So you've figured out what branch to apply to, you've hopefully got a med school acceptance (or soon will), and you're talking to the recruiter, what next?
A lot of paperwork. Or if you are in my situation then a lot of paperwork and then a lot of waiting. Because my GPA didn't meet the minimum requirement of 3.2 (undergrad GPA - they don't factor graduate school into that) I had to get a GPA waiver. This involved official copies of all my transcripts and a resume. It took about two months before the committee reported back that I could move on with my application. (The minimum MCAT score is a 24 or so says my unofficial research.)
Once that was finished it was mid January. I had to submit the forty page application which details everywhere you lived and worked in a certain time span, references, medical questions, and security questions. Along with this I had to submit a personal/motivational statement (my recruiter helped me out with examples) and five letters of recommendation. I got three from supervisors and two from peers from my EMS job.
After submitting that you need to head to MEPS, Military Entrance Processing Station, to get a physical. It will be your first demonstration of preferential treatment as an officer candidate and alienation from the potential enlisted folk. Three years prior to this I went to MEPS to try and enlist as a combat medic. I ended up not going through with it due to there being no spots for female medics and my recruiter attempting to push me towards a MOS, Military Occupation Speciality (or job), I didn't want. So I had gotten the enlisted experience at MEPS and now I was getting the officer experience.
When I went I was the only officer candidate. I didn't have to spend the night previous to the physical in a hotel. I was trusted and expected to show up in the early morning hours on time and ready. I stood and waited with my recruiter for the rest of the future soldiers to get there.
Once in MEPS, I noticed that people were perhaps more considerate and critical of me. I wasn't a teenager acting like a fool. I dressed comfortably, but respectfully and spoke in turn. I listened and obeyed all the rules. One time it was asked who was the officer candidate in the room when we were filling out some forms. I attempted to confidently raise my hand. The only reason for it was to address how I would fill out my paperwork slightly differently.
So other than that and the physicians treating me well after hearing I would be going to medical school, it was a very similar experience to the one I had as an hopeful enlisted solider. At the end of the ordeal, I passed my physical, and happily called my recruiter to tell him the news. On to the next step.
If you want more info about MEPS, there are some great blogs talking about the process, though I am currently too lazy to find them.
When we next continue: Waiting anxiously, Boards, something called a scroll, and commissioning!
*Word of advice: don't bring anything that can be confused as a weapon, like an oxygen key to MEPS. The security guards really don't care for it.*
2LT Lister
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