Too late for HPSP?

[tamubeast]

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I'm having second thoughts about pulling out loans to pay for dental school. I believe I read somewhere on the threads that the quota for entering dentists has been reached (not sure if it was for the DOD in general, or just the Air Force). Is this true?

 

[Regmata]

it has been reached for the air force

 

[Tooth]

A) Try talking to the recruiter in the area of your undergrad

B) Try talking to the recruiter in the area of your dental school

They may have different stories.

Try the Navy

 

[goosestuff]

A) Try talking to the recruiter in the area of your undergrad

B) Try talking to the recruiter in the area of your dental school

They may have different stories.

Try the Navy

Yeah, I bet it's not too late for the navy or army.

 

[ChiefSchlep]

Do the army. Chances are we'll all be under the same command soon anyway. And you'll most likely get stationed in the U.S.

 

[shamrock2006]

yea the AF is full..i think they only gave out 35 4 yr HPSP's this year. I'd say try the Navy then...odds are you can get stationed at a nice seaport...something I overlooked

 

[dheav005]

agreed. call the local officer recruiting station and talk to the dental recruiter...i am heading for norfolk in about a month with very little school debt to pay down. that is a serious relief, even if i have to spend a couple of years making less than my classmates.

the folks that administer the HPSP program for the navy really seem to have their act together.

http://www.nomi.med.navy.mil/pages/nmetc/index.htm

 

[shamrock2006]

yep...you'll make a lot less then ur classmates those 3,4,or 5 yrs you serve. But even after you come out....You'll have just as much, if not more experience, you can stay in the reserves to work towards that pension, you can actually save up a nice amount of $$ w/ the military, plus...after you come out...you will be worth much more than someone fresh out of dschool, and they'll still be sitting on probably 6 figure student loans at that time..and if you go into someones practice they'll love the fact you have so much experience. It's all good in my book if you ask me.

 

[tamubeast]

Thanks for the responses. One last question - Which branch offers the best chance to get into a residency program? I would assume Army since they are the largest branch in terms of funding and personnel.

 

[tamubeast]

Also, does anyone know how the National Defense Authorization Act of 2007 could potentially alter the current NAVY HEALTH SERVICES COLLEGIATE PROGRAM (HSCP)? The threads I have read mention the HPSP and not the HSCP.

 

[TexDDS]

I just received an e-mail from an Army recruiter yesterday telling me that they still have scholarships available.

 

[purduephigam]

I believe there are plenty of army scholarships. A recruiter came to talk to us the other day and they didn't even think they were going to meet the quote in Illinois this year.

I am still very interested though. Anyone know of any cons about the scholarship? I suppose you're rolling the dice after you complete your active duty being that you have four more years of inactive duty. By that time I would imagine I would be running my own practice, and I'd have an awful lot to lose if they pulled me for deployment. Anyone have any thoughts?

 

[shamrock2006]

I believe there are plenty of army scholarships. A recruiter came to talk to us the other day and they didn't even think they were going to meet the quote in Illinois this year.

I am still very interested though. Anyone know of any cons about the scholarship? I suppose you're rolling the dice after you complete your active duty being that you have four more years of inactive duty. By that time I would imagine I would be running my own practice, and I'd have an awful lot to lose if they pulled me for deployment. Anyone have any thoughts?[/QUOTE]

wouldnt worry about that bro. that has yet to ever happen. my recruiter told me the only way that could possibly happen is if WWIII breaks out..and even then the odds are slim to none. Dont forget...the military has dentists/specialists that have made careers in the military. These guys are going to go first...and they wouldnt even need all that many of them. So I wouldnt let that screw with your decision...And, even those who get deployed..from what my uncle said ( a surgeon and colonel in the USAF)..get sent to places where they do a lot of prep work...like Italy or Germany..anywhere the US has bases where the troops are prepared for war. He was over in Iraq about a year ago...only had 2 dentists there..and, like i said...were guys who were lifers in the military.