2016-2017 Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences Application Thread

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jeannie1 said:
What is it like to serve as a physician in the Public Health Service?

What about practicing psychiatry in the uniformed services? How does psychiatry practice and experience differ from one branch to another?
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In general, one aspect of PHS will work with the Indian Health Service, which is focused on primary care + ob/gyn with the overall theme of giving care to the under served.

The other is an immunology spot with the NIH...research? Stuff? I don't understand what's going with that part in all honesty. However, there is definitely some heavy duty research going on with that spot at USUHS.

For your questions about psychiatry, I would highly recommend you find veteran psychiatrists or active duty ones and have a chat with them. If not I think there are a few around sdn...
 
wildcat2015az said:
That's what I thought too, but on Walter Reed's website (found it on the Gate Schedule page), it says that all vehicles without military stickers, including taxi cabs, will be searched regardless if an occupant has a military ID. Not a big deal though, I would just give yourself a little extra time if you're coming in in the morning. They might not even do it and just say that they do.
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My car doesn't have the military decal and I've driven onto base many times and I've never had my car searched.
 
wildcat2015az said:
On that base, or just any other base?
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Speaking from personal experience, I have never been able to get onto any base with a non-stickered car without getting the car searched. I'm really surprised @soadhead hasn't had an issue.
 
freak7 said:
Speaking from personal experience, I have never been able to get onto any base with a non-stickered car without getting the car searched. I'm really surprised @soadhead hasn't had an issue.
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Yeah, it's happened to me on a Marine and a Navy base in San Diego before. Never on an Air Force base though. They definitely said that they will let the car through, they just might search it. It wouldn't surprise me if they had higher security there and searched, because of where they are. If anyone knows for sure about this base, that would be awesome.
 
Red Lobster Actual said:
In general, one aspect of PHS will work with the Indian Health Service, which is focused on primary care + ob/gyn with the overall theme of giving care to the under served.

The other is an immunology spot with the NIH...research? Stuff? I don't understand what's going with that part in all honesty. However, there is definitely some heavy duty research going on with that spot at USUHS.

For your questions about psychiatry, I would highly recommend you find veteran psychiatrists or active duty ones and have a chat with them. If not I think there are a few around sdn...
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Thanks
 
HopefulPilot said:
The DOD moved away from decals because it can make you and your vehicle a target. I don't think they're issued any more.
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In my experience if the driver does not have an ID, he would not be allowed to pass. MPs would make you get out and turn the driver around. Didn't matter if passengers had ID.

Sent from my SM-G925V using Tapatalk
 
Also received an II today

Complete 8/1-8/5

Edit: URM, military experience
 
Last edited:
Did anyone submit individual letters instead of a committee letter? Did you also have to submit something saying that your school doesn't do committee letters?
 
theonlytycrane said:
Did anyone submit individual letters instead of a committee letter? Did you also have to submit something saying that your school doesn't do committee letters?
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Yes, I submitted five individual letters instead of a committee letter and submitted an explanation. My committee letter was two years old. It didn't reflect all the work and activities I'd done since pre-med two years ago. So I decided it was better to have my LORs updated and send those in place of the committee letter.
 
Any current USUHS med students have any advice about the host program? Best ways to travel in and out of base? Any advice is helpful. First interview so very exciting but also not sure what to expect 🙂
 
jeannie1 said:
Yes, I submitted five individual letters instead of a committee letter and submitted an explanation. My committee letter was two years old. It didn't reflect all the work and activities I'd done since pre-med two years ago. So I decided it was better to have my LORs updated and send those in place of the committee letter.
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Thanks for the reply. How is the explanation submitted? As part of the secondary in a provided slot?
 
NHgal1227 said:
Any current USUHS med students have any advice about the host program? Best ways to travel in and out of base? Any advice is helpful. First interview so very exciting but also not sure what to expect 🙂
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Host program is pretty cool, you get to save some money and have contact with one of my classmates. They can also help you with transportation.

Otherwise...most cost effective and straightforward method of getting on base will be taking the Red Line Metro and getting off at the Medical Center station. Walk outside and then you will have two options.

One is to find the USUHS van shuttle in the parking lot and it will take you straight to USUHS. Since it is the beginning of the year there should be still a significant fraction of the class still attending lecture haha. So all you have to do is find a bunch of people in uniform with this:

US-O1_insignia.svg.png
on their uniforms/hats and chances are very very high that they will be medical students taking the shuttle to school. Hop on and everything will be taken care of. Feel free to talk to us, we all remember quite well when we interviewed here so we will be receptive to any questions while you are getting on base.

Otherwise, you can walk out of the metro center and follow the horde of people crossing the street towards the base. I emphasize crossing the street because both the NIH and military base have gate guards except the NIH is on the same side as the metro station. If you are heading towards the side with more guns you are going the right direction. Show the guards your ID and tell them you are going to USUHS and they should let you through. The admissions office might have made you fill out a form about gate access so bring that just in case as well. FYI, it takes ~15 minutes from exiting the metro station to walking onto the grounds of USUHS itself.

Would NOT advise taking a cab or uber onto base.
 
jeannie1 said:
Thanks
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As of right now all that they have for sure is Indian Health Service and NIH, but they are working on having a Veterans Services option too. I wouldn't select PHS as your top choice on the ranking sheet unless you are completely invested in the IHS route though. There are technically 2 spots for the NIH route but it is very picky about who they take. There was a PharmD who applied last year and the NIH route did not select him. The year before the only NIH pick was a PhD in Immunology. You also have to pick a primary care speciality for the PHS route. If the veteran option is funded they may be a little different but as of now it isn't a for sure thing.
 
