Military Scholarship

[smile101]

How many of you are considering miliatry scholarship??
I have many questions before I consider this as an option to pay for my education.

Do any of you know anyone that has done it and absolutely loved it?

Does it involve you moving a lot?

How is the workload and the pay?

Where do they place you and on what criteria?

Any girls thinking of it or are in it now?

Any additional information???

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[BearFace712]

I am actually working on applying for the AF and Navy 4 year HPSP right now. I'd suggest searching through the military dentistry forum for the answers to a lot of your questions and to talk to some current military dentists. Its been pretty useful for me.👍
Its hard to give a straight answer on most of those questions because it will vary depending on what branch of the military you decide to go with... each have their pros and cons

Check it out
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/forumdisplay.php?f=178

 

[Aceofspades]

There is a military forum that you should post this on, or ask a mod to move the thread. You will get answers there.

 

[oclor]

I would prefer to see this thread stay here. Only people who are considering military seriously go to the military forums. Here we can get the opinions of those who are not considering it to see why they chose not to.

 

[Aceofspades]

I would prefer to see this thread stay here. Only people who are considering military seriously go to the military forums. Here we can get the opinions of those who are not considering it to see why they chose not to.

Yea, but the OP is asking for specifics that a pre-dent wouldn't really know. Questions about deployment, pay, and how one enjoys it falls under the realm of the military forum.

 

[kamandsam]

How many of you are considering miliatry scholarship??
I have many questions before I consider this as an option to pay for my education.

Do any of you know anyone that has done it and absolutely loved it?

Does it involve you moving a lot?

How is the workload and the pay?

Where do they place you and on what criteria?

Any girls thinking of it or are in it now?

Any additional information???

My brother is a third year and he is in the Navy program and loves it. The things he likes most are, the monthly stipend which i believe is 1600, the VA home loan which he has used to buy a nice house, the peace of mind knowing he has a good job where he will gain invaluable experience the day he graduates, the ability to get a good residency if he so chooses, and the prestige of being an officer.

He says that he will make roughly 80,000 his first year, when factroing in that they pay every expense including many bonuses like cameras and computers, the program is financially sensible.

I know he gets to have a say in where he goes, but he is not sure about how specific his choice will be.

 

[eldirty]

If youre seriously considering it I would get the application process rolling as I have been working on mine for months ... requires a significant amount of material, physical, etc. taking an unbelievable amount of time and effort

 

[Roto Picante]

My brother-in-law did the 4 yr hpsp with the AF. He is know serving in his third year in the AF after dental school. He has absolutely loved it. He loved the AEGD because he felt it gave him invaluable experience that he wouldn't have gotten in private practice. He was also able to go to one of his top choices of bases.

During your fourth year of dental school, the AF provides you a list of bases with openings for dentists. They ask you to rank all of the bases from 1 to ... then they do their best to give everyone from that year the base that they ranked the highest. Not everyone gets their top choice usually in the top 1-10 bases. I for one would love to leave the country for a couple of years and serve in Italy, Germany, Guam, or Japan.

On the other hand, if you not the type who would be okay with being told where they had to live for 4 years, then I definitely would not chose this program. The armed forces are very structured and there is no questioning authority. Just smile and do what you are told, no questions asked. If you think you might have even the slightest problem with that, don't choose this program.

I have received the 4 year scholarship aswell. They way I figure it, I would rather owe 4 years to my country than owe 10-20 years to the bank. Good luck deciding.

 

[somethinpositiv]

If you've had an interview at Pitt, Indiana, or Case, you'd know they the military tries very hard to brainwash you into taking their scholarship. It almost worked on me when I visited Pitt, I was very intent on joining Navy until I came to my senses a week or two later. Really think long and hard on whether it is truly your calling. Lots of people love it, don't get me wrong, but be aware that recruiters may tell you a lot of half-truths to get you to join. It's not free money lol.

 

[somethinpositiv]

OP, I'd recommend going to MUSC. If anyone's going to a state school, or a cheaper school like Buffalo, it doesn't make sense financially to go military. If you're going to NYU or Tufts, that's another story...

 

[smile101]

OP, I'd recommend going to MUSC. If anyone's going to a state school, or a cheaper school like Buffalo, it doesn't make sense financially to go military. If you're going to NYU or Tufts, that's another story...

Why do you suggest MUSC? I was thinking about going to Penn, but I want to consider some financial options that would help me make my life a easier.
Thanks for all the answers!!!

 

[somethinpositiv]

Why do you suggest MUSC? I was thinking about going to Penn, but I want to consider some financial options that would help me make my life a easier.
Thanks for all the answers!!!

MUSC is much more affordable (i.e. it would be pointless to do military if you go there) and has a great reputation. I don't know why, but I know a bunch of people from NC and other states that would die to go to MUSC even at out-of-state price, and even over schools like UNC and Penn. Also, it's in a great city (beats Filthadelphia in my opinion, I lived there for a couple months in center city and I wouldn't go back).

If you're dead set on specializing, maybe choose Penn and maybe consider military.. but then that's 8 years total, wouldn't you rather just do MUSC in 4 years? other options could be DMD/PhD, or even just taking the loans..

Either way, you've got a great choice of schools and tons of people here envy you 😎

 

[BearFace712]

MUSC is much more affordable (i.e. it would be pointless to do military if you go there) and has a great reputation.

