God bless you!! I've been looking for information on this for so long and just found this video explaining everything I needed to know about the process. Thank you so much!! ♡♡
Great breakdown. The only thing I would add is that (as of 2018), those who do Army HPSP primarily only do military residencies. There are extremely few exceptions of people entering civilian sponsored programs.
Hi, I’m so glad you did this video. It kinda helps me to sort out things a little bit. I’m about to finish my BS in Bio and I was considering the HPSP program. Since Med school requieres lots of studying and commitment I assume it won’t be realist for me to think I can work full time/pay bills/study while going Med School. Based on what you explained on the video the HPSP seems like a good plan for me so far, however I still have a couples of questions : 1) I understand HPSP covers the tuition, fees,books, health insurance, but what about housing ? Does it have a-on campus option, and if in case there is an -on campus option is it based on military regimen I mean like waking up at 5:00 am and stuff like that . 2) Do you receive military training while in Med School ? Weapons, tactics if under attack all that stuff. 3) What about dealing with the military bureaucracy and hospital rank structure? 4) Is it true you have no control where you live during your service? 5) And at last is it true there is frequent deployments ? can you pls explain how this works. If you pls could answer me I’d really appreciate it I’ve been doing so much reading online about the HPSP but I’ve not found a single article that addresses these questions. Thank you !!!
Answers: (1. It covers housing in the sense that they give you money for your housing. Once accepted to a school and to the HPSP program you will be given a $20,000 bonus as well as 2,300$ monthly. That monthly allowance will be given for 10 months out the year, while you're in school. You will then receive active duty military pay for 45 days while you are at different training events during your time off from school. (2. Yes you receive training. It's not as deep or scary as you think. You go to a base for like a month and you will be taught land navigation and team building and how to carry and shoot a rifle. Moreso a fun experience rather than anything to be nervous about. It's basically camp. (3. Dealing with all that isn't something you'll do while you're in med school. Your only task will be to do your best in school. Once you graduate and you choose to either go to a civilian residency or stay in a military residency , you'll experience some of that. The medical field I assume is different somewhat, but definitely from my experience dealing with officers they feel a sense of bureaucracy in their everyday but that's just the military being the military. (4. You will be given a list of choices, depending on what branch you go, you'll be able to choose from more places. But correct coming out of med school and your residency you will not be under full control of where you go. But basically everyone who joins the military understands that sooner or later, until you gain some rank or experience because you'll have started to meet people. So if you end up wanting to stay in, then yes you will have some say. But as a new grad no. Now that's not the worst thing considering it's 4 quick years and no debt lol. (5. Deployments aren't what you think. You may be scared of the unknown, but I was nervous my first deployment, I was nervous to leave the country the first time I did. But One your deployments wmost likely won't be frequent, two if you're single or don't have kids, deployments are the best experience you can get in the military. Depending on your branch or where you're stationed, you may have regular deployments to a certain region. Like maybe you're stationed in Montana and they every other year deploy to Germany. Now they only will take a certain amount of people so just because your unit has a deployment doesn't mean you'll go. Also you may end up really wanting to go and if you do you'll find out, most deployments are just you working and visiting new countries, eating great food buying stuff to take home and meeting new people. And being in "combat zones"aren't like what it used to be. Now I did want to go to "combat" like the early 2000's but I never did. But I did get to experience all the positives associated with "combat" the extra pay given, the tax free money and I was never even near danger. I was just "near danger enough" to make more money. So all in all I've been to like 8 countries and done a lot and seen a lot that would have probably never happened. I always try to stress it to people, don't let your fears of the unknown stop you when it comes to the military. I was in the Marine Corps and that's an exaggerated version of all the other branches. They're not all the same and you'll be an officer so people wont talk to you crazy like you think they will. Yes it will be a different world than you know but it'll be a good experience well worth the money.
I have a few questions 1. Does residency count towards years of service I have to do? 2. How does a military physician’s pay work? Is it the base pay for the rank and then an additional doctor pay? 3. How many years of service do I have to complete if I get scholarships from college to me finishing residency?
1. No. Your "payback years" begin when you're out of residency, either as a GMO or an attending. 2. Yes. Pay = base salary + doctor pay (amount varies by specialty). 3. One year for each year you receive the benefit, plus an additional year.** ** You will probably not get to use HPSP trough med school AND get the FAP in residency, because you will likely have to attend a military residency, during which time you will not qualify for FAP as you would be an active duty member.
This was so helpful to me. Currently a junior in highschool, and I think my passion for serving as a physician in the military has been reignited. I have a quick question: in college, is it recommended to do ROTC or is it just a nice bonus like in highschool to show passion? Also, if you do ROTC and HPSP that means you will need to do like double the active duty right? So I guess that means like 8 years, since they do pay for everything that would make sense. And also, after residency, and you start to work on those active duty years that you promised to do, that is when the real work begins right? Like that's when I'm shipped off to wherever to be a physician for the armed forces? Final question... I hear alot about people not ending up where they want to in the military. Here's where I'm thinking my endgame is: on a navy ship practicing medicine. Is that a guarantee if everything goes right and I learn everything and pass through residency?
Shadowsaber i can answer some of your question. You do not need to do ROTC to take HPSP, in fact most people do not. There are some that request an educational delay after rotc to go to medical school out of their own pocket or apply for HPSP but if they take both they will be active duty for at least 8 years.
@J whatever happens, just go with the flow and always remember to take time to live in the moment and be appreciate what you have now. The future will always be there waiting; cherish the present and enjoy the small things!
Thank you so much for these videos, they are very helpful!! Could you please let me know where i can find info to compare and contrast the different branches that offer HPSP? Also, making a video on this topic would be great to hear your side!
Hey I'm currently active duty and was thinking about the program. One thing that had me curious is how the Army pays its soldiers. If you can talk about how the monthly allowance works such as BAH and the Lieutenant pay rate that would be great. Thank you.
Okay quick question regarding the service you owe after residency. You do an internal medicine residency for 3 years, you owe then 4 years of service for med school. Or, you do a neurosurgery residency for 7 years, and you then owe them 7 years of service, is that because the residency is above four years? Say I did neonatal surgery, which is a general surgery residency, not counting my fellowship, would I then owe 5 years of service? 4 for medical school and 1 for the extra residency year? Just as an example, I doubt I'd be able to specialize in neonatology in the military. (also thank you for these I am currently deciding on an undergrad school but seriously considering this for the future)
That is exactly correct. By the way, you could do neonatal surgery in the military. I myself am interested in pediatric/ fetal surgery. They offer pediatric surgery fellowships.
