2020-2021 Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences

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aceofspades056 said:
Dumb question - are the counselor assignments based on first or last name? The emails don't specify and I don't want to email the wrong person ....
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It’s based on last name and it should say in the secondary instructions email which counselor has which letters. I think ours was in a pdf they sent us.
 
Matthew9Thirtyfive said:
It’s based on last name and it should say in the secondary instructions email which counselor has which letters. I think ours was in a pdf they sent us.
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Hmmm... odd, I submitted my secondary weeks ago, never got an email to fill in my pre-reqs, and no verification of completion (An email was sent out saying that there is no verification email that will be sent out this year).

I did however email my counselor who said she's completed her review and forwarded my application to the admissions committee.

I'm a reapplicant for what it's worth and was waitlisted last year but I don't think that makes much of a difference.

Is there anything I should be following up on?

Thanks!
 
Ah... nvm I haven't gotten to that part of the review process yet... Yikes hoping I'm not gonna be too late on the application this year :\
 
jonniboi said:
Hmmm... odd, I submitted my secondary weeks ago, never got an email to fill in my pre-reqs, and no verification of completion (An email was sent out saying that there is no verification email that will be sent out this year).

I did however email my counselor who said she's completed her review and forwarded my application to the admissions committee.

I'm a reapplicant for what it's worth and was waitlisted last year but I don't think that makes much of a difference.

Is there anything I should be following up on?

Thanks!
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If you’ve gotten in everything they’ve asked for so far, you’re good.
 
Sredman said:
Are these first week in September? Or is it a secret 🙂
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I’m actually not sure if I’m allowed to say but it’s not the first week. It is toward the beginning of September though. They’re always on thursdays.

Edit: we have interview day panel sign ups all the way through February. The sign up sheet came out today, and every slot is already taken. That how much we love our school. 🙂
 
Does everyone who completes a supplemental move forward and complete the prerequisites? Or only people they might be interested in?
 
Ah thank god the pre-req email finally sent, I think I'm just on edge this cycle because of COVID-19 and almost getting in last year.
 
Incognito32 said:
Just received the Pre-req Match request (AMCAS app was verified 8/15). Still waiting on updated MCAT scores though so hopefully they come on time. T-minus 4 days.

This is the most excited I've been in a long time
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Goodluck!!!
 
Does anyone know how low of MCAT scores they are willing to accept? This is one of my top schools but my MCAT is really low 🙁 I am re-taking in a week
 
AspiringDoc911 said:
Does anyone know how low of MCAT scores they are willing to accept? This is one of my top schools but my MCAT is really low 🙁 I am re-taking in a week
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The MCAT is not as important here as other schools. We are more holistic. I have classmates with sub-500s. If you want to PM me with your score, I can tell you if it’s worth retaking for our school.
 
jonniboi said:

Uniformed Services University

www.usuhs.edu www.usuhs.edu

Says on the website that they don't accept anything less than a 496.
[/QUO . I am of the opinion if you don’t feel personally comfortable with your score and you don’t have unique story or unique EC or URM I would retake mcat as long as you feel that you feel more prepared or there was some extenuating circumstances during your first take. I think one mistake I heard on retakes on mcat is taking again so soon after the first attempt because in a short period of time what changes have you made to improve your score . If you can’t answer that question take some more time to assess and study to get a better score.
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doctorosteo said:
Although holistic , I think the mean mcat is 509 -510 last time I looked .
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Trust me when I tell you that’s a function of the quality of the applicants and not a function of how the application is reviewed. I can’t really give details, but I know for a fact that the MCAT is not weighted very much.
 
jonniboi said:

Uniformed Services University

www.usuhs.edu www.usuhs.edu

Says on the website that they don't accept anything less than a 496.
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Yes, a 496 is the cutoff for an interview. The previous associate admissions dean has a lot of data that once you hit a 500, you are just as likely to pass boards and graduate med school whether you have a 500 or a 528. So they don’t look at the MCAT as being terribly important outside of being almost pass/fail.
 
Matthew9Thirtyfive said:
Yes, a 496 is the cutoff for an interview. The previous associate admissions dean has a lot of data that once you hit a 500, you are just as likely to pass boards and graduate med school whether you have a 500 or a 528. So they don’t look at the MCAT as being terribly important outside of being almost pass/fail.
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Yeah there is an MCAT to STEP 1 correlation in scoring but it's not great and changing STEP 1 to pass/fail changes everything

www.cureus.com

Correlation of Medical College Admission Test Scores and Self-assessment Materials with the United States Medical Licensing Examination Step 1 Performance

Purpose Candidates' performance on the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step 1 examination had been correlated with the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). However, in 2015, a new MCAT format was released and its correlation with Step 1 remains to be fully analyzed...
www.cureus.com www.cureus.com
 
jonniboi said:
Yeah there is an MCAT to STEP 1 correlation in scoring but it's not great and changing STEP 1 to pass/fail changes everything

www.cureus.com

Correlation of Medical College Admission Test Scores and Self-assessment Materials with the United States Medical Licensing Examination Step 1 Performance

Purpose Candidates' performance on the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step 1 examination had been correlated with the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). However, in 2015, a new MCAT format was released and its correlation with Step 1 remains to be fully analyzed...
www.cureus.com www.cureus.com
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Yeah the correlation is decent. It’s like a 0.6 or something. But you don’t need to get a 260 to graduate and match what you want for most fields. Particularly at our school where we are legally and contractually guaranteed a military spot (at least in the Navy).
 
