2012-2013 Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences Application Thread

[RACPITT68]

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Did you ask where on the WL you are or did he tell you? I don't know where I am on the WL but I would love to find out.. for some reason I thought they don't release that info. Did you ask how many people are on it or if there has been any movement yet?

This wait is killing me.....

Which branch's WL are you on...primarily? (I know there's the whole cross over idea or whatever that some people have. I'm not here to debate or question that. That topic has been covered plenty. )

 

[Shah Boy]

Is anyone else having trouble with waiting for a waiver? I have been "pending waiver review" for over 6 weeks and Ms. Smith doesn't really seem to want to tell me what is going on... It's just a waiver for myopia, not really that complex of an issue

 

[cinamin]

Which branch's WL are you on...primarily? (I know there's the whole cross over idea or whatever that some people have. I'm not here to debate or question that. That topic has been covered plenty. )

I will send you a PM.

edit - it won't let me. Sorry, I don't want to post a lot of details about myself on the forum, but PM me if it works on your end.

 

[SDSU EB]

Is anyone else having trouble with waiting for a waiver? I have been "pending waiver review" for over 6 weeks and Ms. Smith doesn't really seem to want to tell me what is going on... It's just a waiver for myopia, not really that complex of an issue

Dunno, I've been having trouble just getting a hold of her. She doesn't respond to emails and out of the 2 months I've been attempting calls to her office, I've reached her once. No response to voice mails...

 

[wsc2879]

Is anybody working on the BOLC CD Home study courses! It has been a pain in my a**. Two weeks passed. I didn't finish the first module...

 

[RACPITT68]

DoDMERB Today.

 

[wesmeister246]

Alright, so I finally heard from Ms. Smith today. I called her because at the end of the day I still hadn't received an email, so you'll have to forgive me for paraphrasing. I believe I've kept the information as correct as possible.

Everyone is compared to army weight standards no matter which branch accepts them. There was no discrepancy between any of the charts for army weights, so just find your height on one of the documents I posted earlier, and you're good to go. That's the weight you need to be at or below to pass your physical.

If you want to be eligible for admission, you need to complete the physical by March 15, but you don't need to pass this physical (she hinted at the fact that they'll deny you acceptance and throw you off any waitlists if you don't complete a physical by March 15). If you don't pass for weight reasons, you'll get an email one to two weeks later telling you that you need to see a recruiter to be body fat measured. The body fat measures are the standard army body fat measures (try googling form DA 5500 or DA 5501 and Table 3).

When you get to the recruiter, they should re-weigh you. If you're under the limit that time then they won't bother taping measuring you. If you're still not under weight, they'll tape you, and send your measurements back to the school, whether you pass or fail the taping. If you don't pass body fat limits, you can get re-weighed/tape-tested with a recruiter as many times as you want in the upcoming weeks as you try to lose weight.

She was very specific though, they want everyone to be healthy coming to the school. The recruiter will send them each one of your weights and measures when you visit them, and if they think you're being unhealthy about how quickly you're dropping weight, they'll be grumpy and concerned. They want everyone in top physical shape, not weak because they didn't eat for two months to get in.

As most of us know, you can be offered a "conditional acceptance" if you don't meet weight requirements but everything else in your file is fine. The next step is "unconditional acceptance," and you only get that after passing all components of your physical. They really want everyone offered admission to have achieved that status by May 1st. But they MIGHT grant you leeway if they really like you as an applicant otherwise. She said its basically the only part of the application where they will make slight exceptions because, again, they want us to be healthy about losing weight, not starve ourselves to make weight by that date.

So that's how everything sounded to me. If you have any questions let me know, and I'll do my best to try to answer them from what she said. Otherwise, you'll have to call her with questions because this is basically the only info I have.

I've been trying to complete my remedial for my physical for a few months, but Concorde is having trouble finding me a provider to do the remedial. So I was wondering where is this March 15th deadline coming from and if it includes remedials as well?

 

[cinamin]

I've been trying to complete my remedial for my physical for a few months, but Concorde is having trouble finding me a provider to do the remedial. So I was wondering where is this March 15th deadline coming from and if it includes remedials as well?

Hey when you go online does it not give you an option to schedule the remedial? That's how it was for me when I went online and where the physician popped up. You could always use your own if you have a good copay and want to pay out of pocket?

 

[Shah Boy]

.

