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

BU Medical Sciences
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I'm so excited for my interview in a few weeks and I've been working on my preference sheet, and I just wanted to ask something that you all probably know a lot more about than I do.

I've narrowed down my top 2 choices to Navy and AF. What are the differences between the two? Pros and cons of each?

Thanks so much!!
 
Jilted said:
I'm so excited for my interview in a few weeks and I've been working on my preference sheet, and I just wanted to ask something that you all probably know a lot more about than I do.

I've narrowed down my top 2 choices to Navy and AF. What are the differences between the two? Pros and cons of each?

Thanks so much!!
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There are some important differences, but you do not have to fill out your branch choice sheet until you are there. During the morning they will have representatives from each branch talk to you so hopefully you can get any questions you have answered.
Best of luck.
 
Jilted said:
I'm so excited for my interview in a few weeks and I've been working on my preference sheet, and I just wanted to ask something that you all probably know a lot more about than I do.

I've narrowed down my top 2 choices to Navy and AF. What are the differences between the two? Pros and cons of each?

Thanks so much!!
Click to expand...

Really the biggest difference I can think of is that the Navy is better






Just kidding 😉. Honestly physician assignments for the two are quite similar in most respects but GMO tours (which may or may not be going away) could be significantly different. Locations are one thing, look at bases around the world with military hospitals. The biggest part of this is that specialty numbers for either in a given year won't be consistent, so choose a service you like not based on whatever specialty. That's my opinion though. Both are great services (as is the Army).
 
Glycereine said:
Just got an email from my host for my interview. Makes it feel a lot more real, in less than two days I'll be on a plane on the way to DC.
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How long after you submitted your secondary and they confirm that they have completed your application file do they offer interviews or reject you?
Also it took them 32 days to complete my file, is that pretty typical in everyone's experience?
 
theuniversity said:
How long after you submitted your secondary and they confirm that they have completed your application file do they offer interviews or reject you?
Also it took them 32 days to complete my file, is that pretty typical in everyone's experience?
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I was complete (secondary, letters received) mid July and offered an II in exactly 3 weeks.
 
i really want an interview here but i feel like it's already too late. i was complete about 3 weeks ago
 
Sean Lee said:
I was complete (secondary, letters received) mid July and offered an II in exactly 3 weeks.
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I was complete with all letters and secondary in the day secondaries were released and my app wasn't completed for almost a month after that and reviewed a month later. So it's not all the same timeline or sure.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
willis11591 said:
Anything in there that is time sensitive? I remember them saying something about security paperwork needing to be done quickly, but I'm out of town for the next few days. Just wondering if it's something I'd need to give them a heads up on
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Yes you need to turn in the acceptance form within 2 weeks of the date of the letter.
 
It seems like most of the calls last week were made weds-friday so lets hope that trend continues!! It also seems like the calls are made after your file has been sent to the committee, which seems to vary a bit case by case. Chins up tho, still very hopeful USUHS!!
 
I got the call earlier today from the man himself, Dr. Saguil.

Interviewed on 9/18. Got Navy, my first choice.

Couldn't concentrate on work since then, and I still can't. USUHS is an amazing school and I hope you guys hear good news soon.
 
sdbolthead24 said:
It seems like most of the calls last week were made weds-friday so lets hope that trend continues!! It also seems like the calls are made after your file has been sent to the committee, which seems to vary a bit case by case. Chins up tho, still very hopeful USUHS!!
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Hypothetically speaking, what if your file was sent to the committee 2-3 weeks ago but you still haven't heard anything? Does this mean that you are not accepted?
 
Murdoch said:
I got the call earlier today from the man himself, Dr. Saguil.

Interviewed on 9/18. Got Navy, my first choice.

Couldn't concentrate on work since then, and I still can't. USUHS is an amazing school and I hope you guys hear good news soon.
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congrats! And welcome 🙂
 
Rejected today. Sigh. I guess it's just HPSP for me.
 
Zaynecarrick said:
Rejected today. Sigh. I guess it's just HPSP for me.
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Sorry to hear that. Were you rejected post interview, or were you not offered an interview?

But looking at the bright side, HPSP is a fantastic program, and it is only a 4-year active duty obligation.
 
Sean Lee said:
Sorry to hear that. Were you rejected post interview, or were you not offered an interview?

But looking at the bright side, HPSP is a fantastic program, and it is only a 4-year active duty obligation.
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Not offered, sadly. Not a good week for me in terms Maryland based schools, as last one still standing is Hopkins.

