So I have to decide by today...I've been giving this a lot of thought and talking to people over the past two days, since finding out, but I decided to consult you guys as well.
My dilemma is a lot like this thread: Reasons for HPSP vs USU?
OP ended up taking a full-ride elsewhere, so that's how that one ended!
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I'll be 30 this summer. Female. No family, don't really like kids, but not closed to it. I'll be 44 by the end of the USUHS obligation, 41 by the end of Jeff HPSP.
I'm someone who's fine with being part of the military. I've never served or have family who has, but I attended USMC OCS before, so I have an interest in it. And I think my goals align well with such a life (see bottom). I'm not **100%** sure about the military, but I think that's just because one is never truly sure about anything; I'd say I'm sure enough. I adapt well to circumstances anyway and can find things anywhere to make life more enjoyable. I'm interested in EM (a generalist specialty), though that can change.
So since both of my choices include me spending a stint in the military, the differences between the two are:
USUHS
- 7-year commitment after residency
- paid ~$60K/year during school
- I would have already spent 4 years becoming part of the military culture, so I'd feel more a part of it
- live in DMV (I prefer Philly because it's smaller and better for biking, but I've been to DC a lot and it's fine)
- can network with instructors, who have connections to all sorts of things in the military
- have to drive to climbing gym (~30 minutes) - this is more inconvenient
Jeff
- 4-year commitment after residency
- paid ~$25K/year during school
- live in Philly
- I still think their students were the warmest, most loving group I met among the schools I interviewed at, though I could see myself among USUHS students as well
- can bike to climbing gym (~15 minutes)
There are things that would be the same whether I do USUHS or HPSP, so I list them at the end if you care to read. But one thing that I really want to prioritize and get better at is people/social skills, emotional intelligence, being engaging, and earning strangers' trust, which is so important for doctors. I think I can improve at this no matter which school I go to, as long as I make a concerted effort?
Something I admire about people in the military, and also many doctors I've met, is their self-confidence and self-assurance. I love that and want to be around those kinds of people. Not everyone who is in the military is like that of course (it's such a big organization, you can't generalize everyone like that), but I feel like I can find people like that. Especially Marines, just based on personal experiences; I admire every single one I've met - they have that aura about them, and that stereotype is pretty true.
Related to developing confidence: In addition to learning to practice medicine, my goal through med school/in life is to develop the personal aspect: personality, emotional and social intelligence, social/people skills. Docs have to be able to connect with strangers and gain their trust immediately in order to help their patients. That's not my strength, but I'm sick of not having better people skills, so I'm determined to seek out opportunities to work on this whether I go to Jefferson or USUHS, or any other school.
Other stuff that would be the same whether I do USUHS or HPSP
Career goals:
To have a varied career, including: clinical practice (military and civilian), deploying to combat zones, working with astronauts/people traveling to extreme environments, working at research stations in Antarctica or other cold/remote places or at Everest base camp, doing consultant-type work (changing projects every few months, or minutes as in my current specialty interest of EM, seems to fit my personality), working with MSF or similar organizations, working with athletes, or doing something related to technology/innovation/entrepreneurship.
My dilemma is a lot like this thread: Reasons for HPSP vs USU?
OP ended up taking a full-ride elsewhere, so that's how that one ended!
--
I'll be 30 this summer. Female. No family, don't really like kids, but not closed to it. I'll be 44 by the end of the USUHS obligation, 41 by the end of Jeff HPSP.
I'm someone who's fine with being part of the military. I've never served or have family who has, but I attended USMC OCS before, so I have an interest in it. And I think my goals align well with such a life (see bottom). I'm not **100%** sure about the military, but I think that's just because one is never truly sure about anything; I'd say I'm sure enough. I adapt well to circumstances anyway and can find things anywhere to make life more enjoyable. I'm interested in EM (a generalist specialty), though that can change.
So since both of my choices include me spending a stint in the military, the differences between the two are:
USUHS
- 7-year commitment after residency
- paid ~$60K/year during school
- I would have already spent 4 years becoming part of the military culture, so I'd feel more a part of it
- live in DMV (I prefer Philly because it's smaller and better for biking, but I've been to DC a lot and it's fine)
- can network with instructors, who have connections to all sorts of things in the military
- have to drive to climbing gym (~30 minutes) - this is more inconvenient
Jeff
- 4-year commitment after residency
- paid ~$25K/year during school
- live in Philly
- I still think their students were the warmest, most loving group I met among the schools I interviewed at, though I could see myself among USUHS students as well
- can bike to climbing gym (~15 minutes)
There are things that would be the same whether I do USUHS or HPSP, so I list them at the end if you care to read. But one thing that I really want to prioritize and get better at is people/social skills, emotional intelligence, being engaging, and earning strangers' trust, which is so important for doctors. I think I can improve at this no matter which school I go to, as long as I make a concerted effort?
Something I admire about people in the military, and also many doctors I've met, is their self-confidence and self-assurance. I love that and want to be around those kinds of people. Not everyone who is in the military is like that of course (it's such a big organization, you can't generalize everyone like that), but I feel like I can find people like that. Especially Marines, just based on personal experiences; I admire every single one I've met - they have that aura about them, and that stereotype is pretty true.
Related to developing confidence: In addition to learning to practice medicine, my goal through med school/in life is to develop the personal aspect: personality, emotional and social intelligence, social/people skills. Docs have to be able to connect with strangers and gain their trust immediately in order to help their patients. That's not my strength, but I'm sick of not having better people skills, so I'm determined to seek out opportunities to work on this whether I go to Jefferson or USUHS, or any other school.
Other stuff that would be the same whether I do USUHS or HPSP
Career goals:
To have a varied career, including: clinical practice (military and civilian), deploying to combat zones, working with astronauts/people traveling to extreme environments, working at research stations in Antarctica or other cold/remote places or at Everest base camp, doing consultant-type work (changing projects every few months, or minutes as in my current specialty interest of EM, seems to fit my personality), working with MSF or similar organizations, working with athletes, or doing something related to technology/innovation/entrepreneurship.