USUHS Admission Timeline

Are you an international student? Have you been puzzled by the contradictory information you encounter on the internet concerning USUHS Admission and application requirements? You need not look further. This article helps you to learn more about USUHS service obligations. It is possible for you to find more information about USUHSrequirements on collegelearners. Read on to discover the latest information on how to get into USUHS medical school

The United States Military Academy (USMA) is one of the five federal service academies in the United States. It was founded in 1802 as West Point, and was renamed United States Military Academy in 1838. The academy is located at West Point, New York State, and it is a four-year undergraduate university with a full-time cadet corps and a military staff of about 1,400 cadets. There are also approximately 1,000 civilians employed at West Point who teach academic courses and provide administrative support services to cadets, their families and other members of the community.

About USUHS Application

We’re thrilled that you’re looking to join the USU family! This country depends on dedicated members of each generation who are interested in solving the healthcare problems facing our Service members and their families. Whether you’re interested in a career in research, policy, a hospital, or the field, we can’t wait to see what you do as a USU alum.

We know that it takes a lot of hard work to get here—and we want to help make your transition smooth and easy. Our staff is committed to ensuring that all students have access to the resources they need while they are here at USU. We have an incredible network of alumni who are eager to mentor current students and help them navigate their way through college life.

As You Begin

Make sure you’ve reviewed any degree specific requirements found on your program’s page in the Catalog. For more information, visit the Office of the University Registrar.

MD ADMISSIONS PROCESS
A 5-step process for how to apply can be found on the Application Process page with step-by-step instructions for what to expect while applying to the School of Medicine. For more details about eligibility, documentation requirements, and who to contact if you’re a military applicant, check the Application Requirements page.

APPLICATION PROCESS

APPLICATION PREREQUISITES

GRADUATE ADMISSIONS PROCESS
All applicants to USU Graduate Programs are required to submit an online application form, a statement of purpose, and if applicable, a set of specified additional credentials to support the application. USU gives careful consideration to all available information about each applicant and selects students on a competitive basis without regard to race, color, sex, creed or national origin. There is no Application Fee.

CONDITIONS FOR APPLYING
Applicants must be US citizens
Each applicant must complete a baccalaureate degree program from an accredited academic institution before matriculation at USU. The DoD requires that candidates are US citizens and have received a baccalaureate degree from an accredited university in the US, Canada, or Puerto Rico ( DODI, E1.1.2).
STEP 1
Submit Your Online Application Form and Statement of Purpose.

STEP 2
Once you have applied to one of our graduate programs, you will need to send the following required documents via mail or email:

Official college transcripts, and transcripts of all previous graduate studies in official sealed envelopes
mailed directly to USU from your university’s registrar
mailed by you, unopened, in your self-assembled application packet
Electronically from a secure site formally linked from the sending institution, emailed to graduateprogram@usuhs.edu (schools located in the United States only. We do not accept electronic transcripts from any institution overseas.)
Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores, taken no more than two years before the time of application. The school code for the GRE is 5824 (both the Department and Institution code). NOTE: GRE scores are being waived for academic year 2022 due to COVID-19.
Waivers for the 2-year requirement are considered on a case-by-case basis.
Some Master’s degree programs will waive the GRE requirement if you already have received an advanced degree, such as MD, PhD, DDS, or DVM. Waiver requests are considered on a case-by-case basis.
Three letters of recommendation from faculty members under whom the applicant has studied submitted via email or regular mail. We strongly recommend the online submission of letters of recommendation.
A complete Curriculum Vitae emailed to graduateprogram@usuhs.edu
Each program may have degree-specific requirements.
VERIFY THE RECEIPT OF YOUR MATERIALS
After you have submitted your application and have requested that transcripts, test scores, and letters of recommendation be sent to our office, please email us at graduateprogram@usuhs.edu to determine if your application is complete. Please allow up to two to five business days for processing of your materials.

If you have any questions about the application process, please call us at (301) 295-9474 or (301) 295-3913 or email graduateprogram@usuhs.edu.

DEADLINE
Complete applications must be received by December 1st to receive full consideration for Fall matriculation. We will continue to accept supporting application materials until January 15. The Admissions Committee will start the review process on January 15.

MD/PHD ADMISSIONS PROCESS
Applicants interested in the MD/PhD program must apply to both programs. If the applicant is accepted into the MD program but not accepted into a PhD program, they may still continue the medical school application process.

Apply directly to the F. Edward Hébert School of Medicine using the American Medical Colleges Application Service (AMCAS). Applicants must indicate their interest in the MD/PhD program on the AMCAS application. All information for applying to the MD Program can be found here.
Submit a separate PhD program application through our Graduate School.

