NHSC Application 2016 is Officially Open!

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hellofuturedentists said:
Thought it would be nice to have a thread for it. And, if there's anyone who's gone through the application process before that still checks the pre-dental forum I'm sure we'd all appreciate your input/advice! Good luck everyone! :luck:

(Deadline is April 28)
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SE Asian non-disadvantaged. Lets see what we got though!!! I have a strong history of service and grew up in a small town in the rural midwest so hopefully that counts for something lol. Good luck!!
 
Hafizdr said:
SE Asian non-disadvantaged. Lets see what we got though!!! I have a strong history of service and grew up in a small town in the rural midwest so hopefully that counts for something lol. Good luck!!
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Same to you! Yeah, I fall into the category of non-disadvantaged person from a non-disadvantaged area who wants to help low income populations. I'm sure this'll turn out great for me lol. But hopefully they'll see we are genuine and committed anyway!
 
Can you guys explain this program, what requirements are required, what salary you get working at these locations, etc?
 
^ The above is true for the loan repayment program.

Seeing that mostly everyone on this thread is class of 2020, I'm assuming you all are applying for the NHSC scholarship.

It is similar to the military scholarship. You get your all your tuition and school fees covered for however many years you use the scholarship, and you also get a living stipend.

But after you graduate, you just have to repay the same amount of years you were on the scholarship by working at a NHSC approved site.
 
Mascota said:
Hi everyone. I'm currently a D1 and was awarded the NHSC scholarship last year. I would be happy to try and answer any questions you guys might have.
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Thanks and congratulations! What do you think helped make you competitive?
 
Mascota said:
Hi everyone. I'm currently a D1 and was awarded the NHSC scholarship last year. I would be happy to try and answer any questions you guys might have.
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Hey! Congrats on the scholarship. Is there any way I could possibly message you a few questions?
 
Rambunctious said:
Thanks and congratulations! What do you think helped make you competitive?
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Thanks!

I think one of the key things they're looking for is that you've had previous exposure to populations of people from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds. I also believe if you show that you can fill niche within the NHSC that's in demand that would make you more competitive (it's one of the essay questions you'll need to answer). I think what made me competitive was my extensive exposure to the Spanish speaking community. I did an 18 month mission trip in Central America where I learned to speak fluent Spanish, I also did some dental service trips in Mexico. Domestically I mentored ESL students and students with disabilities as my job during undergrad. I'll have to look over my application again to see what else but that's what come to mind at the moment. Also, if you come from a disadvantaged background (which has a variety of definitions) that will give some priority in your application.

I should say, some of my examples of service are a bit out of the norm, so don't think you need to do all those things to be seriously considered.
 
Mascota said:
Thanks!

I think one of the key things they're looking for is that you've had previous exposure to populations of people from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds. I also believe if you show that you can fill niche within the NHSC that's in demand that would make you more competitive (it's one of the essay questions you'll need to answer). I think what made me competitive was my extensive exposure to the Spanish speaking community. I did an 18 month mission trip in Central America where I learned fluent Spanish, I also did some dental service trips in Mexico. Domestically I mentored ESL students and students with disabilities as my job during undergrad. I'll have to look over my application again to see what else but that's what come to mind at the moment. Also, if you come from a disadvantaged background (which has a variety of definitions) that will give some priority in your application.
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:claps:Wow you definitely deserved it! Outstanding extracurriculars.
 
For some reason it won't let me send you a private message must be your settings.
 
hellofuturedentists said:
Agreed! He/she seems very well qualified! I read the first sentence and I was like "oh cool I do that!" then it went downhill for me from there lol
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Easy everyone! You DO NOT need to do those things to be competitive haha. Trust me, I know people who've received the scholarship that haven't done anything of the sort. Different people have their own stories and experiences that the NHSC will see as valuable. Don't let that get in your way, you never know!
 
