<p>I'm hoping someone can help me find info to help my niece, a HS junior who wants to become a dentist/orthodontist. She's likely to be at the top of her small public HS class, and is also interested in military or international service. Her parents are not likely to receive much need-based aid. Her Dad, having been in the National Guard, has a plan to have her apply to the service academies for college and recently mentioned the Coast Guard to me. Now, I don't think the Coast Guard actually has their own dentists so I'm thinking this is not going to be the best way to get her through pre-dental and into dental school. But the military Health Professions Scholarship programs seem to be for kids who are in college and applying to med/dental schools. Maybe ROTC covers undergrad and HPS covers grad? I've googled and searched but can't seem to find much info about how this works if one is looking for both undergrad and grad - maybe it doesn't exist? </p>
<p>Does anyone have any experience with or links to info on this? Thank You!</p>
<p>Try this link about the army health professions scholarship program. I believe it is also offered by other branches of the military </p>
<p>[GoArmy.com</a> > Army Health Care > Education Opportunities](<a href=“http://www.goarmy.com/amedd/hpsp.jsp]GoArmy.com”>http://www.goarmy.com/amedd/hpsp.jsp)</p>
<p>The program is offered to college students. If she is interested in it, make sure she really knows what she is signing up for, length of obligation, etc.</p>
<p>oops, didn’t realize you already knew about HPSP. She would have to do ROTC for undergrad and then apply separately for HPSP, but beware. If she does HPSP and ROTC, she may end up spending a career (20 years) in the military. Understanding the obligation time for each program is key.</p>
<p>Thank you - I had sent her some info on the AFHPSP some months ago but her Dad is still talking about undergrad & military. I believe there’s also something like a US Public Health Service Corps one, which would be right up her alley. I’m concerned about the payback time for her and advocating in favor of the family realizing she needs to go undergrad without ROTC even if she is somewhat interested in a military career! What if she changes her mind?! Personally, I think she could at least do a public school like SUNY and probably get merit scholarships too. Thanks for the clarification!</p>