2010-2011 Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences Application Thread

[citrusguy2010]

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hey guys,

first off congrats to all those who have been accepted! i'm applying this coming cycle and am really interested in doing the public health service (because i'm getting my MPH right now) and i was wondering if any of you knew how many people get in for that and how hard/selective is it to get in for PHS? thanks and congrats!

 

[silverhorse84]

hey guys i am an applicant planning on applying this summer. do USU screen applicants for secondaries or do they send 2ndaries to all who complete primary? I am planning on retaking my mcat aug 5th, kinda late but my instate schools both send out secondaries august 1st so I wont be that behind. however for USU is that kinda late? my entire application will be waiting on the mcat retake.

They don't screen. USUHS was one of the first secondaries I received. That said, if you tell them you're retaking the MCAT, they won't look at your application until your score is in. It may put you a bit behind by the time your scores are sent to schools (that's for all schools, not just USUHS).

hey guys,

first off congrats to all those who have been accepted! i'm applying this coming cycle and am really interested in doing the public health service (because i'm getting my MPH right now) and i was wondering if any of you knew how many people get in for that and how hard/selective is it to get in for PHS? thanks and congrats!

There's 3 PHS students in my class (2nd years) and I think that's pretty standard. I don't know how difficult it is, and I would imagine it changes from year to year, however I believe one of the PHS students in my year wanted Navy - so it would seem my year there was an opening that they filled from the waitlist.

 

[NDSKI]

hey guys,

first off congrats to all those who have been accepted! i'm applying this coming cycle and am really interested in doing the public health service (because i'm getting my MPH right now) and i was wondering if any of you knew how many people get in for that and how hard/selective is it to get in for PHS? thanks and congrats!

So I applied this year. I have heard that it is very difficult to get a PHS spot. Apparently they are increasing the number of spots, but there are so many people that want them that they are very competitive. When I interviewed in late October I was told there was already a waitlist for PHS.

 

[Quiznos Oven]

So I applied this year. I have heard that it is very difficult to get a PHS spot. Apparently they are increasing the number of spots, but there are so many people that want them that they are very competitive. When I interviewed in late October I was told there was already a waitlist for PHS.

Yea I interviewed in september with IHS and PHS service as my preference. My dermatologist was a USUHS alumni and spent 7 years on an indian reservation. The director of one of my volunteer organizations was a USPHS officer. Also my aunt worked on an indian reservation which I talked about in my interviews. I got put on the waitlist in november for PHS then I was offered a conditional acceptance for the army. I had my mind set on PHS but then I thought army could workout for the best in the end and it was probably fate. Now back to worrying about this waiver. Also I got the waiver for PHS before I was offered a spot in the army so now i'm waiting for the army to grant me the waiver.

I hope this doesn't discourage new applicants from at least trying to apply for PHS. If the spots are full they will just pull you into another branch.

 

[wahngjasnowy]

hey guys,

first off congrats to all those who have been accepted! i'm applying this coming cycle and am really interested in doing the public health service (because i'm getting my MPH right now) and i was wondering if any of you knew how many people get in for that and how hard/selective is it to get in for PHS? thanks and congrats!

I posted the following response back in February to someone who was asking about what exactly you do in PHS, but I think it applies to your question, as well:


I initially wanted to do PHS because I thought I had a large choice of agencies through which I could work, but it was confirmed during the interview day that you have to be accepted into a certain agency that is currently supporting new students (just like how the Air Force, Army, or Navy pays for its students, the agency will be supporting you).

For students entering Fall 2011, there are only two agencies that are supporting new students - National Institute of Allergy and Infections Disease (NIAID) and the Indian Health Service (IHS) - and each agency is currently sponsoring only 2 students this year. With my career intentions, neither of the two agencies worked well for me. For instance, the NIAID says that "students must be committed to a career as a Commissioned Officer in the USPHS and a career as a clinical or basic science researcher in either infectious diseases or allergy/immunology," and the IHS says the student must "demonstrate an interest in pursuing a primary care career serving the American Indian and Alaska Native people."

This is the main website on the USUHS page that will give you more information: http://www.usuhs.mil/usphs/index.html . If you click on USPHS at USUHS, you will find the information that I just quoted.

