2016-2017 Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences Application Thread

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itsallgood92 said:
is that the day you received a complete email or day you submitted the secondary? I submitted on the 18th and still have not received a confirmation email.
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I got an email that day saying I was complete. It did take a while to get that email, about 10 days after I submitted my secondary
 
PatchA said:
Just got a II yesterday!! For current students (or prospective ones that are ahead of the game) any advice for where to look to decide on a branch? The military websites have so much info, it's hard to sift through. Pros/ cons of various branches?
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Congrats!! What day is your interview for?
 
II on 7/28. Submitted 7/4. Complete 7/14. I never got an official complete email. Just a note from my counselor in a reply to a question I asked her the day before.
 
Last edited:
I assume as a type 1 diabetic, I cannot apply or enroll here. Are their requirements the same as the military as far as health goes? Sounds ridiculous to ask, but I'm just curious! I've always wanted to serve in the military, didn't know if this could be a way in. I appreciate any insight!
 
kcice22 said:
I assume as a type 1 diabetic, I cannot apply or enroll here. Are their requirements the same as the military as far as health goes? Sounds ridiculous to ask, but I'm just curious! I've always wanted to serve in the military, didn't know if this could be a way in. I appreciate any insight!
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This is the document that says what will or will not disqualify you, but even then you can sometimes get a waiver for certain things. I'm not sure about waivers for Type I Diabetes, but there might be a chance. Just depends. I would contact a recruiter for the branch you want to go into or the school directly to see what they say.

http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/corres/pdf/613003p.pdf
 
Very excited to be given the opportunity to interview in september! Time to sift through these instructions....

...Let me know if anyone has any questions, I would love to help answer whatever I can, especially as the process goes on.
My personal timeline is below in case anyone is anxiously counting the days, as I know I have been doing:

Submitted amcas 6/7, amcas verified 6/16, secondary received 6/24, sent 7/13, heard about II 8/5



Question I have for people who confirmed their interview: Did you reply to the invite email or create a new one to send to the person directly?
 
sullen-burger said:
Very excited to be given the opportunity to interview in september! Time to sift through these instructions....

...Let me know if anyone has any questions, I would love to help answer whatever I can, especially as the process goes on.
My personal timeline is below in case anyone is anxiously counting the days, as I know I have been doing:

Submitted amcas 6/7, amcas verified 6/16, secondary received 6/24, sent 7/13, heard about II 8/5



Question I have for people who confirmed their interview: Did you reply to the invite email or create a new one to send to the person directly?
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Did you receive confirmation that your file was complete? If so, when? I'm asking because my dates are similar to yours.
 
sullen-burger said:
Very excited to be given the opportunity to interview in september! Time to sift through these instructions....

...Let me know if anyone has any questions, I would love to help answer whatever I can, especially as the process goes on.
My personal timeline is below in case anyone is anxiously counting the days, as I know I have been doing:

Submitted amcas 6/7, amcas verified 6/16, secondary received 6/24, sent 7/13, heard about II 8/5



Question I have for people who confirmed their interview: Did you reply to the invite email or create a new one to send to the person directly?
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I just replied to the email, and they got back to me very quickly.
 
II as well,

Is anyone else having trouble downloading the base access form on their mac? I've read the instructions and still can't seem to get it.
 
Judson said:
Did you receive confirmation that your file was complete? If so, when? I'm asking because my dates are similar to yours.
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I didn't get any confirmation email. From July 13th to August 5th, I didn't hear a peep.

They also didn't confirm when I emailed my photograph.

KKGPreMed said:
II as well,

Is anyone else having trouble downloading the base access form on their mac? I've read the instructions and still can't seem to get it.
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I'm not sure what you mean. Did you go through the encryption wizard program? I don't know how much I can help though, since I'm on a PC.
 
does anyone know if they do silent rejections here?
 
mysturi0us said:
does anyone know if they do silent rejections here?
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Looking at last years thread, it doesn't appear that they do. You can send your advisor an email and ask for a status update, though. A few people did that last year, and you can find out if they have reviewed your file yet.
 
I don't think they do silent rejections. I wasn't complete till end of September last year and I got a rejection early November. (~6 weeks?)
 
While I'm gravitating to USUHS as a first choice, do you guys know if you're able to hold the acceptance until May like other medical schools while you interview and get acceptances? Or do they expect you to immediately accept their offer?
 
