<p>Hello everyone! Just some background info: I am a 17 y/o male from Oklahoma, I will be a senior in high school next year. I am generally physically fit. I have a 4.3ish GPA, 34 ACT (a year old, taking again in September), and 97 ASVAB. I think I want to get my undergraduate degree at the University of Oklahoma with a double major in Biology and Biochemical Engineering with minors in Spanish and Math. I know I want to be a doctor specializing in surgery or Emergency Medicine, I just don’t know what my best path would be to get there.</p>
<p>I know that I want to join the Army or Army National Guard at some point, I just don’t know when would be the most advantageous to me. If I wanted to join tomorrow, my parents would agree, so that’s not an issue. I’ve thought this decision out all the way, and I know this is what I want to do, so that’s not one of my questions. The way I see it, I’ve got a few options (probably more):</p>
<p>Option 1: If I did join soon (i.e. before I’m out of high school) I would probably go after a 68W MOS (Health Care Specialist (Medic)), which I think would look good on a medical school application, as well as providing me with some income while I’m getting my undergrad and through med school. The only problem with this is that I would have to do both basic training and AIT (your MOS school) between my senior year of high school and when I started college. This would cause me to enter OU a semester late (i.e. Spring 2017 as opposed to Fall 2016). Would this be frowned upon at all by either my college or med school?</p>
<p>Option 2: If I didn’t go NG route, but regular Army, I could do ROTC when I get to OU, but I don’t know how would that affect me getting into medical school. Would my obligation to the army prevent/hinder me in any way from getting accepted?</p>
<p>Option 3: USUHS. I know that compensation at USUHS is really good for its students. Would I want to join the NG now, or after my service commitment to USUHS (7 years)?</p>
<p>Is there an option 4 that I’m not aware of? I apologize for all the questions, but I’ve looked around many forums, and this one is by far the most helpful. Thanks in advance!</p>
<p>Unless you need the money, don’t join the National Guard yet. You can do that anytime. </p>
<p>Joining ROTC at OU carries no risk and no obligation for the first two years (unless you earn a three year ROTC scholarship, in which case you are obligated as soon as you accept funds for the scholarship). You do become obligated after beginning your junior year of ROTC. So, the ROTC path is the least risky and you get two years to decide if the Army is a good fit for you and your career plans.</p>
<p>If you think ROTC might work for you, then I recommend contacting the Army ROTC executive officer at OU, sooner rather than later. They don’t really like it much when you surprise them in the Fall.</p>
<p>So, @NROTCgrad and @WayOutWestMom , if I was going to go ROTC, would I also want the HPSP? Or is that only for those who are not already in the military? But if I did join ROTC, there is no chance of my obligation preventing me from going to med school? I probably need to talk to an AMEDD recruiter, would you concur? </p>
<p>It appears that HPSP is only for people who are not yet in the military. Then again, I am not an expert.</p>
<p>Doing four years of ROTC and accepting an Army commission will not necessarily keep you from going to medical school – but it could! The Army might, or might not, allow you to go to medical school. There is no guarantee either way.</p>
<p>I don’t want to sound an alarm, but always be careful when you talk to any military recruiter. Their job is basically “sales.” In other words, they are not necessarily looking out for your best interests. Plus, it is a short term position for them, which lasts only about three years. Recruiting is not their specialty.</p>
<p>If you want to go to medical school, and also be in the Army, then the best way to do that is probably HPSP. Still, there is no good reason to not try ROTC for a year or two. You will learn plenty about the Army, and meet lots of soldiers and future soldiers.</p>
<p>OK, I have some personal experience here. My DS is a college junior on a 4 year Army ROTC scholarship. ROTC scholarship is an option for you if you want to have your undergraduate school paid for by military (I’m speaking Army only, each branch is different) (You need to start working on the application process now). DS has no guarantee that he will get to go directly to medical school after he graduates, but everything we’ve seen and been told is that if he gets accepted to medical school, then the military will defer his duty so he can go to medical school (they are always needing doctors so they will usually allow you to attend medical school if you are admitted). The Army will pay for medical school also. This will mean that when he finishes he will owe 4 years for his undergraduate time (because of scholarship) and will owe whatever years he incurs from medical school. Once he completes medical school, he will do his remaining medical training as an active duty Army Officer (with all training adding to his military obligation). He’s fine with this arrangement because he wants to be a career Army Officer.</p>
<p>Many will tell you that if you want to go to medical school directly after college to NOT get an ROTC scholarship or join NG, etc. You have to understand that once you commit, there is no guarantee of medical school. They may need officers in various branches and be short your graduation year–if so, then they will send you off to be an officer first. You could then do your 4 years and get out then go to medical school. National Guard requires you to train one weekend a month and one month a summer. I don’t have any idea how they would handle a request for medical school, but I’d guess you’d need to finish your commitment first.</p>
<p>If you want to go to college and do ROTC, as others have said, you can join ROTC for the first 2 years without making any decision about military service. If you want to get the HPSP scholarship, then you should wait until you finish your undergraduate degree.</p>
<p>If you join the military during or just after high school, then you will not have any options until you are finished with your commitment. You can try to get into 68W, but unless you can convince a recruiter (based on your test scores) to put in WRITING that you will DEFINITELY go into 68W, then you will not necessarily get that MOS. Also, if for some reason you didn’t complete the advanced course for that MOS then they could send you to another MOS. </p>
<p>Do a lot of research and ask a lot of questions. It really depends on what is most important to you and in which order you’d like things to happen. Good luck!</p>
<p>You might want to ask some questions about the various military medicine options over at the SDN’s MilMed subforum. There are former and active duty military physicians, and current service-obligated med students on the forum. (■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■) </p>
<p>Service payback for medical school is a very complicated issue. And I imagine it will be even more complicated if you incur a ROTC service obligation before you matriculate into med school. </p>
<p>Also be aware that the “needs of the service” may supercede your desire for a particular specialty. You cannot be forced to accept a residency in a field you don’t want, but then again it’s not guaranteed that you will be allowed to enter a specialty residency at all. </p>
<p>Any years spent in residency training (aka medical post grad training programs) will not count towards fulfilling your service obligation.</p>