2012-2013 Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences Application Thread

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II! Really looking forward to checking out the school!
 
Hey jgalt,

I bet you'll really like it! I sure did 🙂 The interviews are really laid back, one with a 4th year med student & one with either a military or former military MD (some are professors, some are retired etc)

Good luck 🙂
 
I just got my secondary yesterday, I don't think it too late to apply, my concern is that I won't have as good of a chance to get the branch that I would prefer. What do you guys think? I'm definitely going to finish this secondary ASAP.

Also, I know it's been discussed, but what personally (with those of you who've already interviewed) caused you to decide USUHS as opposed to HPSP? And could you explain what the complaints are with taking step 1 at a different time?


Thanks!
Uomo
 
So I'm a first year here at USUHS, and I have a word of caution about all those considering USU. Be very, very sure that you are ok with all that being in the military means. It means be ok with spending 5 weeks getting up at 4:30 am and yelled at all day, while eating silently in 15 minutes for every meal while at your officer training program, which is what you'll experience at ODS (the Navy one). I can't speak for the other branches, but apparently they were slightly less stressful. Also be ok with being told what uniform to be wearing on a moment's notice, because the module directors couldn't be bothered to look at the schedule they put out and give advanced warning. Also be prepared to change uniforms during the day, because the dressier uniforms are too damn uncomfortable to wear unless you have to, and Monday's everyone has to be in them, Tuesday's you have to be in them in the afternoon, anytime there is a fancy visitor to campus, etc. Be ready to have the military staff tell you if your hair is out of regs because a bobby pin came loose, or your gig line is off when you're walking to the library. Also, about 3-4 hours a week is taken up with just military stuff, such as gear issues, weigh in, classes all military officers have to take regardless of branch, etc. This is time you could be studying. Be ok with not being able to go more than 40 miles from campus without getting permission. These are things I didn't have the experience to consider how they would affect my life when I decided on USU, and now I'm finding I don't want to deal with.
 
Hello Comps,

Thanks for providing your input. It's nice to have a different perspective, especially one from an actual student.

Do you completely regret attending USUHS? What do you believe to be the best attributes of the school?

Thanks.
 
joshb003 said:
Hey jgalt,

I bet you'll really like it! I sure did 🙂 The interviews are really laid back, one with a 4th year med student & one with either a military or former military MD (some are professors, some are retired etc)

Good luck 🙂
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That's great to hear, thanks! Definitely looking forward to it! I was checking out the webpage and it looks like they are doing some amazing research on brain injuries and neuro-regeneration!
 
compshateme85 said:
So I'm a first year here at USUHS, and I have a word of caution about all those considering USU. Be very, very sure that you are ok with all that being in the military means. It means be ok with spending 5 weeks getting up at 4:30 am and yelled at all day, while eating silently in 15 minutes for every meal while at your officer training program, which is what you'll experience at ODS (the Navy one). I can't speak for the other branches, but apparently they were slightly less stressful. Also be ok with being told what uniform to be wearing on a moment's notice, because the module directors couldn't be bothered to look at the schedule they put out and give advanced warning. Also be prepared to change uniforms during the day, because the dressier uniforms are too damn uncomfortable to wear unless you have to, and Monday's everyone has to be in them, Tuesday's you have to be in them in the afternoon, anytime there is a fancy visitor to campus, etc. Be ready to have the military staff tell you if your hair is out of regs because a bobby pin came loose, or your gig line is off when you're walking to the library. Also, about 3-4 hours a week is taken up with just military stuff, such as gear issues, weigh in, classes all military officers have to take regardless of branch, etc. This is time you could be studying. Be ok with not being able to go more than 40 miles from campus without getting permission. These are things I didn't have the experience to consider how they would affect my life when I decided on USU, and now I'm finding I don't want to deal with.
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I appreciate this insight, thank you for posting.

I however am not too concerned with this. I spent four years as an infantryman in the marine corps, and I've dealt with my share of this crap. That's the military. Truth be told though, stick with it. Once you finish and receive your commission your life will be incredibly different. Officer life is like night and day to enlisted. The medical corps is incredibly lax in comparison to regular officers even deal with. This is due to the demographic of your patients. Physicians must be even more relaxed. The last thing we want is a 17-18 year old E-1 who is afraid to share information with you due to rank.
 
First of all, we are commissioned as officers before we even get to our officer training course, so I've never been enlisted. We get corrected by the other officers and enlisted people around school, especially our Chief.

I do regret coming to USUHS, if I had gone to another medical school, it might not have been such a culture shock (military + med school = BIG culture shock), and if I still really disliked the medical school part, I would be able to quit and go back to my old life. That's not so much an option here.

The best thing I see about the school is that the whole staff is very responsive to student input. They're still solidifying the new curriculum, and really seem to value our feedback and implement changes based on it.
 
