Usuhs

[studybug]

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Any Idea how long it's taking USUHS to get back to applicants after interview? I interviewed there January 19 and have been qualified by DODMERB but still have not heard from them. Meanwhile I recently got the HPSP scholarship from the Army and not sure how accepting a commissioning with the Army can hinder my chances of attending USUHS should I receive the academic acceptance. Anyone with knowledge of this please let me know. Thanks

 

[gottalovemilk]

i interviewed this past week and they told us it could take 9 weeks to get back to us on a decision.


as for your other question, i have no clue. hopefully someone else would answer the thread.

 

[studybug]

i interviewed this past week and they told us it could take 9 weeks to get back to us on a decision.


as for your other question, i have no clue. hopefully someone else would answer the thread.

Thanks gottalovemilk. I appreciate the response. I was told 9 weeks too when I interviewed but I have heard from people it can sometimes be 3 weeks b4 a decision is reached on some. I got a call from an MS I this morning saying she got 3 names including mine from admissions. She was asked to contact us to see if we have any questions about the school. This kind of throw me off as I'm really confused. Normally most schools do this preinterview. The MS I told me the first student she contacted b4 me has already been accepted. I hope they have reached a decision on mine too. I will call them Tuesday.

 

[LucidSplash]

Hey studybug I interviewed Jan 26th and received a waitlist letter yesterday. We were also told 9 weeks, so I was pretty surprised.

 

[studybug]

Hey studybug I interviewed Jan 26th and received a waitlist letter yesterday. We were also told 9 weeks, so I was pretty surprised.

I still don't understand how the waitlist works. Does that mean you have been accepted but there's no seat available in your service of choice? If you don't mind what's your first choice?
I understand my file is no longer at the office so I'm hoping to hear from them pretty soon. I need to start looking for an appartment and get commissioned with the Army HPSP if I'm not going to get in.

 

[PharmD2MD]

I still don't understand how the waitlist works. Does that mean you have been accepted but there's no seat available in your service of choice? If you don't mind what's your first choice?
I understand my file is no longer at the office so I'm hoping to hear from them pretty soon. I need to start looking for an appartment and get commissioned with the Army HPSP if I'm not going to get in.

I can't tell you exactly how the wait list works, but I do know it's service dependent, so if you are flexible about which service you would like to join you might get off the wait list faster. Apparently the Air force waitlist doesn't move much, the Army and Navy waitlists move more quickly.

I interviewed there 17NOV05, got my letter a day or two after New Years. They said 8 weeks, but it was more like 7 plus there were holidays in between there so I wouldn't be surprised if you here from them much sooner.

 

[gottalovemilk]

from my experiences so far with med schools, if you interview and the committee meets right after you interview, your file is discussed and a decision is made. If accepted they will tell you in a week or less. Some seem to leave your file until the next round of committee meeting to judge you against newer interviewees. They then again make a decision. Depending on school, you can continue to the next round again and again till they make a decision on your file, or they can make a final decision second round and that would be the end.

GENERALLY, if you interview and do not hear back in 1-2 weeks, it is not going to be good. All the schools i got accepted into gave me a decision in less than a week after interviewing either through phone or email (snail mail then followed).

 

[GAdoc]

from my experiences so far with med schools, if you interview and the committee meets right after you interview, your file is discussed and a decision is made. If accepted they will tell you in a week or less. Some seem to leave your file until the next round of committee meeting to judge you against newer interviewees. They then again make a decision. Depending on school, you can continue to the next round again and again till they make a decision on your file, or they can make a final decision second round and that would be the end.

GENERALLY, if you interview and do not hear back in 1-2 weeks, it is not going to be good. All the schools i got accepted into gave me a decision in less than a week after interviewing either through phone or email (snail mail then followed).

Hey, I interviewed on Feb. 2. They told me 9 weeks. I got a letter this past Saturday stating I had been placed on the Alternate List (I guess worse than the Wait List). So maybe that'll tell you something.

 

[studybug]

Thanks folks for the response. So far I have 5 acceptances from other schools I interviewed at all taking less than 3 weeks. I really don't know what's holding up USUHS. This Thursday will be 7 weeks although I was originally told 9. I did hear that my file has left the office to the committee, so hopefully I will hear from them soon. The problem is I have to make a decision very soon whether to go ahead and get commissioned with the Army under HPSP. I don't want to do that if i know for sure I'm getting into USUHS.
I might give them a ring this week and see if they will tell me anything else.

