cuculici1

Hey guys I was just wondering if West Point could help me achieve my premed requirements? and if not, how can I achieve them by going to West Point? What options do I have of medical fields going into my years of active service?

Ann

This link may be helpful:
Medical School Option

RLTW

It can, if you want to make it happen.

While my son and I were visiting USMA last year I had a chance to speak with a yearling/yuk (then) who is in the pre-med path. It was truly fascinating. He had his entire medical path planned, all the way to not only earning his doctor’s credentials but also including the years of active service as a doctor he would be paying back the Army for providing his medical education. He had no hesitation or reservation that Army training was the best way to go, including the active duty years, and if I recall correctly (probably won’t) he said he’d be in the service about 20 years altogether by then with many years of world-class experience. He thought that was terrific.

He did say that the statistics about USMA cadets who become doctors can be misleading, usually about 20 cadets (or so) each year become doctors but he said that’s because only about 20 or so apply and qualify, it’s just not that common of a career path at USMA, so if you want to make it happen and have what it takes you can definitely make it work and it can be a great pathway.

Just passing along what he said.

-RLTW

Ann

From the FAQ page of the link I provided above.
MedicalSchoolQuestions

Most commonly asked questions

(Medical School Option)

Question: How many cadets are allowed to go to medical school immediately after graduation?

Answer: Up to 2% of each class (approximately 18-20 cadets) are allowed to attend medical school immediately upon graduation.

Question: When would I take the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT)?

Answer: If you want to go to medical school immediately after graduation you need to take the MCAT in the Spring of your Second class year.

Question: What kind of GPA do I need to get selected for medical school?

Answer: There is no hard and fast answer to that question. However, here are the data for the cadets selected as a primary or alternate to attend medical school from the Classes of 2005, 2006 and 2007.

Class of 2005
Avg. GPA
3.67 (range 2.94-4.06)


Avg. MCAT
27.5 (range 18-38)

Class of 2006
Avg. GPA
3.50 (range 2.77-4.06)


Avg. MCAT
26.7 (range 18-39)

Class of 2007
Avg. GPA
3.55 (range 3.03-4.18)


Avg. MCAT
28.0 (range 24-35)


Question: What additional obligation do I incur for attending medical school?

Answer: You incur an additional 5 year obligation if you go to a civilian medical school on the Health Professions Scholarship Program or an additional 7 year obligation if you choose to go to a Department of Defense medical school, the Uniformed Services University in Bethesda, Maryland. You would not start “paying off” that obligation until you complete your medical residency program.

Question: When do I have to decide if I want to pursue the medical school option?

Answer: At the latest, the decision can be made during your Cow year, however most cadets decide when they declare their major. However, if you know you are interested now, you should make that known to Academic Counselors in the Chemistry and Life Science Department.

Question: What is the best major to take if I want to go to medical school? I have read that it may not be best to major in the life sciences because medical schools are looking for students from diverse academic backgrounds.

Answer: One of the problems with reading advise about medical school is that it doesn’t convert to your situation at the United States Military Academy (USMA). If a college student at another university wants to go to medical school they often choose a “pre-med” curriculum in which they take organic chemistry and as much life sciences as they could take; but take very little math, science or humanities courses. The medical schools are trying to put the word out that they want well-rounded students who have taken courses in math, science, humanities, as well as the courses needed for medical school. Some cadets have inappropriately interpreted this as saying that it is best if they not major in the life sciences. Your Core Academic Program, which comprises 75% of your academic experience at USMA, is a broad-based academic program with courses in math, science, and humanities. This is exactly the kind of broad-based academic program medical schools are looking for. The remaining 25% of your academic experience at USMA (your major) should be focused on getting the courses you need to prepare you for the MCAT and medical school. A vast majority of the cadets interested in medical school sign up for the Life Science or Chemistry Major. It is the curriculum that offers several courses that prepare you for the MCAT and eventually medical school.

Question: What courses will I get in the life science major that I will not get if I major in something else and just taking the minimum required courses?

Answer: In the life science major you will take CH385 Intro to Cell Biology, CH387 Human Physiology, CH457 Microbiology and CH473 Biochemistry before the MCAT. These four life science courses will help prepare you for the Biological Sciences portion of the MCAT. If you only take the minimum required courses you will only have Cell Biology and Human Physiology to prepare you. In the life science major you will take CH371 Introduction to Analytical Chemistry and CH473 Biochemistry. These courses will help prepare you for the chemistry questions in the Physical Sciences portion of the MCAT. If you only take the minimum required courses you will only have your General Chemistry courses to prepare you. medical school is a competitive process. You must compete with your classmates for the 18-20 slots to attend medical school after graduation as well as compete with students at other universities for admittance to medical school. Majoring in the life sciences help you be more competitive since it offers you more chemistry and life sciences courses to help you do better on the MCAT.

Question: What is the process for selection of the 2% to attend medical school after graduation?

Answer: There is USMA selection board that meets in September. The board is headed by the Commander of Keller Army Medical Center and has members from Keller, the Dean’s Office, the Chemistry and Life Science Department, the Uniformed Services University, and the United States Corps of Cadets. First class cadets must have a 3.0 academic GPA or a 24 or above on the MCAT to be considered for an interview by the board. Cadets are either selected to attend immediately after graduation, selected as an alternate, or not recommended by the board.

