Infantry Officer -> MD @ Top 4 Caribbean School: Suggested next steps?

[robcrossrifles26]

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Hi all, I'm a prior service Cadet (I've been in a National Guard Rifle Company all 5 years). I commission with YG 2026 (planning on infantry) and I'm extremely interested in attending one of the top 4 carribean med schools. I'm familiar with their admission requirements (each are slightly different) and are very attractive (price wise). I'm seeking suggested courses of action/timelines on applying/attending/serving.

-I am currently studying Homeland Security, mostly online at University of Maryland Global Campus and enrolled in ROTC at a DMV area HBCU. I have no/will not have pre-requisites aside from the following:
-Biology & Biology Lab

-I have no medical experience (besides experience in Army TC3) whatsoever and I've done zero research. I have retained almost no knowledge in general sciences from High School and my math skills are poor (Elementary algebra level), which is extremely concerning. I've taken one or two practice MCATs and have not done well.

-I have not taken the MCAT (this would be a serious waste of money based on results from practice tests).

-My GPA currently sits at a 4.00 but its very possible I finish my degree with something lower (3 more semesters left).

-I have the capacity to learn Science, I did well in earth and biology in High School... I've just forgotten most of it.

I understand that my current application/profile would not be competitive. I see three possible COAs (courses of action) that I will list below with cons/points of concern for each. I would appreciate your input on these options (they are listed in order of preference).

(T= 2026 Graduation)
1) Commission National Guard -> Med School T+1.5 yrs: This plan ensures that I have additional time to become competitive (pre-req courses or a gateway pre-med program)
CONs/POCs- TIME CONSTRAINTS (DRILL SCHEDULE AS AN INFANTRY OFFICER), MONTHLY TRAVEL (TO/FROM DRILL), SCHOOL POLICY ON MILITARY LEAVE/ABSENCES, CALL TO ACTIVE DUTY (PUTS MED SCHOOL ON PAUSE).

2) Commission Active Duty -> Med School T+4 yrs: This plan allows me to serve in an active duty formation, daily, which is truly what I seek at this point in my military (rotc) career, I may also have the opportunity to save for the upcoming financial burden.
CONs/POCs- LACK OF TIME TO COMPLETE PRE-REQ COURSES, LACK OF TIME FOR RESEARCH/MEDICAL EXPERIENCE, DERAILMENT FROM ORIGINAL GOALS/INTEREST DUE TO LENGTH OF TIME IN SERVICE.

**Med School in USA** 3) Commission National Guard -> (Military Entry program) Med School T+1.5 yrs (Mt Sinai/HPSP/USUHS (to name a few)):
CONs/POCs- MORE APPLICANTS/LOWER ACCEPTANCE RATES, ADDITIONAL PRE-REQs, REQUIREMENT TO SERVE AS A MEDICAL OFFICER IN BRANCH OF CHOICE.


I understand that no one can hop into my mind and body and tell me what the best option for me will be. That being said, I hope some can shed some light on their personal experience's or others' which may help me make a solid decision. Are is there anything else that I'm not taking into account that I should (besides the Caribbean med school stigma)?

 

[deleted1197125]

You have a 4.0, military experience and are aiming for Caribbean? I think I must be missing something….

 

[robcrossrifles26]

You have a 4.0, military experience and are aiming for Caribbean? I think I must be missing something….

Yeah, did you read my additional *lack of* qualifications?

I really don't think this makes me competitive.

 

[deleted1197125]

Yeah, did you read my additional *lack of* qualifications?

I really don't think this makes me competitive.

If you do a bit of research, you’ll see that most people strongly advise against attending a Caribbean medical school. A quick search will highlight the reasons why—it can make the road ahead significantly more challenging, and with your credentials, there’s no reason to take that route. Your GPA and military experience alone make you a strong candidate for U.S. medical schools.

Take the extra 1–2 years to build a solid application, and you can be competitive at most medical programs. Based on your post, I sense some concerns about the MCAT and your academic preparation. Let’s break it down:

1. Your GPA is outstanding. That alone puts you in a great position.
2. About the MCAT: You mentioned a low practice score, but you’ve only taken general biology so far. The MCAT tests material from a year of physics, general and organic chemistry, biochemistry, and more. If you haven’t studied those subjects yet, it’s no surprise you didn’t perform well. That’s like taking a test in a language you’ve never learned and feeling discouraged by the results.
3. Experience: The lack of clinical exposure can be addressed with 20–30 hours of shadowing a physician and participating in one community or service-oriented extracurricular activity over a longer period of time. You're not trying to become a PA which often expect thousands of hours.

