NHSC Scholarship 2018-2019

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
Y

yaya97

Full Member
7+ Year Member
Joined
Apr 29, 2016
Messages
327
Reaction score
428
Thought I’d get a thread started seeing as the scholarship is now open! Let’s use this as a general place for our questions and to support one another.

Essay Questions:
*Essay 1: How will you contribute to the mission of the National Health Service Corps in providing care to underserved communities?
*Essay 2: What experiences have you had or activities have you participated in that have prepared you to work with underserved populations?
*Essay 3: Please discuss your commitment to pursue a career in primary health care.

What does the scholarship offer?
Tuition and fees for your school paid for as well as a monthly living stipend.

How do you pay back?
For each year that you use the scholarship, you give a give of pay back at an NHSC-approved site in a high-need urban, rural, or frontier community across the nation. A minimum of 2 years of giving back is required and a maximum of 4 years of financial support will be given.

Here is a link to the application and program guide: https://nhsc.hrsa.gov/downloads/spapplicationguide.pdf
Members don't see this ad.
 
Last edited:
Can you apply, even though you're entering d school this fall?
 
Members don't see this ad :)
cooliyak said:
Yes, if you have been accepted to dental school and are planning on matriculating this fall, that is the first time you would be able to apply.
Click to expand...
Does it have to do anything with signing up for the military?
 
NHSC App question: Have you ever received Federal support under the Scholarship Program for First-Year students of Exceptional Financial Need (EFN)?

--What qualifies as this?
 
How much does the scholarship gives? A year of tuition for a year of service?
 
Lalibila said:
NHSC App question: Have you ever received Federal support under the Scholarship Program for First-Year students of Exceptional Financial Need (EFN)?

--What qualifies as this?
Click to expand...
“
For Medical and Dental Students: Applicant’s school must certify that the applicant participated in, or would have been eligible for participation in, federal programs such as “Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students” or “Loans to Disadvantaged
Students“
“
 
can anyone tell me what the essays are? I can't go past the recommendation letter page but I wanted to start working on them. Thanks!
 
ppaa said:
can anyone tell me what the essays are? I can't go past the recommendation letter page but I wanted to start working on them. Thanks!
Click to expand...
Same as every year:
Essay 1: How will you contribute to the mission of the National Health Service Corps in providing care to underserved communities?
• Essay 2: What experiences have you had or activities have you participated in that have prepared you to work with underserved populations?
• Essay 3: Please discuss your commitment to pursue a career in primary health care.
 
awesome_otter said:
Can we put a sticky that says "read the program application before asking questions" at the top of this???
Click to expand...
It's an open forum for people to ask questions, but I added some of the FAQ's as well as a link to the program and application guide.
 
Members don't see this ad :)
I recently completed a post-bacc program where I took all the pre-reqs for dental school. When it asks to put down your GPA (on the application), should I put my post-bacc GPA or undergraduate GPA? It asks to put down your GPA "from your most recently completed undergraduate or graduate program" so I wanted to be sure. Also, would my post-bacc GPA be considered a "non-standard" GPA?
 
health987 said:
I recently completed a post-bacc program where I took all the pre-reqs for dental school. When it asks to put down your GPA (on the application), should I put my post-bacc GPA or undergraduate GPA? It asks to put down your GPA "from your most recently completed undergraduate or graduate program" so I wanted to be sure. Also, would my post-bacc GPA be considered a "non-standard" GPA?
Click to expand...

Seems to me that you would put in your post-Bacc GPA if you have completed that program.

But this is sort of my question also. It says to enter in your most recently completed undergraduate or graduate program, but then it says upload your current graduate transcript that reflects the GPA. My current graduate transcript is ongoing b/c I am in med school... so should I be entering that or my undergraduate GPA?

Thanks for your help all.
 
If you are in med-school you enter your med-school gpa and your med school transcript. Not your undergrad.
 
What does the scholarship offer?
Tuition and fees for your school paid for as well as a monthly living stipend.

How do you pay back?
For each year that you use the scholarship, you give a give of pay back at an NHSC-approved site in a high-need urban, rural, or frontier community across the nation. A minimum of 2 years of giving back is required and a maximum of 4 years of financial support will be given.

Any doctor, who has worked in these underserved area, able to share how this type of job looks like?
thanks a lot.
 
hoshim said:
What does the scholarship offer?
Tuition and fees for your school paid for as well as a monthly living stipend.