So to answer your question, from what I understand, what you specifically do in the PHS all depends on which agency you are accepted by. I would recommend following up on the website later on to see which agencies are accepting students and to see if their desires mesh well with your career aspirations. With all that said, at my interview (October 21) we were told that next year agencies would be sponsoring around 10-12 students (up from the 4 from this year).

I hope that helps! Good luck

 

[gatorade848]

yo i read somewhere that the secondary asks for a rec letter from a clinical experience; I shadowed a doctor at the VA would his letter qualify as a letter from clinical experience? I am applying this summer btw

 

[surfernuke]

yo i read somewhere that the secondary asks for a rec letter from a clinical experience; I shadowed a doctor at the VA would his letter qualify as a letter from clinical experience? I am applying this summer btw

yup, but it also depends how involved your experience was. You'll be competing with people who volunteered at hospitals in Africa or provide direct patient aide in ERs, etc. shadowing is great, but is kind of expected.

 

[Nevryn]

yo i read somewhere that the secondary asks for a rec letter from a clinical experience; I shadowed a doctor at the VA would his letter qualify as a letter from clinical experience? I am applying this summer btw

It should qualify. Remember letters of rec should come from people who know you well enough to say several good things about you. You want to avoid the generic letter of so and so volunteered here for x amount of hours. You want someone who can speak about your determination, professionalism, ect.

 

[silverhorse84]

yo i read somewhere that the secondary asks for a rec letter from a clinical experience; I shadowed a doctor at the VA would his letter qualify as a letter from clinical experience? I am applying this summer btw

If you don't think it'll be a good letter and you're doing something clinical this coming year, you can choose not to include a clinical letter and write a little paragraph about why. So, when I applied, I hadn't really done anything clinical, but I had just passed my NREMT exam and been hired at an ambulance company as an EMT. So I wrote a little letter explaining that I didn't have a clinical LOR, but I would be working in a clinical setting for the next year and explained about the EMT job.

 

[esrever]

unconditional acceptance for Navy, received it today!

So are you going to USUHS then?

 

[surfernuke]

So are you going to USUHS then?

right now, yes. on May 15th, I'm committing to USUHS. that's really all i can say, screwy things can happen though.

 

[reads7187]

Got a rejection letter in the mail today... ouch. Interviewed 2/10. Good luck to the rest of you!

 

[RecklessKel]

Has anyone heard anymore medical waiver update, specifically for the navy? I am hoping to hear something either way soon. It's been 6 weeks since I put my request in and I'm getting antsy. Any waitlist movement?

 

[Quiznos Oven]

Has anyone heard anymore medical waiver update, specifically for the navy? I am hoping to hear something either way soon. It's been 6 weeks since I put my request in and I'm getting antsy. Any waitlist movement?

I bugged rebecca patterson about my waiver request and my remedials were complete since mid february. She said my file is complete, been reviewed, a recommendation made and is awaiting a final decision. She said she makes calls to check on our status like everyday and I believe her. Unfortunately she has scheduled leave this week and will be back the monday following easter so you can't contact her (this is also the week montgomery county public schools has spring break in Maryland). Therefore, more waiting, more uncertainty, and a huge question mark to plans for next year.

 

[NDSKI]

any wait list movement?

 

[RecklessKel]

Therefore, more waiting, more uncertainty, and a huge question mark to plans for next year.

Exactly how I feel. Just wanting to start making plans either way. I would rather make plans for USUHS, more waiting is involved.

I guess Rebecca deserves some days off too. Maybe, she will have lots of waiver info to send out when she gets back.

 

[skimsu]

Exactly how I feel. Just wanting to start making plans either way. I would rather make plans for USUHS, more waiting is involved.

I guess Rebecca deserves some days off too. Maybe, she will have lots of waiver info to send out when she gets back.

I hope so. The day I get my waiver granted (fingers crossed...) I'm buying a plane ticket to DC 🙂

 

[afdoc3]

I got the call today, accepted to Air Force! I am beyond excited.

Good luck to everyone still waiting!

 

[Armywife06]

I got the call today, accepted to Air Force! I am beyond excited.

Good luck to everyone still waiting!