Ultimately, I recommend taking the long-term approach. Don’t worry about whether it takes an extra year or 2 to reach your goal. Caribbean schools are often a last resort for those who couldn’t gain admission elsewhere. There’s nothing wrong with that—it shows dedication for those who go and succeed—but if you have the chance to attend a U.S. medical school, take it.

Investing extra time now to build a stellar application will pay off in the long run. When you’re 60 or 62, the extra time spent preparing won’t matter. However, attending a Caribbean school could limit many opportunities (based on widely shared experiences). Focus on creating the strongest application possible and aim high!

 

[Dral]

Yeah, did you read my additional *lack of* qualifications?

This is PRECISELY why you should not be considering Caribbean. They do not have the support structures to help people struggling like mainland schools do. You need to look into how rigorous med school curricula are. Your goal is get get in and get through, not just get in.

I'd recommend taking the time and getting the proper qualifications (the undergrad coursework prereqs for med school) in the best way possible. This foundation will help you with the MCAT and help you once you potentially matriculate. I'd not want to rush through them and just get an acceptance to a Carib school when you can take a little more time, do them well, learn the material really well, stick the MCAT, get the other requirements done in the mean time, and get into a good mainland school. Med schools generally like military folks, so you already have a leg up.

If you are military, you could probably forgo the research component of apps. I don't know what your day to day is, but I don't see why you wouldn't have time to get the other things in such as shadowing and volunteering.

It might be a marathon by the time you get in to a mainland school, but you'd be better set up for success in the long run by doing it that way in my opinion.

 

[Approach]

You're massively overweighing the research EC requirements for a Veteran. The vets I know in my school (and I go to a well-known school) were not gunning research as premed. As a non-Trad, I had barely any research (not a vet). Just get your basic shadowing and some clinical experience, which will be possible if you take your time with this process. Being a Vet with a 4.0 is effectively an admissions superpower.

Keep your GPA high, finish your prerequisites, crush the MCAT, and take time. Don't go to the Caribbean.

 

[Just Call Me Doc]

I'll second that one. I went to a very research heavy top-20 med school without a single research paper. Sure it helps but military ECs often help balance any deficiencies in other areas such as research. When you get to the point of applying, just apply very broadly including low/mid/high ranked MD and DO schools. Also would recommend against applying to Caribbean unless you absolutely have to.

EDIT: Also, my GPA was abysmal but had a good enough MCAT and an interesting enough background that I was able to overcome that weakness.

 

[MrBigglesworth]

Take the rest of your pre-req science classes, study hard for the MCAT, and apply to US MD AND DO schools. Do not go to the Caribbean under any circumstances.

 

[stew_md]

Make a post in the WAMC forum for more feedback on what you should be doing over the next few years to prepare your application. As you finish your pre-requisite courses, focus on getting the best grades possible and engage in some service activities. Study hard for the MCAT, and you can get a good score. You would be shooting yourself in the foot by even considering Caribbean schools with your military background. Medical schools LOVE people with a military service background.

Take some time to line up your shot, and I promise you have a good chance at getting into a USMD or DO school. As others have said, the Caribbean should be the absolute last resort. It's not just about the stigma of Caribbean schools; it's the fact that they don't care about your success as a student and only about collecting your loan money. They are for-profit institutions, and their actions are meant to please their shareholders, not serve their students or their community.

 

[MusicDOc124]

Prior service cadet? Were you enlisted before, and now in college doing ROTC to become commissioned? Just trying to get some clarity.

What are your goals?

I would not recommend joining and trying to do medical school while in the guard. If you want to do that, consider not doing ROTC, but rather start medical school and get into the guard through that path as many states cover medical school completely and the position it puts you in often allows more flexibility with drilling given the nature of being in the medical service corps while awaiting graduation to be placed in the medical corps. Joining and then trying for medical school will not have that flexibility, could pull you from school, and will be a distractor.

Either service first and then go (unless you already have) - in which service additionally as an officer (e.g. infantry officer) if that's a primary goal, or go to medical school and then serve as a medical officer either after, or during via multiple pathways (guard or through HPSP, TMS, FAP, etc) depending on if you want to be guard, active, or reserve.

Not many reasons why you can't have both, but there are different ways to go about it as above. There are other ways too, but these are primarily the ways it would happen.

