For those of you attending the interview soon, are you planning on submitting an explanation for any grades of C or below?
2014-2015 Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences Application Thread
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It was emailed out a few days right before the interview. It's an informal gathering. Not sure if they have it all the time or not.
Did anyone get their physical results back yet? I just received a letter from DoD a couple days ago that my physical results have been reviewed and that I "qualified" medically for admission to USUHS. I guess this is good news!
Hopefully that an early medical qualification would help me get an acceptance after my interview.
Hopefully that an early medical qualification would help me get an acceptance after my interview.
Oh definitely.
But I recall that USUHS explicitly states that quick completion of the physical will make it easier for the school to decide on the application.
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It's not for their decision process. The specific wording is about the probability of matriculating on time, meaning not being delayed a year.
That said, obviously having things done ahead of time reflects much better on you than not.
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For everyone who has interviews coming up (or happened already? I think maybe 1 set went?), are any of you currently active duty?
I want to make sure I'm doing everything correctly, but I called the security office and they said they only need a verification of my clearance not the whole form again. Wondering if there are other things like that. I did verify I need to do a DODMERB even though I'm already commissioned.
I want to make sure I'm doing everything correctly, but I called the security office and they said they only need a verification of my clearance not the whole form again. Wondering if there are other things like that. I did verify I need to do a DODMERB even though I'm already commissioned.
Filing out my SF-86 form (so much easier than the one for MEPS), and I have a question.
To qualify for USUHS, we only need a secret-level clearance, right? We do NOT need a top secret-level clearance, right?
To qualify for USUHS, we only need a secret-level clearance, right? We do NOT need a top secret-level clearance, right?
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Hi everyone,
I just wanted to introduce myself! I am a USUHS grad doing my residency at Walter Reed. Just wanted to say good luck on interviews and if you have questions about interviewing/life as a student/post medical school, I will do my best to answer them !
I just wanted to introduce myself! I am a USUHS grad doing my residency at Walter Reed. Just wanted to say good luck on interviews and if you have questions about interviewing/life as a student/post medical school, I will do my best to answer them !
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yup just secret level clearance
So I have a pretty neurotic question regarding the SF-86 form. On the first page of the form, one of the instructions say:
"All questions on this form must be answered. If no response is necessary or applicable, indicate this on the form with "N/A" unless otherwise noted"
Does this mean that every single box on the application must either be filled with information or with "N/A"? For example, many of the questions will ask "During the past seven years, have you ever...". If I answer No, do I still have to go through all the list of things and manually put "N/A" next to each of them? A specific example is the spouse/marriage section. The question asks have I ever married. If I answer yes, I'll obviously have to disclose my current wife and any/all ex-wives in the past. But since I answer no, do I still need to put "N/A" in the boxes?
Another example. A background question asks several "have you ever been" convicted of a list of 4-5 crimes. Then, that section provides a bunch of boxes/subsections asking you to provide more information for each "yes" response. I answered "no" to all the "have you ever been" questions, so can I just leave the extra boxes blank? Or do I need to manually put "N/A" in each and every one of those boxes? I don't want to security office to reject my SF-86 form for "not following directions".
For those of you who completed the form, what did you all do?
"All questions on this form must be answered. If no response is necessary or applicable, indicate this on the form with "N/A" unless otherwise noted"
Does this mean that every single box on the application must either be filled with information or with "N/A"? For example, many of the questions will ask "During the past seven years, have you ever...". If I answer No, do I still have to go through all the list of things and manually put "N/A" next to each of them? A specific example is the spouse/marriage section. The question asks have I ever married. If I answer yes, I'll obviously have to disclose my current wife and any/all ex-wives in the past. But since I answer no, do I still need to put "N/A" in the boxes?
Another example. A background question asks several "have you ever been" convicted of a list of 4-5 crimes. Then, that section provides a bunch of boxes/subsections asking you to provide more information for each "yes" response. I answered "no" to all the "have you ever been" questions, so can I just leave the extra boxes blank? Or do I need to manually put "N/A" in each and every one of those boxes? I don't want to security office to reject my SF-86 form for "not following directions".
For those of you who completed the form, what did you all do?
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I don't think anyone can fault you for putting N/A. From my experience its always better to put N/A then leaving it blank so the reviewers are absolutely sure that you answered all the appropriate questions. And yes , they will get in touch with most/all of your listed contacts so make sure the information is accurate.
I see. But it would be extremely tedious to put N/A in each and every box.