Your service requirement is the length of your time in medical school or your time as a resident (whichever is longer) with a minimum service requirement of three years.
I would greatly appreciate if you could comment on your thoughts pursuing this with a spouse/significant other. Specifically referring to if you think the financial aid granted to your while going through Med School from the Military is enough to support someone else with. Thanks and great content.
Hello! I have been enlisted in the Air Force for 5 years and will be separating next year to use my G.I. Bill to finish my bachelor's degree in biomedical sciences. After that I am hoping to go to Medical School and also use the HPSP. Do you know if the military residency will count towards your time in service? I am debating whether or not I would like to reach a retirement with the Air Force or just do my 4-year commitment after my residency and then go practice medicine as a civilian. Thanks for sharing your knowledge on this topic in your videos!
Megan Friedl Thank you for your question and for your service! If you do an active duty, military residency then your time in residency will count towards your 20 years needed for retirement through the Air Force. If you do a civilian deferred residency then your time in residency training will not count towards retirement. I hope that's helpful. Please keep me posted on your journey and best of luck to you!
Megan Friedl I would look at the navy and army as well. I know for the Army it is incredibly rare to do a civilian residency because the GME program is the largest of the branches. Not sure if the navy is the same. Just a thought
Doc a lil confused here. Are the years spent in military residency, counted in the compulsory active duty year (the 4 needed to serve for the 4 years of med school the military pays for)
@@studentdoctorfeery4485 Does residency count as years taken for scholarship? I have been reading about service commitment and everywhere it says "minimum 3 year commitment as an active duty staff physician, or 1 year for each year of scholarship participation (whichever is greater)". So thats 4 years of medical school plus residency? (Ex: 4 yrs of med school + 3 years of residency = 7 years total of active duty) Or is it like whichever one is longer like 4>3 so 4 years of Active duty?
Samira Naeem residency does not count because you are still in training. However that being said you can not deploy while in residency and you make more than a civilian residency.
Thank you doc for this video👏👏 Ive heard that a doctor within the medical corps cant make as much as a civilian doctor due to limitations, is this true?
You are very welcome, thank you for your support. That is true, military doctors make their rank's pay, but they are still making a handsome sum of money. Additionally, they have no loans to pay back from medical school. In the end, I believe it evens out. I hope that is helpful for you.
Hey man, thank you for sharing. I was going to ask you what branch do you think is best to join HPSP with interest in surgery? Also which branch are you a part of? It had been a while since your video how have things gone? Which branch are you a part of?
Also does IRR count during medical school if you are an HPSP but not rotc student? Or do you always owe 4 years of IRR after your 4 years of pay ack after residency?
didn't hear you talk about those GMOs at all that are pretty prominent in the airforce/navy. Im considering joining the army so that I don't have a lower risk of having my residency delayed. Can you make a video discussing those please?
Thank you Dr Feery for sharing such informative video. I completed medical school from Sierra Leone in 2013 (now a medical doctor). I was hoping to enlist in the military and write my USMLE. Upon getting my license, are their opportunities in the military to get residency training while in the military? Thanks again. James
There is a program called (EMDP2) that you can take while active duty. I’m a Marine Vet and wish I knew about it before. It stands for Enlisted to Medical Degree Preparatory Program. It’s a 2 year program where you can do your pre-requisites for med school. Upon completion you can the take the HPSP for med school or the one that I am taking, the USUHS which is a military med school that pays you 2nd Lt pay while you study. That’s 60k a year but the catch is you’ll owe 7 year instead of 4 with the HPSP, because you are receiving full time pay while studying (a dream for most people). If you plan on doing 20 and retiring then this is best because the 7 year commitment won’t matter as much. (Not including residency and fellowship time) If you are a salt dog I would consider the HSCP program. Where you get E-7 pay but you pay for med school out of pocket, the only difference is that your time in med school goes towards your 20 year retirement so it is more beneficial if you’re 8+ years in the military. Hope this information has helped you in your search. Semper.
Thank you for this video- do you have any information about military personal wanting to go to medical school using their G.I. bill? I have my associates degree. Perhaps another timeline? Or how to steps? Thank you very much!
No military experience required. Prerequisites are ability to pass an Army physical, and pass a background check. An applicants competitiveness is based on MCAT score, GPA, and any other extra curricular involvement that enhanced the premed track.
I’m trying to get into cardiology like a cardiovascular surgeon do they have that field in the military or neurology? Right now I’m in Highschool junior so far 3 years of ROTC what would be the best route out of Highschool because I want to be a doctor after my 20 years of service when I come out of the military would the reverses or active duty be the best ? And how long for a neurosurgeon? And what would be the military cover ? And what would active service would be like shipped off?
If you do ROTC in college, will that add 4 years to your contract? I know that in ROTC, they have you sign a contract at some point. I want to do ROTC but I don’t want to trap myself with 8 years of active duty service plus residency and fellowship. Do you think that if I didn’t apply for an ROTC scholarship (meaning that they don’t pay for my undergrad), I won’t have to pay back 4 years of college? There’s a chance that I would probably serve that amount anyway, but the thought of a 12 year commitment makes me anxious. Does anyone know how it works?
What if you complete your Medical school outside of the US and then take your USMLE get your license and then join the military to complete your residency. Will you be guaranteed a residency thru the military because of your service or you will have to apply and match just like everyone else regardless if you’re joining the military? Great video keep it up!
Arbaz, thank you for your question; it is a good one. To my understanding, you would still have to apply and compete in the military match just like everyone else. I hope that is helpful, and best of luck on your journey! Please let me know if you have any other questions.
Arbaz Hussain unless you used the HPSP you cannot do a military residency. You would have to do a civilian residency and either apply after you are fully licensed, or take a program called STRAP(Army Reserve) or Financial assistance program (all services offer this and it brings you on to active duty).
Hello so I know this video is 6 years old but I have a question. Say I am already an undergrad about to go into his sophomore year. Would I still be able to apply?
Just to he clear, if you do 4 years of med school thru hpsp, then do 4 years of residency thru military match, you will end up owing only 4 years of active duty, not 8. Right? Lol
When would you go to boot camp in all this? If you were unable to make a sufficiently amazing score for the big tests in medical school (and therefore failed out), would you need to pay back everything, or could you "pay it off" by being an active duty officer/private for a while?
