Navy, and then med school?

[Scyph]

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This is my story: I wanted to be in the military long before I wanted to go to med school, but when I was younger my parents always stopped me.

I have good enough MCAT/GPA, but I had procrastinated on applying for US citizenship (I qualify on all accounts except having $675... yeah). If I could apply there, my first choice school would obviously be USUHS. But I couldn't, so I applied to other schools figuring I could go HPSP or FAP route.

I applied really late, and the result is that I'm probably not looking at any admissions this year. Okay, no biggie because next year I'll have my citizenship and I'll apply to USUHS.

The question is what to do in the meantime. I want to join the navy. But the problem is, is it possible? I.e. can I only be in the navy for one year before applying to med school? I don't want my MCAT scores to expire.

 

[notdeadyet]

The question is what to do in the meantime. I want to join the navy. But the problem is, is it possible? I.e. can I only be in the navy for one year before applying to med school? I don't want my MCAT scores to expire.

No, you can't join the Navy for one year. That one was easy.

Also, apply early and widely. USUHS is a great school, but don't put all your eggs in one basket (all it takes is one bad interview). And read the FAQs about HPSP and USUHS so that you're confident you know what you're getting into.

 

[SirGecko]

This is my story: I wanted to be in the military long before I wanted to go to med school, but when I was younger my parents always stopped me.

I have good enough MCAT/GPA, but I had procrastinated on applying for US citizenship (I qualify on all accounts except having $675... yeah). If I could apply there, my first choice school would obviously be USUHS. But I couldn't, so I applied to other schools figuring I could go HPSP or FAP route.

I applied really late, and the result is that I'm probably not looking at any admissions this year. Okay, no biggie because next year I'll have my citizenship and I'll apply to USUHS.

The question is what to do in the meantime. I want to join the navy. But the problem is, is it possible? I.e. can I only be in the navy for one year before applying to med school? I don't want my MCAT scores to expire.

Just in case you wanted a second confirmation:

No you cannot joint the Navy for just a year.

 

[Perrotfish]

No, but if you're willing to go enlisted I believe that the Army offers the option of a 2 year obligation of active duty followed by 2 years in the active reserve. You'd have very few options in terms of your MOS, though. Personally I'd recommend just getting an MPH during your next application cycle, and then taking HPSP.

 

[notdeadyet]

No, but if you're willing to go enlisted I believe that the Army offers the option of a 2 year obligation of active duty followed by 2 years in the active reserve. You'd have very few options in terms of your MOS, though.

Does enlisted still have an 8 year MOS? If so, I'd be very reluctant to go enlisted and run the risk of getting activated during your IRR.

Personally I'd recommend just getting an MPH during your next application cycle, and then taking HPSP.

If the OP has a decent GPA/MCAT and really just applied late, I'd just reapply. I don't think an MPH is enough of an asset to devote a year of your life to it.

 

[darkosbunny]

This is my story: I wanted to be in the military long before I wanted to go to med school, but when I was younger my parents always stopped me.

I have good enough MCAT/GPA, but I had procrastinated on applying for US citizenship (I qualify on all accounts except having $675... yeah). If I could apply there, my first choice school would obviously be USUHS. But I couldn't, so I applied to other schools figuring I could go HPSP or FAP route.

I applied really late, and the result is that I'm probably not looking at any admissions this year. Okay, no biggie because next year I'll have my citizenship and I'll apply to USUHS.

The question is what to do in the meantime. I want to join the navy. But the problem is, is it possible? I.e. can I only be in the navy for one year before applying to med school? I don't want my MCAT scores to expire.

You need to flat out make up your mind as to what you want to do.

Or, you can do both. Do the HSPS program, go to med school, and then you'll be a military doctor.

Like others have responded, you cannot join the Navy for one year...but you can join the active duty Marine Corps for two years, followed by 4 drilling reserve years, but few are selected for this program and I'm not sure as to the specifics. The Navy may offer something similar, but you'll have to ask.

Also, any contract you sign as a non-prior service applicant will have a commitment of 8 years total; this is called the MSO (Military Service Obligation)...the most common format is 4 years active duty followed by 4 years of inactive reserve time (basically your only obligation is to muster once a year and keep your branch updated with certain information such as address, dependents, etc). As you can see, getting involved in such a commitment is not conducive to attending medical school, especially in a time of war (such as now).

