NHSC/HPSP Very competitive?

[IlvFood]

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Hey guys,

I was just wondering if programs like the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) and Military Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP) are very difficult to get into? I know that you apply after you are accepted into Dental school, but is acceptance based on statistics or early application?

Does anyone know the statistics on how many people get accepted that apply?

Any info would be appreciated, Thanks! 🙂

 

[my_quite]

I believe the scholarship is fairly competitive, with historically 1 in every 11 applicants being awarded. However, there is more funding this year as per gov't stimulus spending, so that may change things.

The loan repayment program is basically available to all who apply and is not competitive.

 

[NAVY DDS 2010]

I believe the scholarship is fairly competitive, with historically 1 in every 11 applicants being awarded. However, there is more funding this year as per gov't stimulus spending, so that may change things.

The loan repayment program is basically available to all who apply and is not competitive.

I cannot speak for the NHSC scholarships, but for the HPSP scholarships it has been more competative the last couple years because of the economy. The Air Force is able to be VERY SELECTIVE, while the Navy can be moderately selective of its candidates. More and more people are wanting to get school paid for so they don't have to worry about student loans after d-school, so they are getting the scholarships and serving their 3-4 years on active duty.

 

[browncrack]

All you need is a pulse, 3.0 gpa, not be seriously obese, and an extra four years.

When they say it's competitive it is basically how many people want the money but don't want to be in the Marines so people slam the less militant branches of the military with applications. If you really want the money and really want a military lifestyle then Go Army.

PS There is a military dentistry forum

 

[lphiewok]

All you need is a pulse, 3.0 gpa, not be seriously obese, and an extra four years.

When they say it's competitive it is basically how many people want the money but don't want to be in the Marines so people slam the less militant branches of the military with applications. If you really want the money and really want a military lifestyle then Go Army.

PS There is a military dentistry forum

This might have been true in the past, but it no longer applies to HPSP anymore.
AF has been very selective and you have to have 3.5+ of GPA unless you can be exempted with high DAT. Other branches have also become more competitive.

I have heard in the past, they could not even fill all the seats for HPSP, so pretty much anyone applying would receive it, but it is no longer the case. Out of 5 people who applied to Army HPSP through my recruiter, only 3 of us were selected, and we were all accepted to dental school on Dec 1.

 

[browncrack]

You can apply for every branch, you can apply in dental school for the final three years, you can apply to the guard, you can apply for nhsc, you can join directly after dental school, you can try the navy enlisted in dental school then commissioned after dental school program. There is more money and more programs than one. 3 out 5 is ok but there are reasons people can get declined such as criminal background, prior drug use, and personality not compatible with military. Grades are just a small part, and the bar is low.

 

[NAVY DDS 2010]

You can apply for every branch, you can apply in dental school for the final three years, you can apply to the guard, you can apply for nhsc, you can join directly after dental school, you can try the navy enlisted in dental school then commissioned after dental school program. There is more money and more programs than one. 3 out 5 is ok but there are reasons people can get declined such as criminal background, prior drug use, and personality not compatible with military. Grades are just a small part, and the bar is low.

browncrack, actually, I have experience in this subject. I can tell you for certainty, from the Navy perspective, it is not that way right now. Things are more selective and it is not the background checks that are the things turning people down. GPA and DAT scores are playing a big part since so many people are applying these days. Also, the "navy as an enlisted in dental school then commissioned after dental school program" (HSCP program) follows the same selection criteria as the Navy HPSP. So, if you cannot get into the HPSP, you are more likely to be rejected for the HSCP since it fills up a whole lot faster nowdays.

 

[MatthewLeeDDS]

I can speak for the Air Force HPSP...

It is more competitive right now than it has ever been, just 5 in the country this year were selected for the 4-year scholarship. I had a 3.9+ GPA and a 22 DAT, but I know several people with DATs in the 20s and 3.7 range GPAs that did not get the scholarship.

They used to have automatic qualification with a 3.5 GPA and a 19 DAT, but that's now the minimum to even apply for the scholarship (I hear there is some wiggle room if you have, let's say, a 3.4 GPA and a 21 DAT).

