Usuhs

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rkonmd said:
Can any current/prior USUHS students shed some light on the 'Military Medical Field Studies' done during MS1?

Are we allowed to travel to OCONUS via our branch to get familiar with operations/research? Is Jump School a possible option? If I can combine my vacation and 'MMFS' i'd jump at it. Appreciate the input.
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Yes (at least in the past) and definitely yes to jump school. You have to set it all up yourself for the OCONUS stuff and will pay for it all as well, but it can be done.
 
manucelt said:
xmrs, how many times do you need to be told to calm down before you start listening. There have been several people who have already successfully completed the endeavor you are so excited about trying to help you, and you persistently ignore them. If you show up on interview day and even a hint of the neurotic behavior evident in your posts comes out, you will be putting yourself at a disadvantage. Your passion is commendable, but if you have a lot of time on your hands and that is truly the only reason for your posts that seem to come from out in left field, I'd strongly suggest you redirect your attention elsewhere.
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Ok, now I am starting to feel like Adam Sandler's character in Anger Management😀

Sandler: (in a calm voice) Fly attendent could I please get a pillow.
Flight attendant: Sir you need to calm down.
Sandler: (in a calm, slighly confused voice) But I am calm, I would just like a pillow.
Flight attendant: Sir, if you don't calm down I will have to bring the air marshall.
Sandler: (still calm) I don't understand what the problem is, I just asked for a pillow.
Air Marshall: (In a tough voice) Sir, you need to calm down or you will be removed from the plane.
Sandler: (slightly louder voice) I don't understand what's with you people, I am being perfectly calm.
Air Marshall: (who is African American): You people?
Sandler: Yeah, you know airline people.
Air Marshall: OK SIR YOU NEED TO CALM THE **** DOWN, draws his taser.
Sandler: (now screaming) jesus what the hell is wrong with you people?
Air Marshall tasers sandler and wrestles him to the floor, later it turns out to be an elaborate practical joke.

Look, guys I'll admit that in the past I may have posted some extreme things but in the past week I have been perfectly calm(taking the advice of others on this forum) And as for listening to people who have been through the process, that is why I am asking questions of them, such as:

-What is OBLC like and are you allowed to bring a car?
-When do you get commissioned?
-you said you had an interview with a very difficult Army Psychiatrist, what exactly did he ask you?
-What is the housing situation like?
-Is there a physical during the interview or is that later?

Things like this, the details are good to know ahead of time. Being well prepared for an important event in your life and trying to take care of the minutia ahead of time, so as to minimize stress and any nasty surprises is just something that is ingrained in me and is a trait I share with the military, (one of the reasons I think I would make a good officer and a good doctor, I have a strong attention to detail and a love of planning ahead).

Perhaps it is my fault, after so many bat**** crazy posts many people here believe that every time I post I am being neurotic, BUT I assure you this is not the case.

In the past week, and from now on, I only post constructive questions or comments made when I am not stressed out. In other words, I only post when I am calm. So thanks for all your advice and concern about coming off crazy, but I assure you that I am not, nor do I appear to be, (at least in real life).

Please note, that my previous post may have come across a bit angry, (perhaps that is why the above OP wrote for me to calm down) and for that I apologize. I was mearly trying to defend myself from alogations that I was being arrogant and assuming I would get in, which is not the case.

This will be my last post explaining myself, I just wanted to clear up any misunderstanding that my previous, extreme posts may have caused and assure all of you that, when I ask questions it dosn't represent an unhealthy obsession with USUHS or sign of neuroticism, but rather a curiosity about the most important thing in my life up to this point.

Thank you all, for your patience and understanding.
 
Thought I would branch out from the MCAT thread and start posting here. I just applied to USUHS and just got the supplemental material email almost immediately. I was wondering if it is normal to get the supplemental material prior to getting your MCAT scores back. Also, I am currently on IRR and don't know if I need "permission" to apply. I emailed the "permission lady" but have not received a response. Good luck to everyone trying to go USUHS!
 