In your original video you had mentioned that you can do your active duty time as a resident (if I remember correctly). Does this excuse you from active duty after the residency. The reason I ask this is because I want to be a neurosurgeon.
Nolan Bachand if you want to be a neurosurgeon you definitely do not want to work for the military. You will make so much more money in the civilian world.
Nolan Bachand it would not excuse you because you are not fully credentialed until after residency since residency is training. Neurosurgery is a really long residency so you would owe year for year of that training program
Why are you the only person talking about HPSP!? Thanks for this. Do you know much about the differences between army/navy/af hpsp? Can you only apply to one branch?
I have a few questions: 1. Now that I am a junior in college and I decide to join the military so I can retake classes, raise my GPA, and graduate later. I think I'll most likely go active and do online classes or should I go reserve and then later go active? 2. Can I still be able to do the HSPS anytime after I am done with school (Or active/reserve)? What do you think of this process? 3. Is there a required ASVAB score to be able to apply HSPS?
After high school, can I do 2 years straight from high school to get done with training, then begin my degree on my own, finish the undergrad & go HPSP?
Did u have to go to boot camp? I’m a senior highschool and was thinking of joining the military and becoming a doctor/ surgeon but I don’t want to do boot camp because I’m not athletic and honestly scared of boot camp .
Hi, I’m very thankful for your videos because they help a lot in understanding what I️ want to do in the future. I’m definitely interested in HPSP but unfortunately, I️ am a bit color blind. Can you explain the vision exams that go along with joining the Air Force and what solutions I️ can look into? Will being color blind restrict me from applying for HPSP?
David Chen Thank you for your question and your support. When you go to the Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) tests for your vision and hearing, along with a battery of other tests, will be performed. This is essentially like a physical exam you would get from your family doctor. At MEPS they will be able to assess the severity of your colorblindness. However, I would mention this to your recruiter well before you get to MEPS. They will have specific answers for you. I encourage you to ask them before you start the application process. Personally, I do not think it will be debilitating in your practice as a physician, and therefore I do not foresee it being problem. There are several color blind students in my medical school class, but they are not in the HPSP. Nonetheless, they will be physicians. I hope that's helpful.
Is residency Training the speciality? And medical school is general doctor? So they pay both medical school and the speciality you chose? How much would the pay be when you go active in the military?
You are correct. Medical school grants you the MD degree and graduation from residency training allows you to practice. You are being paid throughout both by the military. You are paid by your rank and for being in the medical core. You also get paid more for deployments and certain assignments. I was told by a military doctor that an attending physician salary is around 130K.
Havent finished the video yet Ok so im a junior in highschool right now and would like to enlist in the military (Air force). Can i use my GI bill to get a bachelors in biology and then use the hpsp for med school while im already in the service? TIA
Hi Dr Feery, Thank you for this video, it was very informative! Do you know during the 4-7 years of active duty that you'll owe them, is that when you start getting paid as a full-time military physician? Also, I understand that civilian physician's salary are generally the same as military physician's, but do you know if there are any differences or details related to the pay if you go through the HPSP? Thanks!
Hello! Thank you for the support. During an active duty residency you will be paid as a captain (0-3). After 5 years as a captain you will become a major and be at the pay grade of an 0-4 (major). This will either be at the end of your residency (if surgical) or during your pay back time. Civilian physicians generally make more money during their practice relative to military doctors. This is because in the military you make your rank's pay grade. However, you do not have debt and you will start making money through the HPSP well before your peers. I believe it evens out in the end.
- GreedySarameya once you finish residency you get paid more based on your area of practice. If you stayed after that as well you would get paid more because you finished your payback.
Hello good guy, what is exactly the concept of pension if someone chooses to stay for the extra 20 years? Also if you choose not to stay in the military after the 4 years of service, will you have any sort of military benefits that carry on with you? Thank you
okay I am confused about something…Say I get a offered full scholarship by a college…do I enlist in the Air Force after high school and go through basic training and then go into pre-Med using that scholarship and then afterwards apply for the HPSP or what ?? Please help🙃
I am currently an active duty medic in the army. I am interested in doing this program, do you know how this would work for me since I am enlisted active duty?
Hopefully people still see this after 3 years but I need some help. I am currently about to start my senior year in high school and I want to become a family doctor/physician. I’m having a hard time finding information to help me with my personal situation and having almost no family members that have gone to medical school doesn’t help either. Is that different from what he explained and if so, if anyone has any knowledge for my situation, can you “walk me through” what I personally need to do to reach my goal. Thanks in advance
If my wife is already an active duty nurse in the military, will we be co-located during my residency? Or during my years in medical school if there's a base nearby and I join in the same branch?
NonRenewable Yes, the reserve is part of your contract. You can practice civilian medicine while you are in the Individual Ready Reserve, but you must be ready to be activated into full active duty mode should they call you up. You are essentially a practicing civilian physician who can become activated. After your time in the IRR is complete you can practice as a civilian physician with no ties to the military if you so choose.
Chloe Lee No. I'm not sure what you are asking. Do you think the military would poorly train their doctors?? That wouldn't be a very good investment of their time and money. Military residency programs are often paired with robust, civilian academic institutions or community teaching hospitals. Some of the residencies even have required years for research, built on top of the clinical training, to make their residents more competitive for additional fellowship training if they choose to specialize even further. The bulk of your training will be done alongside civilian physicians and residents. If anything, you could be better prepared because you treat civilian and military patients at a myriad of locations. and you have officer duties on top of your clinical practice. I hope that's helpful.
The answer is maybe. It depends on your specialty. You’re not guaranteed to work in your specialty in the army. I knew a cardiologist and a gastroenterologist who were basically seeing sick call for a year. Seems like a waste of resources. Or you could be stationed at a place where they don’t need much of your particular specialty. Fort Irwin is a good example of that. A general surgeon stationed there would get very few surgical cases.
I have two questions (I know this is a while after the video but maybe you will still see them): 1. If I am a senior in college and waiting to see if I’ll get accepted into medical school (already applied) should I also go ahead and apply for HPSP or should I wait to get a med school acceptance first? 2. Are there any physical requirements (like the APFT) for HPSP applicants and if so, are those requirements the same as other officers? I think I could meet these if I needed to, just curious. Thanks!
Sir, I know this is a very late comment but I was wondering if I would be disqualified from joining the military if I have Addison’s disease? I know the reason I would be disqualified is due to my steroid dependency but I would like to become a neurosurgeon and not a soldier so I don’t know if the rule still applies. Thank you for your time sir.
