country will come in handier than you can possibly imagine. I felt that way many times...and never got a movie or a free dinner from the military for my efforts. Tried calling social actions to report the unwanted contact...they laughed and hung up on me. 8-(

 

[rabiya]

I give up. Your optimism is unquenchable. Best of luck in your career as a military physician. Be sure to drop by here from time to time after you get in to tell us what you think.

P.S. The bits about not complaining when clothes are taken off your back and servicing your country will come in handier than you can possibly imagine. I felt that way many times...and never got a movie or a free dinner from the military for my efforts. Tried calling social actions to report the unwanted contact...they laughed and hung up on me. 8-(

Awww. thanks! For sure i'll drop by and add my 2 cents on the militarty (hopefully nothing bad) and thanks for you opinions! appreciate it.

 

[doctorJP]

Thank you so much for the link!! I like honesltly googled and coudn;t come up with anything meanigful on hijabs in the military.

that sounds very, scary to make up trumped charges on you. But that;s only if you complain, right? I don't ever complain, so i guess that wont be a problem. lol. I'm the type of person, just goes with the flow, and never complains, even if you take my clothes off my back. lol. But its only for 4 years right? 4 years, no hijab is no problem for me. 4 years after your residency, and than your done. And you've done your portion servicing of your country! And plus, you get to travel! (that's what they show in the brochures anyways!) i think that's fun. And just think about all the people your going to help! I'll be a soldier helping other soldiers!

I'm just so stuck with the image. Its the image i've been carrying around for years actually! So its really hard for me to think otherwise, or what i would do without the military scholarships.

For me its like this:
I get to go to the school of my choice,
fund it to the military, and live a debt-free life
do a residency in a worthwhile field that can be of greatest use to underserved ppl.
serve in the military for 4 years (it just doesn't seem like a lot to me)
and than go to some third world countrly and help people out by providing them healthcare.

LOL. I guess it seems like i've mapped out my whole life already. I've been dreaming for such a long time. For me it seems like my dream is just very near becoming reality now. I guess its a little hard for me to swallow the negatives. I dont know. Up until i started reading the SDN military forums, i thought i the militarly scholarships were like the GREATEST thing, and that everyone would want to join!

I just cant believe 4 years can be that bad! Its only 4 years, and 4 your country. Afterall, if nobody goes there, than how will those poor soldiers, get the health care they need? They need someone. And that someone will be people like ME!

You are idealistic my friend, I will give you that. Are you sure it is only 4 years service? It seems a bit short if they fund 4 years of med school plus at least a 2 year residency. I could be wrong about this, but I'm not a US citizen so we'll let it slide.

I'm not here to judge you and neither is anybody else, only to make you aware of the facts. The serving your country bit doesn't work here with most people, so we can probably conclude that you are scared of debt. The military (any military) preys on people like you, a poor 21 year old student out of undergrad, you've always been broke and taking out exuberant amounts of money for student loans (still can't believe how much some US schools charge for tuition). They throw a few $$$ your way when they know about your medical school aspirations with the promise of a debt free life, and the temptation is almost too much to resist.

I do not believe you when you said you have read this forum over and over; maybe you did and just filterd out the things you did not want to read. I joined this forum last week and have read almost everything and I find it disturbing that someone like yourself, who probably found the forum last week, can be so excited to jump into the pool without knowing how deep the water is. I just don't think it's rational without asking more questions to these experts. The only recurring question I see is a 29 MCAT and 3.5 GPA.

You say that it's only 4 years, but in the good old US of A (no offence to US citizens), god knows where the US military will be when your 4 years service comes due, unless there are some big changes in 2008. I am surprised you are so willing to put your religion on the side for 4 years, though I am more surprised the military has such a high tolerance for discrimination. Any sort of discrimination in CF is met with servere punishment, including discharge for repeat offenders.

In any event, think about 6 years down the road, say in 2012, when you start your oblig service and go from there. If you really want to join HPSP, and let me say you REALLY seem to want it, there is nothing anybody on this forum will say to convince you otherwise, so just go ahead and apply. Just come back in a few years and I bet corpse will be the first one to say "I told you so"....he is just bitter like that though .