Question: What are the most important factors determining selection by the board?

Answer: Your academic GPA (with emphasis on science courses), your MCAT score and the interview are the most important factors. However, other important factors are and your military and physical performance and recommendations from the faculty.

Question: I want to go to medical school but I am also interested in doing some troop leading time in the Army. Can I go to medical school later?

Answer: Absolutely! There are many advantages to going on active duty for a few years before attending medical school. In fact, of all the USMA graduates that are Army physicians, half went to medical school immediately after graduation and half went after serving some active duty time. Whichever option you choose, however, it is important to complete all the courses you need to be accepted to medical school while at USMA. It is very difficult to find the time to take additional courses after you go on active duty.

Stormtrooper30

I'm glad that you posted that link, Ann. I think that I want to be an engineer, but being a doctor is also a possible career choice for me. I love science and history, but history doesn't seem to offer a very productive career path.

I didn't know that West Point offered the Chemical Engineering premed program. This is something that really interests me at other colleges like Vanderbilt or SMU. When considering premed at USMA, the additional 5 years of service at first turned me off to the idea. But then I realized that after civilian med school, you generally spend more time then that as a resident in a hospital, so it's really not too different.

Ann

Stormtrooper30: Just remember that if you pursue this path, you will be a doctor in the US Army for a long time. You would not start “paying off” your additional 5 or 7 year service obligation until you complete your medical residency program.

majmattmason

From what I've seen and heard this route to become a surgeon is one of the best "hidden" opportunities going. Yes, the commitment is long, but in my mind you're going to be doing it anyway, and what better place to practice than serving our wounded soldiers, while having your expenses paid. I have heard also that the Uniformed Services University in Bethesda, Maryland is one of the finest in the world. Seems I heard some of this information a while ago on the special report, "To Iraq and Back: Bob Woodruff Reports" about Bob Woodruff, the ABC correspondent who was wounded in Iraq. As the saying goes, "Sweet gig, if you can get it."

prefect

To emphasize what Ann said: The 5-7 year commitment is in addition to your West Point commitment. So, if West Point requires a 4 year commitment, your commitment to active service could be 9-12 years. Don't make this obligation lightly. You never know until you are in a situation if you like it. You don't know how your life might change in the coming year with relationships, children, family, etc. Unlike most jobs, even if you hate it, you will still be required to fulfill your obligation. Also remember that the Army is not required to give you a residency. They may only give you an internship (one year of training) and then require you to work as a General Medical Officer. If you work as a GMO for 3 years and then the Army offers you a residency what will you do? GMO time counts as payback, but residency doesn't? Will you continue as a GMO and then apply for residencies, possibly at an age when most of your civilian peers are finishing their residencies or will you continue in the Army, which will increase your obligation? Make sure you ask lots of questions and talk to lots of people before committing yourself to such a long term obligation.

Stormtrooper30

Ahh, thanks for clarifying that. I did not know that. I'm trying for the SLS this year, so if I make it I'll ask tons of questions. Only problem is my PSAT scores... I heard they weigh those heavily. But I got a 33 on the ACT.
This medschool thing sounds a lot more complicated then it should be. What are the possiblities of going to grad school in general?

Ann

33 on the ACT is great! Your ACT score with supersede your PSAT score for the SLS application.

cobia210

Stormtrooper30 - Actually you can do both. My son (USMA 08) completed his MPH at Cambridge University in England after graduation and is currently attending medical school in NYC.

marciemi

Wow - that's pretty incredible! That's certainly not the norm though, is it? My understanding is that (at least when I was there 20 years ago) most people have to serve first (to get troop time) before you'd even be considered for grad school or law school. Usually not until at least you'd had a company command. Has that changed now?

Ann

“What are the possibilities of going to grad school in general?”

All active duty Army officers are expected to earn a Master's Degree by the time they are promoted to Major (around 10-12 years service). Many of those degrees are sponsored/funded by the Army and many are earned in the evenings. For those sponsored by the Army the student owes two (2) years of additional service for each year of advanced schooling.
US Military Academy at West Point: After West Point graduate degree and promotions, lt colonel, west point graduate

Under the GRADSO program cadets agree to 8 years of active service (instead of 5 years of active service and 3 years reserves) in return for the guarantee to attend a fully funded graduate program.
Any officer can pursue a graduate degree on his/her own time and there are many tuition assistance opportunities, the Army only sends approximately 10% of a year group to graduate school in a FULLY-FUNDED program. Fully-funded means, you receive full pay and benefits, your tuition is paid for, and you do not wear a uniform to class.
USMA Career Incentive Programs

http://www.usma.edu/opa/adsoold%20ba...o-contract.pdf

cobia210

USMA Office of the Dean


Most of these cadet will go on to grad school immediately after graduation. In my sons case he did his master degree that was a fully funded scholarship that included a stipend. He also was paid as a 2nd Lt. This is a a year that he does not have to "payback".

Stormtrooper30

So you serve for 6 years or so and then go to grad school? It would be a whole lot easier if you could go straight to grad school as all the information is fresh in your mind. After half a decade of time, I would have forgotten all that stuff already.