Master's Degree BEFORE or AFTER OCS?

[Let's Take a Look Sea]

I'm looking into the Environmental Health Officer program (going into my senior year of college as an Enviro Sci major; concentration in hydrology and a geography minor).

I'm wondering whether it would be best to get a masters before or after applying for OCS--would OCS make me a better candidate for an MS, or would an MS make me a better candidate for OCS? I did 2 years of Army ROTC so I've got an itch to get back into serving, but again I'm wondering if it's better to put it off for another few years.


Any and all help is much appreciated! Thanks!

 

[exNavyOffRec]

MSC officers go to ODS not OCS, but the following should answer your question, a Bachelors for this program is the MINIMUM, and the goals are very low, so if you have a Bachelors and most everyone else has a Master's your chances are very little at best, the highest goal per FY for this program is 4 per year, and looking at the status sheet they are filled for FY12, FY13 and FY14.

In many of these programs you have to have a near perfect GPA.

 

[BusyBee604]

...would OCS make me a better candidate for an MS, or would an MS make me a better candidate for OCS?
Any and all help is much appreciated! Thanks!

If you're young enough and have the financial means, an MS w/ an excellent GPA definitely enhances your package. However, with DOD cutbacks looming, who knows if the same opportunities will be available 2-5 years down the road. It's gonna be a gamble either way, and will take careful consideration of all info available as you approach your graduation. Keeping up with the situation on AW over the next year (and a killer final GPA), should help with your decision.

Remember, if you go for OCS after your BS, and you commission, then perform well in your first several tours, chances are good that Navy will send you to get your MS!
BzB

 

[LET73]

Pretty sure the obvious answer is to apply for both. If you get picked up for OCS, you can hold off on the MA. (If you're only looking at the MSC program, looks like you can go ahead and do the MA since quotas are already filled.) I got my MA before OCS, mainly because there was one program I wanted to apply to, and I made the decision beforehand that if I got into the program, I would do the MA; if not, OCS. Maybe the bottom line is to decide which you want more and which opportunity is the best to take at a given time.