 

[Nylesor]

so, if we have until May to choose a med school, how can the HPSP make us choose between them and USUHS by April? What if you're stilll waiting to hear from other schools?

 

[usnavdoc]

Its not a big deal for you to take HPSP and then later switch to USUHS. But my question would be why do you want to? You have 5 acceptances to Allopthic schools?

 

[swampthing]

Its not a big deal for you to take HPSP and then later switch to USUHS. But my question would be why do you want to? You have 5 acceptances to Allopthic schools?

I 100% AGREE with "usnavdoc". Why would you want to go to USUHS over 5 other allopathic schools?

I'm from a family with a rich Navy tradition (I've been around it all my life). I believe I know the good and bad of the military (some things I like, some things I don't like). But overall, I'm coming from a view point that shows an overall positive light on military medicine (versus other people on this forum).

However, that being said, I was accepted by USUHS and turned it down. I decided to go to a civilian MD school and took the HPSP scholarship instead.

Personally, I think the education at USUHS is sub-par compared to civilian medical schools. I spent a few years at Bethesda (right next to USUHS) and the USUHS curriculum and most of the med students did not impress me at all. The patient population is not diverse. Honestly, you see better pathology from civilian med schools. And although the USUHS contract says you owe the military 7 years, in reality, you owe the military 10+ years because residency does not count toward satisfying your commitment time. I think USUHS is ONLY WORTH IT if you are prior service and it's fairly reasonable that you can do 20+ years in the military and then retire with benefits.

Conclusion: Go civilian med school. Unless, you are prior service.

 

[rotatores]

Personally, I think the education at USUHS is sub-par compared to civilian medical schools. I spent a few years at Bethesda (right next to USUHS) and the USUHS curriculum and most of the med students did not impress me at all. . Honestly, you see better pathology from civilian med schools. . I think USUHS is ONLY WORTH IT if you are prior service and it's fairly reasonable that you can do 20+ years in the military and then retire with benefits.

WOW...well...since you did spend a couple of years "next" to USUHS you must be the expert. Since I actually went to USUHS I think i'll give my opinion. During my third and 4th year rotations with other HPSP students I will say that I was much more impressed with our work ethic and character. I ran across so many whiny HPSP's (how do I get out of a GMO tour etc..)As far as our education being sub-par...how are you making this comparison?

And although the USUHS contract says you owe the military 7 years, in reality, you owe the military 10+ years because residency does not count toward satisfying your commitment time

Okay...then HPSP is really a 7 year commitment.

Conclusion: Medical education is what you make of it..regardless of where you go to med school. Whether you go HPSP or USUHS...we all end up working together....BUT HPSP WILL give you more options (civ residency and less time commitment).

Good luck
Rotatores
USUHS 2006

 

[backrow]

The patient population is not diverse. Honestly, you see better pathology from civilian med schools.

Not diverse? how much time did you spend in any military hospital? At NNMC/WRAMC you have retirees, you have active duty, you have dependents, NIH protocols, etc. I'm pretty sure those people run the gauntlet of diverse. I'll let Rotatores' response stand for the rest of your statements.

 

[Mirror Form]

As somebody who went to a civ med school, but now works with many people from USUHS and civ med schools, I haven't noticed any big differences in education. It seems to me like USUHS is on par with most tier 2 med schools.

 

[usnavdoc]

Okay...then HPSP is really a 7 year commitment.

Conclusion: Medical education is what you make of it..regardless of where you go to med school. Whether you go HPSP or USUHS...we all end up working together....BUT HPSP WILL give you more options (civ residency and less time commitment).

Good luck
Rotatores
USUHS 2006

HPSP is at least a 5 year commitment and if you complete residency in the service a minimum of 7. USUHS is a minimum of 8.

Medical school is what you make of it in your preclinical years. And I would say that USUHS probably does a fine job just as any US Allopathic program would.

But in the clinical years, you need to think more broadly. How much movement across the country to get the right rotations do you do from USUHS? Do you get to spend time at a charity type of hospital seeing that depth of pathology. Ie..a place like Charity in NO, the Med in memphis, or Grady in Atlanta.

The best places to go to med school and more importantly residency are ones that have free standing peds hospitals, VA, private and charity association with level 1 trauma. You simply dont get that in the military.
This has been talked about before. And say what you will, but the clinical training you get at a University program is better. This is something that test scores cant capture it is just something you know if you have experienced both. There is a reason that your residents at Portsmouth or NNMC/WR love their away months at the civ programs they rotate through.