 

[colbgw02]

Awww. thanks! For sure i'll drop by and add my 2 cents on the militarty (hopefully nothing bad) and thanks for you opinions! appreciate it.

wow, my friend, i'm honestly impressed that you've made it this far. serving (as a physician) in the united states military is nothing less than a labor of love.

to answer your general question, the military is pretty desperate at present for physicians. that said, they will also reject folks for often nonsensical reasons. if you have any specific questions, i will do my best to answer them if you PM me.

 

[rabiya]

if you have any specific questions, i will do my best to answer them if you PM me.

Oh thanks! Around next week tues/wed I definetly will. I have two exams and another interview in the middle coming up, but as soon i'm done with that i do need to shoot you an PM and ask a bunch of questions! Thanks again.

 

[rabiya]

I'm not here to judge you and neither is anybody else, only to make you aware of the facts. The serving your country bit doesn't work here with most people, so we can probably conclude that you are scared of debt. The military (any military) preys on people like you, a poor 21 year old student out of undergrad, you've always been broke and taking out exuberant amounts of money for student loans (still can't believe how much some US schools charge for tuition). They throw a few $$$ your way when they know about your medical school aspirations with the promise of a debt free life, and the temptation is almost too much to resist.

I REALLY SINCERELY DO WANT TO SERVE MY COUNTRY. I mean, I'd be lying if I said if it were not for the money. That is a huge factor, but by no means the only the factor. I want to walk out the military saying I did my portion for the country. I honestly fell as if I HAVE to do it. I don't however think its a few $$$ they throw out . I think its a decent amount that any med school student could live off of. For med school, I'll be going to a place where cost of living isn't so high, and I'll be able to afford a new car with it too! So it all pans out well. I never took loans before (my undergrad was payed by the State), and nor did my family ever. I don't want to be the first here. And besides the med school brochures they give us at the interviews, actually encouraged going to the military as a way to pay off med school debt. They said that the debt was way too high, and if you're going to be a primary care physician working in an underserrved area there's no way you can pay it off. I think its a good deal.

I do not believe you when you said you have read this forum over and over; maybe you did and just filterd out the things you did not want to read. I joined this forum last week and have read almost everything and I find it disturbing that someone like yourself, who probably found the forum last week, can be so excited to jump into the pool without knowing how deep the water is. I just don't think it's rational without asking more questions to these experts. The only recurring question I see is a 29 MCAT and 3.5 GPA..

Yeah I really did read the whole thing. I've been following this thing for a semester now. I guess you can say I do filter out some things. I don't know. It didn't really change my mind. I guess its cuz I came in determined to join, and just really wanted to know how competitive it was.

You say that it's only 4 years, but in the good old US of A (no offence to US citizens), god knows where the US military will be when your 4 years service comes due, unless there are some big changes in 2008. I am surprised you are so willing to put your religion on the side for 4 years, though I am more surprised the military has such a high tolerance for discrimination. Any sort of discrimination in CF is met with servere punishment, including discharge for repeat offenders.

After residency, its 4 years active duty, and than 4 years reserve duty. Unless you lenghthen you residency, which I don't plan to do. And i was thinking that in 8 years, when i'm doing my service, the war and all probably will be history, and there will be no war. So that will be one less thing to worry about. Not that it would change my mind. I'd probably enter anyways.

 

[USAFdoc]

Hey y'all,
I've been thinking about joining the military medicine to pay off medical school , and than do some service. I was wondering how competitive is getting into the program? I always imagine myself in the Army, although the Navy and Airforce isn't so bad either. I know it says somewhere on SDN that if you have a 29 and 3.5GPA, your an automatic in, but excpet on SDN, its really not written anywhere. Could someone tell me if this rule still holds and they haven't changed it? It seems to me that if that rule still held, wouldn't too many ppl be in the program?

Anyways, I'm really excited about this oppurtunity, and I'm hoping its not too competitive and all you need is a 29 and 3.5GPA!
Thanks

IF YOU WANT IT, YOU WILL PROBABLY GET IT. If you read this forum, talk to active duty docs and some bases, and you still want to go HPSP, then go for it. Don't say you were not warned. Yes the troops need docs, but they will get a doc whether you join or not. What everybody needs is a better healthcare system, and the current one is bottom of the bucket BAD. Your welcome to it.