So I did some more search, and it seems that the consensus is that you should enter N/A to every single box that doesn't apply to you. Even if an entire section is not application to you, you have to enter N/A in every single box of that section. If you don't use up every space/line in the employment/education/residence section, then you have to put N/A in every single remaining box. This is gonna be fun...
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Does anyone know whether they'll review your secondary without all the letters? I submitted my secondary on July 1st and have been waiting on a physician to write my clinical letter of recommendation. They previously agreed to writing this letter but will not respond to any of my attempts. Any thoughts on what I can do? It kills me that my app has been sitting there for two months.
From what I know, your application will NOT be reviewed for possible II until the admissions committee receives everything, including all the necessary letters. And what do you mean that the physician will not respond to your attempts? Did you try to call his office? If he works nearby, go to his office and talk to him in person. When did he promise to write you a letter?
You need to call Ms.Wilhelmina Ramseur (at USUHS) and give her your name and SSN over the phone. Once she gets your name and SSN, she will enter those information to the DoDMETS website. After 5-7 days later, you'll have access to DoDMETS, and you'll receive information in the mail containing which designated providers you need to go to for your physical and eye exams.
Did you contact Ms. Ramseur already?
Yes, I guess I was just overanxious and didn't realize I'd have to wait a few days. Thanks for responding...I'll go worry about something else now...
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If it makes you feel any better Sean, after finishing my SF-86 with the added pages to make it complete (different form than the one you were sent, don't freak out), it was 114 pages long... the form was non-saveable as well, so I had to do it all in one sitting and/or hope my computer didn't crash before I printed it...
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It won't be reviewed until everything is received, including MCAT and letters.
Once your letters are all in, you need to email them and tell them that, then they will begin the review process. Mine got held up because of an AMCAS error with one of my letters even though it had been in for 3 weeks.
On a separate note, call the doctor immediately if you haven't already. I sent reminders in emails and I think one of my letter writers actually had my emails going to spam because I had sent so many (not because he actually set it up that way!).
That will prove two things, one that you're dedicated, and 2 that you didn't get the letter if he thought he finished it.
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Yeah that's why I said not to worry, this was for something else but it's the same form, just expandable to include more people/items. When it was all said and done it was 114. I wanted to cry. I printed it and found 1 spelling error on like the 50th page. I left it cause I would have had to retype the whole thing.
And speaking of the SF-6, even though I have relatives (grandparents, aunts, etc) in India, I did NOT have any "close or continual" contact with them over the past 7 years. Can I just leave these people off on the foreign contact section? After all, they are not asking me to list every foreign relative; they only want to know the people whom I had close/continual contact with.
Also, I made a handful of trips to foreign countries for vacation with the family over the years. How will listing several out of country trips look? I've heard people not getting clearances because they've been out of the country. The countries I've been to is not in the middle-east, will that help?
Also, I made a handful of trips to foreign countries for vacation with the family over the years. How will listing several out of country trips look? I've heard people not getting clearances because they've been out of the country. The countries I've been to is not in the middle-east, will that help?
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Just answer honestly. Going to a foreign country won't hurt your clearance chances unless you were suspiciously in foreign countries at the timing of bad things happening there.
Part of the length of my SF-86 is the countries I've been to (23 now) and it doesn't affect my clearance.
As for the relatives part, I think it doesn't ask for aunts or grandparents. If that's the case, then they would only go in if you were close to them or had continual contact. Do keep in mind though that close and continual contact could be emails or phone conversations, not specific meetings with.
How is the grading system? Is it strictly pass/fail? Is there class rank?
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I know there are multiple options but which airport do you recommend flying into?
I'm thinking BWI but that's solely because I know the airport, not based on distances or ease.
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BWI and Dulles will likely have the cheapest flights but DCA is ideal if you are planning to not rent a car during your interview. The metro runs right through DCA and has the most options for public transit.
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Honors, Pass, Fail system with no class ranking.
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very much appreciate the help
Might use miles so if the price is the same I'll use DCA
Thanks.
So would all Pass be adequate for a good military residency? Or do you want to aim for a mix of passes and honors?
And roughly what percentage correlates to each? Would 90% be honors, 70% be pass, and lower be fail?
D
DrPibble
Hi guys!! First time posting in this thread. Congrats to everyone who has received interviews!!
I have a question- I've seen some people post that they received the email asking if they were going to retake their MCAT if their score was under a 29. I just received this email earlier this week, and given how it's already mid-September, I'd rather not delay my application being reviewed for another couple of months to adequately study for a retake and then await the results.
Did anyone proceed with a <29 MCAT, and if so, have you been successful?
To sum up my application: 3.35sGPA, 3.45cGPA, 3.9 grad GPA (Global Health), years of volunteering and many leadership experiences, global volunteering, unique experiences including being a keynote speaker for a national rally in DC...
