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TL;DR: I'm considering the 3-year HPSP Navy scholarship. I have two important questions at the end.
Hey everyone, I’m currently an M1 at one of my state's MD schools, and I’ve been considering taking the 3-year HPSP scholarship, specifically with the US Navy. I’ve been going through the process along with a recruiter. INB4 you ask, the chances of me being approved for it are extremely high (I didn't have to do the board interview), so I’m thinking ahead before I accept anything.
I made some mistakes during the medical school application process. I have vowed to not do that again during medical school, especially while researching the HPSP program, the scholarship, the time in the military, and the infamous payback system.
So, I'm writing this out to have my current conceptions about the possible timelines possible with a 3 yr-HPSP scholarship either confirmed or corrected. Please correct me if I am wrong. So, here goes:
As I currently understand, there are 4 ways that my obligation to HPSP ends (from a 3-year scholarship):
1) GMO and out. I immediately do 3 years as a GMO after medical school. If I understand this correctly, I do not owe any payback as active duty after GMO, but I do owe 5 years in the reserve. I would prefer to be a flight surgeon.
2) Interrupted residency training – do 3 years GMO after intern year (at military residency. Civ doesn't allow interrupted training?). Please correct me if I'm wrong.
3) Straight through training – Finish residency (will most likely be civilian, with civilian pay so no accrued payback), and then do 3 years GMO. This is the least attractive option for me as I will most likely be married with kids at that point, no longer in my physical prime, and will also have skill atrophy. But I hear conflicting information, though.
4) New option – Comes from this post: New Navy Residency/GMO Program - Beware | Student Doctor Network. Apparently, I have a guaranteed residency spot if I decide to do an extra 1-2 years of training? That is also unattractive as it means that I have to accrue extra years onto training, but I’m open to it.
I'm only 21 years old, so I'm willing to bend to the "needs of the Navy" from the age of 25-28. But after that, no way. For that reason, I have my heart set on the GMO and out route. Other than quietly completing my reserve duties, I want little to do with the Navy afterwards. If I get somehow called from the reserves, then I take the L on the chin.
Other than that, I would highly prefer to match into a civilian residency after finishing my 3-year GMO service/tour.
I've gone through the financial repercussions of it, and since I won't be graduating with any debt, the service time is fine for me. I also don't plan on pursuing a military residency (unless it's a last-ditch effort for Ortho, ENT, Gen Surg, IM or EM), so if I decide to change my specialty, I'm fine with that. I currently don't have a single bit of interest in any "ROAD" specialties, but people say it could change? dunno 'bout that.
Thus, I have two questions:
1) Has anyone here (or know anyone who has) recently undergone the "GMO and out" -> civ. residency path, and successfully matched to a preferred/high-ranked civilian residency? If you have personal experience that would be great as well.
2) How does the reserves duty requirement look for a Navy GMO/FS/DMO? Is it doable with a surgical residency (not Neurosurg lol)?
Also, if anyone knows what path would lead to a better outcome for my residency applications (GMO and out - residency application vibes), some say that doing a straight through residency is better than doing GMO and out? Curious to hear people's opinions on it.
These are highly pertinent questions I ask because they can make or break my decision to sign up for the scholarship. I believe my judgement is somewhat clouded due to my inexperience. Please enlighten me.
Hey everyone, I’m currently an M1 at one of my state's MD schools, and I’ve been considering taking the 3-year HPSP scholarship, specifically with the US Navy. I’ve been going through the process along with a recruiter. INB4 you ask, the chances of me being approved for it are extremely high (I didn't have to do the board interview), so I’m thinking ahead before I accept anything.
I made some mistakes during the medical school application process. I have vowed to not do that again during medical school, especially while researching the HPSP program, the scholarship, the time in the military, and the infamous payback system.
So, I'm writing this out to have my current conceptions about the possible timelines possible with a 3 yr-HPSP scholarship either confirmed or corrected. Please correct me if I am wrong. So, here goes:
As I currently understand, there are 4 ways that my obligation to HPSP ends (from a 3-year scholarship):
1) GMO and out. I immediately do 3 years as a GMO after medical school. If I understand this correctly, I do not owe any payback as active duty after GMO, but I do owe 5 years in the reserve. I would prefer to be a flight surgeon.
2) Interrupted residency training – do 3 years GMO after intern year (at military residency. Civ doesn't allow interrupted training?). Please correct me if I'm wrong.
3) Straight through training – Finish residency (will most likely be civilian, with civilian pay so no accrued payback), and then do 3 years GMO. This is the least attractive option for me as I will most likely be married with kids at that point, no longer in my physical prime, and will also have skill atrophy. But I hear conflicting information, though.
4) New option – Comes from this post: New Navy Residency/GMO Program - Beware | Student Doctor Network. Apparently, I have a guaranteed residency spot if I decide to do an extra 1-2 years of training? That is also unattractive as it means that I have to accrue extra years onto training, but I’m open to it.
I'm only 21 years old, so I'm willing to bend to the "needs of the Navy" from the age of 25-28. But after that, no way. For that reason, I have my heart set on the GMO and out route. Other than quietly completing my reserve duties, I want little to do with the Navy afterwards. If I get somehow called from the reserves, then I take the L on the chin.
Other than that, I would highly prefer to match into a civilian residency after finishing my 3-year GMO service/tour.
I've gone through the financial repercussions of it, and since I won't be graduating with any debt, the service time is fine for me. I also don't plan on pursuing a military residency (unless it's a last-ditch effort for Ortho, ENT, Gen Surg, IM or EM), so if I decide to change my specialty, I'm fine with that. I currently don't have a single bit of interest in any "ROAD" specialties, but people say it could change? dunno 'bout that.
Thus, I have two questions:
1) Has anyone here (or know anyone who has) recently undergone the "GMO and out" -> civ. residency path, and successfully matched to a preferred/high-ranked civilian residency? If you have personal experience that would be great as well.
2) How does the reserves duty requirement look for a Navy GMO/FS/DMO? Is it doable with a surgical residency (not Neurosurg lol)?
Also, if anyone knows what path would lead to a better outcome for my residency applications (GMO and out - residency application vibes), some say that doing a straight through residency is better than doing GMO and out? Curious to hear people's opinions on it.
These are highly pertinent questions I ask because they can make or break my decision to sign up for the scholarship. I believe my judgement is somewhat clouded due to my inexperience. Please enlighten me.