2010-2011 Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences Application Thread

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wahngjasnowy said:
i interviewed on 10/21, and i got a call earlier today offering me a conditional acceptance into the air force. It was easily the most excited i've been in a long time.

I remember at our interview though that they said it may be january before we heard anything, so they may be gradually getting through our interview date. I'm sure there are plenty more acceptances to come! Good luck!
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congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
RAMCLA2016 said:
I believe the interview packet recommends you wear your uniform. I think wearing a suit when you are officially associated (reserves/ROTC) with the military sends the wrong message. You want to convey that you are proud of being associated with the military. There were several Army and AF ROTC people in uniform when I interviewed.
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It doesn't make a bit of difference if you wear civvies or uniform as ROTC. I wore a suit to my interview when I was in ROTC because my issued Class A's were crap, and no one even mentioned it. Plus, cadet rank looks super ridiculous.
 
RAMCLA2016 said:
I believe the interview packet recommends you wear your uniform. I think wearing a suit when you are officially associated (reserves/ROTC) with the military sends the wrong message. You want to convey that you are proud of being associated with the military. There were several Army and AF ROTC people in uniform when I interviewed.
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Agreed. Also, I spoke with an ROTC gal in the restroom during one of the breaks. She complimented me on my suit. After replying that she looked nice as well, she told me that she "wished she could have worn an suit." I'm not implying that she was not proud of wearing her uniform, and in no way of calling her out, I'm just reiterating that it might be best to wear your uniform. Good luck!
 
Still hanging here... no notifications of any kind. Oct 7th interview. Congrats to the growing class!
 
gacibula said:
Anyways... just wanted to know... I'm a current Air Force ROTC cadet right now. When I interview... should I wear my service dress uniform, or stick to my charcoal interview suit, white shirt, and power tie lol? And am I guaranteed to go Air Force if I'm an Air Force cadet currently? How does this all work out. I'm really not too picky about what service I go into (one team one fight eh?) but It would make sense that since I've already been thru Air Force Officer Training... that they would keep me Air Force... for continuity purposes.

Thanks

Also, do they look favorably on prior service folks? How does this all work out.
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It would be my understanding that since you've already made a commitment to the AF, that you'd have no choice but AF. That's how it seemed to work for the ROTC people I've known.
That, however, doesn't guarantee you a spot in the class if they like you. I know for one of my friends, by the time they made his decision the Navy was already full, so since he was NROTC, he was on the waitlist until a Navy spot opened up (even through there were open Army spots).
 
can myopia of -8.00 diopters be waived? i got disqualified for this 🙁 i havent gotten the disqualification letter yet but i found out on the status website.
 
So at my interview today they told me Navy and public health are already at waitlist and by the time my day goes to committee the other branches will be waitlisting as well 🙁 I am kind of bummed but oh well here is to hoping I get waitlisted not put on the alternate list or rejected and then that list moves a lot. The class is over 50% full. Just thought the info might be helpful to ya'll
 
DocBell said:
So at my interview today they told me Navy and public health are already at waitlist and by the time my day goes to committee the other branches will be waitlisting as well 🙁 I am kind of bummed but oh well here is to hoping I get waitlisted not put on the alternate list or rejected and then that list moves a lot. The class is over 50% full. Just thought the info might be helpful to ya'll
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That's good to know. So anyone who interviews from here forward is on the waitlist at best, right? At least my understanding is that the USUHS waitlist moves quite a bit. Still hoping for an interview.
 
DocBell said:
So at my interview today they told me Navy and public health are already at waitlist and by the time my day goes to committee the other branches will be waitlisting as well.
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That's harsh. Was there a collective "well, s***.... " from everyone there?
 
ThunderHorse said:
That's harsh. Was there a collective "well, s***.... " from everyone there?
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Haha well we refrained from verbalizing the expletives but I definitely thought them. There was quite a bit of grumbling throughout the day amongst ourselves.