 

[wesmeister246]

Hey when you go online does it not give you an option to schedule the remedial? That's how it was for me when I went online and where the physician popped up. You could always use your own if you have a good copay and want to pay out of pocket?

Nah, Concorde doesn't have a provider for me in the entire state of Tennessee where I'm at right now.

 

[RACPITT68]

Nah, Concorde doesn't have a provider for me in the entire state of Tennessee where I'm at right now.

Wow! That's absurd! I'm so sorry!

The date of the 15th came to me from Raven Smith when I talked with her about my physical. I bet you're fine, but I don't know for sure, so double check with her. She made it sound like the deadline was to complete your primary physical, not the remedials. From how it sounded to me, they want all the remedial stuff done by May 1st. I bet you're alright, but I would call to double check, because this is all just speculation on my part.

 

[cinamin]

I have some questions for current students that I don't believe has been addressed in this thread yet:

1. Can you talk about your (if any) research experiences and opportunities? Being across from NIH is exciting, and although research is not my #1 priority, I think it would be really neat to have that option to become involved... There must be some opportunity since it went up in US news rankings to 55 (woo woo!) haha so I thought I'd ask as I didn't hear too much about it during my stay.

2. For the physical fitness testing for women - can someone talk about the time limits (for Navy and Army specifically) for the 1.5 mile and 2 mile... I would rather get in shape now than suffer in camp. Do they just break up the requirements by age or are other factors considered?

3. Why do they say to look for housing after summer training? I'd like to do this before if possible.. only because I wouldn't be coming alone and want to secure housing for my partner/family...

Thanks!!

 

[Shah Boy]

I have some questions for current students that I don't believe has been addressed in this thread yet:

1. Can you talk about your (if any) research experiences and opportunities? Being across from NIH is exciting, and although research is not my #1 priority, I think it would be really neat to have that option to become involved... There must be some opportunity since it went up in US news rankings to 55 (woo woo!) haha so I thought I'd ask as I didn't hear too much about it during my stay.

2. For the physical fitness testing for women - can someone talk about the time limits (for Navy and Army specifically) for the 1.5 mile and 2 mile... I would rather get in shape now than suffer in camp. Do they just break up the requirements by age or are other factors considered?

3. Why do they say to look for housing after summer training? I'd like to do this before if possible.. only because I wouldn't be coming alone and want to secure housing for my partner/family...

Thanks!!

As far as the Navy PRT goes.... see http://www.navy-prt.com/femalestandard/femalestandard.html

Its broken up by age groups, your time limit increases every four years or so.

 

[Cooperd0g]

I have some questions for current students that I don't believe has been addressed in this thread yet:

1. Can you talk about your (if any) research experiences and opportunities? Being across from NIH is exciting, and although research is not my #1 priority, I think it would be really neat to have that option to become involved... There must be some opportunity since it went up in US news rankings to 55 (woo woo!) haha so I thought I'd ask as I didn't hear too much about it during my stay.

Students who want research are able to find it. However, it is not something that is stressed as important for students. USUHS is a research institution as well, just not one that is heavily student involved.

2. For the physical fitness testing for women - can someone talk about the time limits (for Navy and Army specifically) for the 1.5 mile and 2 mile... I would rather get in shape now than suffer in camp. Do they just break up the requirements by age or are other factors considered?

Already answered

3. Why do they say to look for housing after summer training? I'd like to do this before if possible.. only because I wouldn't be coming alone and want to secure housing for my partner/family...

Thanks!!

You can look for housing before if you like. If you end up in the late summer training then there may be precious little time to find it after training and before the start of orientation. For those who would be looking for roommates it isn't a bad idea to wait until after training, especially if you are earlier in the summer, because you may find someone if your ODS class you know you want to room with as opposed to finding someone on the facebook page.

 

[cinamin]

As far as the Navy PRT goes.... see http://www.navy-prt.com/femalestandard/femalestandard.html

Its broken up by age groups, your time limit increases every four years or so.

Ahh thanks I was searching the wrong terms.. found a bunch of stuff for Army too by using "PRT" in the search engines.

Thanks cooperdog for your answers too.

Quick (likely dumb) question. I watched a video on military sit-ups... during the test someone holds your feet? Just want to make sure I practice correctly.

Thanks!

 

[Bap22]

I got the call today from Colonel Saguil--USUHS Class of 2017 here I come!!!!

Wow I didn't think the army wait list would move this soon, or I would get one of the earlier phone calls off of the list, but I am so grateful and excited for what this school and community has to offer 🙂

 

[cinamin]

I got the call today from Colonel Saguil--USUHS Class of 2017 here I come!!!!