Awesome video! I'm a current college sophomore that was raised as a military child overseas and am very interested in the HPSP. Just wondering, is it okay to take a gap year and still apply for the scholarship? I plan to take my MCAT the summer after my junior year once I have taken biochem. This would mean that I would be applying for medical school the summer after I graduate and take a gap year through the application process.
Thanks for the video, quick question if you can answer it though. I’m a 4 year scholarship winner for ROTC currently. I want to go to medical school with HPSP and be a neurosurgeon. Assuming I earn a 4 year HPSP scholarship with my already earned 4 year ROTC scholarship and then complete a military 7 year residency, how many active duty years would I owe that point? Would it be 8? And could it be less than 8 if I did internal medicine instead even with both scholarships?
Is the 4 years service for the ROTC portion (undergrad) separate from the 4 - 7 years for medical school? If so, is it completed prior to medical school or after?
ROTC is a part-time undergrad program for military training, although you could do it while completing a graduate degree. Most people do ROTC are looking to become officers in the military right after they finish their college degree; they can go into many different fields so most ROTC students are not looking to go into medicine. Some pre-meds do decide to do ROTC, but many choose not to because it is a lot of time commitment and the time spent on military training gives you less time to focus on your pre-med extracurriculars, pre-med studies, and other commitments. I seriously considered doing ROTC, but I ended up not doing it because I want to work and continue my non-academic extracurriculars during my time in college. I respect the pre-meds who do ROTC, but I'm figure skater and musician and do not want to give that up in college; I have also taken up ballroom dance. I am doing this because I know that I will have the rest of my life to practice medicine, both as a military and civilian physician, but I will not have as much time to spend on my other passions after starting med school. I know figure skating, ballroom dance, and music do not seem to have anything to do with medicine but they help me develop as an individual and it helps me keep my life balanced as I work towards becoming a doctor. I know this was a long-winded answer, but I hope it helped!
I’m so confused, so lets say I join the Air Force for 4 years after high school. Would that mean I would have to owe another 4 years for the hpsp or am I getting it all wrong?
Hi my friend ,, Thanks for your timeDo you think if someone are u.s citizen but the mother tongue it's not English but he's doing English pretty good will have the chance to got the HPSp ? Especially he has bachelor's degree in Biology and he now doing some courses as a pre med requirements and looking forward to osteopathic medical school And actually he's me 😊
Abdallah AlQudah Thank you for your question. I think the military would be grateful to have anyone who is willing to serve. It is of course imperative to be able to communicate with everyone on the healthcare team to treat our patients to the best of our ability, but you seem to be doing very well. Congratulations on completing your bachelors degree in biology. Please keep me posted on how your journey goes and best of luck!
Hey Student doctor Feery, I’ve wanted to ask you something. Even thought I didn’t do to well in high school and somehow barely made it my dream is to become an orthopedic doctor and I’m not going to let anyone tamper or interfere with my dream. Lately I’ve been seeing that you would have to do calculus and physics but to be honest I’m only good in Biology human anatomy.. I never been good in math so you think I still have a chance?
Absolutely! There is nothing you cannot learn. Just remember, you didn't know biology innately; you still had to learn it! Some subjects just take more time and more effort. I was not great at calculus or physics either. I met with my professors, tutors, and friends who did well. Through those efforts I earned and A which made it that much sweeter. Never be to proud to seek out help; if I can do it, you certainly can too!
Since you said that it is okay for your bachelor's degree to be completed between four and five years, is it okay to take a gap year and apply for HPSP?? I want to take a gap year so I can research and work/volunteer.
![So You Want to Be a MILITARY DOCTOR [Ep. 5]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/QAruG9QaUXg/mqdefault.jpg)
Omgggg you’ve just made all my stress go away, I was looking for someone like you. Thank you
So happy our paths crossed! I'm glad this was helpful for you.
Just a former high school classmate of yours dropping by to say how impressed I am with you Dr. Feery!!! If I'm allowed to call you that yet :D
Omg I’m C.Robles and I’m barely seeing this, I remember commenting it tho, that’s so crazy
Glad you eventually got around to it!
Literally exactly what I was looking for. Thank you
God bless you!! I've been looking for information on this for so long and just found this video explaining everything I needed to know about the process. Thank you so much!! ♡♡
You're very welcome!
Great breakdown. The only thing I would add is that (as of 2018), those who do Army HPSP primarily only do military residencies. There are extremely few exceptions of people entering civilian sponsored programs.
Excellent point. The Army is a large, robust force, and they offer a myriad of military residency programs for their HPSP students.
Hi, I’m so glad you did this video. It kinda helps me to sort out things a little bit. I’m about to finish my BS in Bio and I was considering the HPSP program. Since Med school requieres lots of studying and commitment I assume it won’t be realist for me to think I can work full time/pay bills/study while going Med School.
Based on what you explained on the video the HPSP seems like a good plan for me so far, however I still have a couples of questions :
1) I understand HPSP covers the tuition, fees,books, health insurance, but what about housing ? Does it have a-on campus option, and if in case there is an -on campus option is it based on military regimen I mean like waking up at 5:00 am and stuff like that .
2) Do you receive military training while in Med School ? Weapons, tactics if under attack all that stuff.
3) What about dealing with the military bureaucracy and hospital rank structure?
4) Is it true you have no control where you live during your service?
5) And at last is it true there is frequent deployments ? can you pls explain how this works.
If you pls could answer me I’d really appreciate it I’ve been doing so much reading online about the HPSP but I’ve not found a single article that addresses these questions. Thank you !!!
Answers:
(1. It covers housing in the sense that they give you money for your housing. Once accepted to a school and to the HPSP program you will be given a $20,000 bonus as well as 2,300$ monthly. That monthly allowance will be given for 10 months out the year, while you're in school. You will then receive active duty military pay for 45 days while you are at different training events during your time off from school.
(2. Yes you receive training. It's not as deep or scary as you think. You go to a base for like a month and you will be taught land navigation and team building and how to carry and shoot a rifle. Moreso a fun experience rather than anything to be nervous about. It's basically camp.
(3. Dealing with all that isn't something you'll do while you're in med school. Your only task will be to do your best in school. Once you graduate and you choose to either go to a civilian residency or stay in a military residency , you'll experience some of that. The medical field I assume is different somewhat, but definitely from my experience dealing with officers they feel a sense of bureaucracy in their everyday but that's just the military being the military.
