Usuhs

[177584]

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1 more question. After you've sent in the supplemental package for USUHS how long generally does it take for them to process it/make a decision on interviewing? I sent mine in yesterday and was wondering if i'll be waiting until november or december for a response or if i should expect to hear back sometime in the next month

thanks again

I think I completed my app around this time maybe a couple weeks later when I applied. I think I got an e-mail for an interview near the beginning-middle of October for a date in early November. The waiting game is definately tough as I remember. Good luck!

 

[177584]

also, does anyone know of any websites that list military residencies and/or how many slot there are? i've done a bunch of searching but cant seem to come up with anything.

For USAF search here http://www.airforcemedicine.afms.mil. If you google Army or Navy GME you should get some hits. There is basically the same stuff that's out there for civiilians. The difference is that the Air Force doesn't have as many progrmas as the other two. For instance USAF has no rehab med programs and the army accepts only army applicants. If you're looking for something specific it's a good idea to make sure you can trian in it in the military. Just rememeber that you may end up changing your mind several times by the end of med school.

 

[Bubblehead-to-MD]

For USAF search here http://www.airforcemedicine.afms.mil. If you google Army or Navy GME you should get some hits. There is basically the same stuff that's out there for civiilians. The difference is that the Air Force doesn't have as many progrmas as the other two. For instance USAF has no rehab med programs and the army accepts only army applicants. If you're looking for something specific it's a good idea to make sure you can trian in it in the military. Just rememeber that you may end up changing your mind several times by the end of med school.

Solid advice!

 

[mslall]

Bubblehead, thanks for those websites. they were exactly what i was looking for. I wanted to see what type of internships you could do to get into different residencies, mostly what you could go into if you did a transitional year. Twillson and goose, thanks for the advice too. Waiting game time!

 

[Bubblehead-to-MD]

Bubblehead, thanks for those websites. they were exactly what i was looking for. I wanted to see what type of internships you could do to get into different residencies, mostly what you could go into if you did a transitional year. Twillson and goose, thanks for the advice too. Waiting game time!

Glad I could help! FYI - from what I have heard, transitional internships are actually becoming somewhat competitive in the Navy.

 

[backrow]

Glad I could help! FYI - from what I have heard, transitional internships are actually becoming somewhat competitive in the Navy.

Transitional internships can be competetive because you are competing against people wanting to do derm, rads, ophtho, and other difficult residencies filled with people with top board scores. The thing that makes it a little less tough is simply the number of positions available. It varies though, you will hear stories of people wanting transitional and getting internal medicine and others wanting something like ortho and getting transitional.

 

[177584]

Glad to be of help...by the way I didn't even know what the heck a transitional year was before I got to med school. If you're just applying to med school don't sweat your internship just yet🙂. Rock your first two years first then play nice on the wards and it should be gravy. Realizing it's easier said than done being informed can appease the mind.....anyway 👍

 

[TheGoose]

Quick question to the usuhs folks...what do you guys wear to class everyday? BDUs, dress blues/class A's? just curious about some of these details. oh, and does the entire usu class go to ods/oblc/cot together as a class respective of branch?

 

[177584]

Quick question to the usuhs folks...what do you guys wear to class everyday? BDUs, dress blues/class A's? just curious about some of these details. oh, and does the entire usu class go to ods/oblc/cot together as a class respective of branch?

The uniform policy has been BDU's or ABU's/ACU's/Cammies or khakis on everyday except Thursday. On Thursdays we wear Blues/Class B/Khakis, you can wear with ties if you want so for Navy Salt and Peppers w/ tie but you don't have to. Only exceptions are if you are going to have patient contact that day you wear the Thursday uniform. Sometimes in the winter they make it BDU or alternative everyday due to cold weather. Wearing a uniform to class is really no problem, it's easy, most of the time comfortable, and you get used to it fast. In 3rd and 4th year it depends on the uniform policy of the department/hospital you're at. I wear civies in to work and change into scrubs these days.

