2014-2015 Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences Application Thread

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Well I have good news for all of you and bad news for myself. I got a call this morning letting me know that my medical waiver was DENIED!!! It's because when I submitted my waiver I was lazy and didn't provide them with any documentation of my fitness to serve and all that. It's my fault for not doing what I needed to do to get the waiver, but if I was asked about something that may need some improvement, it would be some help and direction on how to work through the waiver process. I'm not bitter or anything and I understand it's not anyone else's fault but mine, but I could have been helped more is all I'm saying. But with me out of the running that is one less person you all have to compete with to get off the waitlist. Don't worry about me, I've already received an acceptance from another one of my top schools so this just makes it easier for me to choose between the two. Good luck to you all and I hope none of you die anytime soon.
 
Thesaurus said:
Well I have good news for all of you and bad news for myself. I got a call this morning letting me know that my medical waiver was DENIED!!! It's because when I submitted my waiver I was lazy and didn't provide them with any documentation of my fitness to serve and all that. It's my fault for not doing what I needed to do to get the waiver, but if I was asked about something that may need some improvement, it would be some help and direction on how to work through the waiver process. I'm not bitter or anything and I understand it's not anyone else's fault but mine, but I could have been helped more is all I'm saying. But with me out of the running that is one less person you all have to compete with to get off the waitlist. Don't worry about me, I've already received an acceptance from another one of my top schools so this just makes it easier for me to choose between the two. Good luck to you all and I hope none of you die anytime soon.
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Seriously, let's be respectful. Sorry to hear about your waiver denial, but you had no chance of approval if you didn't submit documentation that they requested. Depending on your disqualifying condition, sometimes a letter from your physician is all you need. In the military world, you are held solely responsible for maintaining your medical readiness status and travel documentation among other things, so laziness in that respect can really hurt you.

Best of luck at your other school.
 
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Thesaurus said:
if I was asked about something that may need some improvement, it would be some help and direction on how to work through the waiver process
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I am sorry to say that is generally how the military works. They do not hold your hands. You need to be prepared to deal with much more frustration if you plan to enter military medicine and survive. On a last note, we military people hate lazy people above all else (speaking from 5 years of service in the Army).
 
cardio7 said:
Seriously, let's be respectful. Sorry to hear about your waiver denial, but you had no chance of approval if you didn't submit documentation that they requested. Depending on your disqualifying condition, sometimes a letter from your physician is all you need. In the military world, you are held solely responsible for maintaining your medical readiness status and travel documentation among other things, so laziness in that respect can really hurt you.

Best of luck at your other school.
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logos1226 said:
I am sorry to say that is generally how the military works. They do not hold your hands. You need to be prepared to deal with much more frustration if you plan to enter military medicine and survive. On a last note, we military people hate lazy people above all else (speaking from 5 years of service in the Army).
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Was I disrespectful? If so I am sorry I had no intentions at all of coming across that way. I know why I got disqualified I said so in my original post, I didn't come here to be told that I screwed up, I came to let you all know that there would be one less person you were in contention with as GOOD NEWS for you. But hey if you want to tell me how dumb I am some more than please continue, that's what you want to hear when you're rejected by a school. Sh1t calm down.
 
Waiver approved and unconditional acceptance received in the mail today! !!!Made airline reservations with my family for second look day! So excited! 99% sure I'll see you all next year, although I'm waiting to hear from my state school so I can make an informed decision with all the information available. I don't see myself turning usuhs down, though. It just felt so much like home on interview day!
 
llamasarefuzzy said:
Waiver approved and unconditional acceptance received in the mail today! !!!Made airline reservations with my family for second look day! So excited! 99% sure I'll see you all next year, although I'm waiting to hear from my state school so I can make an informed decision with all the information available. I don't see myself turning usuhs down, though. It just felt so much like home on interview day!
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Congratulations llamasarefuzzy! So excited for you to be my classmate!! Welcome!
 
llamasarefuzzy said:
Waiver approved and unconditional acceptance received in the mail today! !!!Made airline reservations with my family for second look day! So excited! 99% sure I'll see you all next year, although I'm waiting to hear from my state school so I can make an informed decision with all the information available. I don't see myself turning usuhs down, though. It just felt so much like home on interview day!
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Congrats! what branch?
 
llamasarefuzzy said:
Waiver approved and unconditional acceptance received in the mail today! !!!Made airline reservations with my family for second look day! So excited! 99% sure I'll see you all next year, although I'm waiting to hear from my state school so I can make an informed decision with all the information available. I don't see myself turning usuhs down, though. It just felt so much like home on interview day!
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Congrats Llamas!!! You do mean this year though right? 😉

So jealous your waiver went through already, but happy for you! How did you get notified? Was it just part of the unconditional letter?