 

[doctorJP]

I REALLY SINCERELY DO WANT TO SERVE MY COUNTRY. I mean, I'd be lying if I said if it were not for the money. That is a huge factor, but by no means the only the factor. I want to walk out the military saying I did my portion for the country. I honestly fell as if I HAVE to do it. I don't however think its a few $$$ they throw out . I think its a decent amount that any med school student could live off of. For med school, I'll be going to a place where cost of living isn't so high, and I'll be able to afford a new car with it too! So it all pans out well. I never took loans before (my undergrad was payed by the State), and nor did my family ever. I don't want to be the first here. And besides the med school brochures they give us at the interviews, actually encouraged going to the military as a way to pay off med school debt. They said that the debt was way too high, and if you're going to be a primary care physician working in an underserrved area there's no way you can pay it off. I think its a good deal.


Yeah I really did read the whole thing. I've been following this thing for a semester now. I guess you can say I do filter out some things. I don't know. It didn't really change my mind. I guess its cuz I came in determined to join, and just really wanted to know how competitive it was.


After residency, its 4 years active duty, and than 4 years reserve duty. Unless you lenghthen you residency, which I don't plan to do. And i was thinking that in 8 years, when i'm doing my service, the war and all probably will be history, and there will be no war. So that will be one less thing to worry about. Not that it would change my mind. I'd probably enter anyways.

Well good luck my friend. Don't believe the US will not be involved in a war when your service time comes; the list is too long. As of this week though, NK seems like a viable candidate for the future.

 

[MedicalCorpse]

You are idealistic my friend, I will give you that. Are you sure it is only 4 years service? It seems a bit short if they fund 4 years of med school plus at least a 2 year residency.

As Rabiya realizes, her constant repetition of "4 years of service" is not true. She realizes she will owe an additional 4 years of Reserve service. Depending on the international climate 8-10 years from now (when she joins the Reserves), and her specialty (if any), she will have a 50-100% probability of activation and deployment as a Reservist physician.

The military (any military) preys on people like you, a poor 21 year old student out of undergrad, you've always been broke and taking out exuberant amounts of money for student loans (still can't believe how much some US schools charge for tuition). They throw a few $$$ your way when they know about your medical school aspirations with the promise of a debt free life, and the temptation is almost too much to resist.

True. What seemed like a dream come true in 1986 became a nightmare by 1997. We grow up. We get married, have kids. Our life priorities change. Our signatures on pieces of paper from a decade prior do not.

I do not believe you when you said you have read this forum over and over; maybe you did and just filterd out the things you did not want to read.

Ding ding ding. Magical thinking. Not that there's anything wrong with Magick with a "K". It's just that wishing a thing to be so terribly does not make it so in the real world. Just look at the headlines: where is the "domino effect" of democracy in the Middle East? "Last throes" indeed.

You say that it's only 4 years, but in the good old US of A (no offence to US citizens), god knows where the US military will be when your 4 years service comes due, unless there are some big changes in 2008.

None taken. Our government's recent actions on the international stage (since 2003) make us deserve this reaction, especially from our friends and neighbors, who wish us only well. Imagine the reaction from those who wish us harm. Well, you don't have to imagine if you watch CNN or read newspapers...

I am surprised you are so willing to put your religion on the side for 4 years, though I am more surprised the military has such a high tolerance for discrimination. Any sort of discrimination in CF is met with servere punishment, including discharge for repeat offenders.

I was surprised as well at the sharp right turn toward theocracy our military took after the 2000 election. I had served for 15 years (since 1985) in uniform as a Buddhist/Pagan without any difficulties. Suddenly, I was faced with officials sending out Bible verses in official e-mail; flag folding ceremonies extolling religious dogma; and a Commanding General of my hospital determined to force "spirituality" (a code word for religion) down the throats of his subordinates. It's all on my website. I was shocked, saddened, and disgusted...not least because nobody in the hierarchy ever stood up to say that this was Unconstitutional with a capital U.

In any event, think about 6 years down the road, say in 2012, when you start your oblig service and go from there. If you really want to join HPSP, and let me say you REALLY seem to want it, there is nothing anybody on this forum will say to convince you otherwise, so just go ahead and apply. Just come back in a few years and I bet corpse will be the first one to say "I told you so"....he is just bitter like that though .

Bitter, moi? O.K., I represent that remark . However, your psychic friend has a prediction for you: Just like the Matrix, when the time comes for me to say "I told you so" to Rabiya, I won't have to.

