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Hi all.
Around this time of year, there is usually folks wandering into the mil med forum wondering about USUHS. Is it really a challenging school? What do the stats say about this school? How does it compare to other schools?
USUHS is every bit a 'regular' medical school as it is a military institution. Do we have to walk around in uniforms? Yes. Do we have to show our ID to get to campus? Yes. Do we still get our asses kicked on exams? Yes.
Anyone applying this year or in years to come, please do not get the mistaken impression that somehow USUHS is any less work than any other school or that the stats reflect any lesser caliber of student attending. The GPA and MCAT average scores for USUHS are actually higher than the national average, but the impression that USU is somehow 'less competitive' comes with comparing the school with the US News rankings. USU doesn't participate in those rankings for a reason. The things that those rankings measure aren't necessarily the strengths of the school and they aren't necessarily the things that become important when deciding to receive your medical education.
I will tell you firsthand that whereas one can 'skate' by in many undergraduate institutions and substitute intellect for hard work, this is most assuredly not the case in medical school. In order to be an average medical student, you MUST ramp up your studying--there are no truly 'dumb' people in medical school. The guy sitting next to you that just kicked your ass on the exam may have had a lower undergrad GPA than you, but he's married, goes home to some beautiful children, spent years as a pilot or a SWO or doing Special Ops, and is every bit as smart as the guy or gal sitting next to him. The point here is simply that everyone there is smart enough to be there--its how hard you're willing to work while you're there that will determine how well you will do.
Around this time of year, there is usually folks wandering into the mil med forum wondering about USUHS. Is it really a challenging school? What do the stats say about this school? How does it compare to other schools?
USUHS is every bit a 'regular' medical school as it is a military institution. Do we have to walk around in uniforms? Yes. Do we have to show our ID to get to campus? Yes. Do we still get our asses kicked on exams? Yes.
Anyone applying this year or in years to come, please do not get the mistaken impression that somehow USUHS is any less work than any other school or that the stats reflect any lesser caliber of student attending. The GPA and MCAT average scores for USUHS are actually higher than the national average, but the impression that USU is somehow 'less competitive' comes with comparing the school with the US News rankings. USU doesn't participate in those rankings for a reason. The things that those rankings measure aren't necessarily the strengths of the school and they aren't necessarily the things that become important when deciding to receive your medical education.
I will tell you firsthand that whereas one can 'skate' by in many undergraduate institutions and substitute intellect for hard work, this is most assuredly not the case in medical school. In order to be an average medical student, you MUST ramp up your studying--there are no truly 'dumb' people in medical school. The guy sitting next to you that just kicked your ass on the exam may have had a lower undergrad GPA than you, but he's married, goes home to some beautiful children, spent years as a pilot or a SWO or doing Special Ops, and is every bit as smart as the guy or gal sitting next to him. The point here is simply that everyone there is smart enough to be there--its how hard you're willing to work while you're there that will determine how well you will do.