Segovia said:
Thought I would branch out from the MCAT thread and start posting here. I just applied to USUHS and just got the supplemental material email almost immediately. I was wondering if it is normal to get the supplemental material prior to getting your MCAT scores back. Also, I am currently on IRR and don't know if I need "permission" to apply. I emailed the "permission lady" but have not received a response. Good luck to everyone trying to go USUHS!
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I believe you still need a LOA to apply. Shouldn't be hard to get though since they aren't using you for anything else right now. (but obviously USUHS is the source to be trusted on this) Edit: looks like I was wrong. See below.

And yes it is quite normal to get the secondary info very quickly after submitting. Fill that out and send it back ASAP.
 
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Segovia said:
Thought I would branch out from the MCAT thread and start posting here. I just applied to USUHS and just got the supplemental material email almost immediately. I was wondering if it is normal to get the supplemental material prior to getting your MCAT scores back. Also, I am currently on IRR and don't know if I need "permission" to apply. I emailed the "permission lady" but have not received a response. Good luck to everyone trying to go USUHS!
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USUHS doesn't pre-screen for secondaries, just have all of your letters of recommendation and other paperwork in by the time you receive your MCAT score and you'll be good to go. Best of luck.
 
Thanks for the heads up guys. I am only lacking my clinical letter, so I need to get on the ball for that. I wish USUHS used the AMCAS letter writing service instead of requiring hard copies. The personal statement is very straightforward, but all the attachments/explanations for enlistment bonuses, awards, etc. is kind of a pain. I'll try to post periodically as I make any breakthroughs for anyone else going through the process. If I matriculate, I will be the ultimate "waiver king", so I am interested to see if the idiom "there is a waiver for everything" holds true!
 
Segovia said:
Thank you so much! I have browsed through that page so many times and never caught that! Much appreciated.
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Make sure you know where to get a LOA if you need one though.

I was in your same situation last year in which the regs said that USUHS did not need a LOA from me.

However, I got a call 6 weeks after my interview saying they couldn't make a decision on my application because they didn't have a LOA on file. Faxed the letter up there and got an acceptance call the next day.

Just a heads up
 
Segovia said:
Thanks for the heads up guys. I am only lacking my clinical letter, so I need to get on the ball for that. I wish USUHS used the AMCAS letter writing service instead of requiring hard copies. The personal statement is very straightforward, but all the attachments/explanations for enlistment bonuses, awards, etc. is kind of a pain. I'll try to post periodically as I make any breakthroughs for anyone else going through the process. If I matriculate, I will be the ultimate "waiver king", so I am interested to see if the idiom "there is a waiver for everything" holds true!
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Your clinical letter can be submitted through the AMCAS letter writing service. I'm almost certain I didn't get any hard copies of LORs. There is a sheet you fill out in the supplemental materials where you identify who the writer is, but you can still submit it electronically. I did.


also, xsmrwhatever

OBLC is
1)hot
2)hot
3)hot
4)powerpoint
5)waiting
6)powerpoint
7)powerpoint
8)waiting

A lot of the material is solid and the majority of the instructors are top-notch there's just a lot of powerpoint presentations and waiting to get accountability for 500 people who, for the majority, have no prior military experience.

Ft. Sam is a big post with plenty of room for parking. You stay in hotel on the post. This year, we have to pay for it (approx. $1900) and then get reimbursed at USUHS, sucks, but thats how it is.

Also, listen to dwb8p
 
🙂

Thank you mslall, your information is well appreciated. Best of luck at USUHS, I hope your military career goes swimmingly.

And dwb8p, I appreciate the friendly advice regarding which of the branches to join, for the longest time I was planning on Navy and even briefly considered AF. But after months of research on SDN, pouring through lots of statsistics regarding available specialties and match data and a whole lot of soul searching, I decided that the Army is the best fit for me. Believe me it came as a shock to me too😀 but then again life is all about self discovery🙂

Thanks again to everyone on these boards who have been so helpful, I literally couldn't have gotten to where I am now without your help.
 
aus627 said:
Make sure you know where to get a LOA if you need one though.