How do you pay back?
For each year that you use the scholarship, you give a give of pay back at an NHSC-approved site in a high-need urban, rural, or frontier community across the nation. A minimum of 2 years of giving back is required and a maximum of 4 years of financial support will be given.

Any doctor, who has worked in these underserved area, able to share how this type of job looks like?
thanks a lot.
Click to expand...
It looks great. I love working at my clinic. Lots of variety in patients and procedures. Good salary with really good benefits. No pressure to produce or sell procedures. No getting screwed by insurance companies (and if you do, it’s on the clinic and not you). It’s a pretty great gig.
 
cooliyak said:
It looks great. I love working at my clinic. Lots of variety in patients and procedures. Good salary with really good benefits. No pressure to produce or sell procedures. No getting screwed by insurance companies (and if you do, it’s on the clinic and not you). It’s a pretty great gig.
Click to expand...

Hey, doctor. Thank you a lot. you mean, you work at National Health service site, right? or u have a private practice? if I chose national health site, (FM/IM) how much average starting salary would be?
Im thinking to get that scholarship (60K tuition +1.360 $ monthly=80K per yrx2=160K). I wanna work national health system at the beginnig (full/part time) then move to private practice.
 
hoshim said:
Hey, doctor. Thank you a lot. you mean, you work at National Health service site, right? or u have a private practice? if I chose national health site, (FM/IM) how much average starting salary would be?
Im thinking to get that scholarship (60K tuition +1.360 $ monthly=80K per yrx2=160K). I wanna work national health system at the beginnig (full/part time) then move to private practice.
Click to expand...
Yes, I work at a NHSC approved site and am currently in my service “repayment” years. I think if you want to do the scholarship and then transition into private practice, that would be a great plan. You would have no debt and would still be making decent money so it would be easy to save up money for the purchase/loan. Salary is really dependent on area so I would only be speculating on that for you. I would look at the job website (Health Workforce Connector) and see if there are any actual salaries posted on some sites that you would be interested in working at. Not many have salary posted, but I think I remember seeing some that had a range.
 
Doesn't this scholarship generally favor students from disadvantaged backgrounds? How are the chances for students from middle class upbringing interested in working with disadvantaged communities in the future?
 
Chip Otle said:
Doesn't this scholarship generally favor students from disadvantaged backgrounds? How are the chances for students from middle class upbringing interested in working with disadvantaged communities in the future?
Click to expand...
Pretty good I’d say. I am not/was not disadvantaged in the least and I got it.
 
Louis33 said:
Do you have any advice for essays/resume, and what you think made you stand out as an applicant? Thanks! 🙂
Click to expand...
I would say to really play up if you have lots of volunteer experience or if you have some sort of connection to an underserved area. Make it seem like you will stay in an underserved area even after the scholarship requirements (try not to lie about it tho). I grew up in an underserved/rural town and enjoy the rural setting so I made sure to put that in there. I also have a very extensive volunteering background so I made sure to emphasize that as well (tactfully of course).
 
cooliyak said:
Yes, I work at a NHSC approved site and am currently in my service “repayment” years. I think if you want to do the scholarship and then transition into private practice, that would be a great plan. You would have no debt and would still be making decent money so it would be easy to save up money for the purchase/loan. Salary is really dependent on area so I would only be speculating on that for you. I would look at the job website and see if there are any actual salaries posted on some sites that you would be interested in working at. Not many have salary posted, but I think I remember seeing some that had a range.
Click to expand...

hello again, thank u so much. I started looking for information on the other websites, but almost no experience/infotmation etc from doctors who got this scholarship. According to the website, almost 200 get each year. where r those doctors? how can I reach them?
Also, some doctors, who did loan repayment program, said they had better deal (flexible hrs, more sites, more benefits). what do u think about that claims?
 
