USUHS Class of 2012 Thread

[UMangel224]

Thanks Blenndogg for the response/advice! Congrats on your acceptance!! What made you choose the army other than the fact that your an army wife?

Wow I feel like most people that attend USUHS are married

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[Mace1370]

Thanks Blenndogg for the response/advice! Congrats on your acceptance!! What made you choose the army other than the fact that your an army wife?

Wow I feel like most people that attend USUHS are married

I believe they give you the exact percentage during the introductory speeches. IIRC it was something like 25% of the class is married.

 

[blenndogg]

Hi

 

[bessiedo]

hey everybody, congrats on all of the interview invites and acceptances. i interviewed on oct. 18th and got a call on nov. 8th telling me that i was being conditionally accepted into the army!!! for those of you waiting for interviews i definitely wouldnt be nervous. they did an amazing job of making you feel comfortable. i am a 22 yr. old female with no prior service so i felt almost out of place when i first got there but as the day went on it was easy to see that everyone is there to help each other out and everyone was certainly very welcoming. i interviewed with two women and the interviews really did fly by. they seemed mostly concerned with leadership experience and the common why medicine? why military medicine? questions. if you are at all worried about what you would say to those questions they pretty much answer them for you in the briefings before your interviews so you will have plenty to talk about by the time you get into the interview room which makes it nice. for those of you still waiting, best of luck to you. cant wait to see some of you next year!

 

[DREW96863]

hey everybody, congrats on all of the interview invites and acceptances. i interviewed on oct. 18th and got a call on nov. 8th telling me that i was being conditionally accepted into the army!!! quote]

CONGRATULATIONS!

 

[America1]

Hey, I interviewed Oct 4, still no word. Sadly, I think I have a thin letter coming to me in the mail sometime soon.

 

[America1]

1

 

[M1Tanker]

Just got a call offering conditional acceptance to USUHS Class of 2012, Army. Awesome. Now I just have to wait for DoDMERB, gotta love the bureaucracy. Looking forward to seeing all of you in Bethesda, and to those who are still waiting, best of luck!

 

[InSearch4Truth]

Congrats M1Tanker!!

I look forward to seeing you there - I just received my acceptance call as well!

 

[HickMD]

So from the posts here it looks like if you get accepted you get a call about 3-4 afters your interview. I interviewed on the 25th of October. I'm so nervous .

I interviewed on October 25th as well. I haven't heard anything but I suppose we have another week or so. Did you have any odd interviews? I showed up late to one of mine (I was misinformed about where the room was) and then my interviewer had some really odd questions, not even really hard, just very loaded questions. I hope that doesn't hurt too much. Hope we hear back because after going around with interviews, I really want to go to USUHS.

 

[glacialfury]

Hello everyone! I interviewed on 11 October and received a phone call on 13 November offering me a spot as Air Force. I'm 27, married with no kids, no prior military experience and not a military brat. I've noticed a few questions that I might be able to help with.

Regarding an earlier post that I didn't see answered:

I'm interviewing at USUHS on November 29 and I had a question about choosing a branch preference (I'm a civilian). I'm trying to choose between the Army and Air Force, and while I don't really have a strong preference between the two, I have heard the Air Force fills up fastest and has the least likely to move waitlist. My question, in addition to maybe getting some more perspective on which of the two I should choose, is if it's true that the Air Force fills up fastest, would it simply be a better strategic move to choose the Army as my first choice to maximize my chances of being accepted? Or, since it's still pretty early in the interview process, would you think all of the branches are likely to have plenty of spaces left? Thanks!

First of all, your service preference has absolutely no bearing on whether you get offered a spot or not - your preference isn't revealed to the admissions committee until after they decide what to do with you. Keep in mind it's a preference - if you list Air Force, and there are no Air Force spots left, they'll call you and say "We've got a spot for you, but only in ________ - is that okay with you?" So don't worry about maximizing your chances based on service, it won't matter.