I was in your same situation last year in which the regs said that USUHS did not need a LOA from me.

However, I got a call 6 weeks after my interview saying they couldn't make a decision on my application because they didn't have a LOA on file. Faxed the letter up there and got an acceptance call the next day.

Just a heads up
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Thanks for the info! That sounds like the military. They did send me a sheet for the point of contact for the LOA, but hopefully the fact that I am finished with IRR in March 2010 will help. Are you currently at USUHS?
 
Segovia said:
Thanks for the info! That sounds like the military. They did send me a sheet for the point of contact for the LOA, but hopefully the fact that I am finished with IRR in March 2010 will help. Are you currently at USUHS?
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I start in a couple weeks, so I probably don't know as much as others on the boards. But I try to put my .02 cents in when I think I can help out.
 
xmsr3 said:
Things like this, the details are good to know ahead of time. Being well prepared for an important event in your life and trying to take care of the minutia ahead of time, so as to minimize stress and any nasty surprises is just something that is ingrained in me and is a trait I share with the military, (one of the reasons I think I would make a good officer and a good doctor, I have a strong attention to detail and a love of planning ahead).
Click to expand...

xmsr3,

I agree that being well prepared is a good idea, but if I have learned anything from applying last year up to just finishing OBLC, it is that with the military you can't plan for everything. It is very important to be flexible and just role with the punches. While you might be prepared, it does not mean that the individuals running the show are. At this point in the cycle just try to take it one thing at a time and not get ahead of yourself in planning. I know that is always difficult, but I think you will find the experience much more enjoyable. Hell after getting an acceptance early on in the cycle I still had almost 7 months of just waiting around for things to get rolling. There will be plenty of time ahead to figure out the details. Best of luck applying and enjoy the interview season because it can be fun if you allow it.
 
mcclesm said:
No one carries loaded weapons on base, except security forces, regardless of branch of service. Everyone carried ammo, regardless of service (I'm talking Iraq here). Everyone who leaves base by ground loads their weapon, regardless of service or combatant status.
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I suppose it also depends on how you define loaded. When I was with the Marines and Spec Ops, On-base was condition 3 (mag in the receiver, no round in the chamber) and outside the wire, condition 1 (round in the chamber). I would consider condition 3 loaded, but not hot.

Here in Kuwait it is condition 4 all the time. (no mag in the receiver) We do carry ammo though. Most assuredly unloaded. (and kinda dumb, but that's me.)
 
UTBME86 said:
xmsr3,

I agree that being well prepared is a good idea, but if I have learned anything from applying last year up to just finishing OBLC, it is that with the military you can't plan for everything. It is very important to be flexible and just role with the punches. While you might be prepared, it does not mean that the individuals running the show are. At this point in the cycle just try to take it one thing at a time and not get ahead of yourself in planning. I know that is always difficult, but I think you will find the experience much more enjoyable. Hell after getting an acceptance early on in the cycle I still had almost 7 months of just waiting around for things to get rolling. There will be plenty of time ahead to figure out the details. Best of luck applying and enjoy the interview season because it can be fun if you allow it.
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UTBME86 I hear you and I am starting to learn what exactly the military means by "hurry up and wait". Today scooter2 got an email from USUHS that mentioned that interview invites would start going out in late september. Well, I and just about everyone else had been assuming that interviews would be occuring in mid september, but now it appears as if mid october is the earliest. A lot of us had planned our interview schedules with USUHS scheduled at around Sep 18, as last year's was, but that is out the window now.

Like you say, we have to roll with the punches and take things one day at a time. I guess I should just focus on my physical training and prepping for that marathon.

Thanks for the advice by the way and best of luck in the Army USUHS program.
 
Hi, I'm considering the MD/PhD program at the USUHS.
My quesion is, what exactly does the military have you do with an MD/PhD degree that is different from the MD graduates?
 
xmsr3 said:
UTBME86 I hear you and I am starting to learn what exactly the military means by "hurry up and wait". Today scooter2 got an email from USUHS that mentioned that interview invites would start going out in late september. Well, I and just about everyone else had been assuming that interviews would be occuring in mid september, but now it appears as if mid october is the earliest. A lot of us had planned our interview schedules with USUHS scheduled at around Sep 18, as last year's was, but that is out the window now.