I disagree. Just because you are going to a cheap/affordable school doesnt make joining the military pointless. Of course if the only reason you are considering the military is because of the finicial aid then you should probably stay away from it. While not having to pay for D-school would be nice it should not be your primary reason for joining the military.

There are many other reasons to consider joining the military, like...

The ability to step into a practice immediately out of school without worrying about building up a client base.

Working with top of the line equipment

Residency programs that are 2nd to none... The AEGD program at most bases will allow you to work one on one with a number of specialists.

Being able to work with a team of dentists/specialist

You can always give your patient the best care possible without having to worry about whether they can afford it (this will also allow you to gain invaluable experience performing many more procedures)

Don't have to worry about paying malpractice insurance, hiring a staff or paying overhead that comes with a practice

And of course, serving your country by providing great dental care to the servicemen and women of the US military

 

[murff05]

I am a female currently applying for both the AF and Navy 4 year scholarship. I have always wanted to give back to my country and this works out great because I can do the profession I want and give back.

 

[somethinpositiv]

I disagree. Just because you are going to a cheap/affordable school doesnt make joining the military pointless.

True. Let me rephrase that. It makes it pointless for me, perhaps not you, or others. Don't do it for the money, if you do you will be miserable.

Of course if the only reason you are considering the military is because of the finicial aid then you should probably stay away from it. While not having to pay for D-school would be nice it should not be your primary reason for joining the military.

Also true. Which is why I ultimately decided against it, much to the chagrin of my navy recruiter..

I am a female currently applying for both the AF and Navy 4 year scholarship. I have always wanted to give back to my country and this works out great because I can do the profession I want and give back.

I have also always wanted to give back to my country and people in this country. I will do so by serving the underserved and opening a clinic in the inner city, helping those in need and those on government aid get the dental care they so desperately need. Not by joining the mililary. Military isn't the only way to serve your country, it's one way though...

 

[murff05]

I have also always wanted to give back to my country and people in this country. I will do so by serving the underserved and opening a clinic in the inner city, helping those in need and those on government aid get the dental care they so desperately need. Not by joining the mililary. Military isn't the only way to serve your country, it's one way though...

After 9/11, I wanted to join the military but I'm not the type of girl that could handle the front lines. Now I can join in a field I enjoy and help those that protect us. After watching my brother get commissioned into the AF and hearing about his experiences in Iraq, it only made me want to join more. I feel this is the best way for me to serve my country - by keeping those healthy who give me my freedom and protect this country.

 

[smile101]

I am seeing both sides of the argument here. The reasons that Bearface712 listed here are few of the reasons along with money that got me thinking about military. A local recruiter is going to contact me soon. So, I will talk to him and see if this is a right thing for me or not.

somethinpositiv: I am just confused as to what school to choose right now. I fantasized going to Penn and then when I went to Nova, I liked the school there as well. And musc is really familiar to me. So, I am sort of making a tough decision. Getting accepted to all good schools is a great thing, but then picking one out of 3 is a hard decision to make.

Thanks for all the input!

 

[murff05]

Just so you know 4 year scholarships are going fast. My recruiter told me there are only 17 AF scholarships left. However, you can apply for the three year next year or try the other branches. I'm not sure where they are at at this point. The application process is a bit time consuming. The hardest thing is getting the physical scheduled and done.

 

[paul510psu]

I could not agree with you more murff05, that's the reason that I have decided to take the AF HPSP.

If money is your sole motivating factor in this process then why would you go to dental school? There are plenty of other ways to make a lot of money that don't involve going into massive amounts of debt and spending 8 years of your life getting an education.

The military offers to pay for dental school, financial peace of mind and invaluable experience after graduation. In my opinion it's a win-win situation for both myself and the USAF.

Oh and congratulations to all those that have been granted acceptances to HPSP's and dental schools!

 

[somethinpositiv]

I am seeing both sides of the argument here. The reasons that Bearface712 listed here are few of the reasons along with money that got me thinking about military. A local recruiter is going to contact me soon. So, I will talk to him and see if this is a right thing for me or not.

somethinpositiv: I am just confused as to what school to choose right now. I fantasized going to Penn and then when I went to Nova, I liked the school there as well. And musc is really familiar to me. So, I am sort of making a tough decision. Getting accepted to all good schools is a great thing, but then picking one out of 3 is a hard decision to make.

Thanks for all the input!

Well, if you fantasized about going to Penn, than go there! Go with your gut 🙂

 

[murff05]

I could not agree with you more murff05, that's the reason that I have decided to take the AF HPSP.

If money is your sole motivating factor in this process then why would you go to dental school? There are plenty of other ways to make a lot of money that don't involve going into massive amounts of debt and spending 8 years of your life getting an education.

The military offers to pay for dental school, financial peace of mind and invaluable experience after graduation. In my opinion it's a win-win situation for both myself and the USAF.

Oh and congratulations to all those that have been granted acceptances to HPSP's and dental schools!

I have my AF phone interview next week. How'd yours go? (congrats by the way 😀 )

 

[paul510psu]

I have my AF phone interview next week. How'd yours go? (congrats by the way 😀 )

I actually never had a phone interview. I did have a personal interview with an officer down in Harrisburg Pennsylvania that occurred the same day as my physical. It went well and he immediately told me that he would highly recommend me for a scholarship with the USAF.

Good luck with your interview!