Second of all, regarding which service to choose, I chose the Air Force because everyone (from all services) told me the Air Force was the most family-friendly; most likely to fix up your base housing faster, most likely to try and keep spouses together (when one is civilian), best spouse support services, etc. That sold it for me, because I'm bringing a non-military wife in, and she has to compromise her career severely because I'll be joining the military. If you're single, then I'd base your choice on the medical opportunities afforded by the service.

Army, for example, has the largest research-oriented center for infectious disease research, but that's all it is - research. Navy, on the other hand, has the best *clinical* exposure to infectious disease and training docs to treat them. So it really helps to contact the representatives of the services at the school - I found that none of them pushed their service too hard. They want you to be in the one that you'll fit into the most.

Housing
For those of you (like me) who are not from the area and haven't the first clue where to look for housing, I found this via Google: http://www.usuhs.mil/ssc/AreaHousingListing.doc

It's a Word document compiled by students and their families through USU that says where they live, what they like about it, how far it is from USU, etc. Many of them have a contact information so you can ask them directly. It's been a big help simply identifying which communities are close.

If you want a short commute (generally < 15 minutes; might require metro)
- Bethesda
- Chevy Chase
- Grosvenor
- Kensington
- Rockville
- Silver Spring

Longer commutes, but cheaper housing (generally 20 - 40 minutes, 1 hour in traffic)
- Burtonsville
- Gaithersburg
- Germantown
- Laurel
- Montgomery

Sorry for the long post, hopefully someone gets some use out of it! Looking forward to meeting and studying with all of you this coming fall. Anyone with questions is welcome to contact me at glacialfury @ gmail.com (without spaces); even if I don't know the answer, I'd be happy to research it together!

 

[Mace1370]

I interviewed on October 25th as well. I haven't heard anything but I suppose we have another week or so. Did you have any odd interviews? I showed up late to one of mine (I was misinformed about where the room was) and then my interviewer had some really odd questions, not even really hard, just very loaded questions. I hope that doesn't hurt too much. Hope we hear back because after going around with interviews, I really want to go to USUHS.

I didn't get any weird questions, but it is very likely we had different interviewers. Anyways, here's to hoping we both get the call in about a week!

 

[FizbanZymogen]

Congrats to everyone who's received interview invites acceptances! Even though I'm already attending USUHS I just thought I'd pop in (not to steal your thunder) and let you know how great this school is. I had a tough choice to make last spring between a couple of great schools (really between UW and USUHS) and am glad I chose USUHS.

Also Glacialfury is correct in regards to how the admissions process works. Just remember if you are an acceptable candidate but a spot never opens up for you and you don't want service "X" then your out of luck. It is very important to bear in mind what type of medicine you want to be involved in when deciding service. While the Air Force has less deployments and better housing (most officers in the military don't want to live on base by the way) you must also remember each branch has some very strong trends. The current Air Force surgeon general is VERY primary care oriented and has taken the Air Force into a very small clinical model cutting many specialties (and shrinking buildings). The Army tends to favor long deployments but NEEDS specialists (especially surgeons and PM&R) and so is traditionally less competitive when it comes time to match. They also have the nicest hospitals (check out BAMC and Madigan). My experience with the Navy is that their pretty cool and fall somewhere in the middle. They have AWESOME locations and some pretty neat options in flight surgery and dive medicine if you're interested.

One other note, the Air Force students have ranked the highest in the classes at USUHS for a couple of years running now and with less seats for competitive residencies in the Air Force etc you had better be prepared to compete with a smart group if you want those derm, rads and surgery slots. If you don't want to compete like crazy and don't want primary care I suggest looking into the Army or Navy. Just my two cents.

Again congrats everyone and best of luck in this crazy process.

P.S. If your interested in living somewhere on I-270 I recommend living as close to Bethesda as possible. I currently live in Germantown and at the beginning of the school year it took about 25 minutes to get to class at 7:00. Now it takes an hour if things are good and if it rains be prepared for 1.5 hours. People in D.C. don't know how to drive in the rain or the snow.

 

[LexiLuthor]

I'm an MS-I as well and I agree that the traffic is frustrating! I'm from the D.C. area so I knew it was important for me to be close to campus b/c long commutes are not my thing.