Matthew9Thirtyfive said:
Yeah the correlation is decent. It’s like a 0.6 or something. But you don’t need to get a 260 to graduate and match what you want for most fields. Particularly at our school where we are legally and contractually guaranteed a military spot (at least in the Navy).
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Side note to this since it is more likely than not that STEP1 is P/F, what are some ways to stand out as a student at USUHS provided you want join a competitive residency. I know from speaking with students there last year that people did research at the NIH etc.
 
jonniboi said:
Side note to this since it is more likely than not that STEP1 is P/F, what are some ways to stand out as a student at USUHS provided you want join a competitive residency. I know from speaking with students there last year that people did research at the NIH etc.
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Research is always good. It also helps to get involved in the interest groups because you can make connections, but that’s not super necessary. Best things are doing research, doing well in school, and then making a good impression on your clerkships and advanced electives. The programs want someone who has an interest, will pass the boards, and whom they will want to work with for 3-7 years.
 
Matthew9Thirtyfive said:
Research is always good. It also helps to get involved in the interest groups because you can make connections, but that’s not super necessary. Best things are doing research, doing well in school, and then making a good impression on your clerkships and advanced electives. The programs want someone who has an interest, will pass the boards, and whom they will want to work with for 3-7 years.
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Mixed feelings about P/F step 1 . Talked to upper class man in med school about this and a lot guys not happy about it. My MD dad is part of the old unlimited hr residency old guard who feel it’s a lowering of standards and part of everyone gets a trophy mentality permeating society.
 
doctorosteo said:
Mixed feelings about P/F step 1 . Talked to upper class man in med school about this and a lot guys not happy about it. My MD dad is part of the old unlimited hr residency old guard who feel it’s a lowering of standards and part of everyone gets a trophy mentality permeating society.
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Plus side it does encourage cooperative learning
 
doctorosteo said:
Mixed feelings about P/F step 1 . Talked to upper class man in med school about this and a lot guys not happy about it. My MD dad is part of the old unlimited hr residency old guard who feel it’s a lowering of standards and part of everyone gets a trophy mentality permeating society.
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Yeah a lot of people aren’t happy about it because it takes away an objective measure to distinguish yourself. Plus program directors have flat out said they will just look at step 2 now, which is taken too late to change fields if you don’t get the score you need.

I’m not sure that pass/fail step will encourage cooperative learning. We already have that here even with a scored step. With the emphasis on step 2 once step 1 goes p/f, nothing is really going to change at most schools. People will just be gunning for step 2 instead of step 1.

Usuhs is just good because the curriculum puts teamwork in your head from the beginning.
 
Two questions:

-Is USUHS doing virtual interviews this year?
-Is a letter of release required before interview invites are sent for active duty servicemembers?

I am going to a school for the Army in a few weeks where I'll be off the grid, just wondering how I can get my ducks in a row before I leave.
 
willb_82dAirborne said:
Two questions:

-Is USUHS doing virtual interviews this year?
-Is a letter of release required before interview invites are sent for active duty servicemembers?

I am going to a school for the Army in a few weeks where I'll be off the grid, just wondering how I can get my ducks in a row before I leave.
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All interviews are virtual this year. A letter of release is required for the committee to take final action on your application. I think you can interview without it. I believe I had mine in before I was offered an interview. The earlier the better.
 
Matthew9Thirtyfive said:
Yeah a lot of people aren’t happy about it because it takes away an objective measure to distinguish yourself. Plus program directors have flat out said they will just look at step 2 now, which is taken too late to change fields if you don’t get the score you need.

I’m not sure that pass/fail step will encourage cooperative learning. We already have that here even with a scored step. With the emphasis on step 2 once step 1 goes p/f, nothing is really going to change at most schools. People will just be gunning for step 2 instead of step 1.

Usuhs is just good because the curriculum puts teamwork in your head from the beginning.
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I guess on the flip side with USUHS and HSPS, if you don't get the residency you want you could theoretically do a GMO to help boost your application. Whereas on the civilian side you're really screwed.... Just some thoughts, I know some people really don't wanna do GMO.
 
willb_82dAirborne said:
-Is a letter of release required before interview invites are sent for active duty servicemembers?
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My USUHS admissions counselor said I could interview without a signed letter of approval to apply from my branch's personnel command. However, they need a signed copy prior to making a post-interview decision.
 
jonniboi said:
I guess on the flip side with USUHS and HSPS, if you don't get the residency you want you could theoretically do a GMO to help boost your application. Whereas on the civilian side you're really screwed.... Just some thoughts, I know some people really don't wanna do GMO.
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Eh, a GMO is not the end of the world. Being operational can be really amazing and rewarding if you embrace it. I don’t regret my operational time at all, and I was enlisted which is like 100 times worse than being an officer.
 