(4. You will be given a list of choices, depending on what branch you go, you'll be able to choose from more places. But correct coming out of med school and your residency you will not be under full control of where you go. But basically everyone who joins the military understands that sooner or later, until you gain some rank or experience because you'll have started to meet people. So if you end up wanting to stay in, then yes you will have some say. But as a new grad no. Now that's not the worst thing considering it's 4 quick years and no debt lol.
(5. Deployments aren't what you think. You may be scared of the unknown, but I was nervous my first deployment, I was nervous to leave the country the first time I did. But One your deployments wmost likely won't be frequent, two if you're single or don't have kids, deployments are the best experience you can get in the military. Depending on your branch or where you're stationed, you may have regular deployments to a certain region. Like maybe you're stationed in Montana and they every other year deploy to Germany. Now they only will take a certain amount of people so just because your unit has a deployment doesn't mean you'll go. Also you may end up really wanting to go and if you do you'll find out, most deployments are just you working and visiting new countries, eating great food buying stuff to take home and meeting new people. And being in "combat zones"aren't like what it used to be. Now I did want to go to "combat" like the early 2000's but I never did. But I did get to experience all the positives associated with "combat" the extra pay given, the tax free money and I was never even near danger. I was just "near danger enough" to make more money. So all in all I've been to like 8 countries and done a lot and seen a lot that would have probably never happened. I always try to stress it to people, don't let your fears of the unknown stop you when it comes to the military. I was in the Marine Corps and that's an exaggerated version of all the other branches. They're not all the same and you'll be an officer so people wont talk to you crazy like you think they will. Yes it will be a different world than you know but it'll be a good experience well worth the money.
@@marcalexander6450 thank you so much for this. I feel so relieved by this and I can really see myself being in the hpsp
Thank you for this video and for helping me clear out some confusions!
I have a few questions
1. Does residency count towards years of service I have to do?
2. How does a military physician’s pay work? Is it the base pay for the rank and then an additional doctor pay?
3. How many years of service do I have to complete if I get scholarships from college to me finishing residency?
1. No. Your "payback years" begin when you're out of residency, either as a GMO or an attending.
2. Yes. Pay = base salary + doctor pay (amount varies by specialty).
3. One year for each year you receive the benefit, plus an additional year.**
** You will probably not get to use HPSP trough med school AND get the FAP in residency, because you will likely have to attend a military residency, during which time you will not qualify for FAP as you would be an active duty member.
Thank you for the information this year will be my first year in college and this is really helpful
great vid, made stuff clearer. Thanks and best of luck!!
That explained everything so perfect, thankyou
Extremely Helpful! Thank you for sharing !
Thank you so much for these videos! They help out so much.
Happy to help!
Thank you so much for this!
This was so helpful to me. Currently a junior in highschool, and I think my passion for serving as a physician in the military has been reignited. I have a quick question: in college, is it recommended to do ROTC or is it just a nice bonus like in highschool to show passion? Also, if you do ROTC and HPSP that means you will need to do like double the active duty right? So I guess that means like 8 years, since they do pay for everything that would make sense. And also, after residency, and you start to work on those active duty years that you promised to do, that is when the real work begins right? Like that's when I'm shipped off to wherever to be a physician for the armed forces? Final question... I hear alot about people not ending up where they want to in the military. Here's where I'm thinking my endgame is: on a navy ship practicing medicine. Is that a guarantee if everything goes right and I learn everything and pass through residency?
Shadowsaber i can answer some of your question. You do not need to do ROTC to take HPSP, in fact most people do not. There are some that request an educational delay after rotc to go to medical school out of their own pocket or apply for HPSP but if they take both they will be active duty for at least 8 years.
@@Mike-mi3yw but like if your going to do 20 years as an active duty is good to take it
@J nope, never went down this path. Life is strange! Studying computer science at rice university now
@J whatever happens, just go with the flow and always remember to take time to live in the moment and be appreciate what you have now. The future will always be there waiting; cherish the present and enjoy the small things!
Thank you sooo much. This video help me a lot ❤
Thank you so much for these videos, they are very helpful!! Could you please let me know where i can find info to compare and contrast the different branches that offer HPSP? Also, making a video on this topic would be great to hear your side!
Great content
Thank you for the support.
Hey I'm currently active duty and was thinking about the program. One thing that had me curious is how the Army pays its soldiers. If you can talk about how the monthly allowance works such as BAH and the Lieutenant pay rate that would be great. Thank you.
Thank you so much for this information📖
Thanks! Very helpful!
Happy to help!
Okay quick question regarding the service you owe after residency. You do an internal medicine residency for 3 years, you owe then 4 years of service for med school. Or, you do a neurosurgery residency for 7 years, and you then owe them 7 years of service, is that because the residency is above four years? Say I did neonatal surgery, which is a general surgery residency, not counting my fellowship, would I then owe 5 years of service? 4 for medical school and 1 for the extra residency year? Just as an example, I doubt I'd be able to specialize in neonatology in the military. (also thank you for these I am currently deciding on an undergrad school but seriously considering this for the future)
That is exactly correct.
By the way, you could do neonatal surgery in the military. I myself am interested in pediatric/ fetal surgery. They offer pediatric surgery fellowships.
Your service requirement is the length of your time in medical school or your time as a resident (whichever is longer) with a minimum service requirement of three years.
Is this only if they are paying you during residency (sponsored)? Or does this Include military residency and/or civilian deferred
great information.
Question: What would the path look like if one goes via Naval Academy n such?
Thanks for the information.
Bernice Feagins You are very welcome.
This was great
I would greatly appreciate if you could comment on your thoughts pursuing this with a spouse/significant other. Specifically referring to if you think the financial aid granted to your while going through Med School from the Military is enough to support someone else with. Thanks and great content.
Hello! I have been enlisted in the Air Force for 5 years and will be separating next year to use my G.I. Bill to finish my bachelor's degree in biomedical sciences. After that I am hoping to go to Medical School and also use the HPSP. Do you know if the military residency will count towards your time in service? I am debating whether or not I would like to reach a retirement with the Air Force or just do my 4-year commitment after my residency and then go practice medicine as a civilian. Thanks for sharing your knowledge on this topic in your videos!
Megan Friedl Thank you for your question and for your service! If you do an active duty, military residency then your time in residency will count towards your 20 years needed for retirement through the Air Force. If you do a civilian deferred residency then your time in residency training will not count towards retirement. I hope that's helpful. Please keep me posted on your journey and best of luck to you!