Congrats!

 

[act9]

Congrats to those who have gotten in! And to those still anxiously waiting, there's still time. I interviewed last year in mid-February and they told us that all spots had been filled so we were interviewing to get on the waitlist. I found out in April I was on the waitlist, and was accepted off the waitlist May 5, though they had told me not to expect anything until May 15th. I know there are still others who found out later than me! Best of luck to all of you!

 

[surfernuke]

I hope so. The day I get my waiver granted (fingers crossed...) I'm buying a plane ticket to DC 🙂

might consider a train ticket thanks to the FAA's mess-ups lately, good luck!

 

[skimsu]

might consider a train ticket thanks to the FAA's mess-ups lately, good luck!

Lol, a train from Seattle would take approximately two and a half years.

 

[Quiznos Oven]

horse drawn buggy for me I'm taking this Oregon trail style.

 

[RecklessKel]

Just received waiver approval!
Submitted March 7th for waiver from Navy, 7 weeks later received the phone call.

Now all I need is an acceptance!

 

[Quiznos Oven]

Just received waiver approval!
Submitted March 7th for waiver from Navy, 7 weeks later received the phone call.

Now all I need is an acceptance!

I got the call too

 

[skimsu]

My waiver was just denied. Since I was accepted, looks like there may be some wait list movement... I feel like they treated me as if I was just a piece of paper. It's hard to believe that "exercised induced brochospasms" would prevent me from being "fit for duty," when I run marathons...

PS Both Rebecca and Larry Mullen are out of the office. Great!

 

[surfernuke]

My waiver was just denied. Since I was accepted, looks like there may be some wait list movement... I feel like they treated me as if I was just a piece of paper. It's hard to believe that "exercised induced brochospasms" would prevent me from being "fit for duty," when I run marathons...

PS Both Rebecca and Larry Mullen are out of the office. Great!

sorry to hear about the denial of a waiver. good luck on your studies, and success in medicine. BTW, re-applying HPSP with a "new" commissioning physical with that disqualification part advantageously omitted would be the right way to go about it, although not USUHS, it would get you into military medicine after civilian med school. The commissioning physical for HPSP was pretty weak, so make sure you show up with a medical record that doesn't list anything. Once you are in the military umbrella, there are waivers for everything that are easily granted, it is just the screening part that is toughest.

 

[Quiznos Oven]

and four days later on the online status it says medical waiver granted yay.

 

[Moot]

Interviewed 2/17, received the call on 4/25 that my waiver was granted, and received my wait list letter (dated 4/14) today. Literally five minutes after I opened the letter my phone rang but I didn't bother grabbing it because no one important would be calling me at 7-something on a Friday evening, right? A little over an hour later I checked my messages and, of course, found myself listening to Dr. Calloway's voice asking me to give her a call! I wonder if she takes calls on Saturdays... 🙂

Update: Dr. Calloway called around 8:40 this morning. Conditional acceptance; Army!!!

 

[rhcarolina]

got my medical waiver denied earlier this week 🙁
good luck to all y'all!

 

[silvrainment]

Does anyone know if USUHS accepts letters of intent? Has anyone done one and heard back favorably? TIA.
edit: I am currently waitlisted with medical waiver approved status.

 

[ChaseH87]

Does anyone know if USUHS accepts letters of intent? Has anyone done one and heard back favorably? TIA.
edit: I am currently waitlisted with medical waiver approved status.

I did a letter of intent and was accepted about 3 weeks after sending it in. That was before the waitlist. I know of at least one student who is currently an MS1 who was put on the alternate list last year, sent in a letter of intent and was moved to the waitlist then ended up being accepted (Air Force I believe, but not sure). If USUHS is your number 1 choice I would definitely do it. Goodluck

Edit: Congrats on getting medically qualified by the way. That's a big weight off your shoulders!

 

[lawdoc]

I did a letter of intent and was accepted about 3 weeks after sending it in. That was before the waitlist. I know of at least one student who is currently an MS1 who was put on the alternate list last year, sent in a letter of intent and was moved to the waitlist then ended up being accepted (Air Force I believe, but not sure). If USUHS is your number 1 choice I would definitely do it. Goodluck

Edit: Congrats on getting medically qualified by the way. That's a big weight off your shoulders!