Respective officer training is branch specific, though you will have several classmates in your COT/OBC/OIS class with you. 👍

 

[lONGrOAD]

Would this work to satisfy the O Chem requirement for prerequisites at USUHS?
http://ecampus.oregonstate.edu/online-degrees/undergraduate/online-organic-chemistry/

 

[backrow]

The uniform policy has been BDU's or ABU's/ACU's/Cammies or khakis on everyday except Thursday. On Thursdays we wear Blues/Class B/Khakis, you can wear with ties if you want so for Navy Salt and Peppers w/ tie but you don't have to. Only exceptions are if you are going to have patient contact that day you wear the Thursday uniform. Sometimes in the winter they make it BDU or alternative everyday due to cold weather. Wearing a uniform to class is really no problem, it's easy, most of the time comfortable, and you get used to it fast. In 3rd and 4th year it depends on the uniform policy of the department/hospital you're at. I wear civies in to work and change into scrubs these days.

Respective officer training is branch specific, though you will have several classmates in your COT/OBC/OIS class with you. 👍

Interesting change to policy over the past couple years. Used to be Khaki's/Greens/Blues on M/Tue/W and then BDU/ACU on Th/Fr. Eventually got to the point where everyone in the Navy simply wore Khaki's everyday.

 

[177584]

Would this work to satisfy the O Chem requirement for prerequisites at USUHS?
http://ecampus.oregonstate.edu/online-degrees/undergraduate/online-organic-chemistry/

Best to call the school as opposed to asking on this forum. We are students not the admissions office.

That said, it depends on if they require a lab with each course or not. The sequence at the link appears to be 2 classes given online (which is no problem) followed by one lab. If the admission office sees their standard as a lab with each class, then no it would not meet the standard. However, I don't know that it says that. CALL ADMISSIONS!! Then you should also post the answer on here so that other students who have a similar situation can benefit.

 

[177584]

Interesting change to policy over the past couple years. Used to be Khaki's/Greens/Blues on M/Tue/W and then BDU/ACU on Th/Fr. Eventually got to the point where everyone in the Navy simply wore Khaki's everyday.

A lot of the Navy priors just wear khakis all the time. I really don't like the Air Force blues so I wear ABUs/BDUs at every chance.

 

[TheGoose]

A lot of the Navy priors just wear khakis all the time. I really don't like the Air Force blues so I wear ABUs/BDUs at every chance.

thanks for the answer, twillson. i pretty much just wanted to know if there was a time to rock the BDUs vs. just khaki's all the time.

 

[liverfingers]

Oh man I just sent in my secondary... what am I getting myself into!?!??!! 😀

 

[liverfingers]

How uptight are these military types?

I just realized that in the picture I sent (printed out at Walgreens) on my secondary, my tie is crooked

 

[TheGoose]

they cant judge you on appearances. schools request pictures to match a face to an app when they interview you and then when they review your file

 

[backrow]

they cant judge you on appearances.

I would sure bet that they judge on appearances. They are not allowed to say they do, but appearances will affect each individuals vote on your application. I doubt a slightly crooked tie would make any impact on anyone. Probably wouldn't even notice.

 

[TheGoose]

thats what i meant....as in legally they cant so a crooked tie wont matter....but i agree if you send a pic with a pink mohawk and tattoos on your scalp it wouldnt make the best impression on the adcom

 

[crazybrancato]

Hi, not sure if anyone here can address this question, but I'll try anyway . . .

So I'm applying to USUHS for the Fall 2009 Admission. My AMCAS was sent in very early (first week of June), followed by my secondary (first week of July). They'll receive my letters sometime in August, and my MCAT scores in the first week of Sept. So my entire application package will be complete as of the first week of Sept.

My question: when am I likely to be interviewed? (assuming of course they invite me for an interview). I'm just a little concerned about this b/c I might be deployed sometime this Fall and/or Winter.

Also, I know the admissions process is a rolling one. What determines my place in the que? Is it the date that they received my primary application, or secondary . . . or when the application package is complete (including MCAT scores)???