 

[robcrossrifles26]

Prior service cadet? Were you enlisted before, and now in college doing ROTC to become commissioned? Just trying to get some clarity.

What are your goals?

I would not recommend joining and trying to do medical school while in the guard. If you want to do that, consider not doing ROTC, but rather start medical school and get into the guard through that path as many states cover medical school completely and the position it puts you in often allows more flexibility with drilling given the nature of being in the medical service corps while awaiting graduation to be placed in the medical corps. Joining and then trying for medical school will not have that flexibility, could pull you from school, and will be a distractor.

Either service first and then go (unless you already have) - in which service additionally as an officer (e.g. infantry officer) if that's a primary goal, or go to medical school and then serve as a medical officer either after, or during via multiple pathways (guard or through HPSP, TMS, FAP, etc) depending on if you want to be guard, active, or reserve.

Not many reasons why you can't have both, but there are different ways to go about it as above. There are other ways too, but these are primarily the ways it would happen.

Just catching up on these honestly wasn’t expecting too many responses.

Correct, prior service as in I was already in the army infantry as an enlisted soldier with a deployment and then contracted into ROTC. I cannot quit nor do I want to.

My professional/life goal is to serve as a part time leader of soldiers (in the infantry) but also continue to server and help others in the civilian world through medicine. I have no interest in practicing medicine in a military environment. It would take the fun out of medicine and the fun out of the military. I enjoy leading and motivating others in the toughest conditions.

The problem I see with this is that as an infantry officer(junior) I doubt I’ll be able to attend every single drill and annual training over my 4 years. Clinicals and residency will be a challenge for sure.

I’ll be talking with some command team members and officer strength managers to see if I can realistically pull it off. It’ll be a lot of work but if the army will let me do it, I’m for it.

 

[robcrossrifles26]

Make a post in the WAMC forum for more feedback on what you should be doing over the next few years to prepare your application. As you finish your pre-requisite courses, focus on getting the best grades possible and engage in some service activities. Study hard for the MCAT, and you can get a good score. You would be shooting yourself in the foot by even considering Caribbean schools with your military background. Medical schools LOVE people with a military service background.

Take some time to line up your shot, and I promise you have a good chance at getting into a USMD or DO school. As others have said, the Caribbean should be the absolute last resort. It's not just about the stigma of Caribbean schools; it's the fact that they don't care about your success as a student and only about collecting your loan money. They are for-profit institutions, and their actions are meant to please their shareholders, not serve their students or their community.

Understood, I appreciate further info on the motivations of the Carribean schools.

Thank you

 

[robcrossrifles26]

I'll second that one. I went to a very research heavy top-20 med school without a single research paper. Sure it helps but military ECs often help balance any deficiencies in other areas such as research. When you get to the point of applying, just apply very broadly including low/mid/high ranked MD and DO schools. Also would recommend against applying to Caribbean unless you absolutely have to.

EDIT: Also, my GPA was abysmal but had a good enough MCAT and an interesting enough background that I was able to overcome that weakness.

Thanks for this note. Did you end up practicing medicine in the military?

 

[MusicDOc124]

The problem I see with this is that as an infantry officer(junior) I doubt I’ll be able to attend every single drill and annual training over my 4 years. Clinicals and residency will be a challenge for sure.

This won't be doable. Not to mention, what if you deploy? Sure, school will give you the pass as they'd be legally obligated to, but you'll be out of study and practice, and would return to start from the beginning of the year you left off (i.e. repeated M2 or M3, etc).

As well, even if once in you're career as an attending if this were to continue, if you were to then deploy, your focus won't be medicine at all as an infantry officer and thus you'd get a bit rusty when returning. If you were to do something surgical or procedural, this would be detrimental, but could be overcome otherwise.

It would take the fun out of medicine and the fun out of the military.

What has you saying this? I imagine my time in would have been much more fun if I was a medical officer rather than a ground pounder.

 

[robcrossrifles26]

This won't be doable. Not to mention, what if you deploy? Sure, school will give you the pass as they'd be legally obligated to, but you'll be out of study and practice, and would return to start from the beginning of the year you left off (i.e. repeated M2 or M3, etc).

As well, even if once in you're career as an attending if this were to continue, if you were to then deploy, your focus won't be medicine at all as an infantry officer and thus you'd get a bit rusty when returning. If you were to do something surgical or procedural, this would be detrimental, but could be overcome otherwise.


