NHSC Scholarship

[RU1992]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

Hey everyone. I just wanted to know if anyone here received the National Health Service Corps Scholarship. I really want to talk to someone who just underwent the process recently and got accepted. I'd appreciate it a lot. Thanks again!

 

[diasIItema]

I received it this year as a D1. PM me with your questions; I'd be happy to help!

 

[MikeDiggity]

I received it as well. I can also help!

 

[chill45]

Can you all share your experiences with it thus far?

 

[diasIItema]

Nothing much to say, really. They've reimbursed all my expenses thus far, gave me a large sum of change for "annual reasonable expenses" and give a competitive monthly stipend, on top of all tuition and fees paid for. It's really the best deal out there if you can land one, assuming you go to a school like me that does not offer dental scholarships. They only hand out 50 to dental students nationally each year, however.

 

[walawala3]

Nothing much to say, really. They've reimbursed all my expenses thus far, gave me a large sum of change for "annual reasonable expenses" and give a competitive monthly stipend, on top of all tuition and fees paid for. It's really the best deal out there if you can land one, assuming you go to a school like me that does not offer dental scholarships. They only hand out 50 to dental students nationally each year, however.

Do they allow you to do 1-year GPR before re-servicing?

 

[diasIItema]

Yes, I believe you're permitted a 1-year GPR/AEGD or 2-year pedo or public health residency. I want to get an MPH (11 month accelerated), but they told me I couldn't defer for that. But I am allowed to take a gap year, suspend funding, and then re-enroll after. Makes no sense to me, but it is the federal government.

 

[tracy123]

I'm interested in applying for this scholarship as well. How were the essays. What do you think stood out the most on your application?

 

[diasIItema]

They're very short (3) essays. Just answer the prompts. It's hard to say what stands out. All I can say is be sincere in your answers and make your CV look good. LOR's probably go a long way.

 

[tracy123]

I don't have much volunteering experience.How bad will that look?!? How many hours did you have and what could I do to get more hours?

 

[diasIItema]

Not gonna lie, it'll probably look pretty bad considering the point of the scholarship is to serve the underserved. I had 493 hours of community service my senior year alone. That's definitely more than is necessary, I'm sure, but you need to get yourself into some service (leadership, free clinics, internships, mission trips, etc). If you're not willing to do that, then you don't deserve the scholarship. Just sayin'

 

[smq123]

I don't have much volunteering experience.How bad will that look?!? How many hours did you have and what could I do to get more hours?

I'm not entirely sure how much it matters. I didn't volunteer much but I was involved in other organizations that showed I was interested in helping the underserved.

If you're not willing to do that, then you don't deserve the scholarship. Just sayin'

This seems a little harsh, and not entirely accurate. Everybody has different priorities and may not have the time or ability to volunteer a lot, particularly as a dental student. That doesn't make them any less fit or willing to work with the underserved.

 

[diasIItema]

This seems a little harsh, and not entirely accurate. Everybody has different priorities and may not have the time or ability to volunteer a lot, particularly as a dental student. That doesn't make them any less fit or willing to work with the underserved.

This was in response to an undergraduate, not a dental student. No, a dental student does not have much time for any of those things to prioritize individually. However, my point was that this is a service-oriented scholarship and career path, not a "get out of debt free" card. If you want that, do HPSP. However, unless the person is financially disadvantaged or a URM, it's hard to argue that they'll stand out without some service-oriented leadership or activities relative to other applicants. Sure, they can be equipped to serve the underserved, but you still have to EARN the scholarship.

 

[lnngu]

This was in response to an undergraduate, not a dental student. No, a dental student does not have much time for any of those things to prioritize individually. However, my point was that this is a service-oriented scholarship and career path, not a "get out of debt free" card. If you want that, do HPSP. However, unless the person is financially disadvantaged or a URM, it's hard to argue that they'll stand out without some service-oriented leadership or activities relative to other applicants. Sure, they can be equipped to serve the underserved, but you still have to EARN the scholarship.

I can see why you'd say that, but smq123 is right in saying that this isn't accurate. Volunteering supports your application, but is not a make or break factor. I am neither disadvantaged nor URM, and my volunteering experience was very shallow. Yet, I'm in the second year of receiving the scholarship, so obviously, the NHSC found other factors that pegged me as being fit for it.
In the end, this program is about breaking down barriers to care and helping those in need. It is not a competition as to who can appear more righteous, which, right or wrong, is sometimes the impression I get from reading your posts.

 

[smq123]

This was in response to an undergraduate, not a dental student. No, a dental student does not have much time for any of those things to prioritize individually. However, my point was that this is a service-oriented scholarship and career path, not a "get out of debt free" card. If you want that, do HPSP. However, unless the person is financially disadvantaged or a URM, it's hard to argue that they'll stand out without some service-oriented leadership or activities relative to other applicants. Sure, they can be equipped to serve the underserved, but you still have to EARN the scholarship.

Even some undergraduates can't prioritize volunteer work. Some NEED a part time job to help defray costs, or else they have to drop out of school. Some have families. Some are non-trads who are still working at their full time jobs.

Yes, I understand that this is not a "get out of debt free" card. But trust me, you will "earn" this scholarship on the back end. You will be working with an incredibly difficult subset of patients that few others want to work with, for a pay that, while decent, is still less than what you could be earning elsewhere. Many of the centers that I interviewed at last year were poorly run, with uncaring management, incompetent support staff, and high provider (MD/DO, NP, PA, DMD/DDS) turnover. And you give up the freedom of choice, both of specialty and (often times) location. I've been trying to write about my experience in the NHSC forum....working on getting it updated.

In the end, this program is about breaking down barriers to care and helping those in need. It is not a competition as to who can appear more righteous, which, right or wrong, is sometimes the impression I get from reading your posts.

Well said. 👍

 

[pjscholar]

Is it possible to get the scholarship for the last three years of dental school? I'm a D1 right now and have not yet applied. Thanks!!

 

[smq123]

Is it possible to get the scholarship for the last three years of dental school? I'm a D1 right now and have not yet applied. Thanks!!

Yes, you can get the scholarship part way through school. I got mine after my 2nd year of med school, to cover my 3rd and 4th years.

 

[RU1992]

For those who have received the scholarship, are you more likely to receive the scholarship if you are URM or financially disadvantaged? Do these criteria almost guarantee the scholarship?

 

[lnngu]

For those who have received the scholarship, are you more likely to receive the scholarship if you are URM or financially disadvantaged? Do these criteria almost guarantee the scholarship?

1. Perhaps, as those are 2 of the criterias listed for being awarded the scholarship.
2. Probably not... two cycles ago, there were plenty of URM/disadvantaged students on these SDN forums who expressed dismay that they weren't picked for the program, whereas some scholars like myself aren't URM or disadvantaged.

Given what they tell us on our teleconferences, it seems to me that HRSA primarily looks for the best fits for the scholarship.

 

[RU1992]

So as an individual who is URM and financially disadvantaged, but also involved in leadership activities and organizations both on/off campus, am I in a good position for the scholarship? I'm sorry for all the questions, I'm just very interested in this program.