Megan Friedl I would look at the navy and army as well. I know for the Army it is incredibly rare to do a civilian residency because the GME program is the largest of the branches. Not sure if the navy is the same. Just a thought
I like your watch 😉
Gabrielle Feery Much thanks. :)
Hello! Thank you for posting this. I was wo dering do you find it easy to have a social life/create relationships in this path?
Yes, definitely. It's all about balancing work/ school, family, and friends as always. I've made some great friends in the AF.
Doc a lil confused here. Are the years spent in military residency, counted in the compulsory active duty year (the 4 needed to serve for the 4 years of med school the military pays for)
No, the years of residency do not count as pay back time.
@@studentdoctorfeery4485 Does residency count as years taken for scholarship? I have been reading about service commitment and everywhere it says "minimum 3 year commitment as an active duty staff physician, or 1 year for each year of scholarship participation (whichever is greater)". So thats 4 years of medical school plus residency? (Ex: 4 yrs of med school + 3 years of residency = 7 years total of active duty) Or is it like whichever one is longer like 4>3 so 4 years of Active duty?
Samira Naeem residency does not count because you are still in training. However that being said you can not deploy while in residency and you make more than a civilian residency.
Thank you doc for this video👏👏 Ive heard that a doctor within the medical corps cant make as much as a civilian doctor due to limitations, is this true?
You are very welcome, thank you for your support.
That is true, military doctors make their rank's pay, but they are still making a handsome sum of money. Additionally, they have no loans to pay back from medical school. In the end, I believe it evens out. I hope that is helpful for you.
What path did you take? Are you staying in or are you getting out? What kind of doctor are you?
Hey man, thank you for sharing. I was going to ask you what branch do you think is best to join HPSP with interest in surgery? Also which branch are you a part of? It had been a while since your video how have things gone? Which branch are you a part of?
When you are in the IRR can you work in civilian medicine or are you working for the military?
Also does IRR count during medical school if you are an HPSP but not rotc student? Or do you always owe 4 years of IRR after your 4 years of pay ack after residency?
Hey! What’s the day in the life as an Active Duty Military Physician?
since you did not use ur gi bill, can you transfer it to your family after you become a doctor?
didn't hear you talk about those GMOs at all that are pretty prominent in the airforce/navy. Im considering joining the army so that I don't have a lower risk of having my residency delayed. Can you make a video discussing those please?
Sure, what would you like to know? I'm happy to help spread information on that route as well.
Thank you Dr Feery for sharing such informative video.
I completed medical school from Sierra Leone in 2013 (now a medical doctor). I was hoping to enlist in the military and write my USMLE. Upon getting my license, are their opportunities in the military to get residency training while in the military?
Thanks again.
James
i’m still looking for more info to commission from enlisted to hopefully officer to medical school
There is a program called (EMDP2) that you can take while active duty. I’m a Marine Vet and wish I knew about it before. It stands for Enlisted to Medical Degree Preparatory Program. It’s a 2 year program where you can do your pre-requisites for med school. Upon completion you can the take the HPSP for med school or the one that I am taking, the USUHS which is a military med school that pays you 2nd Lt pay while you study. That’s 60k a year but the catch is you’ll owe 7 year instead of 4 with the HPSP, because you are receiving full time pay while studying (a dream for most people). If you plan on doing 20 and retiring then this is best because the 7 year commitment won’t matter as much. (Not including residency and fellowship time) If you are a salt dog I would consider the HSCP program. Where you get E-7 pay but you pay for med school out of pocket, the only difference is that your time in med school goes towards your 20 year retirement so it is more beneficial if you’re 8+ years in the military. Hope this information has helped you in your search. Semper.
Thank you for this video- do you have any information about military personal wanting to go to medical school using their G.I. bill? I have my associates degree. Perhaps another timeline? Or how to steps? Thank you very much!
Does it still work if I join the navy after my premed and then after militery I go to med schools
So if you did a 7 year residency, would you owe 7 for it plus the 4 for medical school?
Do you have to already have prior military experience to be excepted with the HPSP? This is the biggest question I cannot find the answer to anywhere!
No military experience required. Prerequisites are ability to pass an Army physical, and pass a background check. An applicants competitiveness is based on MCAT score, GPA, and any other extra curricular involvement that enhanced the premed track.
Haven't been here in a while. He used to have more videos.
I’m trying to get into cardiology like a cardiovascular surgeon do they have that field in the military or neurology? Right now I’m in Highschool junior so far 3 years of ROTC what would be the best route out of Highschool because I want to be a doctor after my 20 years of service when I come out of the military would the reverses or active duty be the best ? And how long for a neurosurgeon? And what would be the military cover ? And what would active service would be like shipped off?
Are there certain medical schools that we are supposed to attend? Or are our options open to any school in the US? ... to receive the HPSP
Whatever one(s) you can get accepted to in the U.S. or Puerto Rico
What kind of residency did you end up doing?
If you do ROTC in college, will that add 4 years to your contract? I know that in ROTC, they have you sign a contract at some point. I want to do ROTC but I don’t want to trap myself with 8 years of active duty service plus residency and fellowship. Do you think that if I didn’t apply for an ROTC scholarship (meaning that they don’t pay for my undergrad), I won’t have to pay back 4 years of college? There’s a chance that I would probably serve that amount anyway, but the thought of a 12 year commitment makes me anxious. Does anyone know how it works?
What if you complete your Medical school outside of the US and then take your USMLE get your license and then join the military to complete your residency. Will you be guaranteed a residency thru the military because of your service or you will have to apply and match just like everyone else regardless if you’re joining the military?
Great video keep it up!
Arbaz, thank you for your question; it is a good one. To my understanding, you would still have to apply and compete in the military match just like everyone else. I hope that is helpful, and best of luck on your journey! Please let me know if you have any other questions.
Arbaz Hussain unless you used the HPSP you cannot do a military residency. You would have to do a civilian residency and either apply after you are fully licensed, or take a program called STRAP(Army Reserve) or Financial assistance program (all services offer this and it brings you on to active duty).
Hello so I know this video is 6 years old but I have a question. Say I am already an undergrad about to go into his sophomore year. Would I still be able to apply?
Just to he clear, if you do 4 years of med school thru hpsp, then do 4 years of residency thru military match, you will end up owing only 4 years of active duty, not 8. Right? Lol
Does the active duty residency not count to the four year pay back period?