Asclepius293 said:
While I'm gravitating to USUHS as a first choice, do you guys know if you're able to hold the acceptance until May like other medical schools while you interview and get acceptances? Or do they expect you to immediately accept their offer?
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Applicants offered a conditional acceptance have two weeks to acknowledge their intent to enroll. This acceptance must be in writing. Applicants failing to meet the deadline automatically forfeit their place in the class. No deposit is required to hold a class space.

source https://www.usuhs.edu/sites/default/files/media/admissionrequirements2014.pdf

Congrats on interview! May I ask when?
 
sullen-burger said:
Applicants offered a conditional acceptance have two weeks to acknowledge their intent to enroll. This acceptance must be in writing. Applicants failing to meet the deadline automatically forfeit their place in the class. No deposit is required to hold a class space.
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So that would be a "No" then?
 
Asclepius293 said:
While I'm gravitating to USUHS as a first choice, do you guys know if you're able to hold the acceptance until May like other medical schools while you interview and get acceptances? Or do they expect you to immediately accept their offer?
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Focus on your interview first. One step at a time 🙂

Otherwise, on your interview day, there will be some time to talk to various people if you want and you can ask the staff at the admissions office if you can hold multiple acceptances.
 
I would just call Admissions and ask. I'm pretty sure it is just like any other medical school and they can't really lock you in until you go to Officer Training the summer before your first year. Until then you haven't initiated a commitment to the military that you have to pay back.
 
You can hold your acceptance until the multiple acceptance deadline, just like any other med school. Once you get your conditional acceptance, they mail you some paperwork that you fill out and send back to hold your spot (within 2 weeks). Once that is done, you get your unconditional acceptance.

If you guys have any questions, I'll be happy to try to answer them. I'm an MS1 at USU
 
Lark27 said:
You can hold your acceptance until the multiple acceptance deadline, just like any other med school. Once you get your conditional acceptance, they mail you some paperwork that you fill out and send back to hold your spot (within 2 weeks). Once that is done, you get your unconditional acceptance.

If you guys have any questions, I'll be happy to try to answer them. I'm an MS1 at USU
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Hey what were your stats? And were you civilian or military when you applied?
 
jeannie1 said:
Hey what were your stats? And were you civilian or military when you applied?
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To keep anonymity, I am not going to say exactly what my stats were. I will say that I had very average MCAT and GPA. However, I did have some unique extracurriculars for what that is worth. I had no prior service when I applied. My words of advice would be that stats aren't everything, at least for USU. Obviously you need to show that you can handle the rigorous course load that med school brings, but beyond that they are looking for fit with the rest of the class (teamwork, military medicine is all about teamwork) and a sincere desire to serve in the military. If you can convey that through your secondary, you should be golden!
 
Lark27 said:
To keep anonymity, I am not going to say exactly what my stats were. I will say that I had very average MCAT and GPA. However, I did have some unique extracurriculars for what that is worth. I had no prior service when I applied. My words of advice would be that stats aren't everything, at least for USU. Obviously you need to show that you can handle the rigorous course load that med school brings, but beyond that they are looking for fit with the rest of the class (teamwork, military medicine is all about teamwork) and a sincere desire to serve in the military. If you can convey that through your secondary, you should be golden!
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Okay thanks!
 
Lark27 said:
To keep anonymity, I am not going to say exactly what my stats were. I will say that I had very average MCAT and GPA. However, I did have some unique extracurriculars for what that is worth. I had no prior service when I applied. My words of advice would be that stats aren't everything, at least for USU. Obviously you need to show that you can handle the rigorous course load that med school brings, but beyond that they are looking for fit with the rest of the class (teamwork, military medicine is all about teamwork) and a sincere desire to serve in the military. If you can convey that through your secondary, you should be golden!
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What are pros and cons of USUHS in your opinion, based on your experience so far (aside from financial aspect)? And why would USUHS be better than HPSP?
 
jeannie1 said:
What are pros and cons of USUHS in your opinion, based on your experience so far (aside from financial aspect)? And why would USUHS be better than HPSP?
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Pros:
- Everyone at usuhs wants to see you succeed. Everyone shares their notes and study guides and resources. It is truly a team/family environment that you usually don't get at other schools. Most other med school can be pretty cut throat and you see people refusing to help each other and even sometimes sabotaging someone's study plan to get the leg up and higher class rank. We have only been at usuhs a couple weeks and have already received notes/study guides/resources that were passed down from previous classes.
- Our rotations can be done at pretty much any military hospital in the US (a few abroad as well). This becomes important further down the road as you start to think about where/what you want to do for residency. You can use your rotations to check out places you might be interested in.
- Our new curriculum has us taking step 1 during third year after our clerkship rotations. This has been quite successful and gives students more time and more clinical experience prior to taki the exam. I believe that said that the last class to take step 1 had a 100% first time pass rate!

Cons:
- some people look at the 7 year commitment as a con. If you like the military lifestyle and truly want to serve, it shouldn't make that much of a difference. That was the lease of my worries when deciding on usuhs, but for some people it is a huge commitment.

