hpsp or not?

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I am considering the HPSP for reasons other than the financial benefits. I can basically pay for dental school out of my own pockets and avoid debt, but is it worth it since i got offered the hpsp? Regardless, there are two reasons why I think the hpsp would still be a good deal for me. 1) I basically got a job after I graduate. 2) It is much easier to specialize in the military and the dental school I will attend may not be great for placement into specialty programs. Any thoughts?

 

[Dentalguy8621]

I am considering the HPSP for reasons other than the financial benefits. I can basically pay for dental school out of my own pockets and avoid debt, but is it worth it since i got offered the hpsp? Regardless, there are two reasons why I think the hpsp would still be a good deal for me. 1) I basically got a job after I graduate. 2) It is much easier to specialize in the military and the dental school I will attend may not be great for placement into specialty programs. Any thoughts?

That's a decision only you can make. I would never want to be in the military but that's just me. If you want to be in the military then go for it. It's a big commitment as you probably know so make sure you are 100%.

 

[LFA20]

I am considering the HPSP for reasons other than the financial benefits. I can basically pay for dental school out of my own pockets and avoid debt, but is it worth it since i got offered the hpsp? Regardless, there are two reasons why I think the hpsp would still be a good deal for me. 1) I basically got a job after I graduate. 2) It is much easier to specialize in the military and the dental school I will attend may not be great for placement into specialty programs. Any thoughts?

I personally would still do it. You can use that money you have to purchase practice later on.

 

[Faux]

If you have that much money, why don't you invest in? Maybe real estate or something. Going to be in school for four years (+1 if you do residency), at least have your money do something in the mean while.

 

[skillsbas8]

I am considering the HPSP for reasons other than the financial benefits. I can basically pay for dental school out of my own pockets and avoid debt, but is it worth it since i got offered the hpsp? Regardless, there are two reasons why I think the hpsp would still be a good deal for me. 1) I basically got a job after I graduate. 2) It is much easier to specialize in the military and the dental school I will attend may not be great for placement into specialty programs. Any thoughts?

Like the above post mentioned, its a purely personal decision. Lots of people would be miserable in the military, so the program is obviously not for them. I value my independence pretty highly, and wouldn't like having little say in regards to what I do/ where I go. In regards to a job after graduating, despite superior benefits and a guaranteed position after HPSP, you'll likely earn more money in a dental job as a civilian.

 

[wolfchild007]

I wouldn't do it if you want to specialize. You will have to pay back all of that time you spend in school and specializing and during that time you will be making a fraction of what a normal dentist/specialist would make in the civilian world. If money isn't an issue in paying for school then I wouldn't do HPSP unless you want to be in the military. (2 cents).

 

[aqz]

I wouldn't do it if you want to specialize. You will have to pay back all of that time you spend in school and specializing and during that time you will be making a fraction of what a normal dentist/specialist would make in the civilian world. If money isn't an issue in paying for school then I wouldn't do HPSP unless you want to be in the military. (2 cents).

To clarify:

As an example, if you take a 4-year scholarship and take a 4-year OMFS residency, you only pay back 4 years in service once you're done with the residency because while you're doing your 4-year OMFS residency, you're considered concurrently paying back for your HPSP commitment. So you're really doing 4 years dental school, 4 years OMFS, 4 years payback.

The pay you're earning during residency is also a lot higher than civilian pay. The pay you're earning during your payback years is also somewhere in the upper 5 digits, possibly 6 digits.

 

[ModifiedBass]

To clarify:

As an example, if you take a 4-year scholarship and take a 4-year OMFS residency, you only pay back 4 years in service once you're done with the residency because while you're doing your 4-year OMFS residency, you're considered concurrently paying back for your HPSP commitment. So you're really doing 4 years dental school, 4 years OMFS, 4 years payback.

The pay you're earning during residency is also a lot higher than civilian pay. The pay you're earning during your payback years is also somewhere in the upper 5 digits, possibly 6 digits.

I believe you are incorrect on the 4-year residency concurrent with the payback.

 

[LFA20]

To clarify:

As an example, if you take a 4-year scholarship and take a 4-year OMFS residency, you only pay back 4 years in service once you're done with the residency because while you're doing your 4-year OMFS residency, you're considered concurrently paying back for your HPSP commitment. So you're really doing 4 years dental school, 4 years OMFS, 4 years payback.

The pay you're earning during residency is also a lot higher than civilian pay. The pay you're earning during your payback years is also somewhere in the upper 5 digits, possibly 6 digits.

the 4 years that you are doing for residency count towards IRR. So if you take 4 year scholarship, you owe 4 years AFTER you have finished your OMFS residency and 0 years in IRR

 

[aqz]

I believe you are incorrect on the 4-year residency concurrent with the payback.

HPSP payback is concurrent with residency payback. So here is how your example would work out:

1) You apply Oct/Nov senior year of dental school for your specialty program (let's say perio).
2) You are selected and find out the results Dec/Jan of your senior year what you got picked up for and what location. That class you will start with will be 18 months from now (1 yr following graduation - unless you have already completed OBLC AND their is an open slot from the previous years boards)
3) You graduate dental school and go to OBLC. In September you go to the base where your residency program will be. You begin working as a general dentist for the fist year until your program begins the following summer. You just paid back your first year obligation of HPSP.
4) The next 3 years in your specialty program are neutral and do not count as any payback.
5) You are now beginning year #5 in the Army. The next 3 years you will simultaneously payback both the obligation for Perio and the remaining 3 years of HPSP.
6) All active duty obligations are done at the completion of your 7th year.
7) If you choose to get out you will have 1 yr remaining of IRR (no Army dentist has ever been activated from that). If you decide to stay in your salary will increase by at least $50k/year if you choose to do another 4 yrs.

The Army usually does not allow people to apply for their own specialty programs at civilian programs unless they are ones that they have already arranged (Pedo and Public Health).

According to this and a few other posts that I found, it seems that I should be correct unless I misunderstood something.

 

[Troyvdg]

I believe you are incorrect on the 4-year residency concurrent with the payback.

Payback obligation info is correct as long as it's a military omfs residency.

 

[LFA20]

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