When would you go to boot camp in all this? If you were unable to make a sufficiently amazing score for the big tests in medical school (and therefore failed out), would you need to pay back everything, or could you "pay it off" by being an active duty officer/private for a while?
In your original video you had mentioned that you can do your active duty time as a resident (if I remember correctly). Does this excuse you from active duty after the residency. The reason I ask this is because I want to be a neurosurgeon.
Nolan Bachand if you want to be a neurosurgeon you definitely do not want to work for the military. You will make so much more money in the civilian world.
Nolan Bachand it would not excuse you because you are not fully credentialed until after residency since residency is training. Neurosurgery is a really long residency so you would owe year for year of that training program
Why are you the only person talking about HPSP!? Thanks for this. Do you know much about the differences between army/navy/af hpsp? Can you only apply to one branch?
I saw a gap in information available to folks so I thought I'd start!
I'll make a video on the branches, but they are more or less the same.
Is it possible to do ROTC undergrad and HPSP for med school or do you immediately serve 4 years of active duty after undergrad in ROTC?
You can do them back to back. One of my classmates is doing that.
Natalie Sowers he is correct you can get an educational delay but it adds on to your time owed in the end
I have a few questions:
1. Now that I am a junior in college and I decide to join the military so I can retake classes, raise my GPA, and graduate later. I think I'll most likely go active and do online classes or should I go reserve and then later go active?
2. Can I still be able to do the HSPS anytime after I am done with school (Or active/reserve)? What do you think of this process?
3. Is there a required ASVAB score to be able to apply HSPS?
After high school, can I do 2 years straight from high school to get done with training, then begin my degree on my own, finish the undergrad & go HPSP?
Same question here, did you ever get an answer?
Is the U.S. Army Family Medicine Physician like a general practitioner or do they also do surgeries?
can you choose for the air force NOT to pay for your residency? can they only pay for medical school and you owe them just 4 years without residency?
Did u have to go to boot camp? I’m a senior highschool and was thinking of joining the military and becoming a doctor/ surgeon but I don’t want to do boot camp because I’m not athletic and honestly scared of boot camp .
Hi
How long do I have to serve the military if I military matched into general surgery residency?
Hi, I’m very thankful for your videos because they help a lot in understanding what I️ want to do in the future. I’m definitely interested in HPSP but unfortunately, I️ am a bit color blind. Can you explain the vision exams that go along with joining the Air Force and what solutions I️ can look into? Will being color blind restrict me from applying for HPSP?
David Chen Thank you for your question and your support. When you go to the Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) tests for your vision and hearing, along with a battery of other tests, will be performed. This is essentially like a physical exam you would get from your family doctor. At MEPS they will be able to assess the severity of your colorblindness. However, I would mention this to your recruiter well before you get to MEPS. They will have specific answers for you. I encourage you to ask them before you start the application process.
Personally, I do not think it will be debilitating in your practice as a physician, and therefore I do not foresee it being problem. There are several color blind students in my medical school class, but they are not in the HPSP. Nonetheless, they will be physicians. I hope that's helpful.
Thank you! I️ will keep that in mind for the future.
Is residency Training the speciality? And medical school is general doctor? So they pay both medical school and the speciality you chose? How much would the pay be when you go active in the military?
You are correct. Medical school grants you the MD degree and graduation from residency training allows you to practice. You are being paid throughout both by the military.
You are paid by your rank and for being in the medical core. You also get paid more for deployments and certain assignments.
I was told by a military doctor that an attending physician salary is around 130K.
Havent finished the video yet
Ok so im a junior in highschool right now and would like to enlist in the military (Air force). Can i use my GI bill to get a bachelors in biology and then use the hpsp for med school while im already in the service? TIA
Following
Hi Dr Feery,
Thank you for this video, it was very informative! Do you know during the 4-7 years of active duty that you'll owe them, is that when you start getting paid as a full-time military physician? Also, I understand that civilian physician's salary are generally the same as military physician's, but do you know if there are any differences or details related to the pay if you go through the HPSP?
Thanks!
Hello! Thank you for the support. During an active duty residency you will be paid as a captain (0-3). After 5 years as a captain you will become a major and be at the pay grade of an 0-4 (major). This will either be at the end of your residency (if surgical) or during your pay back time.
Civilian physicians generally make more money during their practice relative to military doctors. This is because in the military you make your rank's pay grade. However, you do not have debt and you will start making money through the HPSP well before your peers. I believe it evens out in the end.
- GreedySarameya once you finish residency you get paid more based on your area of practice. If you stayed after that as well you would get paid more because you finished your payback.
Thx!
Hello good guy, what is exactly the concept of pension if someone chooses to stay for the extra 20 years? Also if you choose not to stay in the military after the 4 years of service, will you have any sort of military benefits that carry on with you? Thank you
okay I am confused about something…Say I get a offered full scholarship by a college…do I enlist in the Air Force after high school and go through basic training and then go into pre-Med using that scholarship and then afterwards apply for the HPSP or what ?? Please help🙃
Can you choose to be stationed in Japan? Or do you get placed by the military where your needed?
I am currently an active duty medic in the army. I am interested in doing this program, do you know how this would work for me since I am enlisted active duty?
Get a bachelors, have a good gpa, apply, get your commander to sign a release form. Done
What if you go into ROTC and then chose to go to USUHS instead of HPSP? Is it the same?
Hopefully people still see this after 3 years but I need some help. I am currently about to start my senior year in high school and I want to become a family doctor/physician. I’m having a hard time finding information to help me with my personal situation and having almost no family members that have gone to medical school doesn’t help either. Is that different from what he explained and if so, if anyone has any knowledge for my situation, can you “walk me through” what I personally need to do to reach my goal. Thanks in advance
If my wife is already an active duty nurse in the military, will we be co-located during my residency? Or during my years in medical school if there's a base nearby and I join in the same branch?
Do you have to do individual ready reserves to become a civilian doctor or can you just become a civilian doctor after 4 years active duty?
NonRenewable Yes, the reserve is part of your contract. You can practice civilian medicine while you are in the Individual Ready Reserve, but you must be ready to be activated into full active duty mode should they call you up. You are essentially a practicing civilian physician who can become activated. After your time in the IRR is complete you can practice as a civilian physician with no ties to the military if you so choose.
Student Doctor Feery Thanks😊
NonRenewable You are very welcome.