What has you saying this? I imagine my time in would have been much more fun if I was a medical officer rather than a ground pounder.

Medical officers in the guard (most states including mine) don’t actually practice medicine in the guard.

They just do medical readiness and PHA reviews. I know reservists get to go to hospitals and treatment centers and that counts as their duty for the year. Haven’t heard that’s possible in the guard.

Plus I’d really like to lead soldiers. As a doctor I’d be cutting not leading in the truest sense.

 

[Dral]

You could maybe end up doing locums medicine if your goals are what I understand them to be.

As MusicDOc124 is alluding to, medical knowledge and skills decay fast if you don't use them. It's not to say that you can't get them back pretty quickly, but shifting gears often is tough. I can tell you from experience. I do clinical and non-clinical practice and even shifting back and forth from day to day can be tough.

Think ahead to how you would plan to do things. Let's say you go into family medicine. Who will take care of your patients when you are active military? You'll have a patient base that will need med refills, have problems that arise, insurance issues that happen, etc. even if you're not seeing them in clinic that day. Who addresses those patient needs? You might find some colleagues or a practice setting where that would work, but it would be tough. Maybe you could work out some type of hospitalist gig where when you leave you no longer carry patient responsibilities until you enter the hospital next time? Maybe you could do locums emergency medicine or get some gig where a shop would let you leave for however long it is you would need to go?

I can tell you that leaving for even just a week vacation while carrying a patient census is tough due to the number of patient messages and issues that await our return as physicians.

I'm not saying your goals are unattainable. Just know that being so far out of the norm, it may be very tough to find your niche. Again, I'm not trying to dissuade you from moving forward with this. It sounds like you would be a dedicated practitioner. However, it would be derelict of us to not try to help you understand how things typically work in the world of being an attending physician before you jump in.

 

[MusicDOc124]

I can tell you that leaving for even just a week vacation while carrying a patient census is tough due to the number of patient messages and issues that await our return as physicians

This.

Medical officers in the guard (most states including mine) don’t actually practice medicine in the guard.

They just do medical readiness and PHA reviews. I know reservists get to go to hospitals and treatment centers and that counts as their duty for the year. Haven’t heard that’s possible in the guard.

Plus I’d really like to lead soldiers. As a doctor I’d be cutting not leading in the truest sense.

I get what you're saying/suggesting you want to do, but what you're describing isn't as feasible as you may like it to be. It may be at first, and it may intermittently, but when it comes time for deployments, you'll leave you patients suddenly, your skills will depreciate, you'll take a huge pay cut (which may not be the most important thing, but if you have a house/family needs that grow accustom, then this could be an issue).

I get that in the guard, docs don't do as much and it's not as "glorious" as one may like, but you're looking for cake and to eat it. It's difficult for that to occur without causing potential risk to patients from abandonment (if applicable, most things outside of hospital medicine) or skill depreciation (any procedural or surgical field, and any field when you consider the knowledge base which has its needs for consistency to be maintained) upon returning.

Just an opinion here from someone who served and is a doc now, and know many others.

 

[robcrossrifles26]

You could maybe end up doing locums medicine if your goals are what I understand them to be.

As MusicDOc124 is alluding to, medical knowledge and skills decay fast if you don't use them. It's not to say that you can't get them back pretty quickly, but shifting gears often is tough. I can tell you from experience. I do clinical and non-clinical practice and even shifting back and forth from day to day can be tough.

Think ahead to how you would plan to do things. Let's say you go into family medicine. Who will take care of your patients when you are active military? You'll have a patient base that will need med refills, have problems that arise, insurance issues that happen, etc. even if you're not seeing them in clinic that day. Who addresses those patient needs? You might find some colleagues or a practice setting where that would work, but it would be tough. Maybe you could work out some type of hospitalist gig where when you leave you no longer carry patient responsibilities until you enter the hospital next time? Maybe you could do locums emergency medicine or get some gig where a shop would let you leave for however long it is you would need to go?

I can tell you that leaving for even just a week vacation while carrying a patient census is tough due to the number of patient messages and issues that await our return as physicians.

I'm not saying your goals are unattainable. Just know that being so far out of the norm, it may be very tough to find your niche. Again, I'm not trying to dissuade you from moving forward with this. It sounds like you would be a dedicated practitioner. However, it would be derelict of us to not try to help you understand how things typically work in the world of being an attending physician before you jump in.

I really appreciate you taking the time to educate me on the likely realities post grad / residency.

