HPSP Decision Time

[Trajan]

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This afternoon has gone from one of great relief to one of much grief. The USAF informed me that I was selected for HPSP, meaning that I have a full scholarship to attend medical school and a commission as an officer. However, I have less than one week to decide, yes or no. My acceptance letter for HPSP was SUNY Upstate (instate tuition for me) and as far as they are concerned that is where I am going right now. I can change schools if new acceptances come in, but not after my commissioning -- the recruiter said he could delay that about a month. But here's the kicker -- I'm waiting to hear from my first choice, a school that is so expensive that HPSP makes a great deal of sense if I go there (the same is not necessarily true of Syracuse). I doubt that I will hear back from my first choice before the commissioning date, which leaves me in an odd situation. If I hold out for my first choice, I may be left unable to pay for it.

The only other issue is the Navy, which will not get back to me for a few more weeks and which I may well prefer over the AF in the first place. Therefore, I'm thinking about turning down the AF to buy time, as the Navy seems to be more accomodating on giving a reply to the scholarship offer (but then one never knows when dealing with any branch of the military).

My biggest question now is should I contact my first choice, explain the situation, and ask if they can give me more specific info on when I will hear a final decision (more specific than 'before May')? Good idea or not? By the way, I'm waiting post-interview on a delayed decision (NOT a waitlist) at my top choice, and this school typically accepts 60-65% of interviewed candidates before the class matriculates.

Thoughts from anyone are welcome, especially if you are in a similar situation?

 

[medilicious]

Care to share which school it is you're talking about? A lot of people on this forum seem to know the idiosyncracies of the different admissions offices, and know about the typical admissions dates of various schools, so it might help you get better advice. If you still want to keep it anonymous, then at least share if it's a rolling or non-rolling school.

Just a thought.

 

[Trajan]

Why not.

Tufts University

 

[usarmybrat]

I am in the same position in that I have to decide on the Air Force HPSP scholarship in two weeks. I have been accepted to my state school where the tuition and living expenses are pretty reasonable, and after four years I will only be looking at $60,000 to $80,000 in debt. On the other hand, I am waiting to hear from another, much more expensive school that would be my top choice. If accepted into my top choice, taking the scholarship would make more sense in the long run. However, I am pretty sure that I will not hear from this school before the end of the two weeks.

I was wondering if there are any of you out there in a similar situation or even just having trouble on deciding whether to accept the HPSP scholarship. If so, what kinds of things are you taking into consideration in making a good decision?

 

[phil413ru]

Advice?
Do NOT take the scholarship UNLESS you want to be in the military--no matter what. Although the military is an awesome career, and HPSP is an excellent opportunity, HPSP is NOT a nice way to pay for schoo. Instead, it is a committment. Especially in light of eminant war, joining the military is no easy matter. Are you prepared to be deployed? I know it is 4+ some years down the road, but if you were finishing up Med school, and the world situation is what it is now, would you be willing to go to war? Are you willing to identify with the miltary and support its cause? Are you ready to become an employee of the US Government, with restrictions on where you can go, what political rallies you can participate in? Just some thought-provoking questions.

Don't get me wrong, I love the military. Just please realize what you are getting into. You are military first, doctor second. Yet, a military Medical career can be very rewarding--but very different from civilian medician. Different challenges, different opportunities. As an officer in US Army/Navy/AirForce come extra responsibilities. If you are willing to do such, take the scholarship. I will be honored to serve with you. If not, then take loans--they will be repaid, and you will be happier in the long run. And I will be honored to defend you.

Good Luck!

 

[MEChris72]

Phil413ru,

You rock! That is exactly how I feel about this subject. I'll find out whether I get am Army HPSP at the end of this month. (I come from the opposite situation though, my Dad was a 28 yr AF veteran).

Like people who marry for money, these guys will EARN every penny of their scholarship money. If it's about the money go with a loan, or get some hospital, or practice, or state finance authority to buy back your loans later. If you want to serve your Country, its mission, and its people (including those that protest you and support your enemies), then take the HPSP.

Because of my upbringing, I have an enormous amount of respect for the men and women fighting for this country. I will consider it an honor to serve them.

 

[bafanculo]

I recently accepted the Air Force HPSP, and I think I am going to go to a private school, so financially it makes sense, but even more so I think its a great opportunity to travel and see new things, and just to say that you were part of the military and helped give a little something back to your country. Worst case scenerio I am miserable for four years, but i am debt free and worked for a noble cause, best case scenerio i find that the military was my calling and i enjoy a long career as an Air Force physician. I think the pros outweight the cons, and thats why I chose to accept the scholarship.

 

[republicandr]

Trajan,
If I were you I would call the schools and explain your situation. Go to the Admissions Dean. When I was getting ready to interview on the East Coast, I called all the schools that I applied to in that area and explained that it would be my last trip out there and I managed to get 5 schools to interview me in 5 days (Rochester, UPitt, Albany, USUHS and Drexel).

The worst that can happen is that the schools will tell you that you must wait it out.

Good luck.

 

[JM.]

I took my commission (sp?) in the Army in December and I couldn't be happier about it. It was their auto-accept program, so I didn't need an acceptance letter- but now I am beginning to sweat because I haven't yet gotten in anywhere... But I do have some desicions pending (and I am on two waitlists). My recruiter told me that I could change schools at any point when I was accepted, i.e. if I got in off of the waitlist in August I could go to that school, no problem.

Good luck in making your decision !!