Again, Rabiya, pleasant dreams, and happy magic,

http://www.dreamquencher.com

 

[Croooz]

USPHS has the same deal as HPSP but you have to go into FP, IM, Peds. You serve your country as a public health officer and you get to work in 3rd world conditions within the US. You get it all. 😀

 

[Droopy Snoopy]

Just to throw my two cents in to the OP, I had a 30/3.7 and got in no sweat (AF). I attended COT over the summer with trainees who went to/were accepted to osteo schools and had significantly lower numbers, like 24/3.5. But it's still an individual determination, and these folks could've had superb ECs, who knows. My general feeling is if you can get into an allopathic school you can get picked up. The background check paperwork is a clusterf*ck, but not really a barrier, but the rest of the process is pretty much like a med school admission process. The interviewing officer kind of shot the breeze for awhile, then asked why I wanted to be a doc, why I wanted to be an officer, morality/ethics questions such as "what would you do if you learned a fellow officer was having an affair with an enlisted." You write an essay, fill out an AMCAS-like app, and wait a couple of months to be accepted. On the headgear, at COT over the summer, and one of the trainees was a Muslim chaplain. He was allowed to wear it and was advised that he always would.

Obviously it's not for everybody, and you should be real with yourself about blocking off 8 years of your life and giving them away. If you've done your homework and still want to join, you won't have any regrets during medical school. As a 2nd year so far it's been great because money is just something I don't have to worry about. And once I'm out I can concentrate on patients instead of being beholden to paying off $200,000 in loans. If I have to do it in Antarctica being supervised by a nurse then so be it, I'll make the best of it and move on after my time is up. I made some great friends at COT, I'm proud to wear the uniform (like the other day having pics made with my wife), and I'm looking forward to serving. Anyway, good luck!

 

[bustbones26]

Hey y'all,
I've been thinking about joining the military medicine to pay off medical school , and than do some service. I was wondering how competitive is getting into the program? I always imagine myself in the Army, although the Navy and Airforce isn't so bad either. I know it says somewhere on SDN that if you have a 29 and 3.5GPA, your an automatic in, but excpet on SDN, its really not written anywhere. Could someone tell me if this rule still holds and they haven't changed it? It seems to me that if that rule still held, wouldn't too many ppl be in the program?

Anyways, I'm really excited about this oppurtunity, and I'm hoping its not too competitive and all you need is a 29 and 3.5GPA!
Thanks

One of the guys from OTSG just came to my hospital to speak to all of us. He put up this slide showing how lower MCAT scores and GPA's lead to more difficulty with licensing exams when a student/intern. The OTSG has had difficulty recruiting members in the past with higher MCAT and GPA's so yes, now they are guaranteed a spot if they want it. The question is, do you want it? I'd think long and hard about this. Not so much because of the negative, but in general, it is a commitment. And whatever you do, do not buy into anything the recruiters tell you. My recruiter was the most helpful and nicest person I ever met. Until I signed the dotted line, after that, they disappeared and didn't do a damn thing for me when needed.

 

[USAFdoc]

And once I'm out I can concentrate on patients instead of being beholden to paying off $200,000 in loans. If I have to do it in Antarctica being supervised by a nurse then so be it, I'll make the best of it and move on after my time is up. I made some great friends at COT, I'm proud to wear the uniform (like the other day having pics made with my wife), and I'm looking forward to serving. Anyway, good luck!

1) the military will give you plenty of things OTHER than taking care of patients to concentrate on, and none of them worthy.

2) If you and your wife think that you being stationed at Antartica with a self-serving nurse supervising you is a GOOD thing....then by all means, plan on a 20 year career. Most people would not consider that a good trade off for an educational loan you can pay off either way.

3) Absolutely, make the best of it. You are already committed....serving your country is an honorable thing etc...................the bad news is that the idealistic presentation that the military gives itself to the public, and while you are at COT, it👎 NO LONGER EXISTS in reality. You will eventually find that out first hand, but will have to wait awhile till you get there.

 

[DropkickMurphy]

The HPSP Checklist:
-Does the applicant have a pulse?
-Does the applicant have a temperature above ambient room temperature?
-Does the applicant have evidence of brainstem function?
-Does the applicant lack basic concern for their own wellbeing?
-Does the applicant have their government issue blinders on?
-Does the applicant not have a problem with being ordered around by nurses and physical therapists?

