Army ROTC and HPSP

[Ovietski]

Hello, and before I launch into a wall of text, thank you for reading this! (Also, sorry if this is in the wrong section/forum, this is my 1st post)

I am a junior in high school trying to find out information about the Army ROTC and HPSP route to get through college and medical school. I want to know whether this is possible, the best thing to do, and also the best thing for me (any other advice would be nice too!).

I'll give a little info about me to help you guys in answering.

I currently have a 4.1 GPA, and am in the top 50 of my school. I'm taking all the AP classes I can take (Physics, Calculus, US History, English, etc), and I am doing fine in them. I scored a 1330 on the SAT and I am planning on retaking for a higher score. I'm also currently enrolled in my schools AFJRTOC program if that means anything.

Next year I'll be starting working towards my EMT certification through my schools dual-enrollment program with a local community college, although I'll have to finish it up the summer of my senior year at night school.

My dream is to be a Emergency Medicine Physician for the U.S. military. My family has lots of military history (although mostly Navy) and I have no qualms about having to repay a lot of time to the Army. I want to serve, and I want to serve in medicine, I'm just trying to figure out the best schools, and the best way to go about it.

Thanks in advance for all the advice!

 

[dunninla]

wish I could help but don't really know anything about HPSP.

Just advice about college and career aspirations ... going into college about 4%-7% of the incoming freshmen want to be doctors, and by Junior year that is down to about 2% or 1%. In other words the vast majority wash out, and most give it what they consider 100% effort. Some realize getting mostly As in Chem/Bio/Calc/Physics just isn't possible for their brain, some that it isn't worth the agony, some just don't like chemistry and physics, some learn that physicians earn, in inflation adjusted dollars, about 45% - 55% of what they did 25 years ago, etc. For example you mentioned you're in the "Top 50" in your school. The physicians I've seen make it through from HS to Med school are usually in the top 3 in their LARGE HS, in other words top 0.5%.

It is good to have long term, lofty goals. My advice would be to make sure that whatever path you plan now has flexibility for you to change your mind/have your mind changed for you in the next three years, but by all means dream large, aim high, and give it your full effort.

 

[Aglahad]

Go talk to the military docs at studentdoctorforum. There is a special subsection and a large amount of threads on HPSP. There really is no general consensus on the program but it doesn't seem to be cast in favorable light. A lot prefer the FAP program. There are a couple of physicians on here, however the other forum is patrolled by hundreds.

Keep up the grades, get patient care experience (EMT/CNA) and make the grade as well as research opportunities while college.

DO NOT burn out before you even hit college, try to have some fun at least. High school prestige/AP classes don't matter in the long run. We are talking about med school here not undergrad.

College classes (especially science) are designed to squash freshmen and pre-med hopefuls. I have seen hundreds of kids who were in the top 5% of their class drop pre-made after frosh year because they couldn't hack it or drag through four years of college with Cs in a biology major and still have delusions about "maybe" making it. Keep that in mind.

EDIT: Oh and before you say "I have no qualms about extra time in the army", please read over the threads on SDN. The years really pile up and there a number of docs who will tell you to proceed carefully before accepting any and all tuition assistance thrown your way.

 

[Marist College ROTC]

I am a junior in high school trying to find out information about the Army ROTC and HPSP route to get through college and medical school. I want to know whether this is possible, the best thing to do, and also the best thing for me (any other advice would be nice too!).

Thanks in advance for all the advice!

HPSP offers qualified students full tuition for school, a monthly stipend, and reimbursement for books and various equipment and fees. In return, students serve as Active Duty Officers for a minimum of two years. Scholarship recipients also attend a 45-day Active Duty Training (ADT) tour for every year of scholarship awarded. These ADTs range from a required Officer Basic Course (OBC) to numerous choices of rotations at military facilities. During ADT, students serve on Active Duty in the rank of Second Lieutenant, with all attendant obligations, benefits and respect of the rank.

http://www.mods.army.mil/medicaleducation/