Rotc

[rasajdak]

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Is there anyone here with ROTC, or for that matter, any military background whatsoever? If so, do you believe it has helped you at all in the application process? I'm interested in ROTC, but wondering if it would detract too much from everything else (grades, etc.)

--Ryan

 

[tinkerbelle]

You should check out the military forum. I don't see how doing ROTC would help you though... unless you're applying for USUHS. Although it's not hard to get into USUHS as a civillian. I guess it could help since you won't have to find a job to pay college tuition.. so you can actually study more (or party more )

 

[EvoDevo]

I'm an ex-Marine and at every single stinkin' interview I've always had an interviewer who was ex-military (~8 interviews) or a reservist.

 

[Fermata]

"ROTC: Do you like guns?!?! Do you like naked men?!?!" Uncle Sam wants you."



Just ripping on you Evo. 😀

 

[Khenon]

I'm an ex-Marine and at every single stinkin' interview I've always had an interviewer who was ex-military (~8 interviews) or a reservist.

I wonder if they're purposely doing that because they know you're military too. I guess I can't think of a good reason why, unless they want to ask you military questions that they feel only prior military would understand. Anyway, that's interesting. I wonder if other ex-military are finding the same thing in their interviews.

 

[DrYo12]

I'm an ex-Marine and at every single stinkin' interview I've always had an interviewer who was ex-military (~8 interviews) or a reservist.

coincidence...i think not!

 

[swifteagle43]

Is there anyone here with ROTC, or for that matter, any military background whatsoever? If so, do you believe it has helped you at all in the application process? I'm interested in ROTC, but wondering if it would detract too much from everything else (grades, etc.)

--Ryan

Well Ryan

There is actually a military college for medicine for people like you. Instead of doing ROTC(unless u wana do a career) look into going to army for medical. But seriously it is NOT worth it. Many of my moms friends wished they had taken loans instead of joinning the ROTC for med school.

The main problem with the army is the lack of good trainning and their extensive stay requirement(you have to commit more than other soldiers and for a longer period of time). While you may think it may be initially worth it there are people who have had some real horror stories about it...

Seriously consider what you are doing. The military is not worth doing in my opinion if you want to be an MD. I tried out for ROTC and was told I would get a full ride(in paper) but turned it down after I talked to some of my moms friends who did that.

 

[polkadot]

Is there anyone here with ROTC, or for that matter, any military background whatsoever? If so, do you believe it has helped you at all in the application process? I'm interested in ROTC, but wondering if it would detract too much from everything else (grades, etc.)

--Ryan

I had a Navy ROTC scholarship for undergrad and spent the last 7 years on active duty. Although I can't speak exactly to the medical school path, I was a pre-med so I know a little bit (maybe a little dated info).

My experience: I'm extremely happy I did not pay for my BS, but I DO think that being in ROTC hindered my chances for med school. ROTC is a lot of "reindeer games". You get up early to run around the campus, you stay up late shining shoes/ironing uniforms. I probably spent upwards of 20 hours per week on ROTC stuff, which all cuts into academic time. My grades were pretty crappy (under 3.0), and I was in no way capable of taking the MCAT. That, of course, is not entirely due to being in ROTC but has a lot to do with my inability to prioritize classwork over my ROTC unit, so you probably will be better at that than I was.

At that time (late 90s), getting a med school scholarship from ROTC was not terribly hard (both people I know who applied from ROTC were granted med school scholarships but couldn't get into a school; I think they both had gpa's in low 3's), although that may not be the case now, with the need for boots on the ground.

Now, seven years later, after a generally successful Naval career and some "self-reflection", I figured out that optometry was more my thing than med school anyway. I would say that my active duty military experience has definitely been a plus during the interview process but not ROTC itself.

Also, consider this: commitment for ROTC plus commitment for med school = at least 8 active duty years. If you want to discuss ROTC/my opinion of military medicine anymore, feel free to pm.

-p.dot