Thanks!

 

[Gastrapathy]

My question: when am I likely to be interviewed? (assuming of course they invite me for an interview). I'm just a little concerned about this b/c I might be deployed sometime this Fall and/or Winter.


Thanks!

Call the admissions office after your application is complete and tell them that.

 

[TheGoose]

What determines my place in the que? Is it the date that they received my primary application, or secondary . . . or when the application package is complete (including MCAT scores)???

Thanks!

you get your place in line when your application packet is complete. from your timeline given, you would need to wait till MCAT scores arrive, and then they usually take between 4-6 weeks from there to determine if they want to offer an interview or not.

 

[crazybrancato]

Great, thanks for the input above.

Another question: I've heard a rumour that almost everyone on the waitlist (for admission to USUHS) is eventually offered a spot. Can anyone shed light on this rumour, true/false???

Sort of along these lines . . . I've heard some mention that USUHS has trouble filling all of its spots, and that's why everyone (or nearly everyone) on the waitlist eventually gets in. At first, that such a great program has difficulty filling its seats sounds crazy to me! But on second thought, the significant military payback may be the driving deterent. Any thoughts???

 

[Bubblehead-to-MD]

Great, thanks for the input above.

Another question: I've heard a rumour that almost everyone on the waitlist (for admission to USUHS) is eventually offered a spot. Can anyone shed light on this rumour, true/false???

Sort of along these lines . . . I've heard some mention that USUHS has trouble filling all of its spots, and that's why everyone (or nearly everyone) on the waitlist eventually gets in. At first, that such a great program has difficulty filling its seats sounds crazy to me! But on second thought, the significant military payback may be the driving deterent. Any thoughts???

While it is true that there are usually quite a few individuals admitted from the waitlist, I do not think they come close to getting everyone off of it. Sadly, USUHS is a backup plan for many individuals. So, when these individuals are accepted by another school of interest (that does not have the 7 year payback), they end up withdrawing from USUHS. However, there are still many more applicants to USUHS than there are available class seats.

If I remember correctly, a Navy spot opened up just before classes started last year, but they were still able to fill it from the waitlist.

 

[NoMoreAMCAS]

I know you can give them your preference for which service you would to be in, but they make the final decision. When do you find out which branch they are going to place you in? Is it before or after you are completely locked into a contract?

And have and of you USUHS students that were prior military been successful at choosing a different service to serve in as a doctor?

 

[TheGoose]

you choose the branch of service you want when you go to interview. they offer you a spot based on the availability of that service. if you chose navy and navy is full but army has 25 spots open....you dont get a spot. if you get waitlisted, they may offer you a spot in a different branch (army in my example) and ask if you want to switch. So, in that regard, you find out which branch they are going to put you in when you make your selection on interview day.

 

[177584]

I know you can give them your preference for which service you would to be in, but they make the final decision. When do you find out which branch they are going to place you in? Is it before or after you are completely locked into a contract?

And have and of you USUHS students that were prior military been successful at choosing a different service to serve in as a doctor?

Addressing a few issues. First about waitlist being used up with trouble filling spots....This depends on the year. Some years are more competative than others with less people coming off the waitlist but as far as I know classes have always been filled.

I am prior Army enlisted and switched to the Air Force when I got to USUHS. That said if you are not free and clear of your committment to the service you were serving in I don't know how that would work. I had ETS'd and served my IRR before I was accepted at USUHS, so I was a civilian.

About USUHS making the final choice...ultimately yes they do. However it is highly unlikely that they would offer you a spot that they saw on your sheet listed as "would not accept a position if offered in this service." Kind of a no brainer. However, if you ranked all three equally you would likely be selected for the class that had the most spots open. At interview day you rank you choices on a sheet. I think there are maybe 4 option for each service. I ranked PHS as would not accept Air Force as my top choice and Army and Navy as would accept but not my top choice. They offered me Air Force.

