Should you join the military before or after college?
Oh boy… Someone with more time will probably write a beautiful answer to this question, but I’ll give you the short version.Going after: You have the opportunity to pursue a commission as an officer, which is a ton of work and responsibility but basically makes the whole experience better in almost every way, including pay and career prospects for after the military. If you don’t choose that path you still get automatic promotion to E-4 with a college degree, which means more pay and opportunity. You can also have the military pay off your college loans in some cases and still be eligible for the post 9/11 GI bill if you serve more than 3 years (These programs change and your mileage may very).Going before: You get the “full experience” and the camaraderie of being a Joe. If you don’t choose to go career, you basically get it out of the way. After you’ve been through military training and an enlistment, college will seem crazy easy. You won’t have to worry about loans at any point (assuming the post 9/11 stays around). You will also most likely have a better pick of schools, since most colleges are pretty good about letting veterans in. You would also have the option to go to college and do ROTC knowing a lot more about the military if you did want to commission. It would be an informed choice.For the record, I went in after and commissioned. The level of responsibility that you have thrust on you in that situation is unlike anything you will get in the private sector or anywhere else. If that’s what you’re looking for, I highly recommend it. Good luck.
How does the whole college and coast guard thing work?
There are four basic options I can think of regarding CG and education. These include: 1. Attend USCGA. If your transcript, activities and overall achievement are good enough to get in, this provides both a college education (at no cash cost to you) and a commission as an officer following graduation. http://www.uscga.edu/ 2. Enlist, use tuition assistance to attend classes on your own time while enlisted. Tuition assistance provides up to $4500/yr towards your education while serving. It involves taking classes on your own time while in the Coast Guard and will take you much longer than 4 years to get a degree doing it this way, but keep at it, you get there. Details on tuition assistance here: http://www.uscg.mil/hr/cgi/cfa/ta.asp 3. Complete your degree on your own time and dime, then seek to join the Coast Guard as an officer. A bachelor's degree is amongst the minimum requirements for a commission. Details on Coast Guard OCS here: http://www.gocoastguard.com/find-your-ca... 4. Complete a minimum 4 year enlistment, leave the Coast Guard, attend college using the GI Bill. The post 9/11 design bill is designed to cover the costs of attending a 4 year public university once you complete your service. Details here: http://www.gibill.va.gov/gi_bill_info/benefits.htm#CH33 Good luck!!
How does the whole military thing work with medical schools?
It's not exactly like you think. As I did not go this route, but considered it, I can tell you what I know. But someone who is actually enlisted would be better. 1. You don't join the military and become a doctor, you apply and get into medical school and then can apply to the military under the Health Professions Scholarship Program. Each branch has differing requirements and pays a little bit differently but to answer question #2...2. Yes, they do pay 100% of your tuition in medical school plus a stipend per month. In turn, you are obligated post training to active duty with that branch for a minimum 1 year for each year of support with a minimum 3 years active duty. 3. You can go to any accredited medical school in the US. 4. It differs in that you would enter the military match (vs. NRMP) and match a little earlier in your last year of medical school. 5. Pros: no debt, monthly living allowance. 6. Service obligation and possibly limitations on your specialty choice (for instance, I recall that the AF was only looking for primarily care physicians.)7. Depends on now old you are when you start this process. The service obligation equals the years (or min of 3) in which you received support so add four years to whatever your residency timeframe would be (eg 4 + 5 for surgery.)8. As far as I know, you do have some service obligations while in med school, but someone else may be able to clarify. 9. You'd only be an Army doctor if you joined the Army. Remember there's Navy and Air Force, too. Check the websites. Here are some links to start you out:http://www.militarygme.orghttp://m.goarmy.com/amedd/educat...http://www.airforce.com/pdf/hpsp...http://www.navy.com/joining/coll...Hope that helps. :)
How does the whole college thing work?
I know I sound really dumb, but I need to get this figured out and whatnot. I'm an upcoming senior, and I've taken my ACT and SAT... and I'm pretty well ready to apply to college! So my questions are, when is the earliest that you can apply for next year's fall semester for most schools? and of course, when is the latest? I know that it varies for each school, but in general, when are they going to want this stuff? Also, what is early admissions and do you have a better chance of getting in when applying this way? Scholarships come out in January-ish right? Also when will I audition for the music program? Is that after I'm accepted? Is it possible that they'll hear my audition and give me automatic scholarships? haha, last question: someone said that you can make it into any school's gen ed programs, it's the schools (school of music, business, etc.) that are tough to get into. Do people switch around and take gen eds at one college and then go to another for their profession? If you do that, wouldn't you only have a couple years to finish your undergraduate studies? And what are graduate studies? Gahhh, sorry there are so many questions... I just want to get on the same page as everyone else and not miss any deadlines or miss the big picture here! Thanks!