ENLISTED TO MEDICAL DEGREE PREPARATORY PROGRAM (EMDP2) ADMISSIONS PROCESS
Each of the military services (Army, Marines, Navy, and Air Force) require candidates to submit application packets that include a summary of their service records, recommendation letters from supervisors and commanders, medical qualification status, standardized test scores, college transcripts, and a personal statement. For more information, visit the EMDP2 Degree Description page.

The USU Admissions Committee works on a “rolling” admissions basis. This means that an applicant’s file is advanced onto the next phase as soon as the previous phase is completed. Failure to complete steps in a timely manner will delay the processing of an individual’s application. The process begins with an application to AMCAS. We advise applicants to apply in June, prior to the year of matriculation.

ADMISSIONS COUNSELORS
If you have any questions regarding the admissions process you may contact your Admissions Counselor below. Counselors are assigned by the first letter of your last name and will be working with you throughout the application cycle.

A-E: Ms. Welsing, christina.welsing.ctr@usuhs.edu

F-M: Ms. Bowker, alexandra.bowker@usuhs.edu

M-R: Ms. Baker, larhonda.baker@usuhs.edu

S-Z: Ms. Ferrell, sheena.ferrell@usuhs.edu

FULFILLING REQUIREMENTS
Applicants are strongly encouraged to read the Admissions Requirements page before applying.

ADMISSIONS CHECKLIST
1

MD/PHD PROGRAM APPLICATION

2

AMCAS APPLICATION

3

SUPPLEMENTAL APPLICATION

4

INTERVIEW

5

ACCEPTANCE

MD/PHD PROGRAM APPLICATION
Applicants interested in the MD/PhD program must apply to both programs. If the applicant is accepted into the MD program but not accepted into a PhD program, they may still continue the medical school application process.

Apply directly to the School of Medicine using the American Medical Colleges Application Service (AMCAS). Applicants must indicate their interest in the MD/PhD program on the AMCAS application.
Submit a completed PhD Program Application with this material.
AMCAS APPLICATION
Applicants start by completing the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS) application using the USU School of Medicine (SoM) designation code: 821 between June 1st and November 1st. USU is listed with the other medical schools in the State of Maryland.

Official Transcripts

After completing the AMCAS web application, applicants should submit official transcripts from all colleges/universities attended through AMCAS. Failure to complete this step in a timely manner will delay the processing of an individual’s application.

Change of Address or Phone

Applicants must report changes of their phone number or address to USU and AMCAS. To alert USU of the change, applicants may email their admissions counselor.

SUPPLEMENTAL APPLICATION
Once we have received confirmation of your application submission from AMCAS, we will email you information on how to submit your supplemental application. The Supplemental Application Material is mandatory. The supplemental application, excluding letters of recommendation (which are due as soon as possible), is due in WebAdmit within 21 days of the date of your email notification that the supplemental application is available. Before submitting the supplemental application, please do a thorough review of all instructions and attachments. There is NO fee for the processing of the supplemental application. As soon as the forms are returned and the letters of recommendation are received, your file is sent to the Admissions Committee to make a decision regarding an invitation to interview. If circumstances prohibit you from completing the supplemental materials within the time period allotted, please contact your Admissions Counselor for an extension.

Application fee: $0

INTERVIEW
The Admissions Committee invites approximately 600 applicants to interview. Candidates selected for an interview are notified via email and appointments are scheduled through the Office of Recruitment and Admissions. Two SoM representatives interview applicants in separate interviews, evaluating motivation and potential as a future military physician.

Service Preference

At the interview, applicants are provided a form asking them to rank the four available Services (Army, Navy, Air Force, and Public Health Service) in order of preference, along with their commitment to each. Interviewees will be given briefings about the services and the admissions staff will be available for questions. It is recommended that applicants do research ahead of their interview date.

Life At USUHS

Applicants who accept an interview invitation will be sent instructions to schedule a medical examination through the Department of Defense Medical Examination Review Board (DoDMERB). Applicants MUST schedule or complete their physical examination prior to interview day and provide the date of the examination to Ms. Myrica Guzeh, the Commissioning Coordinator, on interview day. For further assistance, you may contact Ms. Guzeh at myrica.guzeh.ctr@usuhs.edu.

National Security Requirements

All applicants who accept an invitation to interview at the School of Medicine must complete an SF-86 to undergo a security investigation, which is a criterion for entrance to the School. This requirement applies to all applicants entering the uniformed services and ensures that the military denies admission to individuals who might compromise national security. For more information, you may contact the Security Office at 301-295-3033.

ACCEPTANCE
All interviews are conducted at USU. Once the interview is completed, the file is sent to the Committee for a final decision. If the Committee approves an acceptance and a seat is available, an applicant is offered a conditional acceptance. This means that the person holds a place in the class, but will not receive commissioning papers or official orders until the physical exam and security check are cleared and the acceptance form is returned. Once the physical and security checks are cleared, the applicant is offered an unconditional acceptance. Commissioning papers and orders are then processed.