I'm not sure what second looks are... Do you think there will really be that much new info? I know exactly what you mean about USUHS feeling like home <3 I certainly don't need more convincing!
 
eqkc said:
Congrats Llamas!!! You do mean this year though right? 😉

So jealous your waiver went through already, but happy for you! How did you get notified? Was it just part of the unconditional letter?

I'm not sure what second looks are... Do you think there will really be that much new info? I know exactly what you mean about USUHS feeling like home <3 I certainly don't need more convincing!
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Just my experience...I didn't get an official notice of the waiver until the unconditional letter arrived, but I did check my status on the DoDMERB site often enough that I saw it go through about a week before I got my letter.
 
eqkc said:
I'm not sure what second looks are... Do you think there will really be that much new info? I know exactly what you mean about USUHS feeling like home <3 I certainly don't need more convincing!
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Assuming you can shoulder the cost of flying in and hotels (or not if you live around the area haha) I think second look can be beneficial. For new information...not really, they'll give you a tour of Walter Reed Medical Center but everything else will be pretty similar to the interview day (breakfast and lunch too...mmm...nom noms). However, the looming stress of the interview is over so you can truly focus on asking questions about the school.

Additional benefits include getting to know future classmates and tour potential places to live.
 
eqkc said:
I'm not sure what second looks are... Do you think there will really be that much new info? I know exactly what you mean about USUHS feeling like home <3 I certainly don't need more convincing!
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If you don't need convincing, then great. Second look is made to help those who may be deciding between programs. For me, assuming I get the acceptance before hand, it will be to bring out my wife and let her see the campus and area.
 
I was wondering if I could ask anyone who got accepted with a waiver a question.
I submitted a waiver request with additional documentation, and I was wondering if they let you know if you received a waiver prior to your application decision? Or if they just make the application decision without letting you know about the waiver? Also, about how long did it take for waivers to process?
 
yuboy317 said:
I was wondering if I could ask anyone who got accepted with a waiver a question.
I submitted a waiver request with additional documentation, and I was wondering if they let you know if you received a waiver prior to your application decision? Or if they just make the application decision without letting you know about the waiver? Also, about how long did it take for waivers to process?
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The waiver process is entirely separate from the admissions decision, so you can receive an admissions decision prior to receiving a waiver. If you are accepted prior to receiving a waiver, however, you will not receive the unconditional acceptance until the waiver is approved.

From my experience, and the similar experiences of others on this thread, they seem to be averaging 6-8 weeks to process and decide on a waiver.
 
Does anyone know if non-spouse guests are acceptable at second look day? I'm thinking about bringing someone just to get a second pair of eyes on things, but I certainly don't want it to be awkward if no one else has a guest who isn't a spouse.
 
LaceyMD said:
Does anyone know if non-spouse guests are acceptable at second look day? I'm thinking about bringing someone just to get a second pair of eyes on things, but I certainly don't want it to be awkward if no one else has a guest who isn't a spouse.
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Nobody will care, in the good way haha. I would still recommend you clear it with admissions first.
 
CyrilFiggis said:
Congrats! what branch?
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Air force!

eqkc said:
Congrats Llamas!!! You do mean this year though right? 😉

So jealous your waiver went through already, but happy for you! How did you get notified? Was it just part of the unconditional letter?

I'm not sure what second looks are... Do you think there will really be that much new info? I know exactly what you mean about USUHS feeling like home <3 I certainly don't need more convincing!
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I guess I do mean this year! Gosh, its coming up 🙂 I just got a letter in the mail with the unconditional offer. I had also email Dr. Saguil about a week earlier asking to the status and he let me know unofficially that it had been reviewed favorably.