Is it a requirement to be in the individual ready reserve or can you skip to civilian physician right away?
Now when your on active duty will you be getting paid?
Yes
If I decide to go back to civilian sector after my payback, will I be considered less prepared than other normal doctors?
Chloe Lee No.
I'm not sure what you are asking. Do you think the military would poorly train their doctors?? That wouldn't be a very good investment of their time and money.
Military residency programs are often paired with robust, civilian academic institutions or community teaching hospitals. Some of the residencies even have required years for research, built on top of the clinical training, to make their residents more competitive for additional fellowship training if they choose to specialize even further. The bulk of your training will be done alongside civilian physicians and residents. If anything, you could be better prepared because you treat civilian and military patients at a myriad of locations. and you have officer duties on top of your clinical practice.
I hope that's helpful.
The answer is maybe. It depends on your specialty. You’re not guaranteed to work in your specialty in the army. I knew a cardiologist and a gastroenterologist who were basically seeing sick call for a year. Seems like a waste of resources. Or you could be stationed at a place where they don’t need much of your particular specialty. Fort Irwin is a good example of that. A general surgeon stationed there would get very few surgical cases.
how many years would i owe for active service, if i already have my A.A meaning i only need them to pay for two years of my pre-med track
If they pay for medical school then you would owe at least four years. The scholarship actually does not cover your pre-med years.
I have two questions (I know this is a while after the video but maybe you will still see them):
1. If I am a senior in college and waiting to see if I’ll get accepted into medical school (already applied) should I also go ahead and apply for HPSP or should I wait to get a med school acceptance first?
2. Are there any physical requirements (like the APFT) for HPSP applicants and if so, are those requirements the same as other officers? I think I could meet these if I needed to, just curious.
Thanks!
Sir, I know this is a very late comment but I was wondering if I would be disqualified from joining the military if I have Addison’s disease? I know the reason I would be disqualified is due to my steroid dependency but I would like to become a neurosurgeon and not a soldier so I don’t know if the rule still applies. Thank you for your time sir.
At what point do you go officer training school?
Would you owe them 8 years of active duty if you do ROTC and HPSP?
Question: I am currently a pre med student at a regular university in US, so can I still go to HPSP or I need ROTC?
Does service add up with rotc and hpsp
Awesome video! I'm a current college sophomore that was raised as a military child overseas and am very interested in the HPSP. Just wondering, is it okay to take a gap year and still apply for the scholarship? I plan to take my MCAT the summer after my junior year once I have taken biochem. This would mean that I would be applying for medical school the summer after I graduate and take a gap year through the application process.
Yes, you can take gap years.
Thanks for the video, quick question if you can answer it though. I’m a 4 year scholarship winner for ROTC currently. I want to go to medical school with HPSP and be a neurosurgeon. Assuming I earn a 4 year HPSP scholarship with my already earned 4 year ROTC scholarship and then complete a military 7 year residency, how many active duty years would I owe that point? Would it be 8? And could it be less than 8 if I did internal medicine instead even with both scholarships?
Is the 4 years service for the ROTC portion (undergrad) separate from the 4 - 7 years for medical school? If so, is it completed prior to medical school or after?
ROTC is a part-time undergrad program for military training, although you could do it while completing a graduate degree. Most people do ROTC are looking to become officers in the military right after they finish their college degree; they can go into many different fields so most ROTC students are not looking to go into medicine. Some pre-meds do decide to do ROTC, but many choose not to because it is a lot of time commitment and the time spent on military training gives you less time to focus on your pre-med extracurriculars, pre-med studies, and other commitments.
I seriously considered doing ROTC, but I ended up not doing it because I want to work and continue my non-academic extracurriculars during my time in college. I respect the pre-meds who do ROTC, but I'm figure skater and musician and do not want to give that up in college; I have also taken up ballroom dance. I am doing this because I know that I will have the rest of my life to practice medicine, both as a military and civilian physician, but I will not have as much time to spend on my other passions after starting med school.
I know figure skating, ballroom dance, and music do not seem to have anything to do with medicine but they help me develop as an individual and it helps me keep my life balanced as I work towards becoming a doctor.
I know this was a long-winded answer, but I hope it helped!
I was just wondering do I have to do rotc or can I go to a service academy
What happens with the HPSP if you don’t match after medical school?
I’m so confused, so lets say I join the Air Force for 4 years after high school. Would that mean I would have to owe another 4 years for the hpsp or am I getting it all wrong?
Aaron P. But what if I want to join the Air Force after high school? Does that not change anything?
Hi my friend ,, Thanks for your timeDo you think if someone are u.s citizen but the mother tongue it's not English but he's doing English pretty good will have the chance to got the HPSp ?
Especially he has bachelor's degree in Biology and he now doing some courses as a pre med requirements and looking forward to osteopathic medical school
And actually he's me 😊
Abdallah AlQudah Thank you for your question. I think the military would be grateful to have anyone who is willing to serve. It is of course imperative to be able to communicate with everyone on the healthcare team to treat our patients to the best of our ability, but you seem to be doing very well. Congratulations on completing your bachelors degree in biology. Please keep me posted on how your journey goes and best of luck!
What if I didnt do rotc but i do have a degree in a science
When you’re in active duty are there positions for different types of physicians (example: I want to go to medical school to become a psychiatrist)?
Yes, there are many psychiatry residency slots in the military.
Do you have to go into med school? Or could you do nursing?
If you are going to be in army reserve can you still do the hpsp?
Hey Student doctor Feery, I’ve wanted to ask you something. Even thought I didn’t do to well in high school and somehow barely made it my dream is to become an orthopedic doctor and I’m not going to let anyone tamper or interfere with my dream. Lately I’ve been seeing that you would have to do calculus and physics but to be honest I’m only good in Biology human anatomy.. I never been good in math so you think I still have a chance?
Absolutely! There is nothing you cannot learn. Just remember, you didn't know biology innately; you still had to learn it! Some subjects just take more time and more effort. I was not great at calculus or physics either. I met with my professors, tutors, and friends who did well. Through those efforts I earned and A which made it that much sweeter. Never be to proud to seek out help; if I can do it, you certainly can too!
Since you said that it is okay for your bachelor's degree to be completed between four and five years, is it okay to take a gap year and apply for HPSP?? I want to take a gap year so I can research and work/volunteer.
Yes, I know many people in the HPSP who took gap years.
Could u do ur active duty service to civilian? Or do u have to be on the irr?