Are you able to switch sites if another one becomes available or do you have to stay at the same one the whole time for matching years?
 
hoshim said:
hello again, thank u so much. I started looking for information on the other websites, but almost no experience/infotmation etc from doctors who got this scholarship. According to the website, almost 200 get each year. where r those doctors? how can I reach them?
Also, some doctors, who did loan repayment program, said they had better deal (flexible hrs, more sites, more benefits). what do u think about that claims?
Click to expand...
There used to be an ambassador program of current NHSC scholar recipients to be a resource for those who were looking to apply or those who had gotten it and had questions about the process... but they got rid of it and replaced it with a “mentor” program for only people who have received the scholarship so I honestly don’t know where you can find the 200 or so people who are in it.
As far as loan repayment vs scholarship, the loan repayment is more flexible because they have a lower HPSA score resulting in more qualifying clinics. I don’t believe they actually have more flexible hours because there are hours/week requirements to qualify (not loan repayment vs scholarship specific) and the benefits are probably the same for both programs, but, again, that is site specific. I personally don’t think it is better though because you are only getting a fraction of the financial assistance for the same amount of years. For example. I got somewhere around $400k and I was debt free (mostly) when I graduated. I only owe 4 years so I have more flexibility to save for a practice (if I wanted to purchase one), save for retirement, live better faster, etc. Did I have fewer options to choose from? Yes, but $400k for 4 years plus my salary on top of that is well worth it to me in exchange for those fewer options. If you were to do the same thing with loan repayment, you would get a max of $50k/2 years and $70k/4 years. You still get a salary, but you have to pay off the additional $300k+ plus interest with that in addition to cost of living. So is it more flexible? Yes. Is it better? I would say absolutely no.
 
Last edited:
NeverSumer said:
Are you able to switch sites if another one becomes available or do you have to stay at the same one the whole time for matching years?
Click to expand...
You can switch as many times as you want. You just need the NHSC’s approval before you switch or else you could be switching to something that doesn’t qualify. You would only be restricted by any contracts that you sign at the site.
Another factor to consider is that the NHSC will pay to relocate you, but only once. So if you get a job after school, they will pay for your move. If you then switch to a different place, that next move is out of your own pocket.
 
cooliyak said:
You can switch as many times as you want. You just need the NHSC’s approval before you switch or else you could be switching to something that doesn’t qualify. You would only be restricted by any contracts that you sign at the site.
Another factor to consider is that the NHSC will pay to relocate you, but only once. So if you get a job after school, they will pay for your move. If you then switch to a different place, that next move is out of your own pocket.
Click to expand...
Perfect, thanks for that information. Do you have to pay for your flights when you interview at sites before graduating?
 
NeverSumer said:
Perfect, thanks for that information. Do you have to pay for your flights when you interview at sites before graduating?
Click to expand...
They will pay for a certain amount of travel for a certain amount of interviews. I didn’t need it since I was actually on rotation at the place I currently work so they used that as my working interview. It has to be pre-approved before they will pay.
 
hoshim said:
Any doctor, who has worked in these underserved area, able to share how this type of job looks like?
thanks a lot.
Click to expand...

Every job varies. Each NHSC clinic site is independently run and operated, unless you work for the Bureau of Prisons or on an Indian reservation.

Some are very well run. Some are terrible and they basically have a revolving door of physicians/providers/dentists, because they are so disorganized and pay poorly.
I remember one site telling me that they had had 4 providers (3 PAs and 1 physician) quit in the previous month. They didn't tell me why.....

As for salary, you can expect to be paid about $20K - $40K less than other private practices in the area. The loan forgiveness/money saved because of the scholarship is expected to "make up" the difference.

NeverSumer said:
Perfect, thanks for that information. Do you have to pay for your flights when you interview at sites before graduating?
Click to expand...

Usually, yes. They have a limit, but most people don't reach that.
 
Would the NHSC scholarship be worth it if the estimated debt load is 180k-200k?


________________________
 
smq123 said:
Every job varies. Each NHSC clinic site is independently run and operated, unless you work for the Bureau of Prisons or on an Indian reservation.

Thanks very much. Follow-up question; how about prisons and Indian health service sites/reservations? As far as I read by rules, only federal/some state prisons are qualified. Also, if scholarship recipient cannot secure a job site, national health will take an action and will find a job for recipient then recipient has to work on that site to avoid the breach of contract, right?
Click to expand...
 
Lalibila said:
Would the NHSC scholarship be worth it if the estimated debt load is 180k-200k?


________________________
Click to expand...

You can't make it a financial decision.

What I tell people is that the NHSC makes primary care for the underserved financially feasible. Do NOT take the scholarship if you're not already interested in caring for the underserved. This scholarship is ideally for people who would like to provide care for the underserved, but worry about being able to pay off their loans and retire at a reasonable age.