Like you say, we have to roll with the punches and take things one day at a time. I guess I should just focus on my physical training and prepping for that marathon.

Thanks for the advice by the way and best of luck in the Army USUHS program.
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xmsr3,
This is the best advice and the most important...if you are really interested in the military, you have to be ok with not knowing what the next step is sometimes...Things change from year to year and you may not know what you're going to be doing until a week before the fact, and you're going to drive yourself crazy if you have to know everything. Focus on getting an interview first.
 
ferien said:
Hi, I'm considering the MD/PhD program at the USUHS.
My quesion is, what exactly does the military have you do with an MD/PhD degree that is different from the MD graduates?
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What kind of research are you interested in doing?

You can definitely do the basic science stuff at USUHS, which sports a decent-sized faculty, and all sorts of labs. You could also collaborate w/ NIH across the street (maybe even work full-time at a NIH lab, w/ a co-advisor on the USUHS faculty . . . not sure if that's allowed, but that'd be cool). But after you leave USUHS, I don't think you'll be doing much basic science research. Your more likely to go the clinical route, b/c the military is more interested in your skills as a clinician. There are some military basic science labs out there, that you might be able to work at as an active duty doc, but probably not many.

Now, if you're interested in more clinical type research (case studies, following a certain patient demographic for trends in XX), you can probably do that in grad school and beyond. If you do a search in PubMed by institution name (of a major military treatment fac), you'll see there's plenty of papers along these lines. Here, b/c I'm bored sitting in my room and staring at NNMC, I did the search: Link
 
DrMetal,

Thanks for your response.
I am more interested in doing basic biomedical research focusing on cell biology.
I suppose it is unrealistic and too much to ask, to be an active duty officer spending a bulk of his time in the lab.
I'd really like to know what the MD/PhD program graduates have to say about this...
 
Hey everyone. I've been a frequent reader of the military medicine sub-forum over the past year and just wanted to say hi. I just applied to USUHS and should be complete by now or in the near future. I really hope I get an interview despite my low stats (29Q, 3.6Cum).
 
Hi Kleos, best of luck to you on getting that interview. Your stats should be fine, GPA just over average, MCAT just under. By the way what branch are you leaning towards?
 
xmsr3, I was thinking about 1) Navy 2) Army 3) AF . What about you?
 
kleos atanatos said:
Hey everyone. I've been a frequent reader of the military medicine sub-forum over the past year and just wanted to say hi. I just applied to USUHS and should be complete by now or in the near future. I really hope I get an interview despite my low stats (29Q, 3.6Cum).
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Good Luck! I just sent in my supplemental to USUHS, so maybe we will cross paths someday. Your GPA is higher than mine, but I am still awaiting MCAT scores. Keep us posted!
 
Kleos, I am going 1. Army, 2. Navy, 3. AF, 4. PHS

Gators13, I would recommend going to Premedical forums and to the School specific 2008-2009 threads, find USUHS and inquire there about finding a room mate.
 
Segovia said:
Good Luck! I just sent in my supplemental to USUHS, so maybe we will cross paths someday. Your GPA is higher than mine, but I am still awaiting MCAT scores. Keep us posted!
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Don't worry Segovia, the MCAT is considered the great equalizer, (since all schools grade easier or harder than others). Good luck on the test.

