As I think about a future in healthcare management, I'm wondering about opportunities within the military. What should my focus be in high school to prepare for this type of career?
Certainly! Aspiring to build a career in healthcare management within the military is a commendable goal. Firstly, focusing on your academics is important, particularly in subjects such as biology, math, and even business studies if available. This will give you a strong foundation for future coursework in college that's relevant to healthcare management.
The next step is to obtain a college degree. Many military-based healthcare management careers require at least a bachelor's degree. You might want to consider aiming for undergraduate degrees in health administration, health management, or a related field.
While in college, you can choose to join a Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) program, which is offered by several colleges and universities. Through this program, the military will pay for your education and give you leadership training. After graduating, you owe the military a certain number of years of service as an officer.
Alternatively, after graduating from college, you can directly apply to Officer Candidate School (OCS) or Officer Training School (OTS) of the different branches of military. Here, you will receive leadership training and upon completion, you will be commissioned as an officer.
Once you're in the military, you may want to get into the Medical Service Corps, which in many branches is the main avenue for healthcare management roles.
Keep in mind that demonstrating leadership skills and physical fitness are also essential for military based roles.
Additionally, continuing education in the form of a Master's degree in Health Administration (MHA), or similar field, could be beneficial for higher-level healthcare management positions within the military.
Remember that specifics may vary between different branches of the military so it could be beneficial to research and reach out to a recruiter from the branch of your interest to get more detailed information.
CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.