STA-21 Program

[navylabtech]

As some may know, the Navy has a new program option for STA-21. It is the Medical Corps option, and if selected provides:
1. Full pay and allowances for (7) years.
2. (3) years to complete your undergrad degree in pre-med. (10k a year for tuition stipend, any school with NROTC)
3.(4) years to complete medical school. (fully paid, any school)

So my question is this: In 1.5 years I will be leaving the military (Currently a Lab Tech, pursuing my pre-med at night), Should I apply for this program, or would it be better to get out and take out loans. I would definitely plan on going to a private school (probably Vanderbilt) either way (I have a 33 ACT, current GPA is a 3.65). Is it worth losing around 40,000 dollars a year while in school (plus housing allowance) for 7 years, and roughing it on loans?? I know I can already manage a military lifestyle as I already have almost 5 years in. However, I continue to hear a lot of bad stuff about military medicine and becoming a physician in the military when compared to that of the civilian sector. Any insight as to whether this program is worth it, or personal opinions would be appreciated.

Thanks! 🙂

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[Galo]

As some may know, the Navy has a new program option for STA-21. It is the Medical Corps option, and if selected provides:
1. Full pay and allowances for (7) years.
2. (3) years to complete your undergrad degree in pre-med. (10k a year for tuition stipend, any school with NROTC)
3.(4) years to complete medical school. (fully paid, any school)

So my question is this: In 1.5 years I will be leaving the military (Currently a Lab Tech, pursuing my pre-med at night), Should I apply for this program, or would it be better to get out and take out loans. I would definitely plan on going to a private school (probably Vanderbilt) either way (I have a 33 ACT, current GPA is a 3.65). Is it worth losing around 40,000 dollars a year while in school (plus housing allowance) for 7 years, and roughing it on loans?? I know I can already manage a military lifestyle as I already have almost 5 years in. However, I continue to hear a lot of bad stuff about military medicine and becoming a physician in the military when compared to that of the civilian sector. Any insight as to whether this program is worth it, or personal opinions would be appreciated.

Thanks! 🙂

If you've read through the forum, you will see that many of us have had negative experiences across the board be it specialty, or service. I think the biggest danger is not getting to do what you want, or if you do getting not the best training that you can, and then not being able to practice to the best of your ability because of lack of support, logistics, understanding, and just plain military idiocy.

You are in an interesting position since you are on AD, and presumably at a hospital. I think it would be interesting for you to ask as many AD docs at your base, and see what they have to say.

 

[jeepgirl]

Navylabtech,
Just wondering what your service payback would be ...

 

[navylabtech]

Navylabtech,
Just wondering what your service payback would be ...

12 years for USUHS & 9 years for a civilian med school (That is total including 3 years undergrad and 4 years med.)

 

[jeepgirl]

12 years for USUHS & 9 years for a civilian med school (That is total including 3 years undergrad and 4 years med.)

This is just the $0.02 of a fellow enlisted member, so take it with a grain of salt ...

That's a lot of payback time. I guess its no biggie if you've decided that the military is for you and you want to make a career out of it ... BUT, just because you feel that way now, doesn't necessarily mean you'll feel that way a couple of years down the road. This forum is filled with folks suffering from "buyer's remorse". Most of them didn't have the resource of sdn.com to turn to before signing on the dotted line.

I've talked to a few docs. Most of the younger ones are just counting down the days until they can get out. You should definitely do your own random sample and gather your own information.

If you're worried about loan debt and want to minimize costs, try looking into more inexpensive schools to finish your undergrad. Save your money for medical school.

 

[usnavdoc]

As some may know, the Navy has a new program option for STA-21. It is the Medical Corps option, and if selected provides:
1. Full pay and allowances for (7) years.
2. (3) years to complete your undergrad degree in pre-med. (10k a year for tuition stipend, any school with NROTC)
3.(4) years to complete medical school. (fully paid, any school)

So my question is this: In 1.5 years I will be leaving the military (Currently a Lab Tech, pursuing my pre-med at night), Should I apply for this program, or would it be better to get out and take out loans. I would definitely plan on going to a private school (probably Vanderbilt) either way (I have a 33 ACT, current GPA is a 3.65). Is it worth losing around 40,000 dollars a year while in school (plus housing allowance) for 7 years, and roughing it on loans?? I know I can already manage a military lifestyle as I already have almost 5 years in. However, I continue to hear a lot of bad stuff about military medicine and becoming a physician in the military when compared to that of the civilian sector. Any insight as to whether this program is worth it, or personal opinions would be appreciated.