Good luck to everyone interviewing, feel free to PM if you have any questions. School is tough, but I am so glad I'm attending USUHS.

 

[DREW96863]

Congratulations to the the last couple of acceptees, hoo-ahh, Aim High and all that. There is a facebook page for our class, 2012, at http://une.facebook.com/group.php?gid=5276129559
It's alot easier for us to share info, (orders, questions etc) with one another that way. 2011 said their facebook page has been useful (it looks like almost all of their class is there, like 120).

 

[Daddy07]

Hey all, I just wanted to introduce myself to everyone in this forum. I interviewed on 10/04 and was accepted on 10/23, (From what I can tell, the acceptance calls seem to always be on a Tuesday). I also got my first choice for branch of service (AF)!! I really liked the school and am pretty sure I'll be matriculating regardless of what other schools I hear from. I am married and have a 10 month old daughter. This school's population seems to have more students with families, which is great (Although I look forward to meeting all of you that matriculate regardless of your demographic status..=). Well, congrats to everyone that has been accepted and good luck to everyone else!

 

[CountryGirl19]

Hello all,

I have my interview on the 6th of December... It seems like a lot of people have already been accepted... Makes me nervous

Any words of wisdom or advice?

 

[Mace1370]

Hello all,

I have my interview on the 6th of December... It seems like a lot of people have already been accepted... Makes me nervous

Any words of wisdom or advice?

Don't sweat it. The interview is very laid back. Just know why you want to go into military medicine.

Also, anyone from the October 25th interview group hear back yet?

 

[lgy22]

so i turned in my secondary sometime in late august, although I had to retake the MCAT, and that score wasn't released til mid september.

3.3 gpa w/ 32 mcat, varsity athlete, nrotc MIDN from ivy league school.

i'm a bit worried considering all the interviews/acceptances people on this forum have got, and i havent heard a thing since august. i called them and they said my file is complete and under review.

any thoughts? thank you!

 

[Asher2011]

Hey ya'll~
So Fizban and Lexi already beat me to this!! I just wanted to offer my help if anybody wants advice. I'm currently an MS1, non-prior, in Navy, recently relocated from FL (Go Gators) to a place where ice forms on your windshield. Just keep your chins up and get your physicals done ASAP. I interviewed mid-Oct last year, got my conditional Thanksgiving weekend and my unconditional sometime in the spring (that was a nailbiter for me). Feel free to email me about Navy, or moving, or basically anything.

 

[HickMD]

Also, anyone from the October 25th interview group hear back yet?

Haven't heard anything. I called on Tuesday and they said I was still under review and to wait a bit longer. Anyone else from Oct 25 or later heard (or not heard) anything?

 

[Mace1370]

Haven't heard anything. I called on Tuesday and they said I was still under review and to wait a bit longer. Anyone else from Oct 25 or later heard (or not heard) anything?

I just logged on and was going to ask if anyone has heard anything yet, but you beat me to it. Like you, all has been silent on my end. I'm hoping that Thanksgiving slowed them down.

 

[pagingstat]

hi i interviewed on october 18th but still haven't heard back...apparently under review still but idk if they are genuinely taking long or just sending a sad letter in the mail. what about the other oct 18thers?

 

[Manish0081]

How is everyone doing? I have an upcoming Interview at USUHS on Jan 17. In the interview do they ask the type of questions that a regular med school admission interviewer would ask? Also if they do ask nontraditional questions, what do they ask? Also for the Branch selection, I would like to serve my time with NAVY, what are the chances of being put on the waitlist if I have my interview this late? Am I better of picking ARMY? Any other thoughts and advice would be much appreciated.

 

[HickMD]

How is everyone doing? I have an upcoming Interview at USUHS on Jan 17. In the interview do they ask the type of questions that a regular med school admission interviewer would ask? Also if they do ask nontraditional questions, what do they ask? Also for the Branch selection, I would like to serve my time with NAVY, what are the chances of being put on the waitlist if I have my interview this late? Am I better of picking ARMY? Any other thoughts and advice would be much appreciated.