There are benefits of course. In 5 years I have not seen one HIV patient. But extrapolate that across other diseases and is this really a benefit while you are in training???

OP Regardless of what you choose good luck.

 

[rotatores]

Do you get to spend time at a charity type of hospital seeing that depth of pathology. Ie..a place like Charity in NO, the Med in memphis, or Grady in Atlanta.

Yes...prior to Katrina, Charity was one of our EM rotations. This is one advantage of USUHS...we can do our 4th year rotations at any hospital of our choosing.

rotatores

 

[usnavdoc]

Yes...prior to Katrina, Charity was one of our EM rotations. This is one advantage of USUHS...we can do our 4th year rotations at any hospital of our choosing.

rotatores

I see, so traveling all over the country to get the things that other med students simply wake up and do is a benefit? To some I guess. But not in my opinion.

While you travel to Charity to do your ED 1 month rotation in your M4 year, I spent the majority of my M3 year and 6 months of my M4 year in a place like that. As well as had the opportunity for away rotations at places I wanted/ordered to go to.

I did 10x as many bedside procedures(lines, chest tubes, etc...) in med school than I did in internship. I just dont see that as a benefit.

Im not trying to take away from your education, but the OP was asking about USUHS and has acceptances to civilian med schools(5). I just wanted to get a better understanding as to why he would desire USUHS over a civ program.

 

[rotatores]

I see, so traveling all over the country to get the things that other med students simply wake up and do is a benefit? To some I guess. But not in my opinion.

Wow...I just love your negative spin on this. I'm just not convinced that every other med school has this kind of exposure to level 1 trauma that you speak of...but you seem to know more about the civy side than I do so I won't argue.

I did 10x as many bedside procedures(lines, chest tubes, etc...) in med school than I did in internship. I just dont see that as a benefit

I'm not sure what you mean by this?

Im not trying to take away from your education, but the OP was asking about USUHS and has acceptances to civilian med schools(5). I just wanted to get a better understanding as to why he would desire USUHS over a civ program.

Understood...I'm just not a fan of people who thrash my school.

Rotatores

 

[usnavdoc]

Wow...I just love your negative spin on this. I'm just not convinced that every other med school has this kind of exposure to level 1 trauma that you speak of...but you seem to know more about the civy side than I do so I won't argue.



I'm not sure what you mean by this?



Understood...I'm just not a fan of people who thrash my school.

Rotatores

Every med school doesn’t have that level of exposure, not just to trauma but also the pathology of indigent care. And if the op were asking for advice on two civ allopathic programs, I would be saying the same thing. You need to be exposed to clinical scenarios that push your boundaries. So, go to the place that gives you the best clinical exposure regardless of name.

By that statement (regarding procedures) I was just giving an example of the differences in civ and mil training.

Anyway we haven’t heard back from the OP regarding his choices so there isn’t really a point to this thread. People can search all the previous threads on the plusses and minuses of mil GME or USUHS and compare that to civ programs.

 

[RichL025]

Personally, I think the education at USUHS is sub-par compared to civilian medical schools. I spent a few years at Bethesda (right next to USUHS) and the USUHS curriculum and most of the med students did not impress me at all.

Hmm, you seem to have kicked a bit of a hornet's nest here. I'll join in, too, by wondering how the heck you can get evaluate a medical school simply by living in geographic proximity? I'll go ask the Car-Talk guys what they think about Harvard....

One could extrapolate that YOUR medical school must not do a very good job at exposing students to research....

 

[swampthing]

Hmm, you seem to have kicked a bit of a hornet's nest here. I'll join in, too, by wondering how the heck you can get evaluate a medical school simply by living in geographic proximity? I'll go ask the Car-Talk guys what they think about Harvard....

One could extrapolate that YOUR medical school must not do a very good job at exposing students to research....

Well, here's how I know. I researched USUHS heavily before declining their acceptance offer. After med school, I was an intern at the National Naval Medical Center (NNMC), which is on the same military grounds as USUHS. I also had MANY USUHS med students rotate under me when I was an intern. I helped teach USUHS med students during my intern year. As an intern, I spent many nights and weekends at the USUHS campus, studying at it's library and 24-hour student recreation center, using it's 24-hour gym, where I met USUHS students. I also have friends (fellow interns, residents, and attendings) that went to USUHS. While I did NOT attend USUHS, I think my research, heavy exposure with the med school and it's students and alumni makes me fairly knowledgable about the program.

