So, I have a question. I just got the 4 year Army HPSP scholarship yesterday, which I am very fortunate for. Also, I will be going to NYU next year for dental school. Now, I have about half of the cost of tuition, room, and board saved up for NYU. So, would it be worth taking the scholarship if I would only have to take out about $200,000 loans total for NYU? Or, should I take the scholarship and use my savings to buy a practice after my military obligations? I honestly don't know what to do.
Should I take HPSP?
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Would you mind being in the military? Do you have family obligations that would hold you back?
If the answer to both of these is "no," I'd take it.
You have 200k saved up?! INVEST THAT!!!
If the answer to both of these is "no," I'd take it.
You have 200k saved up?! INVEST THAT!!!
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Well, you are getting a full ride to school. Let me say that again FULL RIDE.
Let them pay for everything. Pay them back with service. And use that $ that you have saved for a practice. You are very lucky.
Let them pay for everything. Pay them back with service. And use that $ that you have saved for a practice. You are very lucky.
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Take the scholarship and use your savings to buy a practice after your military obligations.
I would take it and invest that money you have for the next 8 years. I'm sure you didn't receive that money by winning the lottery (but you might) so if you keep up the good work on saving then you could get out of the army and buy a practice out right with zero debt. A lot better situation than even taking out $200k for school and another $200k-$400k for a practice. You wouldn't be in a much better situation than most people who go to a state school and take out loans for four years. If you don't think you would mind 4 years in the military I don't see why not accept it. It's a small blimp on a long career of practicing.
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Hi, I am applying for the Army HPSP and was wondering what your stats were since you got the scholarship. I have a 3.6 gpa and a 24 on the DAT. Just trying to gage myself. Thanks!
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@Dentalkid20 your stats are higher than mine and I got army and navy 4 yrs
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I have the scholarship right now and I love it. Even if you're not crazy about the military you have a good job straight out of school, something other students would dream of. Even if you are thinking of specializing it is useful because it is much easier to get into a military program than a civilian program (from what I hear, haven't done it my self). I would take it and invest the money you have saved up in some properties or something quite honestly.
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no noo specialization in military is harder than civilian as they force u to apply for military specialty residence which you compete against hsps that completed their payback year get promotions and etc. for the record no fresh hsps grad get in specialty like ortho. most end up doing AEGD for 2 year to have 50k+ additional pay during payback time and if they like specialize after their payback.
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This is false. There's a thread somewhere in the military forum that shows the number of recipients and applications for the specialties at least in the Army. If you have the stats and resume, you can specialize. Oral Surgery for the Army is close to a 1 in 3 chance of matching. in 2014: 32 applied, 11 accepted. 12 applied right out of dental school and 8 of them were accepted. 2 out of the 3 students right out of dental school were accepted into ortho. Please refrain from misinforming/exagerrating.
The thread: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/residency-selection-results.1063232/#post-15092622
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Sometimes statistics number do not match the real-life situations. Do you ever wonder why only 3 students apply to ortho in the first place out of many hsps recipients. Not to mention Army pays you 50-60k extra for ortho specialty (AEGD gains extra pay too though not a specialty) Plus, Army branch do not ever let you apply to civilian specialty.
I have read real posts of army dentists serving and graduating and they share that they did not even apply because their chance is slim. Unless you are a super star and can outcompete your peers, yes you will get in. But this does not make specialty residence any easier than civilian. OMFS is something that the Army branch needs (my post only says ortho specialty for military) but 4 year of dental school pay back + 6 year of OMFS pay back = 10 year pay back on top of 10 year you spend in school (4 year dental school + 6 year OMFS specialty). Additionally, when someone spends 10 year in military and only 10 year away from earning full retirement and pension, they feel inclined to do so BUT some people just don't want to spend a career in Army dentistry.
I am not misinforming and exaggerating. Go read on some more specializations as an army (ortho, period, prostho) the link you posted includes the positive vibe and hope for specialization.
On the side note: i am applying for Army HSPS and rooting that i will get it. However, although i like specialization, i won't set my hope high and feel disappointed when I don't get it. AEGD is still good for me.
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That's not completely true. They make you apply for an AEGD which you don't have to take but not other specialty programs. Also I have read another forum from a frustrated ARMY dentist who was mad because he didn't get into a specialty even though he had done his payback. Another guy who posts very frequently about ARMY dent said your time in and even deployments have little to do with getting a spot if there are more competent younger people. Why would they want you to specialize AFTER paying back your time? For them, it just amounts to fewer years that they get to use the specialty skills that they provide you. I know of plenty who have gotten into a program their first year out or second year because some have to do BOLC first.
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good to hear then, but I honestly rather opt to do civilian specialty after my payback. I don't want to owe any more payback year. Thanks for the tip.
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Also, I believe OMFS payback is only two years so 6 years total including Pre Doc and OMFS. That's what I remember hearing I think. And you have to realize that working for the military becomes your career for that time. It's easy to get bogged down and think "all that time to pay back before I can really start working!!" but if you change your attitude I think you'll realize that you already ARE working and serving a purpose and doing what you spent all of those years in school for.🙂
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First, it's HPSP, learn the name of the scholarship you are applying for, I see this too often.
Not many people apply for ortho because there aren't many spots in the military for ortho in general, I'll give you that. The 2-yr AEGD will gain you the specialty pay that you speak of, don't see how that's connected. You only need to apply for the 1 or 2 year AEGD if you don't apply for a specialty, and then you don't have to accept it. Also, it's not true that the Army "does not ever let you apply to civilian specialty" you can do this, but I don't see why you would because then you would owe extra payback as well as the civilian tuition/fees.
The Army has only 4 year OMFS (they actually added 2 slots for 6-yr I believe this yr but that's besides the point here) that payback is concurrent with your HPSP payback, so in the end you only pay back 4 years after your 4 year OMFS residency (and btw you are getting paid full salary while in your residency, as opposed to the $40-50k your civilian colleagues will be making).
There's great opportunity in HPSP regardless of branch if you make the most of your education and connections.
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you only have to apply for the 1 year aegd. the 2 year is deemed a specialty in the military, and as such, you'll be given specialty pay.
and specialization being easier vs. more difficult in the civilian world is a tough one. there are limited spots for everything...for instance if you wanted to pursue a 1 year aegd and be a general dentist, there are only 40 something spots, which you are competing for with newly graduated dentists. they're making it tougher from what i've heard. i know people who didn't get into aegd programs in the military, where as i know people who barely scraped by in dental school with gprs and aegds, just by virtue of # of civilian programs.
if it came time to applying for another specialty, then you'd be competing with officers who've already been in and probably have more extensive resumes
and specialization being easier vs. more difficult in the civilian world is a tough one. there are limited spots for everything...for instance if you wanted to pursue a 1 year aegd and be a general dentist, there are only 40 something spots, which you are competing for with newly graduated dentists. they're making it tougher from what i've heard. i know people who didn't get into aegd programs in the military, where as i know people who barely scraped by in dental school with gprs and aegds, just by virtue of # of civilian programs.
if it came time to applying for another specialty, then you'd be competing with officers who've already been in and probably have more extensive resumes
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this is what I talk about from my understanding from other sources