My advice would be to either do the HPSP, or the National Guard medical school program (whatever it is called). Anything else you get involved with in the military will not allow you to go to medical school at the present time.

 

[mslall]

If you get in somewhere this year take HPSP and go. If you dont get in try to find a job in some health-care related field while you reapply. Apply as soon as possible to USUHS (and other schools!!) next cycle...........again, thats if you dont get an acceptance somewhere this year

 

[Habeed]

No No No No No. See the other thread on this. Don't sign anything, not even HPSP. Just don't do it. You have no military experience, and you have no idea what you are getting yourself in to. Those of us who have (especially the attendings on this board) are universally against someone new to the military taking HPSP.

About the only reason I can think of to sign an HPSP contract is if you are active duty due to prior committment (ROTC or a service academy) and it's either HPSP and medical school or 2 years in Iraq. Even then, you might be better off going to Iraq, despite the danger of a crippling injury preventing you from ever being a doctor, because at least you wouldn't owe the military so much time.

Or, if you are going to the most expensive medical school in the country (Tufts) and want to be primary care in an underserved area. Oh wait, even then it's a bad idea because you can probably get your loans forgiven in 10 years if you didn't do HPSP...

Sigh. Someone keeps signing those HPSP contracts, especially when they dangle the carrot of a lousy $20k in front of you. But please don't add to the victims.

 

[DeadCactus]

Or, if you are going to the most expensive medical school in the country (Tufts) and want to be primary care in an underserved area. Oh wait, even then it's a bad idea because you can probably get your loans forgiven in 10 years if you didn't do HPSP...

Is Tufts really the most expensive? Damn.

 

[Habeed]

Not 100%, there may be a more expensive one. But, I know it's up there.

 

[notdeadyet]

Is Tufts really the most expensive? Damn.

One of the most. University of Vermont and University of Colorado were the top ones (for out of state students) when I applied.

 

[applicantfailur]

No, but if you're willing to go enlisted I believe that the Army offers the option of a 2 year obligation of active duty followed by 2 years in the active reserve. You'd have very few options in terms of your MOS, though. Personally I'd recommend just getting an MPH during your next application cycle, and then taking HPSP.

hey, i could expound on this. army offers many different MOS contracts for 2yrs. And it even gives you a bonus, something like 20k if you have a college degree. 2yr Ranger contract is an option. Pat Tillman did that. And you dont have to be a citizen. On the other hand if you want to be an officer, you do have to be a citizen before you apply... And for Navy the whole officer selection process is rather long... To the op: you should really read up on the military life before you sign up. I feel like I am like you (including the part about my parents being against it), but lately I am thinking maybe it's not for me. I just found on google books "one bullet away". It's an awesome book. Just by reading the first couple of pages of the autobiography you can tell the guy is the real deal. But it doesnt mean that you have to imitate him. Not everyone is cut out for this lifestyle. If you want exercise or you want a challenge, there are many other ways to get it. But there is a reason that spartans were forced(or at least encouraged by their parents) into their spartan lifestyle.

It's also funny if you watch some youtube videos of soldiers and medical students you can tell that soldiers are: younger, much more muscular, can dance better, but thats about it.

 

[applicantfailur]

hey. as i too am undecided about my future and have the gpa/mcat, i'll share my thoughts: having applied late is not the only reason that i didnt get in, or else i would still be having a few interviews/waitlists. but at the same time, i think if i do a smp program (i.e. at nymc or georgetown) and apply on june1, the chances of getting in somewhere are extremely good. if i just chill and work for this year, the chances are no longer as good(perhaps my LORs and EC's and gpa are really killing me). Therefore it's either smp or the army. so lets consider this:

1) i can bum as a lifeguard before the smp starts. it would be really chill. then i would only have to do well for 1 semester to get in somewhere. but i probably wouldnt be able to quit the smp in January because I would want to get all those credits to be able to do research during ms1. So I would not be able to go on my much needed trip to Europe. I really want to go for 4-6months to just chill at the beach in spain, go skiing in switzerland, and go to Moscow. but basically it won't happen...