It’s definitely important to think about the long term and plan accordingly (although plans don’t really survive first contact). This is a reality check for me. I’m not too sure if this changes anything I still want to practice medicine and lead soldiers. Maybe I’ll go active for a few years and delay med school but even then I’ll still 100% continue service as a reservist.

Being a hospitalist and locum interested me a lot from the get go. I’m not really the social and extremely sympathetic type that wants to develop long and continuous relationships with people let alone patients. I’d like to treat people with the care and dignity they deserve, do a really great job to help them in their exact moment of need, shake their hand, and keep it moving.

Thank you for taking the time to reply and pass down some good info, again big reality check.

 

[robcrossrifles26]

This.




I get what you're saying/suggesting you want to do, but what you're describing isn't as feasible as you may like it to be. It may be at first, and it may intermittently, but when it comes time for deployments, you'll leave you patients suddenly, your skills will depreciate, you'll take a huge pay cut (which may not be the most important thing, but if you have a house/family needs that grow accustom, then this could be an issue).

I get that in the guard, docs don't do as much and it's not as "glorious" as one may like, but you're looking for cake and to eat it. It's difficult for that to occur without causing potential risk to patients from abandonment (if applicable, most things outside of hospital medicine) or skill depreciation (any procedural or surgical field, and any field when you consider the knowledge base which has its needs for consistency to be maintained) upon returning.

Just an opinion here from someone who served and is a doc now, and know many others.

I appreciate your perspective as a vet and now practicing doc. Similarly to Dral’s comment, it’s definitely a reality check. I’m not sure if it’ll change my mind though about postponing med school—if anyone is determined enough I’m sure they can find work around and get their skills up to speed again.

You know what the big army said about the guard pre-9/11 and even now? We were a joke… How could infantry battalions possibly practice 40 days out of the year and still be proficient and capable? Well we make it work. Citizen soldiers are a different breed. I’m sure if I’m motivated enough I’ll find a way to maintain or build up my skills post deployment. If I’m gone for more than 8 months without internet access and time to study/review, there’s bigger problems (IE world war 3).

Again I appreciate your perspective it’s opened my mind up to concerns I didn’t see beforehand.

 

[xffan624]

If I’m gone for more than 8 months without internet access and time to study/review, there’s bigger problems (IE world war 3).

Or just a relatively short deployment if there's another war. I deployed for a year as an active duy officer to Iraq in 2009. Wifi pretty much sucked (my mood infinitely improved when it was actually stable and worked) and it was difficult to contact people back in the states except over Skype (if the wifi was good, not guaranteed). I met plenty of national guard and reservists over there. Medical school and of course residency is not conducive to a remote environment. You will be guaranteed a lengthy leave of absence in either medical school or residency if the environment shifts like it did post 9/11 and suddently the reserves/guard are in high demand.

 

[robcrossrifles26]

Or just a relatively short deployment if there's another war. I deployed for a year as an active duy officer to Iraq in 2009. Wifi pretty much sucked (my mood infinitely improved when it was actually stable and worked) and it was difficult to contact people back in the states except over Skype (if the wifi was good, not guaranteed). I met plenty of national guard and reservists over there. Medical school and of course residency is not conducive to a remote environment. You will be guaranteed a lengthy leave of absence in either medical school or residency if the environment shifts like it did post 9/11 and suddently the reserves/guard are in high demand.

Thanks, of course there’s no guarantee with anything but I hope now being 2024… if deployed and not literally at war I’ll have access to somewhat realizable internet and will be back within a year.

 

[MusicDOc124]

I’ll have access to somewhat realizable internet

Irrelevant if referring to being in medical school at the time. Medical school is not online despite recorded lectures. You will need to be on a leave of absence in the event of a deployment, regardless of type, reason, or timing. While your spot will be held, you will be placed into the class behind you, and you may have to start part of it over if deploying at a point prior to completing the semester or year (pending structure of the school). If in residency, you'd be able to pick up where you left off, which inherently still causes a delay.

^let me know if I was misinterpreting your response, considering xffan also mentions what I state here...

Medical school and of course residency is not conducive to a remote environment. You will be guaranteed a lengthy leave of absence in either medical school or residency

Having essentially been there, done that, and having thought about similar at one point (when I was still in undergrad being imaginative), the recommendation across the board is likely to be pick one and go with it until ready to move to the other, unless willing to meet in the middle (doc in the guard or reserves, or even active duty doc).