- residency spots (sometimes) depend on the needs of the military. Some of the super specialized specialties don't really offer a ton of spots because the army/navy/Air Force doesn't need 15 physicians who are super specialized in something. Primary care is pretty comparable to cililian, and for the most part nobody really gets pushed out of what they want to do because the military doesn't need them, but it can happen.

-Gmo tours for navy and Air Force. Again, some people love the idea of gmo tours and other people hate it. I know navy pretty much makes everyone do a gmo tour as of now, not sure about Air Force. Army does not do gmo tours unless you really really really want to. your years spent on gmo count toward payback.

As for hpsp vs usuhs, you can't go wrong with either one. One benefit of usuhs that I mentioned above is that you get to do all of your rotations at military hospitals. For hpsp, they only do one or two at military hospitals. Not a huge problem, but just have to make sure you plan for those rotations to be at hospitals you really want to go to for residency. Usuhs also works in more military stuff into the curriculum. HPSP really has nothing to do with military while you are in school.
 
Lark27 said:
for the most part nobody really gets pushed out of what they want to do because the military doesn't need them, but it can happen.
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Clarify?

Lark27 said:
- some people look at the 7 year commitment as a con. If you like the military lifestyle and truly want to serve, it shouldn't make that much of a difference. That was the lease of my worries when deciding on usuhs, but for some people it is a huge commitment.
Click to expand...

Just wanted to re-emphasize this point for when one considers this school. If one decides to matriculate here you will be in the military for quite some time. From summer training until the completion of the payback one will be in uniform for at least 14 years.

Lark27 said:
-Gmo tours for navy and Air Force. Again, some people love the idea of gmo tours and other people hate it. I know navy pretty much makes everyone do a gmo tour as of now, not sure about Air Force. Army does not do gmo tours unless you really really really want to. your years spent on gmo count toward payback
Click to expand...

Navy does not make everyone go on GMO tours. The numbers are around 50%-60% of graduating interns go on to do a GMO tour. For the most part, if you decide on family medicine or psychiatry you can train straight through. Most other specialties for the Navy one will end up going on a GMO tour.

For the Air Force, one can GMO as a volunteer or if one doesn't match.

The Army does have GMO tours. They are known as Battalion Surgeon billets. These can happen following residency and a utilization tour.

Lark27 said:
As for hpsp vs usuhs, you can't go wrong with either one.
Click to expand...

Just wanted to add that you can GMO out your obligation via HPSP. Very common in the Navy HPSP. You serve as an intern and 4 years and afterwards you will apply to the civilian match on your own. Plus you can use the GI Bill during residency so you can boost the paltry resident pay in the civilian world. A good and honorable way to serve 5 years and have medical school taken care of.

Overall, I really do like USUHS though. Would not have done it any other way.
 
Lark27 said:
Pros:
- Everyone at usuhs wants to see you succeed. Everyone shares their notes and study guides and resources. It is truly a team/family environment that you usually don't get at other schools. Most other med school can be pretty cut throat and you see people refusing to help each other and even sometimes sabotaging someone's study plan to get the leg up and higher class rank. We have only been at usuhs a couple weeks and have already received notes/study guides/resources that were passed down from previous classes.
- Our rotations can be done at pretty much any military hospital in the US (a few abroad as well). This becomes important further down the road as you start to think about where/what you want to do for residency. You can use your rotations to check out places you might be interested in.
- Our new curriculum has us taking step 1 during third year after our clerkship rotations. This has been quite successful and gives students more time and more clinical experience prior to taki the exam. I believe that said that the last class to take step 1 had a 100% first time pass rate!

Cons:
- some people look at the 7 year commitment as a con. If you like the military lifestyle and truly want to serve, it shouldn't make that much of a difference. That was the lease of my worries when deciding on usuhs, but for some people it is a huge commitment.

- residency spots (sometimes) depend on the needs of the military. Some of the super specialized specialties don't really offer a ton of spots because the army/navy/Air Force doesn't need 15 physicians who are super specialized in something. Primary care is pretty comparable to cililian, and for the most part nobody really gets pushed out of what they want to do because the military doesn't need them, but it can happen.

-Gmo tours for navy and Air Force. Again, some people love the idea of gmo tours and other people hate it. I know navy pretty much makes everyone do a gmo tour as of now, not sure about Air Force. Army does not do gmo tours unless you really really really want to. your years spent on gmo count toward payback.