The interview is pretty simple. Depending on how detailed you were in your essay about your motivations for military medicine, they may probe you a bit on your reasons for choosing USUHS (just don't say "for the money.") They will tell you at the first of the interview what they are going to ask and why, at least that is what they did in my interview. As for branch selection, if you put Navy and there are only Army spots open but USUHS still wants to accept you, they will call you and say that they can offer you an Army spot. I am not sure about the waiting list thing, I interviewed Oct 25 and am still waiting. I called yesterday and they said, "Um, call tomorrow." So, I called today thinking I might be accepted and they just couldn't tell me until today but, they said, "We are behind. A final decision hasn't been made. Wait a while longer." Oh well.

 

[M1Tanker]

How is everyone doing? I have an upcoming Interview at USUHS on Jan 17. In the interview do they ask the type of questions that a regular med school admission interviewer would ask? Also if they do ask nontraditional questions, what do they ask? Also for the Branch selection, I would like to serve my time with NAVY, what are the chances of being put on the waitlist if I have my interview this late? Am I better of picking ARMY? Any other thoughts and advice would be much appreciated.

The interview questions were pretty standard fare. The big question at USUHS is "Why military medicine?" and if you have a coherent answer to that one, you will be fine in the interview. I also got a couple of hypothetical questions based in a combat type of scenario, but there wasn't really any military knowledge or expertise required they were just looking for basic leadership skills and fundamentals. USUHS is definitely looking for demonstrated and potential leadership. As far as the branch choice question, HickMD is right on, if your first choice isn't available they will offer you a slot in another branch...unless you fill out your preference sheet that you will only accept your first choice branch. Hope this is helpful.

 

[Manish0081]

Thanks again for the info. I had a couple more questions about residencies. After you finish your 4th year, do you have a good chance of getting the residency that you want or do they pick that for you. Say if I wanted to go into surgery - maybe neuro, orthro or plastics? Are those resonable choices or would I just go for general surgery as the run-of-the-mill profession in the military medicine?

 

[HickMD]

Thanks again for the info. I had a couple more questions about residencies. After you finish your 4th year, do you have a good chance of getting the residency that you want or do they pick that for you. Say if I wanted to go into surgery - maybe neuro, orthro or plastics? Are those resonable choices or would I just go for general surgery as the run-of-the-mill profession in the military medicine?

I am not as knowledgable about residencies, so please correct me if I am wrong. As to my knowledge, some residencies are easier to get in the military than in the civilian world (I believe dermatology and radiology are this way). I assume that nearly all residencies are available in the military; however, I have been told that with some of the more competitive ones (like neuro) you almost have to do a GMO tour first or pull some strings to get it. Other than that, I am not sure what else to say. I guess I would like to know more information as well.

 

[GleamingtheCube]

Hey everyone,

I've read SDN for a long time but never felt like joining until I saw this forum. I interviewed October 18, was conditionally accepted on November 27, sent in the acceptance form two days ago, called to check on it today, and found out that I have been unconditionally accepted! Is that a strange occurrence? I figured it would be quicker for me because I had already been deemed medically-qualified when I interviewed, but I figured the security stuff would take a while.

Anyways, really happy about this acceptance...haven't made the final call yet, but I loved the USUHS experience.

 

[M1Tanker]

Thanks again for the info. I had a couple more questions about residencies. After you finish your 4th year, do you have a good chance of getting the residency that you want or do they pick that for you. Say if I wanted to go into surgery - maybe neuro, orthro or plastics? Are those resonable choices or would I just go for general surgery as the run-of-the-mill profession in the military medicine?

Anything I could say about residencies would just be third-hand hearsay. Might want to try the USUHS 2012 Facebook page that Drew96863 started http://une.facebook.com/group.php?gid=5276129559 which has some current students answering questions for us.

You could also slide over to the USUHS 2011 forum on SDN and try to recruit somebody over there to answer the residency stuff.

 

[pagingstat]

anyone else still waiting to hear back?