3.5 GPA and 30 MCAT is average for USUHS matriculants. So if you have that and apply early you should get an interview.

By the way, what service are you aiming for?
 
xmsr3 said:
Kleos, I am going 1. Army, 2. Navy, 3. AF, 4. PHS

Gators13, I would recommend going to Premedical forums and to the School specific 2008-2009 threads, find USUHS and inquire there about finding a room mate.
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For a second there I thought you were talking about the 2009-2010 thread. (as in people applying now looking for a roommate already. That would have been unbelievably silly)

For the guy looking for a roommate the class of 2013 thread is here: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=567903&page=11 but I don't know how much luck you will have since I think nearly everyone knows where they are living already. (though I did see a guy on the facebook group who didn't have a place yet: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=86673205034&ref=ts) Anyway good luck!
 
gators13 said:
Anyone still need a roommate for this year at USUHS? Or know where I can find one?
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Why does your sig say UF-COM class of 2012? Are you transferring to USUHS? I didn't even think that was possible.
 
xmsr3 said:
Don't worry Segovia, the MCAT is considered the great equalizer, (since all schools grade easier or harder than others). Good luck on the test.

3.5 GPA and 30 MCAT is average for USUHS matriculants. So if you have that and apply early you should get an interview.

By the way, what service are you aiming for?
Click to expand...

I'm prior Navy enlisted, so I am going for Navy by default and familiarity. However, I wouldn't mind going Army due to what seems to be a slight edge in specialty matching. Air Force would be my last choice, but honestly I would take any service if offered the chance.
 
kleos atanatos said:
Hey everyone. I've been a frequent reader of the military medicine sub-forum over the past year and just wanted to say hi. I just applied to USUHS and should be complete by now or in the near future. I really hope I get an interview despite my low stats (29Q, 3.6Cum).
Click to expand...


Hello! I applied last year, and I had a 30O and a 3.6Cum, and I got a pretty early interview. Stats aren't everything! 😉
 
silverhorse84 said:
Hello! I applied last year, and I had a 30O and a 3.6Cum, and I got a pretty early interview. Stats aren't everything! 😉
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How long after submitting the supplemental did it take to get an invite after to USUHS? It looks like you had pretty good luck with some of the Cali schools! I am hoping for the same, but will definitely drop all of them for USUHS.
 
Segovia said:
How long after submitting the supplemental did it take to get an invite after to USUHS? It looks like you had pretty good luck with some of the Cali schools! I am hoping for the same, but will definitely drop all of them for USUHS.
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I got the interview invite Sept 5. I don't remember exactly when I submitted the secondary, but it would have been towards the end of July. Good luck! :luck:
 
I just recieved an interview invite for September 17. So to those that are applying, let it be known that invites are going out and you will soon be getting them.

Note, I recieved my secondary invite on June 29 and my secondary arrived July 1, and the order you will recieve the invite is based on when they got your secondary.

Good luck to all my fellow USUHS applicants😀
 
Hi Everyone,

I am interested in applying to USU for Fall 2011 entrance. I know that they are really big on clinical experience and the clinical LOR. I am currently a clinical research assistant. I was wondering if this counts as clinical experience? I see subjects every day, scan them (MRI), etc. etc. I'm just not sure if this counts since it's in a research setting and not a traditional hospital setting. Thanks for any advice =)
 
FutureBostonDoc said:
Hi Everyone,

I am interested in applying to USU for Fall 2011 entrance. I know that they are really big on clinical experience and the clinical LOR. I am currently a clinical research assistant. I was wondering if this counts as clinical experience? I see subjects every day, scan them (MRI), etc. etc. I'm just not sure if this counts since it's in a research setting and not a traditional hospital setting. Thanks for any advice =)
Click to expand...

From USUHS website:
Clinical experience is crucial. The Committee feels that a person cannot make an informed decision about becoming a doctor if they have not gained any patient experience. Some experiences recommended by the Committee are: shadowing a doctor or nurse, getting certified as an EMT, working with the Red Cross on blood drives and as hospital orderlies, working in a nursing home or with the terminally ill, working in an ER. The experience can be paid or as a volunteer experience. There is no specific length of time required, but you cannot have too much! Also, communication between doctor and patient is as important as the knowledge of how to care for him/her.

If you read into your current job as qualifying for what they are looking for, then you're golden. (If you work with patients and radiologists every day then i think that's a safe bet). If not, then do something else
 
FutureBostonDoc said:
Hi Everyone,

I am interested in applying to USU for Fall 2011 entrance. I know that they are really big on clinical experience and the clinical LOR. I am currently a clinical research assistant. I was wondering if this counts as clinical experience? I see subjects every day, scan them (MRI), etc. etc. I'm just not sure if this counts since it's in a research setting and not a traditional hospital setting. Thanks for any advice =)
Click to expand...