Any idea of who to send it to? Does Dr. Calloway have an email that she can be reached?

 

[ChaseH87]

Any idea of who to send it to? Does Dr. Calloway have an email that she can be reached?

I sent a hardcopy to the attention of the admissions committee and emailed it to Joan Stearman explaining that I had also sent in a hardcopy and wanted to be sure it got into the right person's hands. I'm not at home so I can't look through my paperwork, but Joan Stearman should be able to get the letter where it needs to be.

 

[lawdoc]

I sent a hardcopy to the attention of the admissions committee and emailed it to Joan Stearman explaining that I had also sent in a hardcopy and wanted to be sure it got into the right person's hands. I'm not at home so I can't look through my paperwork, but Joan Stearman should be able to get the letter where it needs to be.

Thanks

 

[Nevryn]

As for a letter of intent. If USUHS truly is your first choice what could it hurt? Worst case they disregard it and you are in the same boat you were in without sending it. No loss so go for it!

 

[silvrainment]

I did a letter of intent and was accepted about 3 weeks after sending it in. That was before the waitlist. I know of at least one student who is currently an MS1 who was put on the alternate list last year, sent in a letter of intent and was moved to the waitlist then ended up being accepted (Air Force I believe, but not sure). If USUHS is your number 1 choice I would definitely do it. Goodluck

Edit: Congrats on getting medically qualified by the way. That's a big weight off your shoulders!

Thanks Chase! USUHS is definitely my number one choice!

 

[afdoc3]

I'm a little late to this discussion, but as far as a letter of intent goes...
I sent a hardcopy letter to Dr. Calloway around the end of March/early April time frame. I interviewed 2/10 and was hoping for a waitlist letter at best. A few weeks after sending the letter I got called with an offer of conditional acceptance. Not sure if the letter had anything to do with it (there was a lot of luck involved I'm sure with an AF spot opening for me) but moral of the story is - it can't hurt!

Good luck!

 

[dpars27]

I'm a little late to this discussion, but as far as a letter of intent goes...
I sent a hardcopy letter to Dr. Calloway around the end of March/early April time frame. I interviewed 2/10 and was hoping for a waitlist letter at best. A few weeks after sending the letter I got called with an offer of conditional acceptance. Not sure if the letter had anything to do with it (there was a lot of luck involved I'm sure with an AF spot opening for me) but moral of the story is - it can't hurt!

Good luck!

I sent an update around that time, but not really a letter of intent. I'm going to fire off another letter as soon as my grades are posted this week, along with updated transcripts. And I know you mailed your letter to Dr. Calloway, but out of curiosity, did your salutation address her specifically, or the admissions committee as a whole? Probably doesn't make much of a difference, but whatever you did sounds like a good thing to duplicate. I was also considering addressing my letter to Joan Stearman instead; I'm not sure if I would just be a nuisance by going straight to Dr. Calloway.

 

[afdoc3]

I addressed my letter specifically to Dr. Calloway. Seems like Mrs. Stearman would also be appropriate, but at my interview I spoke to Dr. Calloway only.

 

[babytillnow]

Just got the call from Dr. Calloway. Accepted to airforce. Interviewed 2/24. I did not see this coming at all. I had a TERRIBLE interview day, and on the last interview day as well. I think I have about a week to decide? Oh man, I have a lot to think about. I am excited though!

I planned and paid for the cost of a eurotrip from June 22 - July 20 (I didnt think I had a chance at USU). I think I may have to cancel it, because of Air force training. Is there any way to miss part of the training? Probably not huh?

 

[afdoc3]

Just got the call from Dr. Calloway. Accepted to airforce. Interviewed 2/24. I did not see this coming at all. I had a TERRIBLE interview day, and on the last interview day as well. I think I have about a week to decide? Oh man, I have a lot to think about. I am excited though!

I planned and paid for the cost of a eurotrip from June 22 - July 20 (I didnt think I had a chance at USU). I think I may have to cancel it, because of Air force training. Is there any way to miss part of the training? Probably not huh?