Mascota said:
Easy everyone! You DO NOT need to do those things to be competitive haha. Trust me, I know people who've received the scholarship that haven't done anything of the sort. Different people have their own stories and experiences that the NHSC will see as valuable. Don't let that get in your way, you never know!
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Well, I'm definitely going to try, but if I don't receive the scholarship, I'll take comfort in the fact that people like you are getting it instead 🙂
 
I plan on applying as well. I have applied to my school for disadvantaged background but have yet to receive word on the status of this request. I'm from a small town in southeastern Kentucky (one of the poorest counties in the country). After undergraduate, I returned to the area and have spent the last 7 years teaching in a Title I school. I want to feel optimistic about my chances but there are so few scholarships given that you definitely can't count on anything.
 
UKalum said:
I plan on applying as well. I have applied to my school for disadvantaged background but have yet to receive word on the status of this request. I'm from a small town in southeastern Kentucky (one of the poorest counties in the country). After undergraduate, I returned to the area and have spent the last 7 years teaching in a Title I school. I want to feel optimistic about my chances but there are so few scholarships given that you definitely can't count on anything.
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If it helps, I also feel optimistic about your chances lol. You seem like the kind of applicant they would love!
 
To those that may not know, if you have an interest in specializing in endo, OS, or perio, you cannot do so until after you have given your 4 year commitment. The only residencies allowed are pedo, GPR... and I think prosth?

If you choose to leave the scholarship, you owe back 3x the amount given to you and you also get another fee on top of that.

Something to think about!
 
ncide said:
To those that may not know, if you have an interest in specializing in endo, OS, or perio, you cannot do so until after you have given your 4 year commitment. The only residencies allowed are pedo, GPR... and I think prosth?
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1 yr GPR or AEGD, 2 yr Pediatric, or 2 yr Public Health are the only residencies you're allowed to do before starting your payback years.
 
ncide said:
To those that may not know, if you have an interest in specializing in endo, OS, or perio, you cannot do so until after you have given your 4 year commitment. The only residencies allowed are pedo, GPR... and I think prosth?

If you choose to leave the scholarship, you owe back 3x the amount given to you and you also get another fee on top of that.

Something to think about!
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Thanks for the info! I know at least for me, I don't want to specialize (unlike the rest of SDN I guess haha) so I'm cool with this. Most other applicants probably are, too
 
UKalum said:
I plan on applying as well. I have applied to my school for disadvantaged background but have yet to receive word on the status of this request. I'm from a small town in southeastern Kentucky (one of the poorest counties in the country). After undergraduate, I returned to the area and have spent the last 7 years teaching in a Title I school. I want to feel optimistic about my chances but there are so few scholarships given that you definitely can't count on anything.
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Hey! Did you send your disadvantaged request form to your high school guidance counselor?
 
If we are accepted to Dental School after April 30th, can we still apply this year or do we have to wait until next year?
 
aaa127 said:
If we are accepted to Dental School after April 30th, can we still apply this year or do we have to wait until next year?
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You'd have to wait, the application would be closed by then
 
tooth900 said:
Hey! Did you send your disadvantaged request form to your high school guidance counselor?
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No. I sent it to the dental school that I will be attending. They make the determination. And for what it's worth, I was given the disadvantaged background status. I've never been so happy to have been at a disadvantage! I was ecstatic for the opportunity to be promoted in priority.

Still working on my essays.
 
UKalum said:
No. I sent it to the dental school that I will be attending. They make the determination. And for what it's worth, I was given the disadvantaged background status. I've never been so happy to have been at a disadvantage! I was ecstatic for the opportunity to be promoted in priority.

Still working on my essays.
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Congrats! I'm asking because I know that some of the qualifications for disadvantaged status pertain to your high school--if those are the qualifications that determine your status, would your high school be the one to fill it out?
 
tooth900 said:
Congrats! I'm asking because I know that some of the qualifications for disadvantaged status pertain to your high school--if those are the qualifications that determine your status, would your high school be the one to fill it out?
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There were some questions on my application for my school that I could see someone having to contact their high school about. I am actually a teacher at the same high school that I graduated from so the information was pretty readily available for me. Good luck!
 