LaceyMD said:
Does anyone know if non-spouse guests are acceptable at second look day? I'm thinking about bringing someone just to get a second pair of eyes on things, but I certainly don't want it to be awkward if no one else has a guest who isn't a spouse.
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I'm bringing my parents because it is over our spring break and my grandma/aunt live in DC, so I want their eyes for apartment hunting and they want to visit family and generally get a better idea of what I'm comitting to
 
Hey guys! Do you know the timeframe in which we might see a lot more wait list movement? Thanks for any info!
 
logos1226 said:
Sorry, I did not know that one could actually say "I hope none of you die anytime soon" to people looking to join the military without ever being disrespectful. Yeah, that's something we really want to hear.
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You need to relax friend. I hope that you live a long and verdant life and that nothing bad happens to any of you strangers on the internet, take life less serious. If what I said is wrong then it doesn't matter who I say it to, but it isn't wrong, anyone can die at anytime and by saying I hope it doesn't happen to you is not disrespectful, I say it to everyone all the time so if death scares you then maybe you should be looking for another career. There is nothing wrong with what I said, but I do apologize if you were offended by it.
 
Thesaurus said:
There is nothing wrong with what I said, but I do apologize if you were offended by it.
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1. Thank you for apologizing even though you still believe your comment was not disrespectful. Apology accepted.

Thesaurus said:
so if death scares you then maybe you should be looking for another career
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2. Soldiers are still humans. They fear death. Survival instinct kicks in because of it. PTSD is also its byproduct. War is nothing like what you imagine. So please refrain from giving military advice when it is obvious that you have zero military experience. I did two tours in Iraq, and yes death scares me, but I am willing do it again for my country.

3. Good luck with your medical career.
 
yuboy317 said:
I was wondering if I could ask anyone who got accepted with a waiver a question.
I submitted a waiver request with additional documentation, and I was wondering if they let you know if you received a waiver prior to your application decision? Or if they just make the application decision without letting you know about the waiver? Also, about how long did it take for waivers to process?
Click to expand...

I have not yet been accepted but have had my waiver approved.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
LaceyMD said:
Does anyone know if non-spouse guests are acceptable at second look day? I'm thinking about bringing someone just to get a second pair of eyes on things, but I certainly don't want it to be awkward if no one else has a guest who isn't a spouse.
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Lacey, where are you from?

Picture looks very familiar. And I don't mean looks like a waterfall and I've seen a waterfall before... lol
 
Just received an email as well, but there was no mention of which specific branch. Did your email included this info? Because mine just said "primary wait list".
 
DiracDelta said:
Just received an email as well, but there was no mention of which specific branch. Did your email included this info? Because mine just said "primary wait list".
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No, mine didn't. It just said "primary wait list". Just assuming it was for my first pick. I think they generally put you in the branch of your first choice? Is that right? Anyone else have more info on this?
 
llamasarefuzzy said:
I'm bringing my parents because it is over our spring break and my grandma/aunt live in DC, so I want their eyes for apartment hunting and they want to visit family and generally get a better idea of what I'm comitting to
Click to expand...

Awesome, glad I won't be the only one with guests - are your parents coming to campus on Friday? I can't wait to see USUHS again, and look forward to meeting some SDN'ers, even if I won't know what you all look like 😉

Where are you apartment hunting? Still trying to figure out what the best option is!
 
Just received my official waiver denial. I spoke with Dr. Saguil and he said I could appeal the procedure, which I'll be doing. I have a benign condition so this comes as a MASSIVE shock.

I just want to say quickly that if there is anyone simply holding an acceptance here and waiting until April 30 to withdraw, don't. There are folks like myself who have to go through every hoop just to remain in the race and hope that one of you releases your spot and we can get in. Help us out.

Also, given the low probability that my appeal will be successful, I just want to say finally that I'm jealous of those accepted/still in the race. In my call with Dr. Saguil, he remembered stuff we spoke about on my interview day that wasn't in my resume. He went on to say, given my journey to med school he would have really enjoyed having me on campus to complete it. I mean, c'mon, what other med school dean could do that?

Good luck, congrats and god speed.
 
Glycereine said:
Lacey, where are you from?