As for hpsp vs usuhs, you can't go wrong with either one. One benefit of usuhs that I mentioned above is that you get to do all of your rotations at military hospitals. For hpsp, they only do one or two at military hospitals. Not a huge problem, but just have to make sure you plan for those rotations to be at hospitals you really want to go to for residency. Usuhs also works in more military stuff into the curriculum. HPSP really has nothing to do with military while you are in school.
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thank you, very helpful
 
Red Lobster Actual said:
Clarify?



Just wanted to re-emphasize this point for when one considers this school. If one decides to matriculate here you will be in the military for quite some time. From summer training until the completion of the payback one will be in uniform for at least 14 years.



Navy does not make everyone go on GMO tours. The numbers are around 50%-60% of graduating interns go on to do a GMO tour. For the most part, if you decide on family medicine or psychiatry you can train straight through. Most other specialties for the Navy one will end up going on a GMO tour.

For the Air Force, one can GMO as a volunteer or if one doesn't match.

The Army does have GMO tours. They are known as Battalion Surgeon billets. These can happen following residency and a utilization tour.



Just wanted to add that you can GMO out your obligation via HPSP. Very common in the Navy HPSP. You serve as an intern and 4 years and afterwards you will apply to the civilian match on your own. Plus you can use the GI Bill during residency so you can boost the paltry resident pay in the civilian world. A good and honorable way to serve 5 years and have medical school taken care of.

Overall, I really do like USUHS though. Would not have done it any other way.
Click to expand...
 
hmm...based on what? i wouldn't go by the student doctor network alone, to determine how many IIs are sent. There are probably people who are getting IIs and not posting it. Also, this year's thread is small compared to prior years at the same time in the application cycle.
 
jeannie1 said:
hmm...based on what? i wouldn't go by the student doctor network alone, to determine how many IIs are sent. There are probably people who are getting IIs and not posting it. Also, this year's thread is small compared to prior years at the same time in the application cycle.
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Just looking at the low number of people posting about II's on SDN. Is there any reason USUHS would have an unusually low number of applicants that post on SDN?
 
coltsorbroncos said:
Just looking at the low number of people posting about II's on SDN. Is there any reason USUHS would have an unusually low number of applicants that post on SDN?
Click to expand...

I will say I received an II here but didn't post b/c I started to feel like posting about II's was unnecessary. That being said my guess would be yes, the SDN population likely aspires to a different professional career trajectory/ doesn't pursue USUHS as much as other schools. Being a military doc is dramatically different from being a civilian, and SDNers are aware of this. It's not for everyone.
 
_Nightlight_ said:
I will say I received an II here but didn't post b/c I started to feel like posting about II's was unnecessary. That being said my guess would be yes, the SDN population likely aspires to a different professional career trajectory/ doesn't pursue USUHS as much as other schools. Being a military doc is dramatically different from being a civilian, and SDNers are aware of this. It's not for everyone.
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Ok, thanks! And thanks for not posting about if you're trying to avoid increasing other people's stress
 
_Nightlight_ said:
I will say I received an II here but didn't post b/c I started to feel like posting about II's was unnecessary. That being said my guess would be yes, the SDN population likely aspires to a different professional career trajectory/ doesn't pursue USUHS as much as other schools. Being a military doc is dramatically different from being a civilian, and SDNers are aware of this. It's not for everyone.
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How long between when you were verified and offered II?
 
Ok people - here's the low down. USUHS is the best thing that will ever happen to you, and you all are smart, talented, and determined applicants - perfect for the school. When two perfect people are meant for each other, the universe and all its splendor brings them together. Bottom line up front, you'll make it. Believe in yourself, and believe in your strengths you so beautifully conveyed in your applications. I would say best of luck, but you don't need it. So I'm gonna close with saying that I can't wait till you are here apart of the team.
 
Froggy25 said:
Must have just been coincidence then.
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So should I get my LOA sent in now? I was under the impression that it's sent after one is accepted. My source very well could have been wrong, though.
 
Froggy25 said:
II for Oct 13th! Very excited, first of the cycle for me. Technically complete 8/12 and II on 8/26, but I received it 90 minutes after emailing my LOA so I'm kind of wishing I would have done that sooner lol.

2.95 cGPA
3.58 post-bac
511 MCAT
very non-trad with significant military experience
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HopefulPilot said:
Doubt it made a difference. My LOA still hasn't been signed but still have a II
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DrDwayneJohnson said:
So should I get my LOA sent in now? I was under the impression that it's sent after one is accepted. My source very well could have been wrong, though.
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Sorry if this is a stupid question... but what is the LOA?
 
Helpful Troll said:
Letter of Approval or Letter of Authorization. Required for applicants that are in the NG, Reserves, AD, ROTC, or Service Academy authorizing them to apply to USUHS.
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Thank you. Definitely had an "oh *&%^" moment there.
 
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