Many dentists elected not to leave the Air Force after their 'repayment period' was up last year, thus more dentist retention leading to much less need for new dentists and so fewer scholarships were awarded. There are many more 3-year scholarships for the Air Force (about 30 I believe?) so that may be the route you want to take.

Also, you do not apply for the HPSP after you're accepted to dental school if you are looking for a 4-year scholarship. In fact, by the time you are accepted to dental school (yes, even on Dec. 1), it will be too late to apply for a 4-year HPSP with the Air Force. I think the other branches may have later board dates so it might be possible with Navy or Army but don't count on it. If you want a full ride, talk to a health professions recruiter ASAP. If you just want your final 3 years covered, then you would want to contact a recruiter in the early fall of your first year.

I am not familiar with how exactly the other program works.

IlvFood, PM me if you have any questions about the HPSP.

 

[allover]

dont forget the fine print...its an 8 year commitment!

 

[yappy]

I thought it was 1 year paid = 1 year of service?

This is kinda of a side note... all this sounds very exciting as far as them paying off school and getting to be an officer... but do you get to learn how to shoot their guns, or are you issued any? Do you go through any rigorous physical training? Do you get yelled at?

thanks

 

[Tommy43087]

I thought it was 1 year paid = 1 year of service?

1 year paid = 1 year active duty + 1 year reserve (I believe)

(But Im sure its) 4 years paid = 4 years active + 4 years reserved

 

[browncrack]

It sounds like undergrad GPA, predent LOR, an interview, and no clinical experience is required. Why not just recycle your AADSAS materials for your application? It almost sounds like dental school admissions all over again- undergrad GPA and DAT scores seem like a large point.

Check with your recruiter or the Military dental forum but I think the 4 years of reserve pretty much just give the military the chance to not let a person stay out of the military when we invade somewhere and need the extra military muscle. It's easier to stretch out someone's time in the military than to bring in more dentists from outside the military on short notice. If they don't need you for major military stuff, you are essentially done with the military after the first four years so you can get work, or you can stay in the military after the first four years, or you can work and hope no huge military force is needed for your first four years out of the military.

 

[MatthewLeeDDS]

1 year paid = 1 year active duty + 1 year reserve (I believe)

(But Im sure its) 4 years paid = 4 years active + 4 years reserved

This is correct, however, the extra 4 years of "reserves" is not typical reserves. It is called IRR, or Individual Ready Reserve. It's a worst-case-scenerio type of thing. To my knowledge, no dentist have ever been called from IRR through the Air Force. Being on IRR as a dentist after active duty is as good as being done. You don't do any more "military stuff" on IRR. In other words, if you have to get called from IRR, things will be so bad that you won't be practicing dentistry anyway.

 

[MatthewLeeDDS]

I thought it was 1 year paid = 1 year of service?

This is kinda of a side note... all this sounds very exciting as far as them paying off school and getting to be an officer... but do you get to learn how to shoot their guns, or are you issued any? Do you go through any rigorous physical training? Do you get yelled at?

thanks

The training (for the Air Force) is called COT, or Commissioned Officer Training and takes place at Maxwell AFB in Alabama. It is NOT the same as basic training, as you will only be with other commissioned officers (medical personnel, chaplain, lawyers, etc.). I will hopefully be attending next summer, but I hear it's not that bad. Lots of running and probably some yelling, but a month of training isn't that long. Yes, you're going to be a dentist, but you'll still be in the military. If you don't want to be in the military, don't do the scholarship. As for the gun, I bet that varies between branches, I just don't know.

 

[MatthewLeeDDS]

It sounds like undergrad GPA, predent LOR, an interview, and no clinical experience is required. Why not just recycle your AADSAS materials for your application? It almost sounds like dental school admissions all over again- undergrad GPA and DAT scores seem like a large point.

Check with your recruiter or the Military dental forum but I think the 4 years of reserve pretty much just give the military the chance to not let a person stay out of the military when we invade somewhere and need the extra military muscle. It's easier to stretch out someone's time in the military than to bring in more dentists from outside the military on short notice. If they don't need you for major military stuff, you are essentially done with the military after the first four years so you can get work, or you can stay in the military after the first four years, or you can work and hope no huge military force is needed for your first four years out of the military.

