NHSC Scholarship Application Adventure

It was a nerve-wracking morning, as Joe realized he was missing three critical components to submit his application for the NHSC scholarship. He didn't have a copy of his birth certificate, he couldn't find a copy of his Mizzou transcript, and he needed a form filled out by the Penn admissions department proving that he was unconditionally accepted.

This wouldn't be a problem if the scholarship deadline wasn't TOMORROW.

Thankfully, his mom had a copy of his birth certificate and scanned that to him right away. But after frantic calls to the Mizzou registrar's office, he found out that he couldn't be guaranteed an electronic copy of his transcript by tomorrow. And after an e-mail to UPenn's head of admissions, he found out that she was out of the office until tomorrow.

(I guess this is why procrastination is bad.)

Thankfully, Joe scoured his computer and finally found a saved version of his transcript in his application for SFSU's Post-Bac program. Then, this evening, he got an e-mail back from the head of admissions who had happened to check her e-mail and was able to fill out and send him the form.

*PHEW*

He is finishing up the application as I type, and we will both feel a huge weight off our shoulders when he can hit the submit button.

The reason there is so much stress and pressure surrounding this scholarship is because, as I mentioned yesterday, receiving the scholarship would change our lives.

The NHSC scholarship is awarded annually to about 200 students pursuing a primary health care profession (doctor, dentist, nurse practitioner, certified nurse-midwife, or physician assistant). The scholarship covers 100% of tuition, required fees, and other "reasonable" educational expenses. The students also receive monthly stipends.

In short, your professional education is entirely funded.

Of course, you have to give something in return for such a sweet deal ;) A student who receives this scholarship is required to work in a high-need rural or urban community for the number of years the NHSC provides funding for his/her education (no fewer than 2, no more than 4). The student still gets paid a competitive salary for his/her work, the program just helps ensure that there aren't shortages of primary health care practitioners in under-served areas.

Given that a lot of dentists work as associates anyway right out of dental school, Joe's experience and desire to help the under-served, and the fact that you get a lot of say in where you practice with the program, the four year commitment would absolutely be an easy "give" in return for the scholarship.

See - he's a natural. Give him that scholarship NHSC folks. Please!

Now, 200 scholarships each year is not a large number when you are talking about such a great scholarship and the fact that anyone wanting to be a primary care practitioner of almost any kind (not just dental students) is eligible. We are under no illusion that there is a good (or even mediocre) chance of Joe receiving this scholarship, but there would be zero chance if he didn't at least try!

So now all that's left is to wait. And, unfortunately, we don't have a precise date to anticipate since they start awarding the scholarships in July or August and can award them until September 30.

But wait we will - because he just hit the submit button.

My fingers will now be crossed for the next 2-4 months.

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