Question. Is our eye exam processed separately from our other physical. I checked online and it said I had been medically disqualified (for an eye condition) but no other medical codes were listed. So is that the only waiver I would need or has the physical just not been processed yet? Does anyone know?
 
Waitlist question, can you be accepted to Army or AF and later changed to Navy if you ranked Navy higher, but Navy already had a waitlist and the waitlist moved between now and when school starts?
 
RAMCLA2016 said:
Waitlist question, can you be accepted to Army or AF and later changed to Navy if you ranked Navy higher, but Navy already had a waitlist and the waitlist moved between now and when school starts?
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They generally ignore anything but your highest ranked service, if you are on a waitlist and call in, they may tell you if you switch your top preference that you will have a spot though. In other words if you rank Navy top and AF or Army a close second, at this point they'll just waitlist you for Navy even if other spots are available in your #2. If you have a spot for Army or AF they won't even bother considering you when a spot becomes available. If you would be happy with an Army or AF spot than you can call and ask if you can be considered for a Navy spot if one opens up, but I'd be willing to bet they would say no.

Goodluck and I hope you get the service you'd like! 👍
 
tabascosauce said:
can myopia of -8.00 diopters be waived? i got disqualified for this 🙁 i havent gotten the disqualification letter yet but i found out on the status website.
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Mine says the same thing 🙁 Can you explain to me where they get the -8.00 diopters number from? I thought it was our contact prescription but apparently not...unless they add both eyes together to get that number?
 
To those of you waiting to hear back, even if it seems like you are just interviewing for the waitlist that is not really true. I know an MSII who interviewed on the very last day two years ago and was accepted straight away to Air Force despite a long waitlist. If a spot opens up, which they definitely will, they pick the best candidate from the waitlist. It does not depend on your interview date, just what the committee thinks of your application and interviews. If a spot comes available when your file comes for review even if there is a waitlist you can be picked to fill it. If you are on the waitlist, keep them updated and continue to work on bettering your app because spots absolutely will be available.

Best of luck to everyone, and I hope that all of you who really want to be at USU have the opportunity to go this coming fall.
 
Not wearing your uniform if you're prior service/ROTC/Academy = Bad
 
Coug said:
Not wearing your uniform if you're prior service/ROTC/Academy = Bad
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I might agree with the ROTC/Academy sentiment, but for someone like me that isn't even currently on IRR status, I would argue that it would be inappropriate for me to wear my uniform. It's one thing if you're on active duty orders, but if you were discharged years ago, wearing uniform = bad (and I believe out of regulations too).
 
DocBell said:
Mine says the same thing 🙁 Can you explain to me where they get the -8.00 diopters number from? I thought it was our contact prescription but apparently not...unless they add both eyes together to get that number?
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mmm dont know. im imagining they got it from the eye exam when they determined your prescription. sigh i hope we can get it waived
 
DODMERB required if I already have one active (and medically clear) via ROTC? Just wondering.
 
Hey Guys - just wanted to let those of you still waiting for a spot know that I've sent a letter to admissions in order to withdraw my application. I think USUHS is a great school but considering my other option and what I'm looking at as the admissions cycle continues, I don't think its right for me. Best of luck to all of you in the class of 2015 and I hope someone will get this newly vacated spot soon!! (If it matters, I was slated to go Army - still gunna do HPSP though!)
 
Cyguy said:
Hey Guys - just wanted to let those of you still waiting for a spot know that I've sent a letter to admissions in order to withdraw my application. I think USUHS is a great school but considering my other option and what I'm looking at as the admissions cycle continues, I don't think its right for me. Best of luck to all of you in the class of 2015 and I hope someone will get this newly vacated spot soon!! (If it matters, I was slated to go Army - still gunna do HPSP though!)
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Everyone still playing the waiting game thanks you.
 