Wow I didn't think the army wait list would move this soon, or I would get one of the earlier phone calls off of the list, but I am so grateful and excited for what this school and community has to offer 🙂

Congrats!! Glad to hear there is movement this early!!

 

[theherowedeserv]

I got the call today from Colonel Saguil--USUHS Class of 2017 here I come!!!!

Wow I didn't think the army wait list would move this soon, or I would get one of the earlier phone calls off of the list, but I am so grateful and excited for what this school and community has to offer 🙂

when were you originally waitlisted?

congratulations!!

 

[NavPhys]

I got the call today from Colonel Saguil--USUHS Class of 2017 here I come!!!!

Wow I didn't think the army wait list would move this soon, or I would get one of the earlier phone calls off of the list, but I am so grateful and excited for what this school and community has to offer 🙂

Congratulations! Are you currently or previously active duty?

 

[NavPhys]

Ahh thanks I was searching the wrong terms.. found a bunch of stuff for Army too by using "PRT" in the search engines.

Thanks cooperdog for your answers too.

Quick (likely dumb) question. I watched a video on military sit-ups... during the test someone holds your feet? Just want to make sure I practice correctly.

Thanks!

As for the Navy, yes they do hold your feet when you are doing the sit-ups.

 

[RACPITT68]

I see so much activity from Army and Air Force people on this thread and at the school. (Basically every current student I met on interview day was Air Force, and not a single other person I was interviewing with had good things to say about the Navy.) What's everyone's opinion about the Navy? Is there a reason for so little interaction from/with that branch, comparatively, or is it just chance and coincidence that I haven't happened upon anyone else interested in that branch? 😕

 

[Mark Greene]

hey is there any official word yet on second look? I heard that it will be on april 5/6, but has anyone received an email or anything official from USUHS concerning that as of yet?

 

[McGeekster]

I see so much activity from Army and Air Force people on this thread and at the school. (Basically every current student I met on interview day was Air Force, and not a single other person I was interviewing with had good things to say about the Navy.) What's everyone's opinion about the Navy? Is there a reason for so little interaction from/with that branch, comparatively, or is it just chance and coincidence that I haven't happened upon anyone else interested in that branch? 😕

They're just all on ships without internet right now... JK, kinda but not really

 

[Bap22]

Congratulations! Are you currently or previously active duty?

So to break down how I ended up in USUHS--still in shock!--I interviewed 12/13 and got put on the WL 2/13, and then I got off of it 3/13..hmm I'm thinking I should play 13 on the lotto or something lol. Also, I am not current or previously active duty. 🙂

 

[cinamin]

So to break down how I ended up in USUHS--still in shock!--I interviewed 12/13 and got put on the WL 2/13, and then I got off of it 3/13..hmm I'm thinking I should play 13 on the lotto or something lol. Also, I am not current or previously active duty. 🙂

Congrats!! The 13th is a lucky day for you!! I noticed they seem to send out decisions on this day as well. I PM'd you!

 

[silverhorse84]

Ahh thanks I was searching the wrong terms.. found a bunch of stuff for Army too by using "PRT" in the search engines.

Thanks cooperdog for your answers too.

Quick (likely dumb) question. I watched a video on military sit-ups... during the test someone holds your feet? Just want to make sure I practice correctly.

Thanks!

Something to keep in mind is that the Army and the Navy do sit-ups differently. Unless they changed it recently, the Army does full sit-ups, where the Navy does crunches (arms crossed over chest, only have to come up to where your elbows touch your thigh). The Navy was finding too many people with neck pain from pulling on it when their hands were behind their head. The AF is the same as the Navy, I believe.

 

[Iliketurtles87]

Has anyone else had their hold status updated?

 

[finalandreo]

Has anyone else had their hold status updated?

I have. Updated to the waitlist as of a week or so ago. I don't have the exact date on hand. I'm deployed and my wife has the letter lol

 

[Iliketurtles87]

I have. Updated to the waitlist as of a week or so ago. I don't have the exact date on hand. I'm deployed and my wife has the letter lol

Thanks for sharing! I was trying to determine if my update was a little earlier since I was under the impression that they usually update the hold status applicants on the 15th. I guess this year it might be a little earlier.

Good luck out there.