Matthew9Thirtyfive said:
Eh, a GMO is not the end of the world. Being operational can be really amazing and rewarding if you embrace it. I don’t regret my operational time at all, and I was enlisted which is like 100 times worse than being an officer.
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Yeah I personally wouldn't mind being operational, Dr. James Cole had pretty good things to say about it in his book.
 
Has anyone received an interview invite yet? Has an interview schedule been released?
 
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meganm5 said:
Has anyone received an interview invite yet? Has an interview schedule been released?
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They tend to go out in batches for each interview day. The first interview day will be toward the beginning of September.
 
Not to rehash it, but apparently that whole story about Esper eyeing budget cuts to milmed wasn’t even true.

A145DF69-1A8C-4243-9F10-D64161CB04BE.jpeg
 
doctorosteo said:
With all the aging veterans and all the wounds from the longest war in US history, there is no way the public would abandon those who served and sacrificed . Just not going to happen
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Isn't the VA system separate from Tricare though? Just wondering if there's any overlap.
 
Matthew would you mind sharing a brief timeline of how things unwind from getting an interview invite to securing the acceptance? Focusing on the medical clearance stuff? Like we get an interview invite, then we have to go through a physical before the interview, then we interview and get accepted even if you have something medically disqualifying? Then we’d get a waiver?
 
jakeyb93 said:
Matthew would you mind sharing a brief timeline of how things unwind from getting an interview invite to securing the acceptance? Focusing on the medical clearance stuff? Like we get an interview invite, then we have to go through a physical before the interview, then we interview and get accepted even if you have something medically disqualifying? Then we’d get a waiver?
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So once you get your interview invite, you’ll get information about signing up for DoDMETS I think it’s called. It’s basically the computer system for DoDMerb, which is the organization that does the physicals and med review for USUHS.

You fill out an online survey that basically asks for your whole medical history. Then you schedule an appt with an eye doc and a physician. They will select them for you, and you call and make the appointment, then put the dates into dodmets so you can print out the forms to bring with you.

You should do this as soon as you get the info. Once it’s scheduled, your interview and stuff is basically totally separate from the medical process. You’ll go on your interview and then wait for a decision just like any other med school.

You can even get a conditional acceptance without being medically qualified. You just can’t get an unconditional.

After you go to the docs, they will upload your info in and the DoDMerb people will make a decision. They might ask for further documentation depending on what you put on the survey in dodmets and what the docs write. If you are asked to provide more info, you will get a notification in DoDMerb and then you will have to fill out a form and provide more info or documentation.

I had to fill out a form and provide all the op notes and follow ups for my lasik. It was a huge pain in the ass but I got it done and got qualified.

If you are marked as medically disqualified, you will apply for a waiver through USUHS. Some things are automatically disqualifying but waivers are easy to get. Other things are basically a no go. Just depends on what you have.
 
Matthew9Thirtyfive said:
So once you get your interview invite, you’ll get information about signing up for DoDMETS I think it’s called. It’s basically the computer system for DoDMerb, which is the organization that does the physicals and med review for USUHS.

You fill out an online survey that basically asks for your whole medical history. Then you schedule an appt with an eye doc and a physician. They will select them for you, and you call and make the appointment, then put the dates into dodmets so you can print out the forms to bring with you.

You should do this as soon as you get the info. Once it’s scheduled, your interview and stuff is basically totally separate from the medical process. You’ll go on your interview and then wait for a decision just like any other med school.

You can even get a conditional acceptance without being medically qualified. You just can’t get an unconditional.

After you go to the docs, they will upload your info in and the DoDMerb people will make a decision. They might ask for further documentation depending on what you put on the survey in dodmets and what the docs write. If you are asked to provide more info, you will get a notification in DoDMerb and then you will have to fill out a form and provide more info or documentation.

I had to fill out a form and provide all the op notes and follow ups for my lasik. It was a huge pain in the ass but I got it done and got qualified.

If you are marked as medically disqualified, you will apply for a waiver through USUHS. Some things are automatically disqualifying but waivers are easy to get. Other things are basically a no go. Just depends on what you have.
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Just got a couple of sports injuries that are asymptomatic, like a disc herniation and a small meniscus tear. I had shoulder surgery a few years ago, but none of these injuries affect me in any way and I’m really anxious about any of these things getting in the way of an acceptance. I also don’t want to get an interview/acceptance and be so happy about it and then get my happiness crushed by not being “medically qualified” lol
 
jakeyb93 said:
Just got a couple of sports injuries that are asymptomatic, like a disc herniation and a small meniscus tear. I had shoulder surgery a few years ago, but none of these injuries affect me in any way and I’m really anxious about any of these things getting in the way of an acceptance. I also don’t want to get an interview/acceptance and be so happy about it and then get my happiness crushed by not being “medically qualified” lol
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I have classmates with slap tears and previous shoulder surgery, knee injuries and surgery, etc. You will likely need a waiver, but as long as you have documentation that you are unaffected and are fit for full duty, you should be fine.
 
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