Dude, that's great clinical experience, run with it. Make sure you get a good letter. Doesn't nec have to be from the director of the program, can be from another MD, or a Nurse, or a volunteer coordinator.
 
I submitted my USUHS secondary last week, can't wait to hear back from them! I'm kind of worried though, because I took the 8/06 MCAT so I don't know my scores yet. Arghhh. Am I too late in the cycle? I keep hearing about people who submitted their secondary like last month...
 
ahowardmd said:
I submitted my USUHS secondary last week, can't wait to hear back from them! I'm kind of worried though, because I took the 8/06 MCAT so I don't know my scores yet. Arghhh. Am I too late in the cycle? I keep hearing about people who submitted their secondary like last month...
Click to expand...

b-b-b-ump
 
ahowardmd said:
I submitted my USUHS secondary last week, can't wait to hear back from them! I'm kind of worried though, because I took the 8/06 MCAT so I don't know my scores yet. Arghhh. Am I too late in the cycle? I keep hearing about people who submitted their secondary like last month...
Click to expand...

I doubt its too late...look at the thread this time last year and I am sure it will be discussed.
 
ahowardmd said:
I submitted my USUHS secondary last week, can't wait to hear back from them! I'm kind of worried though, because I took the 8/06 MCAT so I don't know my scores yet. Arghhh. Am I too late in the cycle? I keep hearing about people who submitted their secondary like last month...
Click to expand...


Too late to get an early interview? probably. Too late to get an interview at all? I don't think so. It just depends on how many people there are before you - from what I understand admissions committees look at applications in the order they receive them and hand out interviews until all the interview slots have been taken. I doubt you'd get an interview for October, but interviews run until the spring 😳
 
ahowardmd said:
I submitted my USUHS secondary last week, can't wait to hear back from them! I'm kind of worried though, because I took the 8/06 MCAT so I don't know my scores yet. Arghhh. Am I too late in the cycle? I keep hearing about people who submitted their secondary like last month...
Click to expand...
You *took* the MCAT on the 6th of August? That means you won't get your scores till September right? As long as you do well on the MCAT this definitely isn't too late to get an interview but I think it is likely you will have to do the waitlist dance as I don't see you interviewing till probably December. (as I believe USUHS won't decide to interview you till they see your MCAT) You can of course still get in and lots of people (including myself) have had to go to the waitlist before getting into the class. Good luck!
 
ahowardmd said:
I submitted my USUHS secondary last week, can't wait to hear back from them! I'm kind of worried though, because I took the 8/06 MCAT so I don't know my scores yet. Arghhh. Am I too late in the cycle? I keep hearing about people who submitted their secondary like last month...
Click to expand...

I was in your shoes last year (took the mcat 8/8/08, had scores ~ 9/10, got an interview invite ~9/20, for a mid-Nov interview). By the time they got around to assessing my entire application (Feb), the class was full so I got waitlisted (I think I missed the last spot by a week or two). Was then admitted right after 5/15 (the deadline to commit to a school). So it was kindof a pain having to wait until May, but it all worked out. So no, you're not that far behind. Just make sure you have everything else in (letters, etc), and when you get your MCAT score, call the admissions office and make sure they "acknowledge" that your app is complete, so they can send it off to the admissions committe.
 
Thanks for the input ya'll. Some of that was tough to hear (arghhh I don't wanna get waitlisted) but it puts things into perspective for sure.
 
My supplemental arrived at USUHS admissions today.

1) Air Force
2) Navy
3) Army

I'm concerned my chances of getting into USUHS will be hurt by my preference for Air Force (7 years enlisted ANG medic). We'll see... I read early in this thread that AF was most competitive, but later I'm not seeing much preference for it. Any new thoughts on this?

Thanks to all for posting so much useful info in this thread! I didn't read it ALL, but THANKS! LOL 🙂
 
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