Anyone former military?

[Bubblehead-to-MD]

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I posted this thread in other forums, but received no response. For those of you that applied to medical school FROM the military (not necessarily to HPSP or USUHS), can you please provide any advice on this topic?

Has anybody that is prior military submitted copies of Fitness Reports / Performance Evaluations instead of a LOR?

I am considering asking this question of the schools I am applying to, since I may not be able to get a LOR from my former commanding officer (who is currently deployed). I know these don't address my potential for success as a MD directly, but they are at least real-time evaluations of my performance in relevant areas (leadership, academic skill, composure under stressful conditions, etc.).

Anyone have any experience with this? Thanks!

 

[chaser08]

I was an officer, so I did submit my Officer Evaluation Reports (OERs), but I also got recommendations from my commanding officer. If your CO is deployed, there's got to be somebody who is acting in his/her place stateside that can write your recommendations. Alternatively, get someone who is of similar rank (or higher) who knows you well to write a recommendation.


I'm assuming you're still getting recommendations from your professors, so everything else is just a bonus and can only improve your chances. If you don't have professor recommendations, those eval reports aren't going to be enough.
HTH.

 

[Bubblehead-to-MD]

I was an officer, so I did submit my Officer Evaluation Reports (OERs), but I also got recommendations from my commanding officer. If your CO is deployed, there's got to be somebody who is acting in his/her place stateside that can write your recommendations. Alternatively, get someone who is of similar rank (or higher) who knows you well to write a recommendation.


I'm assuming you're still getting recommendations from your professors, so everything else is just a bonus and can only improve your chances. If you don't have professor recommendations, those eval reports aren't going to be enough.
HTH.

Thanks for the input! I am, in fact, getting two science LORs (one of them was also my advisor), and one humanities LOR from the Naval Academy. I want to add the others, b/c while these three profs do remember me well, I'm not sure how much weight they will carry with the ADCOM, since it has been six years since my graduation.

Thanks again for responding!

 

[BeatArmy]

Thanks for the input! I am, in fact, getting two science LORs (one of them was also my advisor), and one humanities LOR from the Naval Academy. I want to add the others, b/c while these three profs do remember me well, I'm not sure how much weight they will carry with the ADCOM, since it has been six years since my graduation.

Thanks again for responding!

It didn't even occur to me to submit Evals. An interesting idea, but I really think letters are a much better way to go. I doubt ADCOMs would really even know what to make of an Eval/Fitrep/whatever. I would really try to pursue other letter writers from anywhere in your current/former chain of command. The people who read the letters won't likely know a CO from a DH. Just make sure it is someone who knows you well so the letter won't be too generic.

Getting Prof letters from USNA is a good idea, and I wouldn't worry about them having taught you 6 years ago. If anything, it is impressive that they would remember you fondly after that amount of time. While you are at it, if you haven't already, I would contact the Premed advisor there. It was Chris Kinter in the Chem department when I applied a couple years ago. He can compile your letters and add a cover letter to serve as the "Premed Committee" letter that a lot of schools like to see. Using him as a letter clearing house makes it easier to coordinate with your other letter writers. They just send one copy to him and he compiles and sends them off to different schools. He is very friendly, professional, and happy to do it for you. He can also add in descriptive info about non-classroom activities. As I recall, you were a striper-d***, so he can include that in the letter.

In the end, I wouldn't lose any sleep over LOR stuff. Yes, they are an enormous pain in the butt. In the end, though, as long as you meet the school's minimum LOR Requirements and none of them are outright "bad." It is really questionable how much weight they carry in the process.

 

[Bubblehead-to-MD]

He can also add in descriptive info about non-classroom activities. As I recall, you were a striper-d***, so he can include that in the letter.

Nice!

You know, one of the profs that is writing a letter for me (who works in the Chemistry Department) suggested I contact Chris Kinter. I was just going to use Interfolio, but if he has no problem collecting letters, and distributing them to the schools, this may be a better option. As you said, ADCOMs like to see a pre-medical committee endorsement, if possible.

Thanks for the tips. I do appreciate them!