Yep, I'm not concerned about duty obligations at all (if I spent the rest of my life at the Naval Medical Center in San Diego, I'd be happy as a clam). I'll submit the HPSP stuff hopefully with a school in the bank, don't wanna jinx things.
 
Zaynecarrick said:
Not offered, sadly. Not a good week for me in terms Maryland based schools, as last one still standing is Hopkins.

Yep, I'm not concerned about duty obligations at all (if I spent the rest of my life at the Naval Medical Center in San Diego, I'd be happy as a clam). I'll submit the HPSP stuff hopefully with a school in the bank, don't wanna jinx things.
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Sorry to hear that. I feel like I may be on the same boat soon. What were your stats like?
 
Sean Lee said:
Congrats! I sure hope I get a call soon.

The way I figure, if I don't get a call early next week, then I'll shift my expectation to a wait-list.

Btw, does USUHS call on the weekends? I believe some people on last year's forum got calls on Sundays.
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We're all rooting for you Sean. If you portrayed in your interview the commitment to the school you're showing on this forum, I have no doubts you'll get the call. Hang in there!!
 
eqkc said:
Thank you so, so much for your wonderfully detailed responses!!

I read the new curriculum included a switch from discipline-based to systems-based. I realize you've only had experience with the new, but does it seem to make sense?

The extra bits, including basic, sound fantastic!!! I'm pretty sure no one here would mind hearing more about it, if you have the time! 🙂

Do you have any recommendations for us before we hopefully start somewhere next year? Anything you wish you did before classes started?
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Hey eqkc, I apologize for the much delayed response.

Does the systems based approach method make sense? I absolutely love the systems based approach, and an overwhelming majority of my classmates share the sentiment as well (in fact I haven't heard of anyone wish we were back to the traditional model). It just makes sense. How it was explained to us was that no patient is going to ask you to explain first the biochemistry, then the physiology, then the pathology, etc. Anyone who has time to read can do that. What separates physicians is that they are able to integrate the information, act appropriately, and be able to relay that information. Admittedly, it does seem like a bit much at first information-wise, but you will adjust! It's amazing how much information one can process, especially if one is really interested/passionate about what they're studying. Think about it, this curriculum does in 1.5 yrs, what other programs do in 2- and yet the students still perform at an exceptional level on the boards and the wards!

Basic Training. I can only speak for the army side of things. When I went, it was 4 weeks. I believe that it is now 6 or 7. The difference is that when I went, they had us do an 80.5 hr online course by ourselves before we went to BOLC. They have since removed that online portion, and instead teach it in the classroom. When I went it was 1 week of intro to military stuff (i.e courtesies, marching, etc.), 1 week of other military stuff (basic planning, land nav, mil health stuff, etc), 1 week of practical military stuff (shooting, actual land nav, convoys, medevacs), and 1 week of simulated field hospitals (this was by far the coolest portion as we got to run level 1, 2, and 3 hospitals; were doing medevacs on humvees, LMTVs, and even Blackhawks!; simulating different scenarios).

What to do before classes start? I'm sure you've heard this before, but try to enjoy your summer as best you can. Really. One of my best friends and I went on a road trip around the country- 30 states in 2 weeks. After you enjoy the break thoroughly, come in pumped to enter this awesome field of study. Some people will say take "a," "b," or "c" class, but really med school (and onwards) will prepare you for what you need to do. Do I wish I had taken immunology, or microbio, or a number of other classes when I was an undergrad? ehhh it would've helped a little, but you'll learn it eventually. Might as well enjoy your free time while you can! Oh and don't do anything stupid that will jeopardize your future career.
 
As a general heads up to peeps, from my understanding, phone calls usually go out on Fridays (although there are certainly exceptions. I believe they aim for the end of the week). There's an actually reason relating to psych that they explained to us in one of our classes during 1st yr, but I can't quite remember the explanation right now, haha. Hope this'll relieve some anxiety for those waiting everyday.

Hang in there folks!
 
Anyone who was offered an acceptance have yet to receive the letter by mail? I know this is just me being overly anxious, but I was called on 9/15 and still haven't received anything.
 
1183 said:
Anyone who was offered an acceptance have yet to receive the letter by mail? I know this is just me being overly anxious, but I was called on 9/15 and still haven't received anything.
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Most likely because you live on the other side of the country like California or Arizona. I am sure it's on its way and you'll get it before the end of the week.
 
