USUHS Prior service

[SpinDrift]

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I'm applying to USUHS this cycle and I would like to know how much weight a prior enlistment holds.
5 years active duty Army
9 months Afghanistan and 15 months Iraq
Purple heart
Sniper school
I was also a federal agent for 6 years transporting nuclear weapons

cgpa 3.58 sgpa 3.39 mcat 508

I realize it can't hurt but the question is how much will it help.

Thank you

 

[Froggy25]

I think it helps. USUHS says that all candidates come in equal, which I think is true. However, USUHS is looking for a certain kind of physician leader, and those with bona fide, proven performance in their unique military environment have already proven that they have the additional attributes that USUHS seeks. In that way, I think prior service definitely helps, assuming you have the stats (which it looks like you do).

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

It helps for sure. You still need the grades, MCAT score, and clinical experience.

 

[Mt Kilimanjaro]

Definitely helps; gives you a more informed “why military medicine” answer than a non-veteran. Numbers look solid for USU. If you have some clinical experience you should have a great shot.

They’re very strict rolling admissions, so getting primary in early and turning over secondary very quickly will increase your odds of an early interview/acceptance.

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

Definitely helps; gives you a more informed “why military medicine” answer than a non-veteran. Numbers look solid for USU. If you have some clinical experience you should have a great shot.

They’re very strict rolling admissions, so getting primary in early and turning over secondary very quickly will increase your odds of an early interview/acceptance.

Agreed. His sGPA is below the 25th %ile, but while his cGPA and MCAT are below the median, they're within the interquartile. As long as his clinical experience is solid, he has a great shot I think.

 

[SpinDrift]

Thanks for the replies and I will most certainly get my app in as soon as possible. I've got the clinical experience but I'm lacking research. I've read research isn't really a focus of USUHS and therefore shouldn't really count against me. Is there any truth to this?

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

Thanks for the replies and I will most certainly get my app in as soon as possible. I've got the clinical experience but I'm lacking research. I've read research isn't really a focus of USUHS and therefore shouldn't really count against me. Is there any truth to this?

The value of research is overstated for almost every medical school. Outside of the top schools that are research heavy, med schools rank research experience as only a medium or low importance in evaluating applicants. You absolutely do not need research to get into medical school and definitely not to get into USUHS. It definitely doesn't hurt, and it's always a good idea to get research experience at some point since physicians are essentially applied scientists, and research is mandatory at USUHS and in many residencies.

You need a solid MCAT, good GPA, evidence of a commitment to public/military service, and clinical experience. You have all that. Maybe we'll have the same interview day!

 

[nosoddy]

The value of research is overstated for almost every medical school. Outside of the top schools that are research heavy, med schools rank research experience as only a medium or low importance in evaluating applicants. You absolutely do not need research to get into medical school and definitely not to get into USUHS. It definitely doesn't hurt, and it's always a good idea to get research experience at some point since physicians are essentially applied scientists, and research is mandatory at USUHS and in many residencies.

You need a solid MCAT, good GPA, evidence of a commitment to public/military service, and clinical experience. You have all that. Maybe we'll have the same interview day!

Seconded on research. I’m currently scheduled to head to ODS and matriculate in August at USUHS and have zero bench research.

I’m prior service as well; you’ll be just fine. It’s not a shoo-in, but prior service helps the interviews, especially when they ask deployment-willingness questions. It’s still a medical school, so treat it as a mix of promotion / meritorious board and traditional medical school interview and you’ll make an impression.

 

[SpinDrift]

The value of research is overstated for almost every medical school. Outside of the top schools that are research heavy, med schools rank research experience as only a medium or low importance in evaluating applicants. You absolutely do not need research to get into medical school and definitely not to get into USUHS. It definitely doesn't hurt, and it's always a good idea to get research experience at some point since physicians are essentially applied scientists, and research is mandatory at USUHS and in many residencies.

You need a solid MCAT, good GPA, evidence of a commitment to public/military service, and clinical experience. You have all that. Maybe we'll have the same interview day!

Good to know, Hopefully we run into each other.