Profile of the Class of 2024

3,1158 applicants
282 offers to fill 171 spaces
Acceptance rate 9%
95 men and 76 women
58 minority students, 22 of whom are classified as underrepresented in U.S. Medicine
Cumulative Grade Point Average 3.7
Science GPA 3.7
MCAT total 509
Geographic distribution: 38 states represented

For a small group of pre-meds, military medicine has been on their minds for years, possibly due to a family history in the armed forces, and some are even active duty already.

But for most medical school candidates, the UNIFORMED SERVICES UNIVERSITY OF THE HEALTH SCIENCES (USUHS) is an overlooked prospect for their journey as a doctor, and we’d argue that they should take a closer look.

Yes, training through USUHS includes additional responsibilities, but it also offers many benefits, and it might be a better fit for you than you think.

5 REASONS TO APPLY TO THE UNIFORMED SERVICES UNIVERSITY OF THE HEALTH SCIENCES

1. ADVENTURE
   Maybe it sounds corny, but medical training through the military would offer a UNIQUE PATH, full of interesting travel, unusual cases, and novel settings.

Imagine practicing medicine in the wilderness, aboard a carrier ship, in a submarine, or inside a hangar of jet planes.

Some USUHS students get to travel to Central America on a ship for four weeks. Others are part of the initial response to public health and medical crises around the world, like ebola or hurricanes. One graduate became Saddam Hussein’s urologist, so you never know what you’re going to do.

You have to admit it sounds pretty cool – something more fun than usual before the slog of residency. Two USUHS graduates even became astronauts.

2. RESIDENCY ADVANTAGE
   Speaking of residency, training through the military will make it easier to get into competitive residency programs.

There are exclusive programs just for the military match or special health professions programs; if you attend USUHS for medical school, you’ll have the luxury of both the normal match system and the military match system.

Depending on specialty, this advantage can make it significantly easier to match, especially for the most specialized programs like orthopedic surgery.

3. LIVE AND PRACTICE IN CALIFORNIA
   Most Savvy Pre-med contributors live in California, and we must admit it’s pretty nice. Great weather, delicious food, enormous diversity.

California is important for many students we work with, and USUHS could be an additional way for in-state candidates to hedge their bets.

There is a huge military presence in California: the NAVY IN SAN DIEGO (all specialties), the AIR FORCE IN DAVIS (active duty but working at UC Davis), and CAMP PENDLETON (family medicine).

4. GAIN A SECOND FAMILY
   Medical school can be stressful and isolating, often reducing one’s social life and sense of community.

But training through the military would let you be a part of another extended family, with the privilege of caring for soldiers – people who have sacrificed everything and earned the title of “hero.”

It’s rare to be able to serve the service-oriented, but military medicine gives you this opportunity. You can become a part of a long-standing tradition and find lifelong friendships with your cohort of peers.

Just a small example – the “Honor Salute” – when someone dies on the floor of a military hospital, everything stops. Everyone mans the rails. Everyone is at attention as the person is taken out in full silence.

5. GET PAID TO GO TO MEDICAL SCHOOL
   For many candidates, this might be the primary selling point for applying to USUHS. Medical school is undoubtedly expensive, but this route could let you avoid debt altogether.

If you’re accepted to USUHS, you’re paid $64,000 (or more) to attend. It involves a 7-year commitment after residency, but you’re made a full-time commissioned officer. During your active duty, you’re given a tax-free housing allowance and free healthcare for you and your family.

Sub-point: all your years in medical school contribute towards retirement!

DISCLAIMER/BONUS:
During active duty, you will be nowhere near the frontlines; you’re never in harm’s way, even when deployed.

In addition to applying to USUHS through the AMCAS, there’s the option of applying for the HEALTH PROFESSIONS SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM.

The Army, Navy, and Air Force offer a service scholarship to students who attend medical school programs. If accepted, students receive full coverage of all tuition/fee charges as well as reimbursement of health insurance costs and other related school expenses. A living stipend, around $2,000 per month, is also provided.

Upon completion of school, the physicians “repay” the scholarship by working one year in the branch of service they were accepted into for each year that they received the scholarship.

Who’s a GOOD FIT for USUHS?

