Scholarship after year 1

[Μοlar Βear]

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Hello - I hope this answer isn't a simple search away (I couldn't find all too much, at least) but do your chances at the HPSP change after 1 year in dental school?

For example, I have a lower OGPA, and I'm wondering if one stellar year in dental school is all that will be looked at if pursuing the scholarship after your first year.

I'd love any information how this works from any members here.

 

[w4nt2baDDS]

The problem is time-frame. For a 3 year scholarship you have to apply for it at the beginning of your first year of dental school and you typically wont find out if you are awarded the scholarship until early spring semester of your first year.

Not sure if any branches are currently doing 2-year or 1-year scholarships but the minimum payback obligation is 3 years for these scholarships.

Thus, if you apply after your first year of dental school you wouldn't know if you're awarded a scholarship until the spring of the 2nd year and therefore you'd be applying for a 2-year scholarship which comes with a 3-year payback obligation after school ends.

In regards to your specific question of dental school gpa impacting your chance of getting the scholarship i'm actually not sure.. largely because most people apply for the scholarships before they take any dental school classes. There have been people who have done 1-year or 2-year scholarships with a 3-year obligation but they are not always offered and typically not heavily sought after.

 

[Tooth Ferry]

From friends who've tried to apply for the 3-year, Army does not waive your undergrad GPA. Also, if you were to apply for the 3-year, you would generally be submitting everything during your first semester of D-school, so it's really irrelevant. They also are definitely not suffering from a shortage of applicants.

I know a guy who has a parent who's high up at Dentcom and they couldn't get a waiver for a lower undergrad GPA.

Good luck

 

[ArmyDentistGal]

Great question. The answer is 'no.' Undergrad GPA is still considered. In fact, the Army has less than 1/4 as many 3-yr HPSP than it does 4-yr HPSP. Those applicants who were not chosen for the 4-yr HPSP as well as first-year students who either missed the application window or just found out about the scholarship are applying for the 3-yr HPSP, so the competitiveness of the scholarship is dramatically increased, and the undergrad GPA is still evaluated. Also, the deadline for applying will hit before most students receive their first-semester grades. If you are interested in serving our country as an Army dentist but don't receive an HPSP for any reason, you can always do well in dental school and apply for active duty during your senior year. To be even more competitive, you can attend a 1-yr GPR or AEGD and apply for active duty with that on your resume.

 

[InformMe123]

Great question. The answer is 'no.' Undergrad GPA is still considered. In fact, the Army has less than 1/4 as many 3-yr HPSP than it does 4-yr HPSP. Those applicants who were not chosen for the 4-yr HPSP as well as first-year students who either missed the application window or just found out about the scholarship are applying for the 3-yr HPSP, so the competitiveness of the scholarship is dramatically increased, and the undergrad GPA is still evaluated. Also, the deadline for applying will hit before most students receive their first-semester grades. If you are interested in serving our country as an Army dentist but don't receive an HPSP for any reason, you can always do well in dental school and apply for active duty during your senior year. To be even more competitive, you can attend a 1-yr GPR or AEGD and apply for active duty with that on your resume.

How many 3-year scholarships approximately will be given out this cycle?? What gpa would be competitive?

 

[ArmyDentistGal]

There are only 15. Check with a local medical recruiter as I believe they have already cut off any new applications. The selection board does look at an applicant as a whole person. Leadership skills, service to country, passion for being an Army dentist, etc, all go into play along with GPA/DAT.