 

[ThinkingArmy]

can anyone comment on the quality of the education and training that one will get at the USUHS? I am pretty sure that the clinical training that I would get at USU would be better than many schools, and that I would be well prepare to practice medicien, but how much better (if at all) compare to top 30 schools. I want to know, because I am deciding between USU and this one top 30 US News school. Thanks

 

[UMangel224]

Where did everyone address the post-interview thank you notes/cards to? We weren't given business cards, and some of the interviewers were 4th year students.

 

[Mace1370]

Where did everyone address the post-interview thank you notes/cards to? We weren't given business cards, and some of the interviewers were 4th year students.

I just addressed them to the office of admissions (I have no idea if my interviewers actually received them).

Has anyone from Oct. 25th interview group heard anything yet? The wait is killing me .

 

[HickMD]

I just addressed them to the office of admissions (I have no idea if my interviewers actually received them).

Has anyone from Oct. 25th interview group heard anything yet? The wait is killing me .

Haven't heard anything. I am going crazy myself. I called them on Tuesday and they said the wait is 6-8 weeks now rather than 4-6 like they told us at the interview. I hope they don't stop for Christmas break this week, that will mean we'd have to wait until January to hear anything.

 

[Mace1370]

Haven't heard anything. I am going crazy myself. I called them on Tuesday and they said the wait is 6-8 weeks now rather than 4-6 like they told us at the interview. I hope they don't stop for Christmas break this week, that will mean we'd have to wait until January to hear anything.

Tuesday as in yesterday, or last week? I also hope they don't go on break soon, because then I really will go insane. I horrible thing is that I could have had an interview on the 18th, but chose to switch my date to the 25th because of a midterm. I could theoretically know by know! =/

At any rate, this is our 7th week, so assuming that they don't go on break this week or next week I guess that means we could hear back next week... or in January. This is horrible.

 

[HickMD]

Tuesday as in yesterday, or last week? I also hope they don't go on break soon, because then I really will go insane. I horrible thing is that I could have had an interview on the 18th, but chose to switch my date to the 25th because of a midterm. I could theoretically know by know! =/

At any rate, this is our 7th week, so assuming that they don't go on break this week or next week I guess that means we could hear back next week... or in January. This is horrible.

I called yesterday, last Tuesday, and the Tuesday before that. I think they know my voice now. I am in your same boat. I didn't submit my AMCAS application to them until August and my secondary didn't get to them until the end of August, beginning of September so I possibly could have had an earlier interview. I wonder if this waiting is worse or those anti-rolling admissions schools that don't tell us until April. I think this is worse because we are expecting an answer. Maybe they are getting us ready to be in the military.

 

[Mace1370]

I called yesterday, last Tuesday, and the Tuesday before that. I think they know my voice now. I am in your same boat. I didn't submit my AMCAS application to them until August and my secondary didn't get to them until the end of August, beginning of September so I possibly could have had an earlier interview. I wonder if this waiting is worse or those anti-rolling admissions schools that don't tell us until April. I think this is worse because we are expecting an answer. Maybe they are getting us ready to be in the military.

I applaud your persistence! Maybe that will teach them for delaying our inevitable acceptances for so long .

 

[HickMD]

I applaud your persistence! Maybe that will teach them for delaying our inevitable acceptances for so long .

Or it will annoy them to the point of rejecting me... What branch did you put as your preference? I put Air Force followed by Navy, but I am wondering if I should have put Navy first. I have heard Navy residencies are much better, and my brothers are Marines, so maybe I will keep it in the family. Do you know if we can switch?

 

[Mace1370]

Or it will annoy them to the point of rejecting me... What branch did you put as your preference? I put Air Force followed by Navy, but I am wondering if I should have put Navy first. I have heard Navy residencies are much better, and my brothers are Marines, so maybe I will keep it in the family. Do you know if we can switch?

I don't know if we can switch.

However, I got the letter today: I am put on the alternate list, which according to a handout they gave us at the interview:

"If you receive an alternate list letter, the Admissions Committee has determined that you are capable of success in medical school, but has identified some weak area of your application. However, you may still be offered a position in the first-year class, if the entire wait list has been exhuasted."

