The HPSP scholarship comes in 4-year and 3-year varieties.
Typically a senior in college after receiving a medical school acceptance letter would apply for the 4-year HPSP scholarship through a military recruiter. After being accepted for the position, an individual takes the oath of office and signs a scholarship agreement. The military agrees to pay for 4-years of medical school tuition, a monthly stipend and reimbursement for required books and equipment. The individual agrees to pay back the military year for year of the scholarship and additional reserve time. The 3-year scholarship is similar except that the applicant is a first year medical student and the length of obligation. The total service obligation is 8-years for any HPSP scholarship because of a statutory service obligation.
The HPSP student must attend an indoctrination class during medical school. During elective rotations the HPSP student will rotate at at least one military hospital prior to the match. Travel and lodging are funded by the military for this elective rotation.
Key Points:
1. The amount of money in question is very significant. The amount of money per year for tuition is uncapped. An estimate $35k per year for tuition for 4 years plus stipend and reimbursement can add up to well over $150k. With this scholarship it is possible for the HPSP student to graduate medical school debt free. A traditional medical student would carry that debt through residency like and have to pay it back like a home mortgage.
2. The contract does not guarantee choice of training or "straight through" residency training. Unlike civilians, military physicians must apply for a PGY2 residency training position. For more information about this process, please see the JSGMESB page.
3. The actual time commitment for the scholarship is 8-years. The difference is made up in reserve time. For a 4-year HPSP scholarship the payback is 4-years active duty and 4-years reserve time. The reserve component can be served as a drilling reservist with pay or on inactive reserves.
4. The contract gives the military broad control over one's life after medical school. The military determines what one wears (uniform) how they look (grooming standards) and even the location where a physician will practice. During internship or during the last year of residency, the physician consults the detailer to find out where his or her first duty station will be.