 

[chaser08]

You'd be surprised what the admissions committee knows. For example, I was on the admission's committee at my school (there are several students that are part of the committee), and not only was I prior service but there were several others (MDs, PhDs) who'd served. So if you submit those evals, make sure they're good evals 🙂 .
OTH, even if they don't understand the evals, they are likely to be impressed just because you've demonstrated a willingness to sacrifice, responsibility, duty, etc. as evidenced by the bullet comments/narratives.
Go Army. Beat Navy. 😀

 

[Army_Doc]

I included my OER and a LOR from a LTC. Although it does help to have a LOR from somewho who works in a healthcare field. I was lucky to get mine from a MedService Corps officer who worked with me for 2 years, even though i was in an field unrelated to medicine. However, if you have it, send it, regardless of who wrote it. Its not going to hurt you, unless it terrible, and will set you apart from the rest.

As Chaser said, I wouldn't worry about ADCOMs not knowing what a military OER is. Most ADCOMs are made up of older doctors, some of them will probably have served in the military when the draft was around (most as docs during vietnam). Odds say theres a very good chance someone there knows what one is.

 

[Church]

I'm prior enlisted Navy. I didn't include my evals, but I did include the commendation write-ups from medals, and a COMSUBLANT letter. Left out the C.O. USS Albuquerque commendation from being a food service attendant on deployment back in 94 🙂

Funny thing was, in the interviews, they asked me a lot about my Navy time and submarines vice actual "med-school interview" type questions. Fine by me, I can tell sea stories for an hour to get in 🙂

(Got in, btw)

 

[MasterShake]

I was a former Army Medical Service Corp officer and decided not to use any evals or LORs from the officers I knew. I figured they really wanted those letters from science profs. I did open my AMCAS personal statement with one of my military experiences, so my service was well known when I actually interviewed. Everyone I interviewed with wanted to know more about what I did in the Army, and it's always nice to have something to talk about that sets you apart from the rest of the pack. I also think everyone I interviewed with had a copy of my PS, but only a few actually had my letters of rec., Good Luck.

 

[wwdjd?]

I was a Naval Academy graduate from eight years ago and got accepted to several schools. For what it's worth, I got a letter of recommendation from my CO, but did not include any awards, fitreps, or anything like that. I think the adcoms would have been perpexed to see a lot of strange abreviations and terms that they don't know how to put in perspective. On the other hand, I don't think it would have hurt anything to do so.

I would recommend wearing your uniform to interviews however; I did to all my interviews and I think it helped me quite a bit. Half of this game is finding a way to stand out from the crowd.

 

[LO281OK]

I served in the Navy, but did not include any paperwork or recommendations from anyone. After my three academic recs I got a character reference from a camp director I worked for. Your first rxn may be to go for the CO, but don't overlook anyone who could give that character reference... and XO, Red Cross Supervisor, old boss, etc. The Camp Director was an easy choice for me b/c he loves to write and does so well. Best of luck. Make sure to show pride in your service and have clear replies and examples as to why that service makes you the most mature, dedicated, responsible, team-player they will see this year...

BTW MUSC might be kind of tough without ties to SC, although you can definitely get an int. and acceptance. After looking at a lot of schools, narrowing it down to 8, and going to some interviews I really liked Wake Forest. They responded to the Navy service as something that put me ahead of more academically selective applicants... Take a look at them if you want...

Again, best wishes.

 

[Bubblehead-to-MD]

Many thanks again to all of the responses! It is great to hear from other that have served in the military, and have made this transition. I was actually wondering about whether or not to wear the uniform to the interviews...sounds like it is a good idea from some of the responses I have received.

 

[qqq]

you might call the admissions office before hand about uniform wearing. e.g. I wore mine to Georgetown interview but not Boston U.

 

[Termwean]

I included a letter from a ex-SF medic now PA that I was deployed to Afghanistan with. He wrote some great **** about my leadership skills (was a sgt in army national guard) and mission stuff. I also did 7 active with the navy as corpsmen ( desert shield storm w/ marines, bosnia w/ surgical team). I feel that having military experiences, especially medicine-related helped me get in to school.

 

[Bubblehead-to-MD]

It's great to hear from all of you that have had military experience...keep 'em coming! I'm always open to and appreciate more suggestions!