Military Scholarships

[ixitixl]

The military has what appears to be a very nice scholarship package (Health Professions Scholarship Program) that covers tuition/books/lab fees and ~12K per year in stipends. From what I've read, it seems you can apply for the scholarship and then decide whether or not you want to take it after they award it to you. However, I don't really trust the military. Does anyone know of any strings attached aside from the obligatory service after med school? Also does anyone know if you can choose your own specialty/residency or does the military decide that based on their own needs? I'm not sure I want to join the military in the future but it is a possibility. Do y'all think I have anything to lose just by applying?

Any input, especially from people in the HPSP, is greatly appreciated.

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[AlternateSome1]

Strings...
You must apply to military residencies. There is the possiblity to defer and do a civilian residency, but it is not always allowed (not positive on this!). Since the military wants more Primary Care doctors than specialists, it can be difficult to secure the non-PC residency of choice.

Residencies longer than 4 years can add to your service obligation (I believe it is a 1 to 1 ratio).

The navy will often take people after their intern year and put them on a ship to practice as a General Medical Officer.

Not Quite Strings...
They make you pass a physical and submit medical history before they accept you. They basically auto-reject canidates that have pins in them, frequent a psychiatrist, or are overweight.

The scholarship may not be worth it numberwise. If you are going into a lucrative specialty and not attending an extremely expensive medical school, then you need to work out the numbers. $160K (in loans and living stipend) + $100K per year for four years = $560K. Working as a Radiologist for four years making $200k = $800 - $160 = $640K. This is further compounded by the fact that scholarships and grants will reduce the cost of your medical school for the civilian route, but won't help you at all in the military route. The way I summarized this was, in the military, hard work isn't rewarded as much as it is in the civiliarn world.

Basically, I think this route is great if money isn't a big issue for you, and you have any interest to work in a socialized medical system. If you are only worried about the debt, consider the alternative strongly!

~AS1~

 

[iliab]

bump. Interested to hear what others think..

 

[idq1i]

Originally posted by iliab
bump. Interested to hear what others think..

We do have a forum that deals with this.

I can try to answer questions that have to do with the Army

 

[iliab]

Originally posted by idq1i
We do have a forum that deals with this.

I can try to answer questions that have to do with the Army

Maybe its irrelevant, but are you a neocon?

 

[Jet915]

I doesn't hurt to apply. You are only committed once you sign on the dotted line. If you are just doing it for the money, do not do it. You actually have to want to be in the military to do this or else you are gonna be miserable.

Jetson

 

[idq1i]

Originally posted by iliab
Maybe its irrelevant, but are you a neocon?

When I'm not a med student

 

[iliab]

Originally posted by Jet915
I doesn't hurt to apply. You are only committed once you sign on the dotted line. If you are just doing it for the money, do not do it. You actually have to want to be in the military to do this or else you are gonna be miserable.

Jetson

Yeah, I agree. I think I would be miserable in the military. Taking into account current political situation, it makes it even more scarier. Who knows whats going to happen in 4 years. Looking at the trend, I am not ruling out that we might be at war with France or China, looking for missing WMDs or just "liberating" them. Anyway, thanks for input. I will stick with the loans

 

[idq1i]

Originally posted by iliab
Yeah, I agree. I think I would be miserable in the military. Taking into account current political situation, it makes it even more scarier. Who knows whats going to happen in 4 years. Looking at the trend, I am not ruling out that we might be at war with France or China, looking for missing WMDs or just "liberating" them. Anyway, thanks for input. I will stick with the loans

You are NOT getting called up before you finish your residency

You are NOT going to the front lines unless you specifically request it. The gov't isn't stupid enough to throw away a 300k+ investment

 

[iliab]

Originally posted by idq1i
You are NOT getting called up before you finish your residency

You are NOT going to the front lines unless you specifically request it. The gov't isn't stupid enough to throw away a 300k+ investment

I realize that, but at the same time I would not want to be stuck in a WhoKnowsWhat****hole hospital in the middle of the desert.

 

[idq1i]

Originally posted by iliab
I realize that, but at the same time I would not want to be stuck in a WhoKnowsWhat****hole hospital in the middle of the desert.