2) the army option, i have strongly considered becoming an officer. it's a 3 1/2 yr commitment in the army and it allows you to explore other careers like MBA and business. But it's also possible that you'll get rejected by top mba schools and will have to settle for some 2nd tier management job. Your mcat scores will have expired. In that case it will be a total waste.
The 2yr army ranger option does not give you any points for any professional schools other than med school. But would you really get to explore the world? They are stationed in georgia. Theyre bossed around all the time and the only chance to travel is to go to iraq. So while army officers go to ranger school and then have a chance to go to some chill unit in germany, being in the army might not be glamorous. so you'd be doing it for the "challenge". but that is often a stupid, or better yet, not practical reason to sacrifice something. this all hard for me because i have deep respect for most people who do things for the "challenge". whether it's army or climbing a mountain or whatever. they tend to be cooler and more independent versions of me.

 

[BigNavyPedsGuy]

It's also funny if you watch some youtube videos of soldiers and medical students you can tell that soldiers are: younger, much more muscular, can dance better, but thats about it.

wow

 

[notdeadyet]

It's also funny if you watch some youtube videos of soldiers and medical students you can tell that soldiers are: younger, much more muscular, can dance better, but thats about it.

I agree with the first two. But from what I've seen at military bars, I wouldn't use the military as much of a yardstick for dancing ability.

And why exactly are you watching videos on youtube of soldiers dancing? Or med students, for that matter? Kinda creepy....

 

[notdeadyet]

But it's also possible that you'll get rejected by top mba schools and will have to settle for some 2nd tier management job. Your mcat scores will have expired. In that case it will be a total waste.

Are you one of these cats that is deciding between med school and b-school? That explains the skiing in Switzerland comment.

As for top business schools, they accept top applicants. If you don't have a killer app, don't expect doing the minimum in the Army to set your app on fire.

The 2yr army ranger option does not give you any points for any professional schools other than med school.

What points are you talking about for medical school?

But would you really get to explore the world? They are stationed in georgia. Theyre bossed around all the time and the only chance to travel is to go to iraq. So while army officers go to ranger school and then have a chance to go to some chill unit in germany, being in the army might not be glamorous.

If you join the Army (Ranger or not), it's probably wise to predict that you'll be bossed around all the time, sent to Iraq (or more likely Afghanistan now), and do unglamorous stuff. You might get to chill in Germany and do glamorous stuff, but smart money would be not likely.

 

[Habeed]

As long as there's an unlimited supply of suckers like this guy (and myself, I admit) the military can keep doing what it's doing.

 

[Perrotfish]

Does enlisted still have an 8 year MOS? If so, I'd be very reluctant to go enlisted and run the risk of getting activated during your IRR.

First, I don't think you know what MOS means. Second, while yes, every military contract involves an 8 year commitment (in this case, 2 active duty, 0-2 reserves, and 4-6 IRR) honestly the odds of getting called up from IRR were very low even during the lowest points of the Bush administration debacle, which was pretty much the only time it's happened since well before Vietnam. I know there are no guarentees here, but I expect this should go back to being something that never actually happens.

 

[applicantfailur]

hey i got a quesiton. if you are a civilian board certified doctor, can you get a contract with the navy where you would be stationed in a specific location (Rota,Spain) for 2yrs? To make it even more interesting, could you make the same request but also request work as a gmo(or flight surgeon or whatever)? In that case obviously you dont get your board certification bonus, but maybe you just want to work in spain+ work in primary care. thanks.

 

[notdeadyet]

First, I don't think you know what MOS means.

Thanks for catching the typo. Obviously from context I meant to type MSO, not MOS.

Second, while yes, every military contract involves an 8 year commitment (in this case, 2 active duty, 0-2 reserves, and 4-6 IRR) honestly the odds of getting called up from IRR were very low even during the lowest points of the Bush administration debacle, which was pretty much the only time it's happened since well before Vietnam.

I agree it's very low. But for many of us, we've spent a whole lot of years and effort getting to medical school. And our education and training is incredibly important.

The risk of being inactivated IRR may be low, but it's unacceptable for some, depending on how high a priority med school is for you. If you really have the drive to serve in the military, finishing med school and serving as a doctor makes a lot of sense.

I know of a few folks pulled out of IRR. Med school would have been interrupted. Fine for some, not for others.

I know there are no guarentees here, but I expect this should go back to being something that never actually happens.

True. Of course, if you went back in time a few years and told folks that pretty soon being in the National Guard or Reserves was going to be pretty much synonymous with multiple deployments over the course of a six year war started by the President's kid, people would call you nuts.

I agree (and hope) that the tempo is going to slow and touch wood we won't see a repeat of what's gone down the last six years. But these things can't be predictable. If folks want to roll the dice, they should have a good idea that that's what they're doing.