In4thelonghaul said:
Interview invite today for January 20th! Sounds like I'm looking at a waitlist at best, I really hope that it'll move enough to get in this year. I can't believe it...
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If you don't mind my asking, when did you get notified your secondary application was complete?
 
tabascosauce said:
mmm dont know. im imagining they got it from the eye exam when they determined your prescription. sigh i hope we can get it waived
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I want another eye examiner. Do you think we can request one? The guy did three different tests in the 4 minutes he was with me. The contacts and glasses I am currently wearing have a prescription a full diopter below -8.00 and I have no problems with my vision at all. I just did an eye exam last summer where they verified that prescription which hasn't changed in over three years. Now I am supposed to believe that in the 4 minutes the guy was with me (and my dad drove me to the apt and literally timed him so I am not using hyperbole) that my vision has drastically changed?
 
DocBell said:
I want another eye examiner. Do you think we can request one? The guy did three different tests in the 4 minutes he was with me. The contacts and glasses I am currently wearing have a prescription a full diopter below -8.00 and I have no problems with my vision at all. I just did an eye exam last summer where they verified that prescription which hasn't changed in over three years. Now I am supposed to believe that in the 4 minutes the guy was with me (and my dad drove me to the apt and literally timed him so I am not using hyperbole) that my vision has drastically changed?
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In the military, there's a waiver for almost everything, including I'm sure eyesight. If the waiver doesn't go through, you can always request a reexamination. If you're that worried about it, I've read on SDN somewhere that you can contact DODMERB directly, but don't remember where I read that.
 
afdoc3 said:
If you don't mind my asking, when did you get notified your secondary application was complete?
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Secondary complete email was Aug 10, then on Aug 12 they asked me to retake MCAT, I retook on Sep 11, new score was added to my file for re-evaluation on Oct 13, then finally the invite yesterday... I can sympathize with anyone who is waiting.
 
Bouddha said:
In the military, there's a waiver for almost everything, including I'm sure eyesight. If the waiver doesn't go through, you can always request a reexamination. If you're that worried about it, I've read on SDN somewhere that you can contact DODMERB directly, but don't remember where I read that.
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I just don't want a waiver permanently on my file for a condition I don't have. Obviously if that is my only option I will take it. I emailed Mrs. Patterson and she will guide me through my options from here I guess. Do you know if the physical and the eye exam are processed together? I was sure I would need a waiver for a childhood history of migraines but that isn't showing up. I don't want to get my hopes up if the explanation is just that my physical hasn't been processed yet. (But they kind of already are)
 
DocBell said:
I just don't want a waiver permanently on my file for a condition I don't have. Obviously if that is my only option I will take it. I emailed Mrs. Patterson and she will guide me through my options from here I guess. Do you know if the physical and the eye exam are processed together? I was sure I would need a waiver for a childhood history of migraines but that isn't showing up. I don't want to get my hopes up if the explanation is just that my physical hasn't been processed yet. (But they kind of already are)
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heh ill take gladly take the waiver. mrs patterson informed me that sometimes they dont grant waivers for myopia. im scared 😱
 
tabascosauce said:
heh ill take gladly take the waiver. mrs patterson informed me that sometimes they dont grant waivers for myopia. im scared 😱
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I'm nervous but not too nervous since I am pretty sure I can document that I don't have that severe a case of myopia. I know there are some vision correction procedures they allow. Do you know if we could just have that done?

I would be grateful for a waiver but I am hoping to do a flight surgeon tour and I don't think I could qualify for it with a vision waiver on record so i would be even more grateful for another exam. Hopefully it works out for both of us. Keep me updated!
 
I was looking for a good reason to justify corrective eye surgery. I suppose this is as good as any haha. Best of luck to you too!
 
DocBell said:
I'm nervous but not too nervous since I am pretty sure I can document that I don't have that severe a case of myopia. I know there are some vision correction procedures they allow. Do you know if we could just have that done?

I would be grateful for a waiver but I am hoping to do a flight surgeon tour and I don't think I could qualify for it with a vision waiver on record so i would be even more grateful for another exam. Hopefully it works out for both of us. Keep me updated!
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I can't say what they'll do, but I will say that when I enlisted in 2001 (AF), I had to get a waiver for myopia. I later had PRK, courtesy of the AF, and subsequently qualified medically for special ops weather.