 

[finalandreo]

Thanks for sharing! I was trying to determine if my update was a little earlier since I was under the impression that they usually update the hold status applicants on the 15th. I guess this year it might be a little earlier.

Good luck out there.

They'll update statuses as they come available. The 15th is merely the date they're kicking off people who haven't done their physical. Ergo, they expect movement after the 15th.

 

[cinamin]

They'll update statuses as they come available. The 15th is merely the date they're kicking off people who haven't done their physical. Ergo, they expect movement after the 15th.

I hope there is a lot of movement this week!!!!!

 

[SicEmBears]

Are there any people who have had trouble with DoDMERB who are currently in ROTC? I renewed my DoDMERB and was cleared this September, so I thought it was a mistake when they asked my to do an additional DoDMERB for USUHS. I asked my NCO's to send in my acceptance of my renewal by DoDMERB. Do you think this will work or do I have to completely redo my DoDMERB? Right now it says "Applicant under DoDMERB review" on my DoDMERB applicant data for USUHS, so does this mean they've received my info yet or does it not really mean anything at all? I just want to get unconditionally accepted so I can stop freaking out about it! I've already been conditionally accepted. Thanks guys.

 

[cinamin]

Are there any people who have had trouble with DoDMERB who are currently in ROTC? I renewed my DoDMERB and was cleared this September, so I thought it was a mistake when they asked my to do an additional DoDMERB for USUHS. I asked my NCO's to send in my acceptance of my renewal by DoDMERB. Do you think this will work or do I have to completely redo my DoDMERB? Right now it says "Applicant under DoDMERB review" on my DoDMERB applicant data for USUHS, so does this mean they've received my info yet or does it not really mean anything at all? I just want to get unconditionally accepted so I can stop freaking out about it! I've already been conditionally accepted. Thanks guys.

I would call dodmerb and ask. They are pretty receptive over the phone.

 

[McGeekster]

You should call up DoDMERB and just let them know you are a USUHS applicant and want to check on the status of your DoDMERB application. They were able to tell me exactly what I needed for the remedial (That darn pip test.) Then later they were able to confirm reciept and tell me my status.
Their number: 719-333-3562 then press 2,3, or 4 (I like 3) for help desk.

 

[theherowedeserv]

What time of day do they call. My 8 weeks of waiting are over. Or do they email?

 

[RACPITT68]

Is it possible to write a branch specific letter of intent? Saying something like "I would drop all my other acceptances if I got a place in the Navy, but for any other branch this is just a letter of interest." Obviously, it would need to be better worded than that, but something along those lines?

Because if they accept me Navy, I WILL 100% drop any of my other acceptances. But if they accept me Army or Air Force, I think I might just do Navy HPSP.

I'm just concerned that if I send a broad spectrum letter of intent, and then they accept me Army, I'm locked into that, when I don't necessarily want to be. Does my reasoning make sense? I want to go Navy. It's like the end all be all in this decision. But generally, letters of intent are like "I would drop my other acceptances to go to your school" but in this case it would be more like "I would drop my other acceptances to go to your school but only for the Navy" which sounds sort of overly picky. Does that make sense?
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

EDIT/UPDATE:

I answered my own question by calling the admissions office. The admissions coordinator who answered the phone specifically said, "Once you are put on a wait list for a specific branch, you stay on THAT wait list, so it will not matter if your letter is branch specific or not. Sending a letter may or may not help you move up your branch's wait list, but it will NOT affect which branch you are placed into. The only thing that will speed up the process of you getting into your desired branch is movement among accepted students in your branch. That's it. We won't switch you, so if you just make your letter school specific and not branch specific, you will be fine."

So for anyone currently on a wait list, there ya go. It doesn't really help me though, since I'm only 4 weeks into my 8-12 weeks waiting period to hear back about whether or not I'll even be placed on a waiting list. I still kind of want to throw in a sentence about my branch preference since I haven't been placed on a specific wait list yet, but I'm still not sure if that will make me sound overly picky. Ugh, decisions decisions.

 

[cinamin]

Is it possible to write a branch specific letter of intent? Saying something like "I would drop all my other acceptances if I got a place in the Navy, but for any other branch this is just a letter of interest." Obviously, it would need to be better worded than that, but something along those lines?

Because if they accept me Navy, I WILL 100% drop any of my other acceptances. But if they accept me Army or Air Force, I think I might just do Navy HPSP.