Don't do it just to avoid loans. It will not be worth it. I like caring for the underserved, but I understand why plenty of people absolutely do not. Some of the patients can be very difficult, the staff can be borderline incompetent, and the physician/dentist/NP/PA will sometimes be required to try to make the best of a bad situation.

hoshim said:
Thanks very much. Follow-up question; how about prisons and Indian health service sites/reservations? As far as I read by rules, only federal/some state prisons are qualified.
Click to expand...

Yes, the NHSC has to confirm that the job site meets criteria before approving your job interview request.

hoshim said:
Also, if scholarship recipient cannot secure a job site, national health will take an action and will find a job for recipient then recipient has to work on that site to avoid the breach of contract, right?
Click to expand...

Yes, that is correct.
 
Do the essays have a character requirement?
 
smq123 said:
You can't make it a financial decision.

What I tell people is that the NHSC makes primary care for the underserved financially feasible. Do NOT take the scholarship if you're not already interested in caring for the underserved. This scholarship is ideally for people who would like to provide care for the underserved, but worry about being able to pay off their loans and retire at a reasonable age.

Don't do it just to avoid loans. It will not be worth it. I like caring for the underserved, but I understand why plenty of people absolutely do not. Some of the patients can be very difficult, the staff can be borderline incompetent, and the physician/dentist/NP/PA will sometimes be required to try to make the best of a bad situation.



Yes, the NHSC has to confirm that the job site meets criteria before approving your job interview request.



Yes, that is correct.
Click to expand...
I mostly agree with this. No doubt that the ideal situation is when you already wanted to do public health/primary care. However, with how much students are asked to borrow in loans for dental school these days, they are being forced to look at alternatives to pay for it, even if it isn’t their first choice. It is to the point where almost anything is worth it if it means avoiding $500k+ in loans. Maybe it’s just because I wanted to do public health in the first place. Maybe it’s because I had it in my mind to stay at my current clinic even beyond my 4 years. Maybe it’s because I hated school so much that anything else beyond it seems like a dream. But I would say anyone could work at my job and be very happy and at the very least, it is bearable. It definitely depends on the site, but I don’t know if my opinion would support the statement that finances aren’t a major factor in considering this, even for me. It can be, and most likely is. You just better be sure that you can do it, that you know what you are getting yourself into, and the consequences of trying to get out of the contract.
 
NeverSumer said:
My application says "Essays should be limited to 2,500 characters or less in Times New Roman 12 font."
Click to expand...
Ok. That doesn’t surprise me. Last year they changed the wording in the application guide and the actual application from the year before, but they ended up contradicting each other. It was a pretty big point of confusion last year so I was hoping they had fixed it so that the requirements matched everywhere. I honestly don’t know what the real limit is then. And I also don’t know what was decided on as the final decision last year, but I know it was brought up at every webinar.
 
cooliyak said:
Ok. That doesn’t surprise me. Last year they changed the wording in the application guide and the actual application from the year before, but they ended up contradicting each other. It was a pretty big point of confusion last year so I was hoping they had fixed it so that the requirements matched everywhere. I honestly don’t know what the real limit is then. And I also don’t know what was decided on as the final decision last year, but I know it was brought up at every webinar.
Click to expand...
Do you know how long they take to start awarding the scholarships? The application closes May 10th this cycle
 
is it suggested to use new LOR's specific to this scholarship? or is it okay to reuse LOR's used for dental school?
 
Chip Otle said:
is it suggested to use new LOR's specific to this scholarship? or is it okay to reuse LOR's used for dental school?
Click to expand...
I would suggest new ones that are more tailored to your commitment to primary care/volunteer history/serving underserved populations, but I suppose you could reuse your dental school application letters.
 
NeverSumer said:
My application says "Essays should be limited to 2,500 characters or less in Times New Roman 12 font."
Click to expand...
r u sure that 2500 for dental school? because, there are many programs r eligible to apply - MD/DO/PA/Nurse/etc
 
Anyone know if the date you apply affects your chances?
 
I might be overthinking this, but would my regular resume work for this? It has some of my major volunteer stuff on there or is there anything special that needs to be added to it?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

C
2025 nhsc
Replies
0
Views
165
catsnteetf
C
Smile2thetop
Chances for NHSC Scholarship
Replies
0
Views
1K
Smile2thetop
Smile2thetop
D
NHSC scholarship
Replies
15
Views
3K
Hon224
H
bkthmusic
Scholarship chances
Replies
13
Views
1K
bkthmusic
bkthmusic
C
2023 NHSC Scholarship Application Question
Replies
1
Views
2K
cooliyak
C
Top