If they sometimes don't grant waivers for myopia, I would certainly inquire about a reexamination. Are you sure 8.00 is the cutoff?
 
tabascosauce said:
I was looking for a good reason to justify corrective eye surgery. I suppose this is as good as any haha. Best of luck to you too!
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Be careful with this, not all of the corrective eye surgeries are waiverable.
 
Bouddha said:
Be careful with this, not all of the corrective eye surgeries are waiverable.
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Also, keep in mind that when you get into the military they do corrective eye surgery for free...

Also, reference the "flight surgeon" comment about not allowing waivers for eyesight. I think you may have the wrong impression of what a flight surgeon does. One of the main focuses of a flight surgeon in an aviation unit is to maintain the physical readiness of the soldiers (specifically pilots) in their unit, considering pilots have more stringent requirements on medical readiness to maintain flight status.
 
esrever said:
Also, keep in mind that when you get into the military they do corrective eye surgery for free...

Also, reference the "flight surgeon" comment about not allowing waivers for eyesight. I think you may have the wrong impression of what a flight surgeon does. One of the main focuses of a flight surgeon in an aviation unit is to maintain the physical readiness of the soldiers (specifically pilots) in their unit, considering pilots have more stringent requirements on medical readiness to maintain flight status.
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I am well aware but thank you for the info. I guess I could be wrong but at least you used to have to take the FCII to do a aerospace medicine primary training. I don't know what additional physical requirements that entails though so hopefully vision isn't a problem. My dad qualified for Air Force but not to be an aviator so I worry when I shouldn't lol. I just want to be accepted.

Oh and I have no idea if -8.00 is really the cut off. Thats what I found online and thats the number the medical condition code listed but if its lower than that could explain a lot.
 
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ChaseH87 said:
Congratulations wahngjasnowy! Hope to see you next fall at USU 👍
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Thanks, Chase! I have a pretty good feeling that we will be seeing each other (just gotta make sure my medical and security clearances go through) 😀
 
As far as all of the eye questions are concerned, I also read that 8 diopters is the cutoff - therefore I would imagine a waiver is needed. I guess maybe it is because of the higher risk of retinal detachment with high myopia? Not sure. For anyone considering refractive surgery, make sure you get PRK, not LASIK (for military anyway). But be advised that I work in ophthalmology and was ready to get PRK (for very cheap) when I heard that that would put me on medical hold status for 6 months following the surgery - which means I would not get an unconditional acceptance until very close to summer training. I am only a -2.00 but was hoping to get out of my glasses but now I am planning to wait until after joining the military.
Just things to consider...not sure what would take longer for those >8 D - the post-op hold period or the waiver.
 
seegoods said:
As far as all of the eye questions are concerned, I also read that 8 diopters is the cutoff - therefore I would imagine a waiver is needed. I guess maybe it is because of the higher risk of retinal detachment with high myopia? Not sure. For anyone considering refractive surgery, make sure you get PRK, not LASIK (for military anyway). But be advised that I work in ophthalmology and was ready to get PRK (for very cheap) when I heard that that would put me on medical hold status for 6 months following the surgery - which means I would not get an unconditional acceptance until very close to summer training. I am only a -2.00 but was hoping to get out of my glasses but now I am planning to wait until after joining the military.
Just things to consider...not sure what would take longer for those >8 D - the post-op hold period or the waiver.
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Since you work on opthamology maybe you can answer my question...I feel stupid not knowing but do they add both eyes together? Like you need -1.00 correction in one eye and -2.00 in the other and in total its -3.00 or is it just neither eye can be -8.00?
 
