Expert: Cynthia Bedell - 5/30/2008

Question
Hi Cynthia,
Sorry to bother you again, but I was thinking of enlisting in the army national guard. However, I still am interested in applying to dental school next year. Do you think I could be in the army national guard and attend dental school simultaneously? Thank you very much for your help =)



Dear Lynn --

You are most welcome for any help I was able to offer.

Please do not forget that if you enter the military as an officer, you can defer your loan repayment for up to 5 years (no interest will accrue either).  Then you will have time to save up and repay your loans over a longer period.  

Further, the Army is looking for Physicians Assistants, and I believe you would be a good candidate.  However, you need to contact the Army medical corps recruiters, not the regular Army recruiters.  If you would like the name of someone to contact, I will be glad to send you and e-mail address.  Just let me know.

Keep striving.  I look forward to hearing you have achieved your dream of practicing medicine.

All the best,

QUESTION: Hi Cynthia,

I am a college graduate interested in joining the army to take advantage of their loan repayment program. The recruiter indicated that the loan repayment program is only available to enlisted so I would be signing up as an enlisted. The thing is I don't know if I'm making the right decision about doing this. I wanted to stay w/ the army for 2 years then return to school to get my Ph.D (hoping that they will pay for that schooling as well) and return back to the army after I graduate to pay off what ever I owe them in student loans but I'm worried I won't have any free time these 2 years in the army if I join. Will I have a 9-5 job? I need free time to prepare for graduate school. I'm confused if I should be doing this. Any suggestion you may have, I appreciate. Thank you.


Answer
Dear Lynn --

Given the current environment, you would likely have to interrupt your schooling to serve in theater.  Unless you can find yourself a simultaneous military program where you are ROTC during dental school and do your enlisted drill on your weekends, you will be needed in theater, and will be expected to deploy.

Good luck to you.