I have already applied for HPSP through the Navy, but was placed on the alternate list. Can I still apply for this scholarship? Being selected for this scholarship isn't necessarily binding, is it?
 
I am likely going to apply for the NHSC scholarship, but do any of you know if I were to receive a scholarship offer if it is binding? I ask this because I'm pretty certain that I want to be a general dentist or perhaps apply to pediatrics eventually, but I have yet to do rotations obviously or a lot of shadowing in the other specialties to know if those are out of the question. I want to do what I'm happiest and best at, and wouldn't want to limit myself theoretically?
 
armadillo324 said:
I am likely going to apply for the NHSC scholarship, but do any of you know if I were to receive a scholarship offer if it is binding? I ask this because I'm pretty certain that I want to be a general dentist or perhaps apply to pediatrics eventually, but I have yet to do rotations obviously or a lot of shadowing in the other specialties to know if those are out of the question. I want to do what I'm happiest and best at, and wouldn't want to limit myself theoretically?
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The scholarship isn't necessarily binding. However, the penalty is a 3x payback on whatever has already been awarded to the student, plus interest. Those payments have to be made within 3 years. It seems like if you aren't really sure at all if you want to do some other specialty not allowed within the NHSC program, you may want to h0ld off. You can actually apply for the scholarship after your first year of dental school if that would give you sufficient time to explore the field.
 
armadillo324 said:
I am likely going to apply for the NHSC scholarship, but do any of you know if I were to receive a scholarship offer if it is binding? I ask this because I'm pretty certain that I want to be a general dentist or perhaps apply to pediatrics eventually, but I have yet to do rotations obviously or a lot of shadowing in the other specialties to know if those are out of the question. I want to do what I'm happiest and best at, and wouldn't want to limit myself theoretically?
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Do you mean binding as in if it's offered, do you have to accept it? Or binding as in if you accepted it, can you get out of it? If it's the former, from what I understand, you do not have to accept the scholarship if it is offered and it will then go to someone else. I could be wrong though. If I am, someone please correct me
 
questions is their a limit or requirements for the applications?

Im applying this cycle however i have little knowledge about this, could some one elaborate?

thanks
 
hellofuturedentists said:
Do you mean binding as in if it's offered, do you have to accept it? Or binding as in if you accepted it, can you get out of it? If it's the former, from what I understand, you do not have to accept the scholarship if it is offered and it will then go to someone else. I could be wrong though. If I am, someone please correct me
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Yes that was what I meant. I might wait to apply next cycle or research more. I don't know 100% if I would be interested in specializing or not. It's interesting that only certain specialties are permitted within the acceptance stipulations.
 
nonociceptors said:
1 year removed from graduation so getting those new letters of rec is a ****ing pain in the ass
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You need letters of rec? I was trying to make an acc on their website and try to apply with apparently the website is overwhelm or just not working at all?

What is the best time to apply? Like once you know for sure which school you are going to attend, when you finish the primary AADSAS app etc?
 
armadillo324 said:
Yes that was what I meant. I might wait to apply next cycle or research more. I don't know 100% if I would be interested in specializing or not. It's interesting that only certain specialties are permitted within the acceptance stipulations.
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Understandable! I think it makes sense though. NHSC is very focused on ensuring access to primary care for the underserved. GPR/AEGD and Pediatrics both fall under this category, while the other specialties fall under specialized care. Good luck with your decision 🙂
 
hellofuturedentists said:
Understandable! I think it makes sense though. NHSC is very focused on ensuring access to primary care for the underserved. GPR/AEGD and Pediatrics both fall under this category, while the other specialties fall under specialized care. Good luck with your decision 🙂
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Yeah absolutely - I understand the reasoning for sure. It's just I also bet there are folks in those underserved areas that would benefit from increased access to specialists also (e.g. endo treatments, etc). Nevertheless, I want to wait to ensure I'm set on general or pedodontics. Thanks for the input!
 
Say I wanted to do a 2-year scholarship, would I still apply now? Or would I have to wait until I'm a D2? TIA!
 
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