I agree that med school is what you make of it (it's up to you and your motivation to be the best doctor you can be). And I admit, there were a few USUHS students that did impress me. But it seems to me that most civilian med schools I interviewed (I attended 15 med school interviews) at had more resources, research, and/or patient diversity than USUHS. Again, I 100% agree with "usnavdoc".

I have rotated at all BIG 3 Navy Medical Centers as a med student or intern and was a patient at all BIG 3 growing up as a child and adolescent (I'm from a Navy family). There are very few level 1 trauma centers in the military healthcare system (I know that ALL NAVY BIG 3 are NOT level 1 trauma centers). The military patient diversity did NOT come close to comparison with my med school. There were few HIV patients, few drug users, few cirrhosis patients, and little ethnic and racial diversity (some ethnic and racial groups have unique inherent diseases). At my med school, I saw these types of patients everyday. More exposure to these types of patients challenges you, strengthens your learning experience, and enhances your development as a physician. Also, working at an inner city hospital, I saw destitute patients everyday. The thing about destitute patients is that they usually come in with tremendous pathology because they don't have access to routine healthcare. In the military healthcare system, everyone is entitled to regular healthcare (which is good for the patient, but as a doctor you don't see as much advanced pathology).

Of course, this is only my opinion...but I'm sticking to it 😀

 

[bayougirl]

I also interviewed on Feb 2. I haven't heard anything yet. Is this a bad sign? From the impression I got from my interviewers and the administration people I talked to I had a pretty good chance. For those that have heard how long did it normally take.

I have an additional question. For those that attend USUHS. Do yall get Thanksgiving off? My best friend is getting married that saturday after and I am supposed to be in the wedding and if I get in to USUHS and yall aren't off I will need to let her know.

 

[backrow]

I also interviewed on Feb 2. I haven't heard anything yet. Is this a bad sign? From the impression I got from my interviewers and the administration people I talked to I had a pretty good chance. For those that have heard how long did it normally take.

I have an additional question. For those that attend USUHS. Do yall get Thanksgiving off? My best friend is getting married that saturday after and I am supposed to be in the wedding and if I get in to USUHS and yall aren't off I will need to let her know.

MS1 and MS2 years you will get all federal holiday's off, including the "silly" ones. Basically if the post office is closed on a day in your town USUHS will also be closed. For thanksgiving you will get thur/fri. Christmas you get two weeks and you get a week for spring break. You also get MLK day, President's Day, Columbus Day, labor day, memorial day, maybe a couple others i am forgetting.

 

[A1cfox21]

Yes...prior to Katrina, Charity was one of our EM rotations. This is one advantage of USUHS...we can do our 4th year rotations at any hospital of our choosing.

rotatores

Off topic regarding quality of school but was wondering about rotations thru USUHS. Are students able to do rotations at other branches hospitals? How extensive are the opportunities to do rotations at civilian hospitals? And at civilian hospitals, do you have to wear uniforms? Do you keep getting AD pay while doing those civilian rotations? Thanks for the info.

 

[st0rmin]

Off topic regarding quality of school but was wondering about rotations thru USUHS. Are students able to do rotations at other branches hospitals? How extensive are the opportunities to do rotations at civilian hospitals? And at civilian hospitals, do you have to wear uniforms? Do you keep getting AD pay while doing those civilian rotations? Thanks for the info.

Students do rotate at other branch's hospitals (army student at a navy base, etc.) There are lots of opportunities to travel to different MTFs during school. My personal bias and recommendation is to try and stick with the MTFs of the branch you are in order to get exposure to the places where you will train, and won't take away the opportunity for someone in the Army to rotate at an Army hospital (yes, it happened to me if I sound a little bitter).

There are several opportunities to rotate at civilian hospitals as a third year student, mostly in the DC area and then as a 4th year you can set up your schedule to rotate at other civilian hospitals. This involves a lot of paperwork setting up a teaching relationship with the civilian hospital, but it can be done. One of my friends set up several rotations in his home state with his father, who is a physician.

You do not wear uniforms in civilian hospitals while treating civilians. I seldom wear a uniform in a military hospital while working inpatient wards, scrubs were the uniform of the day.

Yes, since you are a commissioned officer you will still receive your pay while working at civilian facilities. Hope that helps.