You find out when you get your acceptance letter what branch you have been offered acceptance in so you can even call and ask to be switched if you want. A classmate of mine switched from the USAF (which is what he originally selected at interview day)to Army before he came to school. This all happens well before you sign the contract.

 

[crazybrancato]

If I remember correctly, a Navy spot opened up just before classes started last year, but they were still able to fill it from the waitlist.

Thanks for the input Bubblehead. I've heard that things can go down to the wire, with USUHS (like other med schools) even offering admission the day before classes start!

But in the case of USUHS, is this possible??? Doesn't commissioning paperwork have to be generated for the member? orders cut? the member has to PCS, possibly from the other side of the country, possibly with family . . . So how does one book it over to MD if offered admission really close to the start date of the class???

 

[TheGoose]

^^ not to mention OBC/ODS/COT

 

[dtn3t]

Thanks for the input Bubblehead. I've heard that things can go down to the wire, with USUHS (like other med schools) even offering admission the day before classes start!

But in the case of USUHS, is this possible??? Doesn't commissioning paperwork have to be generated for the member? orders cut? the member has to PCS, possibly from the other side of the country, possibly with family . . . So how does one book it over to MD if offered admission really close to the start date of the class???

You just go. A friend of mine found out she got in 2 weeks before classes started. She was enlisted at the time so her unit commissioned her the day after she found out and she was on a plane from Hawaii to DC within a few days. Husband and child stayed for a few weeks until the logistics of PCS'ing the AD husband and moving the household goods were arranged.

 

[177584]

You just go.

Ditto!! There are no questions you get really excited jump up and down and then move yer butt to Maryland! It may be a little stressful to get everything taken care of in a short period of time but it'll happen. The paperwork is easy, they don't make you go to OBC/COT/OIS until later on, and the move has to be worked out.

 

[Aiicha]

I'm looking for some input from anyone who has some experience with USUHS. I'm working on my secondary, but I'm wondering is it really a good idea if I only want to work in the Public Health Service? Anyone know what the deal with Residency and beyond is like for those who enter into the PHS through USUHS? Thanks for any input.

 

[177584]

I'm looking for some input from anyone who has some experience with USUHS. I'm working on my secondary, but I'm wondering is it really a good idea if I only want to work in the Public Health Service? Anyone know what the deal with Residency and beyond is like for those who enter into the PHS through USUHS? Thanks for any input.

you apply to the military and civilian match I believe. A fourth year I talked to wanted a civilian residency and said he was likely to get it. PHS does not have the same restrictions as everyone else. I think my class has 6 or 7 PHS students (out of 178? I think)

You can call the school and speak with the PHS company commender she would be more than happy to explain to you anything you want to know. Phone numbers are on the USUHS website under company commanders I think it's under the "military" tab. Also at interview day you can get info on that type of stuff.

 

[rkaz]

Does joining the PHS through USUHS require a person to commit to primary care? I think some specialties of medicine, like endocrinology, cardiology etc are quite relevant to our countries public health crisises.....

 

[177584]

Does joining the PHS through USUHS require a person to commit to primary care? I think some specialties of medicine, like endocrinology, cardiology etc are quite relevant to our countries public health crisises.....

So these are all good questions...truth is so few of the USUHS class are PHS (like 6 or so per class) that I dunno if any of them are on these forums. I really suggest that you guys take the initiative and call the PHS company commander. She is super nice and very receptive to students and prospective students. You can get answers and then post them here so others like you can share from your work. It would literally take you 5 minutes to call. So here's her contact info......

CAPT Mary Porvaznik MD
USUHS, C1019
4301 Jones Bridge Road
Bethesda, MD 20814-4799
(301) 295-3722
e-mail: [email protected]

I believe she is a family medicine doc herself but you should really ask her these questions, after all she is at USUHS to answer them.👍

 

[crazybrancato]

Hey gang,

I read elsewhere on this forum that prior service students at USUHS are now allowed to retain their last rank and years of service, for the purposes of Basic Pay only (not BAH). Is this true???? (I'm wondering b/c I don't see anything official about it on the USUHS site. The course catalog states that everyone still gets 0-1 pay, maybe it just hasn't been updated).