If all of the above, then authorize them for a HPSP scholarship

 

[resxn]

Congratulations for your deep desire to serve. I think that if you want something, as long as you understand the pros and cons, you're good to go. I wouldn't do it knowing what I know now, but what is wrong for one person, may not be wrong for another.

Here is the only thing I want you to consider before going into it for sure. Even if they say you owe 4 years, you don't. READ the fine print carefully. On every single HPSP contract of which I'm aware, regardless of branch of the military, there is a clause that says even if you only have 4 yrs ADSC (or 3 like me) you owe a total of 8 years of possible service. Fortunately for me, that counted from the time I was comissioned. And since my residency was son long (5 years) my 8 year total is up when my ADSC is up. However, let's say you do a primary care tract and you sign up for your first year of med school You do 4 years in med school under HPSP. Now you do 3 years of residency and then serve in the military for 4 years. You now have paid off your ADSC, but not yet filled the mandatory 8 year AD availability. Even though you're out and totally want to resign your comission you can't. You will be placed on inactive reserve for the next year (to complete the total of 8 years) and could potentially get called back at any time that the DoD decides. That may not seem like a big deal now, but it will if it happens to you when you start off in private practice and have overhead to pay, patients to care for, partners to support, a family to be with, etc.

Just food for thought. Knowing is half the battle.

Best of luck in your endeavor.

 

[former military]

you should be abducted, duct taped, thrown into a van, driven to rural Montana while your parents and paid deprogrammers scream white noise at you in front of an unshaded lightbulb until you break, come to your senses, and finish med school and residency before joining the military.

this tape is available at Ace Hardware at a reasonable rate and Montana is spectacular this time of year!

 

[rabiya]

you should be abducted, duct taped, thrown into a van, driven to rural Montana while your parents and paid deprogrammers scream white noise at you in front of an unshaded lightbulb until you break, come to your senses, and finish med school and residency before joining the military.

this tape is available at Ace Hardware at a reasonable rate and Montana is spectacular this time of year!

Oh come on, lets not be harsh! My parents want me to join. They think its good for me. Well, I'm pretty decided now. So y'all have to be supportive on my path to becoming a military doctor, okay? Anyways I got my FIRST accpetance to day at 2pm for FSU!!! So I'm really excited! Next week I'm going to contact my recruiter. I hope he/she wont be to hard to find. Any advise at this stage of the game (I mean besides the "don't join mantra")?

Oh and I have another question. I'm a little concerned about the OBT. I can do lots of sit ups, and I can run till I die, but I can't do a 5 pushups in a row. So I'm thinking that I should start practicing, just in case they yell at me and make me do push ups. Any advise? I have really poor arm muscles unfortunalty.

Thanks y'all! Y'all are such a lively (if very un-military) group! lol!

 

[Tadgie]

best advice I have for the pushups would be two things. Obviously, start trying now, the more you do the better you ill be, period. First, instead of maxing out your push-ups once a day (or however often you do it), try going 3/4 of your max 2-3 times per day. Spread it out so that you can do more. Works for some people. That's the easiest way to do it. If you have access to a bench press machine, or free weights, it is really easy to start with a low weight, and work your way up. Yes, they will yell at you over the summer, but you'll get used to it pretty quick. By the end, you'll probably be laughing on the inside at some of the creative insults that they come up with. I honestly don't know how the marines keep comin up with stuff.

 

[DropkickMurphy]

Any advise at this stage of the game (I mean besides the "don't join mantra")?

Keep your eyes and ears open, your mouth shut and your head down at all times (in other words, maintain a low profile). Never under any circumstances, volunteer for ANYTHING.

Do not try to change anything, simply do your job and when you can get the heck out of dodge. If you want to survive and not go through hell, use the following thought process when you encounter something illegal, immoral or unethical:
1. Can this be blamed on me?
2. If no, is it likely to be blamed on me anyhow?
3. If no, is there any way to put a stop to it without the commanders finding out?
4. If no, then take a lesson from Sgt. Schulz on Hogan's Heroes: "I know nut-zing!"

Treat your enlisted personnel with the respect you expect from them and they will make your life a lot easier; make their lives difficult and you will live to regret that.