Picture looks very familiar. And I don't mean looks like a waterfall and I've seen a waterfall before... lol
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lol, you stole my snarky comment right out from under me! The pic is from a hike in Idaho (I think...it may be been Montana, it's been a few years), taken while we were on a road trip. Sadly, I do not live near that beauty...although according to locals, neither do they most of the time, as we hit it a few days after an unusually heavy rain storm, so the water was flowing more than usual.
 
LaceyMD said:
lol, you stole my snarky comment right out from under me! The pic is from a hike in Idaho (I think...it may be been Montana, it's been a few years), taken while we were on a road trip. Sadly, I do not live near that beauty...although according to locals, neither do they most of the time, as we hit it a few days after an unusually heavy rain storm, so the water was flowing more than usual.
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Ah, I most likely haven't seen it then, although I've been through Idaho and Montana both I didn't hike at all in Idaho and once? in Montana. I was thinking it was in Hawaii or Washington.

Waterfalls are always way better after a rain storm 🙂
 
Su
CyrilFiggis said:
Just received my official waiver denial. I spoke with Dr. Saguil and he said I could appeal the procedure, which I'll be doing. I have a benign condition so this comes as a MASSIVE shock.

I just want to say quickly that if there is anyone simply holding an acceptance here and waiting until April 30 to withdraw, don't. There are folks like myself who have to go through every hoop just to remain in the race and hope that one of you releases your spot and we can get in. Help us out.

Also, given the low probability that my appeal will be successful, I just want to say finally that I'm jealous of those accepted/still in the race. In my call with Dr. Saguil, he remembered stuff we spoke about on my interview day that wasn't in my resume. He went on to say, given my journey to med school he would have really enjoyed having me on campus to complete it. I mean, c'mon, what other med school dean could do that?

Good luck, congrats and god speed.
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Super sorry to hear that 🙁

I hope everything ends up working out for you on it, and you're 100% right about Dr. Saguil.

I second the comment that if you know you are going elsewhere not to hold onto this acceptance for no reason. It's one thing if you're truly undecided, but it does affect the lives and sanity of the rest of us in limbo 😛.
 
Does USUHS send out post-interview rejections? Or do they put everyone in the ranked waitlist?
 
USUHS will reject you, put you on hold, or say they accept you (though this late in the game if you are accepted you are put on the "Primary Wait List" because there are no spots). When March rolls around they go through their hold selections and these people will either be put on the wait list or rejected. The people on hold originally and moved to the wait list are placed after all the students that were originally put on the "Primary Wait List."

I was placed on hold last year and moved to the wait list, while this year I was put on the "Primary Wait List." This was how it was described to me by people in admissions.
 
LaceyMD said:
Awesome, glad I won't be the only one with guests - are your parents coming to campus on Friday? I can't wait to see USUHS again, and look forward to meeting some SDN'ers, if I won't know what you all look like 😉

Where are you apartment hunting? Still trying to figure out what the best option is!
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Actually just found out that my grandma is coming too, so you def won't be alone with visitors, lol. She is really worried about
me joining the air force, so my parents thought that it might help her to see the school. I'll have quite the entourage 🙄

I'm looking mostly in North Bethesda, or complexes near a red line stop 2 or three away from medical center
 
llamasarefuzzy said:
Actually just found out that my grandma is coming too, so you def won't be alone with visitors, lol. She is really worried about
me joining the air force, so my parents thought that it might help her to see the school. I'll have quite the entourage 🙄

I'm looking mostly in North Bethesda, or complexes near a red line stop 2 or three away from medical center
Click to expand...

Well, I'll only have one guest, but I'll be sure to look for the llama with the entourage! 😉
 
Hi all,

For anyone who's still on the fence about attending USUHS or simply wants to learn more about military medicine or the HPSP, I recently came upon a great website I hadn't seen before called Medicine + the Military, sponsored by the DoD. It gives a decent description of life during medical school, military residency, and deployment, and also provides a lot of information about base locations, military lifestyle, and pay, among other things.

I just wanted to share, since at least a few of you are going to Second Look Day at USUHS. Congrats on getting in! I interviewed 1/22 and am hoping for a coveted spot on the waitlist. I have a family member who attends USUHS, and it really is an amazing place. Good luck to all those still waiting!
 
cardio7 said:
Hi all,

For anyone who's still on the fence about attending USUHS or simply wants to learn more about military medicine or the HPSP, I recently came upon a great website I hadn't seen before called Medicine + the Military, sponsored by the DoD. It gives a decent description of life during medical school, military residency, and deployment, and also provides a lot of information about base locations, military lifestyle, and pay, among other things.