It is largely a "recycled" dental school app. However, a recruiter would put it all together, not you, so you don't really have to mess with it except to get new letters of recommendation. You wouldn't want an LOR talking about how you'd do great in dental school, you'll want new ones that discuss why you'd make a good Air Force (or any other branch) officer.

 

[MatthewLeeDDS]

Any other questions are best asked/answered over in the military forums. If you all want to know more about the HPSP, try searching for old threads or PM me if you have questions. I'm currently a 1st year dental student on the 4-year HPSP scholarship through the Air Force.

 

[NAVY DDS 2010]

1 year paid = 1 year active duty + 1 year reserve (I believe)

(But Im sure its) 4 years paid = 4 years active + 4 years reserved

Actually, you are not quite correct. 1 year paid = 1 year active duty as long as you don't do a residency and a total of 8 years in the military (active, reserve or IRR). But to make it simple, let's assume you don't do a residency.

So, if you take a 4yr scholarship, you owe 4 years active and 4 years addtional to be paid back on active duty, in the active reserves and/or IRR for a total of 8 years. If you take a 3yr scholarship, you owe 3 years active duty and then another 5 years either on active duty, in the active reserves and/or in the IRR for a total of 8 years.

Typically, if someone wants to get out after paying back their time they will serve 4 years active and 4 years IRR for a 4 yr scholarship and will serve 3 years active and 5 yrs IRR for a 3 year scholarship.

 

[Yellow Snow]

Just a little side note. You can do 4 years school and 4 years service but word is you're on the amalgam line. You are HIGHLY encouraged to do a 1 year residency and you owe and extra year payback for that. 5 years + 5 years payback if you want to spend your time in the military doing comp. care. While a GPR or AEGD can be a great thing, it was a deal breaker for me back in when I had to decide.

 

[MatthewLeeDDS]

Just a little side note. You can do 4 years school and 4 years service but word is you're on the amalgam line. You are HIGHLY encouraged to do a 1 year residency and you owe and extra year payback for that. 5 years + 5 years payback if you want to spend your time in the military doing comp. care. While a GPR or AEGD can be a great thing, it was a deal breaker for me back in when I had to decide.

Just to clarify for everyone, this may have been true but no longer is. AEGD is optional and only adds 1 year, the year in AEGD. You are required to apply for an AEGD, but not accept it (the acceptance rate is nearly 100%, so yes, it is highly encouraged). I personally know someone who declined their AEGD acceptance just a couple years ago. Also, the AEGD is a neutral year. It does not count as one of your 4 years that you 'owe', but you do not owe an extra year because of it.

In other words, if I choose to accept a 1 year AEGD, my next 9 years will look like this:

4 years of school, 1 year AEGD, 4 years of 'payback' (not 5).

 

[eventualOMFS]

In response to the other half of your question....the NHSC Scholarship is extremely competitive. And unless you come from some sort of disadvantaged background (minority, poor, etc), it's unlikely that you'll make it past the initial rounds of consideration.

There IS additional funding this year, but the funding was mostly for the NHSC Loan Repayment program, NOT the NHSC Scholarship program. Details of both can be found by searching on SDN or Google.

 

[dentalservant]

In response to the other half of your question....the NHSC Scholarship is extremely competitive. And unless you come from some sort of disadvantaged background (minority, poor, etc), it's unlikely that you'll make it past the initial rounds of consideration.

There IS additional funding this year, but the funding was mostly for the NHSC Loan Repayment program, NOT the NHSC Scholarship program. Details of both can be found by searching on SDN or Google.

Actually on the NHSC they said they are planning on giving out 200 scholarships this year. Whereas in past years they received 450ish apps and accepted 1 in 11 so about 40 scholarships. So if they get the same number of apps you are looking at 1 in 2.5 or so. Who knows if they will have the same amount of funding for next year though.

 

[Tommy43087]

Actually on the NHSC they said they are planning on giving out 200 scholarships this year. Whereas in past years they received 450ish apps and accepted 1 in 11 so about 40 scholarships. So if they get the same number of apps you are looking at 1 in 2.5 or so. Who knows if they will have the same amount of funding for next year though.

Your numbers are wrong, they gave ~160 scholarships last year.


1 in 2.5! I wish!!