How do you get HPSP?

[Henry Killinger]

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I'd like to preface this question by saying I tried a forum search on the subject but only found things discussing the technicalities of it.

From what I understand so far, they pay for school in exchange for 4 years of service ("tit-for-tat," if you will) What I want to know is: How and when should you apply? Are there any particular health constraints they have? (My eyesight is pretty bad without contacts, not sure if this would matter)

I plan on applying next year and I'm not getting any help paying for things so this would take a huge load of my shoulders. Thanks for any advice guys 🙂

 

[Incis0r]

How and when should you apply? Are there any particular health constraints they have? (My eyesight is pretty bad without contacts, not sure if this would matter)

There are physical standards and they will conduct a full, thorough medical examination on you including urine sample, blood draw, physical exam, etc.

Google form 2807-2 to see some of the standards.

Talk to a recruiter from the branch you're interested in.

What region are you in? I know an excellent USAF and Navy recruiter for my region.

 

[Typical Average Student]

Locate a recruiter and talk to them directly, they will guide you through the process. The earlier you start, the easier it'll be for you. When you locate the branch you would like to go into, select the "Officer" or "Health Profession/Medical."
https://www.navy.com/locator.html
http://www.goarmy.com/locate-a-recruiter.html
https://www.airforce.com/find-a-recruiter

 

[Henry Killinger]

Wow, great advice so early. Thank you guys!

 

[Henry Killinger]

There are physical standards and they will conduct a full, thorough medical examination on you including urine sample, blood draw, physical exam, etc.

Google form 2807-2 to see some of the standards.

Talk to a recruiter from the branch you're interested in.

What region are you in? I know an excellent USAF and Navy recruiter for my region.

I'm from Ohio if this helps

 

[Incis0r]

I'm from Ohio if this helps

Can't help you out there since recruiters are on a regional basis. Both my USAF and Navy recruiters are extremely precise and effective...but you're unfortunately outside their recruiting zone.

I agree with @Typical Average Student - start now. Make contact with your local recruiters, let them know that you intend to apply, and ask them to give you a list of everything they'll need.

My USAF recruiter spent 2.5 hours with me in an introductory 1 on 1 going over everything. This was 6-8 months before the application due date, and I needed every minute of the time I got to get my application to the selection board.

At the meeting, he printed out a timeline for me, gave me a nice packet about Air Force dentistry, etc. See if you can set something like that up. It'll help you a lot.

Also, get their phone #s. I'm on a texting basis with my recruiters and it's tremendously convenient.

 

[Henry Killinger]

Can't help you out there since recruiters are on a regional basis. Both my USAF and Navy recruiters are extremely precise and effective...but you're unfortunately outside their recruiting zone.

I agree with @Typical Average Student - start now. Make contact with your local recruiters, let them know that you intend to apply, and ask them to give you a list of everything they'll need.

My USAF recruiter spent 2.5 hours with me in an introductory 1 on 1 going over everything. This was 6-8 months before the application due date, and I needed every minute of the time I got to get my application to the selection board.

At the meeting, he printed out a timeline for me, gave me a nice packet about Air Force dentistry, etc. See if you can set something like that up. It'll help you a lot.

Also, get their phone #s. I'm on a texting basis with my recruiters and it's tremendously convenient.

That's fantastic that they really go out of their way to make sure you understand everything. Again, thank you you so much!

 

[JeffM]

Can't help you out there since recruiters are on a regional basis. Both my USAF and Navy recruiters are extremely precise and effective...but you're unfortunately outside their recruiting zone.

I agree with @Typical Average Student - start now. Make contact with your local recruiters, let them know that you intend to apply, and ask them to give you a list of everything they'll need.

My USAF recruiter spent 2.5 hours with me in an introductory 1 on 1 going over everything. This was 6-8 months before the application due date, and I needed every minute of the time I got to get my application to the selection board.

At the meeting, he printed out a timeline for me, gave me a nice packet about Air Force dentistry, etc. See if you can set something like that up. It'll help you a lot.

Also, get their phone #s. I'm on a texting basis with my recruiters and it's tremendously convenient.

Is the Air Force timeline the same or similar to Navy? I've been in contact with my recruiter for a while but I have to keep calling her to get information or get something done. Can you give me a general timeline, especially the application due date? I'm still waiting to hear back from my pre-screen.

 

[Incis0r]

Is the Air Force timeline the same or similar to Navy? I've been in contact with my recruiter for a while but I have to keep calling her to get information or get something done. Can you give me a general timeline, especially the application due date? I'm still waiting to hear back from my pre-screen.

Air Force has already met and handed out the 4-year HPSP scholarships.

USAF 4-year Dental Corps Timeline for applicants starting dental school in 2017:

Application Deadline: 31 July 2016
Selection Board Meeting: 19 August 2016
Results Notification: 1 September 2016

First Navy Board is next month (October). This is a 22+ AA only board. Application deadline for that was 01 Oct 2016.

Per law, MEPS has 72 hours to respond after you submit a pre-screen. If your recruiter is taking longer, ask to speak to her supervisor and request a different recruiter. One of my recruiters (who I no longer work with) took THREE MONTHS on the MEPS prescreen and still got no results. I stopped working with him and found a new recruiter who turned the exact same prescreen around in 72 hours.

 

[Henry Killinger]

Air Force has already met and handed out the 4-year HPSP scholarships.

USAF 4-year Dental Corps Timeline for applicants starting dental school in 2017:

Application Deadline: 31 July 2016
Selection Board Meeting: 19 August 2016
Results Notification: 1 September 2016

First Navy Board is next month (October). This is a 22+ AA only board. Application deadline for that was 01 Oct 2016.

Per law, MEPS has 72 hours to respond after you submit a pre-screen. If your recruiter is taking longer, ask to speak to her supervisor and request a different recruiter. One of my recruiters (who I no longer work with) took THREE MONTHS on the MEPS prescreen and still got no results. I stopped working with him and found a new recruiter who turned the exact same prescreen around in 72 hours.

I thought of another good question if you can spare an answer: So if I decide to specialize after dental school and am competitive enough, how would the military help me with that? I know the military has their own specialty programs but how competitive are these and how do they affect repayment on the HPSP? Thanks again for all the great info so far

 

[Incis0r]

I know the military has their own specialty programs but how competitive are these and how do they affect repayment on the HPSP? Thanks again for all the great info so far

Competitiveness depends on the specialty and the needs of your individual service (Army vs. Navy vs. Air Force).
As far as repayment, doing a military residency incurs an additional time commitment (ex. endo incurs 3 more years).

HOWEVER, this time commitment can be paid back concurrently with your HPSP commitment.

So if you do 1 year of HPSP payback, then 2 year endo residency and incur a 3 yr endo payback, then you can pay off those 3 yrs of endo + 3 yrs remaining HPSP together.
If, however, you pay back all 4 yrs of HPSP and then do endo residency for 2 yrs, you'll owe 3 yrs after completing the residency.

If you pay back 3 yrs of HPSP and then do 2 yrs endo, you'll be able to payback 1 yr of HPSP and endo concurrently, and then have 2 yrs payback left (from endo).

Hope this helps.

 

[Dewey2012]

Does anybody know if you can apply for the scholarship once you've already started school? If I start Fall 2017 could I apply for the HPSP for 2018?

 

[DMDDDSHopeful]

Does anybody know if you can apply for the scholarship once you've already started school? If I start Fall 2017 could I apply for the HPSP for 2018?

First year is usually the most expensive so you would be doing yourself a disservice by doing that.