Congrats on your acceptance! Unfortunately they won't let you miss out on any of the Maxwell-AFB-in-the-summer fun. )Well, I don't know that for absolute certain, but I'm about 99.9% sure.) 🙂

It stinks to cancel your trip, but just look at the cost of the trip as a drop in the bucket compared to your free med school tuition!

 

[In4thelonghaul]

14-17 years of your life is a significant commitment to the military. Make sure you are doing what you really want to be doing. Congrats on your acceptance and best of luck to you no matter what you decide. 🙂

 

[surfernuke]

14-17 years of your life is a significant commitment to the military. Make sure you are doing what you really want to be doing. Congrats on your acceptance and best of luck to you no matter what you decide. 🙂

some of us on this forum have put in almost that much already. it IS a commitment, but nothing to be afraid of.

 

[In4thelonghaul]

some of us on this forum have put in almost that much already. it IS a commitment, but nothing to be afraid of.

Definitely, I love it and wouldn't want to be doing anything else. It's just hard working with people who signed up for the wrong reasons and hate it. Having great, motivated people around is what makes military life good.

 

[UVA2k9]

has anyone received them yet? Any idea when we can expect them? I heard early may originally, but i would consider that come and gone since its now the weekend...

 

[silverhorse84]

has anyone received them yet? Any idea when we can expect them? I heard early may originally, but i would consider that come and gone since its now the weekend...

Most of us non-priors didn't get them until a week or so before ODS - not sure about the other services, but don't expect them until sometime in June. Not sure at all about the timeline for priors

 

[surfernuke]

Definitely, I love it and wouldn't want to be doing anything else. It's just hard working with people who signed up for the wrong reasons and hate it. Having great, motivated people around is what makes military life good.

well, I don't think there are any "right" reasons, and far be it from me to judge someone else's reasons. If I listed my #1 reason for wanting the military route, it would get a lot of negative comments, but I'm still going to be the best doctor possible and give my best foot forward to my patients, so what does it really matter? For whatever reason, if someone signs up, they are doing more military service than someone who doesn't, which deserves credit. In life, we find out many things about ourselves and about the way the world works as we progress through it. If someone hates the military, and stays in for a long time for pension, that is great as long as they are doing a good job and not a danger to anyone else or themselves. A long time ago, I decided to go the military route for some reasons, and my reasons to continue serving changed as my life and perspectives on life changed. It IS hard serving with people who actively refuse to participate in the military system and don't work as a team. I've worked with many people who actively hated their job, wanted to leave, but were absolutely amazing to work with and did an outstanding job. We have a saying in the Navy, "When your enlisted stop complaining about their job, you need to start worrying."

If you think things are different in the civilian sector, read House Of God. There are close comparisons to much of what I experience on my JO tour on a submarine and what the interns in the novel went through.

 

[Cooperd0g]

With 17 years in uniform as a midshipman, active duty, and the last few in the reserves I agree with surfernuke with one minor exception.

There are "right" and "wrong" reasons to join the military. "Right" reasons are any ones that stem from your desires - YOU want to be in the military. "Wrong" reasons are ones because it is what someone else wants you to do - daddy was a general and wants me to join, etc.

There was a kid at plebe summer with me who was only at the Naval Academy because, according to him, more CEOs of Fortune 500 companies were from the Naval Academy than any other school. He lasted two weeks because that is a "wrong" reason to join the military.

You have a little less freedom in the military - theoretically. I say theoretically because I did two years of civilian office work while hanging out in the reserves and taking prerequisites. People have a tendency to enslave themselves in the civilian world out of fear and materialism. They fear striking out on their own. They fear not being able to pay the mortgage on the house they bought that is way more than they need. They take no risks and limit their own freedom. I have worked at a highly specialized doctors office this past year finishing up prereqs. They make insane amounts of money, but two of them are completely miserable because they have trapped themselves in their current life and are afraid to make a change.

This isn't meant to be pro or anti military. It is meant to say that you determine your own happiness almost regardless of the situation. If you are looking at USUHS solely as a way to pay for med school, but have no desire to actually be in the military, that is probably a "wrong" reason.

 

[In4thelonghaul]

Excellent points made by both of you. I think when it comes down to it, a persons attitude is what is truly important.