I just wanted to share, since at least a few of you are going to Second Look Day at USUHS. Congrats on getting in! I interviewed 1/22 and am hoping for a coveted spot on the waitlist. I have a family member who attends USUHS, and it really is an amazing place. Good luck to all those still waiting!
Click to expand...

Thanks, looks like there is a wealth of information here!
 
cardio7 said:
Hi all,

For anyone who's still on the fence about attending USUHS or simply wants to learn more about military medicine or the HPSP, I recently came upon a great website I hadn't seen before called Medicine + the Military, sponsored by the DoD. It gives a decent description of life during medical school, military residency, and deployment, and also provides a lot of information about base locations, military lifestyle, and pay, among other things.

I just wanted to share, since at least a few of you are going to Second Look Day at USUHS. Congrats on getting in! I interviewed 1/22 and am hoping for a coveted spot on the waitlist. I have a family member who attends USUHS, and it really is an amazing place. Good luck to all those still waiting!
Click to expand...
Hmm, I wonder if that's new; I certainly don't remember coming across is last year.
If anyone has come up with questions they'd like to have a current student answer, I'm happy to have people send those questions my way- we're in the middle of finals for our CPR (cardio-pulm-renal) module, but next week we'll be on spring break and will have a bit of extra time to kill, so I'll be happy to answer things to the best of my ability then.
 
cardio7 said:
Hi all,

For anyone who's still on the fence about attending USUHS or simply wants to learn more about military medicine or the HPSP, I recently came upon a great website I hadn't seen before called Medicine + the Military, sponsored by the DoD. It gives a decent description of life during medical school, military residency, and deployment, and also provides a lot of information about base locations, military lifestyle, and pay, among other things.

I just wanted to share, since at least a few of you are going to Second Look Day at USUHS. Congrats on getting in! I interviewed 1/22 and am hoping for a coveted spot on the waitlist. I have a family member who attends USUHS, and it really is an amazing place. Good luck to all those still waiting!
Click to expand...

koruca said:
Thanks, looks like there is a wealth of information here!
Click to expand...

aconn51 said:
Hmm, I wonder if that's new; I certainly don't remember coming across is last year.
If anyone has come up with questions they'd like to have a current student answer, I'm happy to have people send those questions my way- we're in the middle of finals for our CPR (cardio-pulm-renal) module, but next week we'll be on spring break and will have a bit of extra time to kill, so I'll be happy to answer things to the best of my ability then.
Click to expand...

If that website isn't new then my searching skills several months ago were apparently awful... I've spend weeks worth of time looking things up about USUHS and military medicine and never came across it!

That said it looks great and I've been checking it out now since you posted it, thanks!
 
@Glycereine, I felt the same way! I'm a re-applicant to USUHS and felt ridiculous for not having seen it before. I do suspect that it's new and I wonder if USUHS might link it to their own website at any point.

I'm so glad that others find it helpful!
 
Waitlisted by my IS school, and I'm probably going to turn down that spot. Really happy that I was waitilisted because it would have been very, very hard to turn down, and USUHS has stolen my heart. Unless I absolutely hate it on second look day (lol, can't really see that happening at all) I'll see you all in August (and hopefully some of you on June 29 down in Alabama!) and maybe in a few weeks!
 
I just got put on hold today. Any idea how that has played out in the past?
 
Glycereine said:
Every time I get an email or a call from USUHS I freak out. Invariably they are asking for a measurement of my tattoo or a question about something.

I guess at least that means they are still interested!
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Yea, the last contact I had was last week. I'm AD Air Force and they requested my official release LOA, and said they were close to a decision. Suppose that's a good sign. I'm *patiently* waiting for news.
 
Glycereine said:
Every time I get an email or a call from USUHS I freak out. Invariably they are asking for a measurement of my tattoo or a question about something.

I guess at least that means they are still interested!
Click to expand...

Have you heard anything back about your tattoo? I know that they have changed the policy several times in the last 18 months. Thanks.
 
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