I had a consult with a eye doc about getting laser surgery to correct my awful vision. He's retired navy and knows the vision requirements and allowed procedures for military/military aviation, and basically

civilian procedure- frowned upon, they will be unhappy.
same procedure for free from the military- sunshine and rainbows, no restrictions

therefore I held off so it didn't mess up getting medically cleared. he also said nearly everyone coming out of the academy gets laser eye surgery because it's free, and easily accessed.
 
ThunderHorse said:
I had a consult with a eye doc about getting laser surgery to correct my awful vision. He's retired navy and knows the vision requirements and allowed procedures for military/military aviation, and basically

civilian procedure- frowned upon, they will be unhappy.
same procedure for free from the military- sunshine and rainbows, no restrictions

therefore I held off so it didn't mess up getting medically cleared. he also said nearly everyone coming out of the academy gets laser eye surgery because it's free, and easily accessed.
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But dont you have to be medically cleared before you go into the military? or can we get it after the fact?
 
My point is that if you get it before you're in there will be issues getting medically cleared. If you get it when you're already in, there far less problems. It's the same procedure either way, just do it after the fact so it's easier to get medically cleared.

the less you put on your dodmerb the better.
 
Man I can't wait to get lasik. I'd love to wake up in the morning without rummaging around for my lost glasses, only to inadvertently step on them while I walk to the bathroom in search of contacts
 
georgearms said:
Man I can't wait to get lasik. I'd love to wake up in the morning without rummaging around for my lost glasses, only to inadvertently step on them while I walk to the bathroom in search of contacts
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Oh no, don't get Lasik!!! I'm pretty sure the military doesn't recognize Lasik yet and it would alot of trouble for you. I think they only accept PRK...
 
I sat on my glasses before. I've nearly given up on contacts since my eyes dry out easily with I'm reading and studying. My vision is really really bad.
 
Bouddha said:
I might agree with the ROTC/Academy sentiment, but for someone like me that isn't even currently on IRR status, I would argue that it would be inappropriate for me to wear my uniform. It's one thing if you're on active duty orders, but if you were discharged years ago, wearing uniform = bad (and I believe out of regulations too).
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right. you wont wear a uniform if you're a civilian. If you're prior service, it'll come up in the interview and from your packet.
 
I have an interview on Thursday and I need to have everything ironed out by the end of the day. I do NOT want to be caught off-guard by anything logistically, so please somebody let me know if I am forgetting anything!


Interview checklist:

Base Access Card
Security clearance forms
Preferences sheet
Activities update
Sponsor Program Questionnaire
Interview Attire


Thanks and good luck to everybody 👍
 
tritown said:
I have an interview on Thursday and I need to have everything ironed out by the end of the day. I do NOT want to be caught off-guard by anything logistically, so please somebody let me know if I am forgetting anything!


Interview checklist:

Base Access Card
Security clearance forms
Preferences sheet
Activities update
Sponsor Program Questionnaire
Interview Attire


Thanks and good luck to everybody 👍
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bring a pen. seems like a given, but I forgot mine and ended up needing it more than once.
 
Coug said:
Oh no, don't get Lasik!!! I'm pretty sure the military doesn't recognize Lasik yet and it would alot of trouble for you. I think they only accept PRK...
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I know for a fact that if you want to fly, you cannot get lasik but must get PRK. I'm not sure if it matters otherwise, especially for doctors. The issue with Lasik is the cut they make, supposedly the various branches are afraid of what might happen under high G's if you get lasik and that flap opens on your eyes. Something like that.
 
tritown said:
I have an interview on Thursday and I need to have everything ironed out by the end of the day. I do NOT want to be caught off-guard by anything logistically, so please somebody let me know if I am forgetting anything!

Security clearance forms

Thanks and good luck to everybody 👍
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If you don't have prior/current security clearance:
Passport or Birth Certificate (ORIGINAL - NO CERTIFIED COPIES)

Might want to print out your interview invitation letter just in case any questions come up at the gate (unlikely, but it was suggested to me I do it)

Also a copy of your USU secondary application essay and your AMCAS essay might be helpful so you can review what you wrote all those months ago.

Good luck!
 
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