unsure wrote:
I'm strongly considering joining the marine reserves. The problem is, time is running out for me. The age limit to enlist is 29, I am 25.
In a few months, I will have seven years of school (lots of debt) and a clinical doctorate degree. I would like to work for about a year and then enlist.
Have you considered joining the reserves as an officer? Don't let anyone tell you that is impossible, because there is a relatively new program called OCC-R that allows for a direct commission into the reserves. With respect to OCS, you have plenty of time, as the age waiver cutoff is 28. Waivers are possible but have been tough to get in the past couple of years with the rise in applications brought about by the slumping economy. At 25, you would actually be somewhere in the middle of the age range among officer candidates, and each platoon will usually have at least one or two candidates over 30 (usually prior service NCO's). You would go to OCS (10 weeks), TBS (6 months), MOS school (months, depending on which MOS), and then hit the fleet. The process is always changing, but generally you get some discretion as to your MOS and/or unit location if you go through the OCC-R program. However, do note that the needs of the Corps trumps everything else, so your picks are not "guaranteed."
OCS is no joke, as it is a serious grind both mentally and physically. Hard to make a comparision to boot camp since the missions are entirely different and they are dealing with completely different populations. However, if you are set on enlisting, you will certainly not be alone in the enlisted ranks as someone with an advanced degree (people are often surprised how many college and grad school grads there are in the enlisted ranks).