 

[backrow]

Hey gang,

I read elsewhere on this forum that prior service students at USUHS are now allowed to retain their last rank and years of service, for the purposes of Basic Pay only (not BAH). Is this true???? (I'm wondering b/c I don't see anything official about it on the USUHS site. The course catalog states that everyone still gets 0-1 pay, maybe it just hasn't been updated).

This was in the latest National Defense Authorization (I think this is the right bill) bill that was passed through congress. Maybe one of the current USUHS students can let us know if the prior service people there have started getting their old pay yet.

 

[177584]

This was in the latest National Defense Authorization (I think this is the right bill) bill that was passed through congress. Maybe one of the current USUHS students can let us know if the prior service people there have started getting their old pay yet.

to my knowledge there are several in my class that are good to go with the pay stuff. I know for sure there is at least one prior O-3 who occaisionally pops in here so he might put in his two cents. They put in all their paperwork in April I think. Just make sure you have all the required paperwork and the company commander & personnel will get you squared away.

 

[MoosePilot]

to my knowledge there are several in my class that are good to go with the pay stuff. I know for sure there is at least one prior O-3 who occaisionally pops in here so he might put in his two cents. They put in all their paperwork in April I think. Just make sure you have all the required paperwork and the company commander & personnel will get you squared away.

Air Force students are. Some services hadn't caught up last time I talked to some of my frustrated classmates.

As for the website, learn now that it's crap. They update it slowly and incompletely. The "catalog" contains information that they don't adhere to. It gives an idea of what the school is like, but not the reality.

 

[crazybrancato]

Air Force students are. Some services hadn't caught up last time I talked to some of my frustrated classmates.

How can there be such a disjunction between the services? Doesn't everyone go through the same disbursing (PSD at Bethesda Medical) for their pay, or does USUHS have their own disbursing department?

Anyways . . . .so let me get this straight. Assuming I get in and start in the Fall of 2009, just before I start, I'll be an 0-3 w/8 years of service. So my pay will be (using the current pay tables, and multiplying my base by 75% per taxes): .75*$5002.20 + $1878 (0-1 BAH w/dependents for Bethesda) + $202.76(BAS) = $5832.41 /month , or about $70K/year (after taxes) , or about the equivalent of a $93K civilian salary!

This is much better than any civilian job I could get in this economy!

This sounds way too good to be true. USUHS was already a good deal to begin with, this makes it even better. Would love to get some confirmation from a current prior service student at USUHS . . . .

 

[deegs]

I'm a prior 0-3 w/ 6 years, currently in the army class of 2009, and as of July 31, we got our back pay from Jan 28th. Whether that will continue on a more routine basis remains to be seen.....

 

[MoosePilot]

How can there be such a disjunction between the services? Doesn't everyone go through the same disbursing (PSD at Bethesda Medical) for their pay, or does USUHS have their own disbursing department?

Anyways . . . .so let me get this straight. Assuming I get in and start in the Fall of 2009, just before I start, I'll be an 0-3 w/8 years of service. So my pay will be (using the current pay tables, and multiplying my base by 75% per taxes): .75*$5002.20 + $1878 (0-1 BAH w/dependents for Bethesda) + $202.76(BAS) = $5832.41 /month , or about $70K/year (after taxes) , or about the equivalent of a $93K civilian salary!

This is much better than any civilian job I could get in this economy!

This sounds way too good to be true. USUHS was already a good deal to begin with, this makes it even better. Would love to get some confirmation from a current prior service student at USUHS . . . .

When I posted, I was providing confirmation from a current prior service student at USUHS. It is true. I personally am receiving the money, so you're getting it from the horse's mouth.

USAF students get paid through the military pay office at Andrews AFB. Others get paid through their own sources. USUHS is a cobbled together bastardized Frankenstein.

 

[crazybrancato]

USUHS is a cobbled together bastardized Frankenstein.