I'm just concerned that if I send a broad spectrum letter of intent, and then they accept me Army, I'm locked into that, when I don't necessarily want to be. Does my reasoning make sense? I want to go Navy. It's like the end all be all in this decision. But generally, letters of intent are like "I would drop my other acceptances to go to your school" but in this case it would be more like "I would drop my other acceptances to go to your school but only for the Navy" which sounds sort of overly picky. Does that make sense?
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

EDIT/UPDATE:

I answered my own question by calling the admissions office. The admissions coordinator who answered the phone specifically said, "Once you are put on a wait list for a specific branch, you stay on THAT wait list, so it will not matter if your letter is branch specific or not. Sending a letter may or may not help you move up your branch's wait list, but it will NOT affect which branch you are placed into. The only thing that will speed up the process of you getting into your desired branch is movement among accepted students in your branch. That's it. We won't switch you, so if you just make your letter school specific and not branch specific, you will be fine."

So for anyone currently on a wait list, there ya go. It doesn't really help me though, since I'm only 4 weeks into my 8-12 weeks waiting period to hear back about whether or not I'll even be placed on a waiting list. I still kind of want to throw in a sentence about my branch preference since I haven't been placed on a specific wait list yet, but I'm still not sure if that will make me sound overly picky. Ugh, decisions decisions.

hmm that's a tough call... I would make it navy specific versus military specific... like some letters could say you just want to serve in the military period, whereas others would say you want to serve in xyz branch for abc reasons.. I don't think it would be held against you. Maybe just don't say anything at all about other branches and talk up the navy.

 

[cinamin]

What time of day do they call. My 8 weeks of waiting are over. Or do they email?

i got a call in the afternoon (their afternoon time). Check your snail mail too because I also got a follow-up letter by mail a couple days after that.

 

[TrotfieldC]

Are there any people who have had trouble with DoDMERB who are currently in ROTC? I renewed my DoDMERB and was cleared this September, so I thought it was a mistake when they asked my to do an additional DoDMERB for USUHS. I asked my NCO's to send in my acceptance of my renewal by DoDMERB. Do you think this will work or do I have to completely redo my DoDMERB? Right now it says "Applicant under DoDMERB review" on my DoDMERB applicant data for USUHS, so does this mean they've received my info yet or does it not really mean anything at all? I just want to get unconditionally accepted so I can stop freaking out about it! I've already been conditionally accepted. Thanks guys.

They will more than likely require you to go through the DODMERB process from scratch all over again. This is what happened to me and I was prior active duty, and ROTC. I even had to wait to get a waiver from DODMERB (for USUHS) for something which I had already received a waiver for ROTC.

 

[SicEmBears]

Ya I ended up calling and they just said to redo it. That doesn't seem to make sense, but you gotta do what you gotta do! Excited to see some of you in class next year!

 

[Shah Boy]

.

 

[Shah Boy]

.

 

[theherowedeserv]

i'm getting really anxious. no communication with admissions yet. It's been over 8 weeks now. maybe they are pretty busy?

 

[Iliketurtles87]

They'll update statuses as they come available. The 15th is merely the date they're kicking off people who haven't done their physical. Ergo, they expect movement after the 15th.

So last year, a bunch of people got their hold -> waitlist/alternate list update letter postmarked 3/14, probably due to the reason you mentioned.

I'm wondering if it means anything to have gotten our updates a little earlier... or if most people got theirs when we did.

 

[tnttennis]

Is anyone heading up for the second look? Also, does anyone know when ODS orders come out?

 

[finalandreo]

So last year, a bunch of people got their hold -> waitlist/alternate list update letter postmarked 3/14, probably due to the reason you mentioned.

I'm wondering if it means anything to have gotten our updates a little earlier... or if most people got theirs when we did.

We'll, your guess is as good as mine. It can be either or. If we get a bunch of people who said they were updated on the 2nd or 3rd, then that was the wave. If not, then we're lucky 😛

 

[cinamin]

Is anyone heading up for the second look? Also, does anyone know when ODS orders come out?

I'd go to second look if I was invited

USUHS - call me !

 

[Shah Boy]

Is anyone heading up for the second look? Also, does anyone know when ODS orders come out?

Someone on the FB group said that he talked to our detailer who said that he was going to start cutting orders in April, but who knows

 

[RACPITT68]

I'd go to second look if I was invited

USUHS - call me !

👍 +1

 

[cinamin]

I got an invite for second lookk next week but tickets are 600+..anyon email just today?e else get the typing from phone pls excuse typos