A little OT... If you have been following the news, the gov't does have a plan to draft healthcare professionals should there be a need. We may all end up in the same place

 

[iliab]

Originally posted by idq1i
A little OT... If you have been following the news, the gov't does have a plan do draft healthcare professionals should there be a need. We may all end up in the same place

They wish! There are plenty of free and very friendly countries in the world that would welcome an American MD. So many places to go...So many opportunities

 

[ixitixl]

Yeah...time to run away to Canada

 

[iliab]

Originally posted by ixitixl
Yeah...time to run away to Canada

Are you a Russian by any chance? Because I am..

 

[ixitixl]

Originally posted by iliab
Are you a Russian by any chance? Because I am..

Not quite but I am eastern European.

 

[edmadison]

Originally posted by iliab
Looking at the trend, I am not ruling out that we might be at war with France or China, looking for missing WMDs or just "liberating" them.

Yep, right after we attack Canada so we can have good domestic beer. Please tell me this is a joke, otherwise your college should consider revoking you diploma. Give me a break.

BTW, in the modern era, no two democracies have fought a war.

Ed

 

[Cerberus]

So, let me get this straight.... If our country were in conflict and needed to draft doctors to help serve our countries wounded enlisted (note there is no killing involved here just saving lives), some of you would have no problem just up and leaving this country? Does the absolute cowardice of such an action not bother you at all?

 

[idq1i]

Originally posted by Cerberus
So, let me get this straight.... If our country were in conflict and needed to draft doctors to help serve our countries wounded enlisted (note there is no killing involved here just saving lives), some of you would have no problem just up and leaving this country? Does the absolute cowardice of such an action not bother you at all?

Doesn't surprise me one bit

 

[quideam]

Yeah, that doesn't sound too good... although I personally have decided not to do military, if they ask for docs to deploy to fill an immediate need, I would definetely be there. Then again, I like that sort of stuff...

(btw, i'm russian!)

 

[iliab]

Originally posted by edmadison
Yep, right after we attack Canada so we can have good domestic beer. Please tell me this is a joke, otherwise your college should consider revoking you diploma. Give me a break.

BTW, in the modern era, no two democracies have fought a war.

Ed

Of course this was a joke Ed. I agree that two modern democracies didn't fight a war but remember that it is not the people who make the war, but their leaders.

"It is clear that democratisation in itself is not a guarantee of war-avoidance in conficts. Israel, the only internally democratic state in the Middle East, has also been the most belligerent; Indian democracy has been quite compatible with bellicosity towards Pakistan. Democratic as well as military governments may see war, so long as it can be kept limited and relatively cost-free, as a means of boosting popularity. Thus Yeltsin?s Russia sought a military solution in the breakaway republic of Chechnya, despite the lessons of the late-Soviet failure in Afghanistan. Only in defeat did Russia?s weak democracy penalise the regime for the new disaster, and then not decisively."

 

[iliab]

Originally posted by Cerberus
So, let me get this straight.... If our country were in conflict and needed to draft doctors to help serve our countries wounded enlisted (note there is no killing involved here just saving lives), some of you would have no problem just up and leaving this country? Does the absolute cowardice of such an action not bother you at all?

I am sorry, I should have been more clear on my satements. If there is a truly danger to the country, I will not only treat the wounded, but I will take up the arms and fight on the front lines if there is a need. This country has given me alot and I am sure wiling to give back. But on the other hand, lets take current 'affair' in the Iraq which in my eyes is very selfish war waged by United States for god knows what reasons buit DEFINATELY not to find WMDs which Rummy has presented as a gift back when Saddam was our friend. Also, it is not about liberating poor people of Iraq whose sufferings we noticed in very convieniet time while ignoring all the genocide rampant in the Africa. Well, in this kind of war, I would refuse to get drafted and serve as the specific instrument or the machine that brings death and destruction on its way. And no, you are not just saving lives of the wounded soldiers who follow orders. If you are in the army, you part of that machine. And if everyone refuses, from soldiers to doctors, there would not be such a machine. That is why I will refuse to get drafted in similar scenario and of course I will accept responsibility for my actions.

Anyway, now I realize that this thread has little to do with premed, but I will post it anyway.