Thanks! 🙂

Several issues but the big thing is this is way too much payback time for you to make a decision on this right now. Use the Gi bill go to school and then to med school. You can always re-entertain the military option later with out obligating your life now.

Also why definitely a private school? Right now you should just concentrate on undergrad.

 

[navylabtech]

Also why definitely a private school? Right now you should just concentrate on undergrad.

Meaning I would like the undergrad to be a private school (I hate to waste a 33 ACT). However, it will probably end up being a public institution. Everyday that I sift through the forums, I learn more about why not to stay in the military.

 

[jeepgirl]

Meaning I would like the undergrad to be a private school (I hate to waste a 33 ACT). However, it will probably end up being a public institution. Everyday that I sift through the forums, I learn more about why not to stay in the military.

There are plenty of top tier state schools out there. On the east coast: UNC, NC State, UGA, GA Tech, U of F, U of Tenn, Auburn, U of Virginia, U of Michigan, U Mass, UCONN, etc. I know I've left some off that list ... Taking your 33 ACT to any of these schools wouldn't exactly be wasting your scores. You'll probably find yourself in the middle of the academic pack of the incoming freshmen classes.

By all means, apply to Vandy if that's where you want to go, but if your financial aid package doesn't work out, ie lots and lots of loans, very few scholarships and grants, don't think you need to break the bank to get a great undergrad education. Keep your options open and do your research.

Good luck.

 

[deployeddoc]

Shipmate,

I think that you have some interesting choices ahead of you... I am glad to see that you scored well on your ACT's... However, honestly, Im not impressed nor should you put so much emphasis on it... An education- no matter where you go, no matter what your SAT or ACT scores are, is an education and is what you make of it. Dont get tied up with what school, what specialty, what sub specialty etc!

Lets look at the STA-21 Program realistically... and clear up a few misconceptions- Especially- is Medical School completely paid for even if attending another school aside from USUHS? The way it reads, is once you complete your undergrad you will either be accepted to USUHS or be apart of the HPSP program. In the HPSP program one is not entitled to pay and benefits as if on active duty. This is something you should look into.

Retirement- If you are not prepared to retire in the military- This is not the program for you. I understand that you think that you understand the military- You are a lab tech and you have been in for 5 yrs. Wonderful, so you have essentially been working as a lab tech for about 3 years. You have been to one maybe two commands since finishing school? There is a lot for you to learn about the military. Im not trying to burst your bubble, I want good, quality Sailors in the Navy, and I call it like it is. Im currently serving a 15 month stint in Afghanistan with an army unit, so if you have never been deployed then you really dont know what the military is like.

Being in a similar situation as yours if you really want to talk HM to HM, or rather POG to GRUNT, lab tech to FMF doc drop me a line... we have a lot to talk about.

All in all- if you are single with no children- No worries, any choice will work out, you will have more flexibility by getting out and completing it on your own terms... If you're married and or have children, there are other things you need to look at.

HM1

 

[Sevenof792008]

Hey, did you get a chance to look at the selection results for Sta-21. I think they only selected 2 people for the FY08. Pretty competitive. Where do you stand with you medical school pre-requisites?

 

[SF49ers Fan]

As some may know, the Navy has a new program option for STA-21. It is the Medical Corps option, and if selected provides:
1. Full pay and allowances for (7) years.
2. (3) years to complete your undergrad degree in pre-med. (10k a year for tuition stipend, any school with NROTC)
3.(4) years to complete medical school. (fully paid, any school)

This is my 2 cents from someone who was selected through the STA-21 program years ago and later accepted an HPSP scholarship. 9-12 years is a very large commitment. I have never heard of such a large commitment from any other program. Especially since internship and residency won't count towards that. You could very well commit to 17 years (12 years + 5 for internship and residency). Wow! Make absolutely sure you want to do this before accepting that. Also looking at the program options from the STA-21 website, I'm not sure you are fully paid during the time that you are on the HPSP scholarship, otherwise the service obligation would be the same as USUHS. Good luck!