I'm just curious . . . you seem to be a little bitter about USUHS. Is this all in jest, or do are you seriously peeved? Care to elaborate here in a constructive way?

 

[backrow]

I'm just curious . . . you seem to be a little bitter about USUHS. Is this all in jest, or do are you seriously peeved? Care to elaborate here in a constructive way?

I believe he is talking about the way the three services interact at a higher level at USUHS. Every service has their own pay/personnel type people and things work at a different speed for each service.

 

[177584]

I believe he is talking about the way the three services interact at a higher level at USUHS. Every service has their own pay/personnel type people and things work at a different speed for each service.

agreed...USUHS is not technically a duty station so even though we are assigned there in theory all things pass through some other duty station which is different for each service. For the USAF it's Andrews AFB. It's a bit silly but does cut down on the amount of personnel they need at the school.

 

[lONGrOAD]

Best to call the school as opposed to asking on this forum. We are students not the admissions office.

CALL ADMISSIONS!! Then you should also post the answer on here so that other students who have a similar situation can benefit.

Admissions says it is a no go. No online classes for pre-requisites period. Even with F2F labs.

 

[MoosePilot]

I'm just curious . . . you seem to be a little bitter about USUHS. Is this all in jest, or do are you seriously peeved? Care to elaborate here in a constructive way?

I meant just what I said.

USUHS is multiple things put together. It's not seamless. It's an Army detachment, a Navy detachment, an Air Force detachment, with one Marine. These detachments are all there to support a med school, which is completely separate. Yet they don't acknowledge their support role and they continually try to assert themselves inappropriately. It's an awkward construction, trust me. To get a new military ID, I have to drive 30 mins to 1 hour.

The admissions office is very separate from the office of student affairs to the point where it seems like they don't really share information. Both are good at what they do, but there's not as much cross-talk as I would expect.

If there are problems, these conflicts between the different parts can make a real difference in your life. For instance, interservice transfers are a nightmare.

Be sure to read the posts on this website. When you get mixed up with the military, the military owns you and they don't hesitate in treating you like they do. Just like you'd wear a pair of shoes through the mud without a second thought, the military will use you however they see fit. If you don't like the idea, you only have input when you're deciding to get in and when your commitment is up.

Not bitter, just realistic. I'm satisfied with the school. It's giving me what I need, as a school. It's just that you can't understand how many separate parts there are from the outside and without enough experience with similar organizations that are more integrated.

 

[leopardgirle]

Hello all, I am AD AF, non medical and I just found out about USU, I am planning on applying next year for the Clinical Psych program. I have been getting a lot of info on the school here, even though its "real medicine", and I'm going for psych. Is any one on here familar with the psych program?

I am trying to get as much info about everything so I can be super prepared next year. I need to get accepted to start in 2010 because I am mil-to-mil, and we are trying to do everything we can do to stay together.... We are overseas right now, so if we can line everything up right, I'll get accepted to USU and he'll get orders to Andrews or Bolling (we'll have to do something to get that worked out!)

Anyways, just wanted to make some contacts to better prepare myself, so hi everyone!

 

[Coastie2Doc]

Received the invitation to interview on Sep 18. Very excited.

Anyone have any input on the interview?

Is it a true interview format (question\answer) or more like a conversation?

What is usually covered in the interview?

Should I expect questions with complex answers (What does honor mean to you?, define leadership, ect.)

Thanks for any input you may have.

 

[MoosePilot]

Received the invitation to interview on Sep 18. Very excited.

Anyone have any input on the interview?

Is it a true interview format (question\answer) or more like a conversation?

What is usually covered in the interview?

Should I expect questions with complex answers (What does honor mean to you?, define leadership, ect.)

Thanks for any input you may have.

A cross between those... perhaps a conversation with many questions and answers

Check out the feedback here: http://more.studentdoctor.net/interviewlist.php?school=89

Be able to answer the following intelligently:
1. Why are you interested in medicine?
2. Why are you interested in the military and military medicine?
3. Why USUHS?