<p>In August I recieved an ISD from the Naval ROTC. I really want to pursue a career in the military, but I also want to eventually become a military doctor. I understand there is the Health Professions Scholarship Program, which is kind of the ROTC for med school. Is it possible to recieve the ROTC scholarship for my undergraduate studies, and then continue to medical school with the HPSP scholarship for med school? I assume then that the years I owe the military from the ROTC scholarship will just then be deferred until after I complete medical school.</p>
<p>So if it is possible to do ROTC then HPSP? How rare is this...? Is it highly unlikely? Is it super competitive?
Is it a bad idea?</p>
<p>Good for you. My FIL was a career military MD. Sometimes very, very dangerous work. </p>
<p>I believe that there is such a program but you have to qualify for each stage and if you get booted out or fail the program, then you must reimburse the taxpayers in $$$ and/or time.</p>
<p>We have a friend of another nationality who took advantage of that country's program. He however skipped his obligation and emigrated to US. He's a surgeon in NYC and donates much of his time to patients that other surgeons turns down because of they cannot pay. I guess that is his way of recompense. He can never return to his home country because if he did, its immediate military courtmartial and jail time.</p>
<p>It is possible, but keep in mind how much time you will owe the military. HPSP is generally a 4 year active duty payback. The payback time begins after residency. So, for example, if you graduate from medical school and begin a 4 year residency (generally you are on active duty in a military hospital during residency) in 2008, your payback time does not begin until 2012, so you would be in the army until at least 2016. Most likely, your ROTC payback time would be tacked onto that. If ROTC payback is 4 years, then you would be in the army until 2020. If you definitely want a military career, then 12 years may not seem like a long time. However, think hard about committing to anything for such a long period, especially the military. It's not something you can get out of if you decide the military life is not for you. Investigate military websites, etc for official information and ask lots of questions to decide if it's right for you.</p>
<p>I have hesitated to answer this post -- I only know a little bit, but since you aren't getting much info I will add my two cents.</p>
<p>My understanding matches what thisoldman said -- you have to be accepted at each point of the game. That this means is that you might complete a degree with ROTC and apply for the medical program, but the army might choose to send you as an officer to Iraq. It is predicted that the army will be very short of officers in the next 10 years (seems captains and majors are not reenlisted at the levels needed).</p>
<p>This is my advice:</p>
<p>Consider if you truly want a career with the armed services. There are huge benefits and huge disadvantages. go into it with your eyes open. A military career can be fantastic for the right person.</p>
<p>Look at all the branches -- each has pluses and minuses, each has its own "personality".</p>
<p>When you do your research, DON'T talk with recruiters. Talk with people that are serving, have served and not reenlisted and people who retired from the military. Listen to what they have to say. </p>
<p>If you decide that a career in the military is for you -- take advantage of the ROTC scholarship programs and have the military pay for you school. When you graduate, you can apply for the med school program but if you aren't accepted, you are still a commisioned officer in the service with solid pay and benefits and a career ahead of you.</p>
<p>If you aren't sure that a military career is for you, look for other ways to pay for college and take some ROTC classes. Then apply for the medical program after college -- if you aren't accepted, you can still choose to go to med school and take out loans or you can choose another career.</p>