Sorry if this question is already answered but do anyone know if we'll receive a conformation from Ms. Larhonda Baker regarding the SECNAV form?
 
Posting a little late but wanted to share - II for their Dec 4th session! Complete mid-August. Anyone else with this interview date?
 
Looked for an answer to this elsewhere, but didn't find it. Sorry if this is a repeat. I know that USUHS says the medical exam done for an HPSP scholarship doesn't meet their requirements and you have to have one done for USUHS. But what about the reverse? If I decide to apply for an HPSP scholarship after the USUHS physical, will I need to go through another for HPSP?
 
VanEman said:
Looked for an answer to this elsewhere, but didn't find it. Sorry if this is a repeat. I know that USUHS says the medical exam done for an HPSP scholarship doesn't meet their requirements and you have to have one done for USUHS. But what about the reverse? If I decide to apply for an HPSP scholarship after the USUHS physical, will I need to go through another for HPSP?
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Hi VanEman,

I don't believe so - my Navy HPSP recruiter in St. Louis is just using my USUHS physical.
 
Zaynecarrick said:
Not offered, sadly. Not a good week for me in terms Maryland based schools, as last one still standing is Hopkins.

Yep, I'm not concerned about duty obligations at all (if I spent the rest of my life at the Naval Medical Center in San Diego, I'd be happy as a clam). I'll submit the HPSP stuff hopefully with a school in the bank, don't wanna jinx things.
Click to expand...

When were you complete? Who was rejection sent from? I got an email on August 4th that my materials had been received and have not heard anything since then.
 
Nate S said:
Hi VanEman,

I don't believe so - my Navy HPSP recruiter in St. Louis is just using my USUHS physical.
Click to expand...

That's doesn't seem right to me. My DoD physical took less than an hour because it was just giving a medical history to a doctor, but my MEPS physical for the HPSP went from 0600-1130 and was much more in-depth. For MEPS I did blood and urine tests, a breathalyzer, weird exercises in my underwear, vision and hearing tests and gave all 10 fingerprints in addition to giving a medical history to a doctor.
 
Phantom0009 said:
When were you complete? Who was rejection sent from? I got an email on August 4th that my materials had been received and have not heard anything since then.
Click to expand...


I was also done around early August and haven't heard anything back. I emailed Dr. Saguil in September and he said I had been reviewed favorably but they were waiting to see more applicants before offering an interview. Starting to lose hope at this point.
 
VanEman said:
Looked for an answer to this elsewhere, but didn't find it. Sorry if this is a repeat. I know that USUHS says the medical exam done for an HPSP scholarship doesn't meet their requirements and you have to have one done for USUHS. But what about the reverse? If I decide to apply for an HPSP scholarship after the USUHS physical, will I need to go through another for HPSP?
Click to expand...
Edit: I misspoke, USUHS did have a medical screen . I have fixed the answer below.
Hey VanEman,

Unfortunately, you have to take two separate medical exams. The HPSP one is where you go to a DoD facility for things like a drug test, urinalysis, etc. This is on top of the paper work you fill out. For USUHS, from what I remember it was paper work and MEPs . If you have a medical condition, then you'll have to get a waiver for it.

You will not be asked to do a physical fitness exam (i.e push ups, sit ups, run) for the medical screen. MEPs will probably have you do some range of motion things, walking things (i.e on your tip toes, heels), etc. but it is not a physical fitness test. This is just part of a medical screen. And yes, it can be in a gown/your underwear.

If your planning on applying to USUHS and/or HPSP- I would recommend you do it concurrently and not wait for one to be done, as they are both very competitive. Hope this answers your question!

Source: Got HPSP and USUHS. Ultimately went to USUHS- Best. Decision. Ever (see above for details)

Edit: fixed an error with regards to usuhs med screen.
 
Last edited:
Has anyone heard of PHS acceptances yet? Only a few spots, so maybe we won't even hear about it, but...curious nonetheless.
 
eqkc said:
Um. Did you SEE the explicit instructions requiring you to do this... explicit-exercising thing?
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Yeah, I knew it was coming and it really wasn't that big of a deal. That was just the fastest way I could explain it for those that haven't had to do MEPS yet.
 
Saxappeal1 said:
@myleftorpatientleft? when is it that you do the PFT test for USUHS?
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Each branch does there's separately. For the army, we did our first one during basic (I think this was the case for all branches, but not 100%). Also Come into basic prepared to pass your PT test. As far as frequency, they're done twice a year. The standards can be found online.
 
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