So ya, looks like I'm out of luck. Honestly, why even have an alternate list. It doesn't make sense. Why not just put me on the wait list lower than everyone else? I highly doubt any school ever exhausts their entire wait list.

Do you guys think it would be worth sending them a LOI? I'm really interested in going to the school.

 

[HickMD]

Do you guys think it would be worth sending them a LOI? I'm really interested in going to the school.

Yea, I think it is worth it. What would it hurt; they will either just leave you were you are or maybe they will move you on to the wait list.

I haven't heard anything yet, however, I live in the boonies so maybe my letter is taking longer than yours to get to me. I arrived late to my faculty interview and he didn't seem to happy about that, so maybe that did me in. Who knows?

 

[Mace1370]

Yea, I think it is worth it. What would it hurt; they will either just leave you were you are or maybe they will move you on to the wait list.

I haven't heard anything yet, however, I live in the boonies so maybe my letter is taking longer than yours to get to me. I arrived late to my faculty interview and he didn't seem to happy about that, so maybe that did me in. Who knows?

Exactly. My physician interview said that I was a "very strong candidate" so I interpreted that to mean she thought I did well in the interview. Before I got the interview, the admissions committee asked me to explain my first and third year science grades. I sent them the explanation and got the interview, so I assumed that it meant they thought my explanation was sufficient.

However, in the letter they sent me they said that there was a "serious weakness" in my application. I can only assume that it was my first and third year grades. If it was the grades, however, then was my explanation only good enough to get an interview and not an acceptance? I don't know, I'm just thoroughly confused about the whole thing.

 

[Johnson48]

Last year I interviewed but I was not medically qualified by the deadline so I received an automatic rejection. Fortunately I am re-interviewing in January instead of February. Hopefully there is not another snowstorm this year two days before, but I am leaving with an extra day to spare just in case.
The USUHS committee did send me a real letter upon request giving me info. on my application after my rejection notice.

 

[shadowclaws]

does anyone know if usuhs has any deposits for holding an acceptance. their website doesn't cover much.

 

[M1Tanker]

does anyone know if usuhs has any deposits for holding an acceptance. their website doesn't cover much.

No deposit. Check out their catalog, it has a lot of information:

http://www.usuhs.mil/adm/catalog/USUCatalog.pdf

 

[subway5c]

does anyone know if usuhs has any deposits for holding an acceptance. their website doesn't cover much.

hehe no, no deposits for holding a slot at usuhs... actually, if you go to usuhs you wont ever pay tuition, or for books, or for a stethoscope, or, well, for anything at all...

 

[HickMD]

Received a call yesterday; I am accepted. I then walked outside and opened up my mailbox to find my DoDMERB results: I am medically disqualified. I suppose I can request a waiver. Anyone know about that?

 

[M1Tanker]

Received a call yesterday; I am accepted. I then walked outside and opened up my mailbox to find my DoDMERB results: I am medically disqualified. I suppose I can request a waiver. Anyone know about that?

It depends on what your disqualifying condition is...some things are waiverable some aren't. There is some bureaucracy involved in determining what is waiverable; some things that are waiverable seem more severe than some non-waiverable conditions. My recommendation for a first step would be Michelle911:

[FONT='PrimaSans BT,Verdana,sans-serif'](301) 295-3088 Commercial
295-3088 DSN
(800) 845-0962 Toll Free.

Good luck!

 

[DREW96863]

Merry Christmas! Once again Congrats if you made it. Good luck if you're waiting.

 

[Johnson48]

Fortunately you have a little bit of time to work on receiving a waiver. My dad years ago had a medical waiver due to an accident (he never had to run for PT tests except a handful of tiemes although he did the rest). He had to appeal the disqualifications and ask for a waiver directly to the Army Surgeon General stating his reasons for appealing and a physicians statement saying he was healthy and the disqualifying reason would not interfere with his duties and no complications to daily life. Later he was sent a letter saying he was approved for a waiver which went into his permanent file. He kept a copy for his own records which he later needed when the military lost his records.