Good luck and God speed (and I mean that in a pleasant and polite manner simply because I don't know the equivalent expression in Arabic (but I am willing to learn))

 

[Croooz]

WOW! Taking the HPSP for a mere $120k in FSU tuition....why not go to the absolute most expensive school you can find. I think WVU is about $260k so that would make the HPSP worth it.

Poor arm muscles? Are you sure you're not a Navy nurse? This is the complaint constantly heard from Navy nurses come PRT time.

Do 2-3 pushups every hour Mon thru Fri. Max out once on Saturday and start the process all over again on Mon. Once your max grows then increase your hourly number to a number equal to half of your max.

 

[rabiya]

WOW! Taking the HPSP for a mere $120k in FSU tuition....why not go to the absolute most expensive school you can find. I think WVU is about $260k so that would make the HPSP worth it.

Poor arm muscles? Are you sure you're not a Navy nurse? This is the complaint constantly heard from Navy nurses come PRT time.

Do 2-3 pushups every hour Mon thru Fri. Max out once on Saturday and start the process all over again on Mon. Once your max grows then increase your hourly number to a number equal to half of your max.

Lol! No i'm not a navy nurse. i don't know why i have poor arm muscles. You'd think thaat carrying books too and from school would fiz that. I'll be starting today with exercises, and running and sit ups!

As for the HPSP, the FSU people gave us a little magazine about their school and students, and the students were saying that they wont be able to make enough as a primary care doctor to pay off the debt for A LONG, LONG time! And than they gave example of students who went to the military to pay off med school, and they were really happy. They even had pictures of them at OBC and all. Some went to Walter Reed for residency, and they followed up on them, and they said they were happy. I dunno. I just dont want the debt hanging on me. I've just never taken loans and don't want to start. And besides I'm really into the fact about serving country through the miliatry and all.

Good luck and God speed (and I mean that in a pleasant and polite manner simply because I don't know the equivalent expression in Arabic (but I am willing to learn))

lol. Acutally I don't know arabic myself. I know urdu though. its not too great, unforunatly. lol

Treat your enlisted personnel with the respect you expect from them and they will make your life a lot easier; make their lives difficult and you will live to regret that.

Oh definelty. I'm nice to every1.

Yes, they will yell at you over the summer, but you'll get used to it pretty quick. By the end, you'll probably be laughing on the inside at some of the creative insults that they come up with. I honestly don't know how the marines keep comin up with stuff.

Yeah, I was a little afraid about the yelling, cuz i never really get yelled at. I mean, the last time i got yelled at was by my third grade teacher, cuz i stayed in recess 15 min too long and the teacher sort of freaked out and couldn't find me. I started to cry really hard, cuz i never got yelled out before. But i think i'll manage.

Alright, come tues, i'm going to go find a recrutier! i'll keep you unpdated!

 

[MedicalCorpse]

Yeah, I was a little afraid about the yelling, cuz i never really get yelled at. I mean, the last time i got yelled at was by my third grade teacher, cuz i stayed in recess 15 min too long and the teacher sort of freaked out and couldn't find me. I started to cry really hard, cuz i never got yelled out before.

Better invest in facial tissues...you're gonna need them...and not just during COT.

Haha, only serious.

--
R
Note: I did *not* say Kleenexes(R) for a reason.

 

[USAFdoc]

Better invest in facial tissues...you're gonna need them...and not just during COT.

Haha, only serious.

--
R
Note: I did *not* say Kleenexes(R) for a reason.

SERIOUSLY, during my tour at a USAF SE FP clinic, I witnessed no less than 50% of the female military staff in tears at least once from the stress, berating from admin etc.

I never did see a male staff cry, but I witnessed all of them wish they could do something to admin to make them cry.

 

[almostfamous]

Not too competitive these days... recruiter just informed me that he got 2 people at my school (brand new MS1's) HPSP deals inked with 25's.


Sweet Mother of Sacred Heart Hospital --- our poor soldiers don't get the health care they need even when they do have doctors around... what difference are we going to make? Tricare and CHCS need to die!


You really are very optimistic. You kind of sound like I did about 4 yrs ago. My, how things change.

 

[BUNavyDoc]

rabiya

don't worry about your little arm muscles!

i went to ois this summer for the navy, and arm muscles build up REALLLY quickly ;-)