I'd like to say I have a strong, well-rounded app.... except for the 26 MCAT.
Any outside input would be greatly appreciated. Thank you to all, and good luck!
I have a question- I've seen some people post that they received the email asking if they were going to retake their MCAT if their score was under a 29. I just received this email earlier this week, and given how it's already mid-September, I'd rather not delay my application being reviewed for another couple of months to adequately study for a retake and then await the results.
Did anyone proceed with a <29 MCAT, and if so, have you been successful?
To sum up my application: 3.35sGPA, 3.45cGPA, 3.9 grad GPA (Global Health), years of volunteering and many leadership experiences, global volunteering, unique experiences including being a keynote speaker for a national rally in DC...
I'd like to say I have a strong, well-rounded app.... except for the 26 MCAT.
Any outside input would be greatly appreciated. Thank you to all, and good luck!
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Like for any residency, aim to do your best. Some rotations/classes will roughly correlate with you said but others will take a certain percentage of the top performers and give them honors and the rest pass/fail
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Hi everyone! I submitted my application in mid July and emailed my Admissions Officer in early August to check that they received my materials and they confirmed saying yes. However, the other day I received an email from the general admissions email saying my application was sent to review. Should I be worried why there was a month delay?
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No, you shouldn't worry. They process a lot of applications.
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So I got an interview invitation today! But if I am active duty already do I have to go through the DODMERB process?? and make an appointment and everything??
So my interview is coming up, and I am filing out the preference statement sheet.
It tells us to rank our preference of the four branches: army, navy, air force, public health. Will it look bad if I indicate that I have no preference/no commitment to public health?
It tells us to rank our preference of the four branches: army, navy, air force, public health. Will it look bad if I indicate that I have no preference/no commitment to public health?
Thanks for the heads up.
But the public health service seems very restrictive (you have to choose either the NIH research or the Native American track). Is it normal for people to put "no interest" for public health?
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You do. I called and asked and was told to follow directions. I will say however that the DODMERB physical place was confused when I showed up in uniform...
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Basically I would still put it as some interest unless you really don't want to go to USUHS if that's the only option available. If you list it lower than Army, Navy Air Force, they will not select you for it unless there are no spots at all available and even then you still have the chance to decline it.
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Keep in mind their average accepted MCAT score is going up each year. I BELIEVE it was about 31 last year.
That doesn't mean you won't get in with lower, but it does mean the chances are going down. If you wouldn't be able to retake in time for this cycle I would say that you aren't going to retake it (you'll have to figure out how to word that well...) and then if you don't get in this cycle you can study and retake it EARLY next year (april/may) so you can apply first thing again.
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Scheduled all my medicals and finished up my interview paperwork.
Do any of the applicants who already had interviews have any feedback on them?
Do any of the applicants who already had interviews have any feedback on them?
Yeah, I believe that's what I saw as well.
Got it. I just revised my preference sheet and listed Public Health Service a 4 instead of a 5. I really do not want to pursue a career of academic research in the NIH...
I think there are only 4 Public Health positions per year, so that's good.
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I can almost guarantee you won't get it if it's not listed first. The people who want those positions REALLY want them.
Good!
Question regarding SF-86
The very last page is the release of medical information in accordance to HIPAA. The instructions explicitly states that this form should only be completed and signed IF we answered "Yes" to Question 21, the mental conditions question. I answered "No" to #21, so that means I can leave that form blank, right?
@Glycereine
EDIT: the form is called "Authorization for the Release of Medical Information".
The reason I am asking is that the welcome letter from the USUHS security office says the following: "Upon completion the SF 86 must be signed and dated on the certification line and on the two releases of information. A signed SF 86 is a sworn statement." This implies that the Authorization for the Release of Medical Information must be signed regardless of how we answered Question 21.
The very last page is the release of medical information in accordance to HIPAA. The instructions explicitly states that this form should only be completed and signed IF we answered "Yes" to Question 21, the mental conditions question. I answered "No" to #21, so that means I can leave that form blank, right?
@Glycereine
EDIT: the form is called "Authorization for the Release of Medical Information".
The reason I am asking is that the welcome letter from the USUHS security office says the following: "Upon completion the SF 86 must be signed and dated on the certification line and on the two releases of information. A signed SF 86 is a sworn statement." This implies that the Authorization for the Release of Medical Information must be signed regardless of how we answered Question 21.
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I would call the security office. They answered my question about having to redo an SF-86 very quickly. I think I have the number handy.
edit: 301-295-3033.
