Biology/med school related at USNA?

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backpacking2026

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Hey everyone, I'm a USNA 2026 appointee. I know that USNA does not have a biology major, but I am wondering if anyone knows about the biochemistry major that they are working on.
I would like to study biology (I am also interested in other majors at USNA, so it's not a completely definitive factor for me, but something to consider), but I know that this is pretty limited at the academy. I have heard that they have different biology classes so I am curious about what options they might have for a midshipman looking for a biology niche.
I also am interested in medical school, which I also know is extremely competitive and also limited at the Academy. Would a midshipman be able to graduate, commission, and then try to go to medical school after a year or two working as a Naval Officer? Do they have other options other than the typical ~12 slots for medical school?
Thank you!!
 
backpacking2026 said:
Hey everyone, I'm a USNA 2026 appointee. I know that USNA does not have a biology major, but I am wondering if anyone knows about the biochemistry major that they are working on.
I would like to study biology (I am also interested in other majors at USNA, so it's not a completely definitive factor for me, but something to consider), but I know that this is pretty limited at the academy. I have heard that they have different biology classes so I am curious about what options they might have for a midshipman looking for a biology niche.
I also am interested in medical school, which I also know is extremely competitive and also limited at the Academy. Would a midshipman be able to graduate, commission, and then try to go to medical school after a year or two working as a Naval Officer? Do they have other options other than the typical ~12 slots for medical school?
Thank you!!
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I will only address the last part, what to do if not accepted to medical school straight out of the academy.
You may apply to medical school once your initial obligation is finished. So 5 or 6 years normally, more if you have an additional ADSO such as flight school.
The good news is that if you are accepted to medical school you have a very good chance of the military funding it.
Also, once you go to medical school that’s about it. Your chances of doing something other than medicine are slim. But you can do other stuff then go to medical school.
I know many doctors who went this route and went to medical school later in life. I even know one who was a logistics officer, then got a flight school slot as an O-2, then got accepted to medical school when an O-4. You do revert to O-1 while in medical school. Pilot to medical school seems to be fairly common. My cousin even did this, serving as a Navy helicopter pilot before attending medical school.
 
The only real bio program at Navy (unless things have changed) is a biochemistry concentration within the chemistry major. There could also be bio electives to take if you are outside the major, but I stayed in my poli sci lane as much as possible. Medical school is definitely possible from Annapolis and I had some friends go. You really have to prioritize academics and the people who went to med school were all high performers. There is also the Medicine Club who brought in some cool speakers like faculty/admin from USUHS (the military's med school) and the Surgeon General of the Navy. Pretty neat stuff. Those who were successful seemed to want it early on, put in the effort, and spent time networking which is big anywhere you go. If recommended for the med/dental corps, you can attend USUHS or a civilian medical school. I will also say that stuff like the MCAT will be done on your own time.

The conventional wisdom is don't come to Navy only to be a doctor. If you are open to serving on the combat side of the Navy (unrestricted line) and putting med school off until later, then Navy could be a good place!
 
There are numerous threads on USNA and medical school. If you can’t find them via internal search here, do an external Google search with “site:www.serviceacademyforums.com” in your search string.

A few key points:

- The military gets its doctors primarily from civilian medical schools.
- You are already aware of the very few slots available out of USNA and how competitive it is to get one. You must be sure there are warfare specialties you are willing to do.
- There are years and years of active duty service obligation piled on top of your USNA ADSO, that start after the schooling years. Get clarity on that.
- Yes, there are opportunities to request lateral transfer/redesignation into other communities, including medical, on a highly competitive basis, usually after you have gained your warfare specialty designation a few years into your career, which varies based on how much pipeline training is required. There is usually just a few year window to do this. As always, the needs of the Navy will prevail. If they don’t need any more doctors in your year group or can’t afford to let you go from your warfare community because of year group shortages, it may not happen.
- Some people serve their time, get out, then use their VA educational benefits to go get their MD, and apply to come back in.
- If you know, above all, you want Navy medicine, research these two excellent programs:

USU Home

www.usuhs.edu www.usuhs.edu

Navy Medicine > Accessions > Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP) and Financial Assistance Program (FAP)

www.med.navy.mil
 
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Reference the Navy not letting you go to medical school once your ADSO is finished.
You can always resign, then apply to another service to fund medical school.
I don’t know if the Army needs more doctors, but I have never heard of an Army officer accepted to medical school but not given a release to attend if their ADSO is complete.
 
Can’t edit my post.
As an example of being released for medical school, as a pilot my DW was subject to a stop loss when she was accepted to medical school (the Army was short pilots). She was released from the stop loss for medical school.
 
backpacking2026 said:
Thank you, everyone! lots to think about...
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And remember you have a long arc of life ahead - you don’t have to pack it all in before 30, and think you’re teetering at grave’s edge. Think about whether you want military medicine now or later, and after doing something else. Research Army and Air Force, as they have HPSP too.

A good friend of mine did a full Navy career and retired after 20 years, took her VA educational benefits and went to veterinary school (she had carefully taken some refresher science courses and test prep during her last years of active duty). She became a large animal vet in her mid-40’s and is happily enjoying her second career in a Western state.
 
Capt MJ said:
And remember you have a long arc of life ahead - you don’t have to pack it all in before 30, and think you’re teetering at grave’s edge. Think about whether you want military medicine now or later, and after doing something else. Research Army and Air Force, as they have HPSP too.

A good friend of mine did a full Navy career and retired after 20 years, took her VA educational benefits and went to veterinary school (she had carefully taken some refresher science courses and test prep during her last years of active duty). She became a large animal vet in her mid-40’s and is happily enjoying her second career in a Western state.
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A medical school classmate of DW was a retired Navy captain.
 
My friend’s brother was NROTC in chemistry, went to flight school after commissioning. Did his flight commitment and then the Navy sent him to medical school. He’s currently an O7 and in charge of a major Navy medical facility.
 
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