Which would be the better choice: College vs Military?
I'll get straight into the question. Should I go through with the college experience I always dreamed of and deal with most likely paying back loans or joining the military for a more "secure" route financially and receiving money for school(at least that's what I'm told you get). I don't really have an idea how the military works when it comes to joining, I only began to consider it after hearing about how so many people after college end up having to pay back so many loans and it just sounds like such a struggle. Also I was thinking of trying out college and if that fails joining after, but I was told that would be a waste of money. You can probably tell that I'm feeding into a lot of people's comments and I just want an opinion from some one who has actually made that decision. Thanks
What's it like to work for the military after medical school/have the military pay for medical school?
I have not done what you're asking, but I can give you part of the answer. There are several ways to fund your education with military money. The most common way is using some form of the GI Bill. You serve and you earn educational benefits that you use in the future (or god forbid, during your service via online, for-profit schools. Sorry, I digress). Other options are available for people already serving. A friend of mine who has already been enlisted in the Navy about 15 years decided that he wanted to get into Healthcare Administration. The Navy has a need for HCA officers, so he applied through one of the Navy's post graduate education programs to get his Masters in HCA. After he was accepted, he enrolled in school using those benefits, and is also paid a monthly room and board stipend (similar to our BAH). Soon he'll have his masters and get commissioned as an officer. Now, regarding your concerns about risk. As an officer in the medical corps or medical service corps, you will be providing care to thousands of personnel whose job (and duty) it is to serve wherever and whenever to whatever is needed. You could spend your entire career in the San Diego or Norfolk area, legitimately doing good work, supporting the fleet, doing annual exams and treating injuries and illnesses, etc. Especially if you're a specialist. Not much risk unless the Bureau of Medicine makes a call and tells you that you're needed elsewhere. You could also work at the Role 3 hospital in Kandahar Afghanistan tending to the injuries sustained by special forces operators in the Afghan mountains. Extremely redeeming work that does carry some risk of being targeted by insurgent activity, and some PTSD. You could also serve shipboard, tending to sailors at sea and the major and minor injuries they have. Plus the annual check ups, too. Ultimately, the amount of risk to which you are subjected reflects how much success you want in your Navy career. Take on the hard challenging jobs, and you will reap the benefits. But if your goal is to serve long enough to get the money and run, then I suspect that you'll survive. You may have some regrets down the line, but who doesn't? Good luck.
What can I do after im done serving the military?
Ok here's the deal. Im 16 and its been my DREAM to join the Marines. So far in high school my GPA is 2.9 or something like that. I don't really know what I should choose at the moment. Navy Or Marines? I like the Navy because the Training is EXTREMELY difficult ( or as I heard), And the Marines Have more pride because they're always the first to go to war. Don't get me wrong, I have 100% respect for all soldiers, of every branch. After im done with my time, What kinda of careers can it open for me? Or approximately how much will they pay me if I stayed in? All answers are appreciated. :D
How possible is it to stay in the military my whole life?
if you join active duty . the contract at least is 3 years . after that you can sign up for more . if you join at 18 years now and decide to choose military as your career . you can go up 45 years. the Army i believe they let you stay longer than Navy. after 20 years and if you retired, you have 50% salary, health care and your spouse for life and other benefits. after 30 years you have 75% salary. Assuming you join at age 18 start with the lowest rank E1 and decide to retire in 20 years. you are about 38 years old. At the time your rank could be E6 is the lowest and if you work hard, it could be E7. If you end up at E6, i estimate the salary is about $2000/ month. You retire and can work other job in civilian life if you want to. I know some guy joined very young and serving 20 years, got benefits and retired money. then he comes out at 37, find another civilian job work until 60. got double retired money. If you want to have better benefit, try to get bachelor's degree, give you more money housing allowance, pay grade higher. It's up to you. Go with your passion. It doesnt matter enlisted or officer.