For the current students: what made you choose the branch that you went into the program with? Besides each having different roles in the military, is there a difference medically between the different branches?
 
jgalt42 said:
For the current students: what made you choose the branch that you went into the program with? Besides each having different roles in the military, is there a difference medically between the different branches?
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I was already in the Navy. As for differences, there are plenty, but that is something you can research better in the mil med sub forum. There are many threads there. Some basic differences are that Army tends to train straight through residency after med school. Navy and AF can for primary care, but it is difficult for the more competitive specialties and there is a greater likelihood of being a General Medical Officer (GMO) for a few years after internship. Different locations play into it some as well. Definitely look into the mil med sub forum.

Comps was very accurate in her post except for the 40 miles from school part. You are free to take off on the weekends, but if you are leaving the region, like more than 150-200 miles or so, they want to know where you are going. It is just in case something happens and you don't make it back - they want to know where they can start looking to find you. Accountability is a big part of the military.

Definitely know what you are signing up for. I don't know if it is harder than civilian med school because I haven't been there. I am a prior officer so most of it isn't a big deal. Things are slightly accentuated compared to the military outside the school as this is a training location.

Don't do it for the money. Know you want to serve and know that a bit of ass pain comes with it.
 
Thanks for providing more opinions!

Does anyone have an opinion considering when we will hear back from the 9/20 interview date? Any chance that we'll hear on the 15th/16th or do you all think it will take until Nov 1st???

It would be nice to hear back early, so I don't have to waste $$ going to another out of state interview haha
 
For those who are not current military how did the physical exam tie into the interview? If I read everything correctly they do the physical at the same visit as your interview, is that correct?

Also, does the entire physical take place in one location? I ask because I had a military physical about ten years ago that was really strange because I had to travel around to different locations on base. For example, I started at a regular doctor in one building, then I was sent over to a different location for eye exam, then I had to drive to a different location for a dental exam.

I wasn't sure if this happens at lots of locations or just that particular base.
 
Jas1360 said:
For those who are not current military how did the physical exam tie into the interview? If I read everything correctly they do the physical at the same visit as your interview, is that correct?

Also, does the entire physical take place in one location? I ask because I had a military physical about ten years ago that was really strange because I had to travel around to different locations on base. For example, I started at a regular doctor in one building, then I was sent over to a different location for eye exam, then I had to drive to a different location for a dental exam.

I wasn't sure if this happens at lots of locations or just that particular base.
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I just got the physical forms in the mail. I'm pretty sure the physical can be done in the area where you live and it can be after your interview
 
The physical exam is either performed before or after the interview, not during interview day. You set it up using the DODMETS website, and it has you meet with a local physician.

The physical is pretty typical, all the regular things they check when you have a normal physical, along with a hearing test.
Then you have an eye exam, and that is also really typical.
 
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I got my complete email. Apparently they send two. The first one came from the assigned person that I sent my secondary to and the second appears to be more formal.
 
Jas1360 said:
I got my complete email. Apparently they send two. The first one came from the assigned person that I sent my secondary to and the second appears to be more formal.
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how long after your materials were received did you get these emails?
 
I finished the supplemental on the 23rd of Sept. and received a response from my assigned person the next day stating they were received. I received the other email yesterday or today.
 
Jas1360 said:
I got my complete email. Apparently they send two. The first one came from the assigned person that I sent my secondary to and the second appears to be more formal.
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Same here. I received my informal complete email from larhonda on 6/8 and got the more formal complete email from the admission office on 10/1. I had been getting a little worried...

I am a reapplicant so maybe there is a reapplicant committee that has only met recently. Are you also a reapplicant?
 
I'm a first time applicant but I waited for my MCAT before applying here so I am a little behind the curve for this school.
 
LaRhonda emailed me saying she had received my packet on 8/31. I have never received a complete status email. Lame.
 
mann86 said:
LaRhonda emailed me saying she had received my packet on 8/31. I have never received a complete status email. Lame.
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You could think about emailing and asking for verification that you are complete. Do you know if all your LOR were mailed in yet?
 
Yeah I've sent two emails without a response. I think I'll call tomorrow. I'm 95% sure my letters are in. They are everywhere else!
 
mann86 said:
Yeah I've sent two emails without a response. I think I'll call tomorrow. I'm 95% sure my letters are in. They are everywhere else!
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I don't recall getting a complete email. I only got the application received email. I received an II a few weeks ago.
 
Acceptance calls should start rolling in this week! Good luck everyone, hope all us SDN'ers get an acceptance 🙂.

Still hoping that the 9/20 interview date gets called tomorrow haha.
 
My GF has affectionately referred to today as "Day Zero." So for those who have already interviewed--welcome to Day Zero.
 
So I've been thinking about changing my service preference. Current students--any ideas? Should I wait to see if I'm selected then ask or state my change of preference now. I'm prior Navy enlisted but I'm concerned with the residency matching and see a huge advantage to going strait through as oppossed to a GMO billet (so I want to change to Army).
 
I was told today by someone I believe is a fairly reputable source that Oct 16th is when things should start flowing out of from USUHS.....enjoy.
 
Well from what I hear, USUHS should start issuing offers starting today. I interviewed on 9/13... #nervouswreck
 
I too interviewed the 20th and literally staring at my phone willing it too ring. All day....
 
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