Tn615pride said:
As of right now all that they have for sure is Indian Health Service and NIH, but they are working on having a Veterans Services option too. I wouldn't select PHS as your top choice on the ranking sheet unless you are completely invested in the IHS route though. There are technically 2 spots for the NIH route but it is very picky about who they take. There was a PharmD who applied last year and the NIH route did not select him. The year before the only NIH pick was a PhD in Immunology. You also have to pick a primary care speciality for the PHS route. If the veteran option is funded they may be a little different but as of now it isn't a for sure thing.
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Thank you
 
so I submitted my secondary and emailed my assigned advisor my photograph, should I expect a response from her ? I never got an email confirmation after submitting my secondary
 
jhg1232 said:
so I submitted my secondary and emailed my assigned advisor my photograph, should I expect a response from her ? I never got an email confirmation after submitting my secondary
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You have to request a confirmation that your file is complete.
 
If I want to catch a flight out of DCA at 7, will I have time to swing by and get my luggage from my sponsors? Or is there somewhere I can store in during the day and head straight to the airport from the interviewing location?
 
DrDwayneJohnson said:
If I want to catch a flight out of DCA at 7, will I have time to swing by and get my luggage from my sponsors? Or is there somewhere I can store in during the day and head straight to the airport from the interviewing location?
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I was planning on storing mine at admissions, because I'm catching the metro to DCA right after. I've heard you can do that, and I saw it at other interviews as well.
 
DrDwayneJohnson said:
If I want to catch a flight out of DCA at 7, will I have time to swing by and get my luggage from my sponsors? Or is there somewhere I can store in during the day and head straight to the airport from the interviewing location?
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People stored things in the admissions office on my interview day. I don't recommend leaving it at your sponsors...Traffic isn't fun. The afternoon is a good set up--you'll be done by 4pm, if not earlier, depending on your interview schedule.
 
itsallgood92 said:
Does USUHS do silent rejections?
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I don't think so, judging from last year's thread. I think they do tell you immediately once they make a decision, according to the "complete" email I received. But I think they might sit on applications for a while, the ones they aren't sure about
 
HopefulPilot said:
The DOD moved away from decals because it can make you and your vehicle a target. I don't think they're issued any more.
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Watching this thread, since I'm applying to the EMDP2 program and (if selected) USUHS in a couple years.

But you are correct. They haven't issued decals on Navy bases for a couple years now. Different services are different. In Hawaii, the MC base at K Bay required a dashboard pass, while JBPHH did not.

Do not rely on Uber. They cannot pick you up, and technically they cannot drop you off unless they themselves have base access, because they are technically required to be escorted by you the entire time they are on base. If they are dropping you off, you can see where the problem is. Some of the officers/MPs/MAs will make an exception, but do you want to risk that the day of your interview?
 
Matthew9Thirtyfive said:
Watching this thread, since I'm applying to the EMDP2 program and (if selected) USUHS in a couple years.

But you are correct. They haven't issued decals on Navy bases for a couple years now. Different services are different. In Hawaii, the MC base at K Bay required a dashboard pass, while JBPHH did not.

Do not rely on Uber. They cannot pick you up, and technically they cannot drop you off unless they themselves have base access, because they are technically required to be escorted by you the entire time they are on base. If they are dropping you off, you can see where the problem is. Some of the officers/MPs/MAs will make an exception, but do you want to risk that the day of your interview?
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Yeah, my uber driver said he had been let on once and denied another time. We arrived at night and he couldn't get on, so I just had to walk to the hotel on base. If you're planning on doing that in the morning and not taking the shuttle I highly recommend giving yourself extra time. The roads can be a little confusing, so it took me about twice as long as it should have to get to USUHS. Might be different during the day, but plan for delays.
 
wildcat2015az said:
Yeah, my uber driver said he had been let on once and denied another time. We arrived at night and he couldn't get on, so I just had to walk to the hotel on base. If you're planning on doing that in the morning and not taking the shuttle I highly recommend giving yourself extra time. The roads can be a little confusing, so it took me about twice as long as it should have to get to USUHS. Might be different during the day, but plan for delays.
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I'll be active duty and already living in the area, so I'll just drive myself on. Good luck to y'all.
 
How long did it take for you all to get the complete email from your advisor from when you sent the original email?
 
michellesuzie said:
Ah sorry for the confusion. That was phrased poorly. I meant, did you get an email from your advisor in response to your "CONFIRMATION REQUESTED" email?
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Got ya. Yep! Within about two days I think.
 
wildcat2015az said:
Got ya. Yep! Within about two days I think.
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Ok thanks for your help! Hmmmmm I am wondering why I haven't heard back yet. My AMCAS was verified and secondary complete with a photo. Although, I did decide last minute to retake my MCAT earlier this month and am waiting to get those scores back. Do you think that is why I haven't received the email?
 
michellesuzie said:
Ok thanks for your help! Hmmmmm I am wondering why I haven't heard back yet. My AMCAS was verified and secondary complete with a photo. Although, I did decide last minute to retake my MCAT earlier this month and am waiting to get those scores back. Do you think that is why I haven't received the email?
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Could be, but they are also in the midst of interviews, so they're pretty busy. I emailed her in mid-July, so that could account for the delay you've had.
 
HopefulPilot said:
A few pieces of information I picked up from my interview:

It appears there's a hard cut off of 3.0 GPA and 495 MCAT.

Around 1/3 of those accepted are 1st gen college students. They stated that they really seek out this group of applicants.

Admissions stated that they nearly hit 50% prior military service for their last accepted class.

LTC Saguil is hilarious.
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At your interview did they give any information about where they are in the interview cycle, or when they expect slots to fill up? What's the latest they will send out IIs?
 
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