Candidates with prior medical experience
Service-oriented students who volunteer and sacrifice for others
Leaders with a trend of success and excellence
Candidates who can pass a light fitness test (run 2 miles, do 20 pushups)
Applicants with a hunger for adventure
Candidates who want to get into competitive residencies or live/practice in CA
USUHS – BY THE NUMBERS
The military health system is one of the largest networks in the world:

9.5 million employees in the system
$48 billion budget
ADMISSIONS:
60% of matriculants have no prior military service (but those with prior service ARE given preference – ROTC counts)
3200 applications each year for 171 spots
3.6 average GPA
509-510 average MCAT
Holistic review – those with above a 3.0 and a 500 will be considered based on other merits
HOW TO ANSWER USUHS’S SECONDARY ESSAYS
IMPORTANT NOTE: the secondary indicates that you must return it in 21 days! However, we always recommend SENDING YOUR SECONDARIES BACK AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, hopefully within the first few days of receiving it, a week at the most.

ESSAY TOPICS FOR USUHS SECONDARIES (’18 – ’19 CYCLE)

1. Military and Public Health Medicine is a calling that is both rewarding and challenging. “America’s Medical School” is looking for the absolute best to serve all military and Public Health Service beneficiaries—service members, retirees, and family members. Please describe your motivation to learn and practice medicine with the U.S. military medical corps and/or the U.S. Public Health Service. (1500 characters)

Best-case scenario, you have a family history of military service and can regale USUHS with this information, as it will clearly give you an edge over other candidates.

If not, you’ll have to dig deeper and be more creative. Consider what we’ve said about adventure, as well as the privilege of serving the service-oriented.

One good approach would be to share a quick anecdote about yourself, maybe working as a wilderness survival coach or chief scribe in a clinic, that would illustrate your commitment to certain criteria: servant leadership, poise under pressure, giving back to those who give the most, etc.

Once you’ve established these values through a main example and smaller supporting examples, you can link these personal values to the lifestyle, commitment, and novel opportunity that military medicine offers.

2. The F. Edward Hébert School of Medicine features a distinctive curriculum that meets all of the requirements for a high quality medical degree AND prepares students to be high-performing officers in the medical corps of the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force or Public Health Service. Please describe what in your research about our school and/or in your personal or family background attracts you to our institution’s unique mission and approach. (1500 characters)

Again, having a family background in the military is clearly valued.

But let’s take a look at the mission statement, specifically. USUHS champions FOUR VALUES – Respect, Integrity, Safety, Excellence – so it would be wise to share examples of your work, volunteering, or extracurriculars that exhibit these qualities in action.

Some possibilities that come to mind: work as an EMT, scoutmaster of a Boy/Cub Scout troop or leader for brownie Girl Scouts, member of an ethics board, leader of a sorority or fraternity, coordinator of a youth summer camp, tutor/mentor for underprivileged kids.

Hopefully you’re seeing a trend – you want to show that you’re comfortable with accountability and attracted to positions of great responsibility, especially for the wellbeing of others.

If you can show yourself as someone who is willing to sacrifice on behalf of others and devote time to altruistic endeavors, you’ll be able to convey why an education on the frontlines and a commitment to active duty are so attractive to you, or at least in line with your overall character.

3. The F. Edward Hébert School of Medicine receives far more outstanding applications from potential students than we are able to admit in any given year. Our Admissions Committee likes to assemble classes of students with a diversity of backgrounds, skills, experiences and talents to care for our patients—many of whom have overcome impressive challenges while serving our country. Please describe a special quality or experience that will help you relate to our unique population and that will strengthen your class if admitted to “America’s Medical School.” (1500 characters)

So, in essence, this fits the mold of a general “challenge” prompt, but it also alludes to elements of diversity as well.

For candidates who completed the disadvantaged essay on the AMCAS, you’ll likely want to go back to this well, without repeating things verbatim. The military is going to want applicants from challenging backgrounds, because it shows an ability to overcome adversity and struggle. Candidates with this kind of backstory are in an easier position to answer challenge and diversity at the same time. Perhaps the only time that a disadvantage has its advantages…

For people who cannot responsibly claim hardship or disadvantage, you can still illustrate the diverse challenges on your path.

Let’s start with diversity. As we’ve said in OTHER SECONDARY GUIDES, it’s smart to focus on your “experiential” or “intellectual” diversity, rather than more traditional forms like ethnicity or culture. If you’re black, hispanic, or part of the LGBTQ community, then you’re underrepresented in medicine and could highlight that fact. But medical schools are going to be inundated with essays about being Vietnamese, Polish, Indian, Russian, etc.

So, it’s good to rethink the diversity question:

How are you going to make their campus a more interesting place?
Have you ever had an unusual job? Did you major in something unique? What makes you different from other pre-meds?
Pretend you’re in a conversation with your future medical school classmates about the state of healthcare in the United States. What point of view could you contribute to that conversation?
Most of the activities you’d use to answer the above questions have inherent challenges, so hopefully you can find a story or situation to serve as your hybrid challenge-diversity response. Have you ever mediated a conflict between two friends or colleagues? Helped a friend or family member through a serious issue? Try to choose situations which tempted you to give up, or scenarios that tested your ethics through a conflict of interest. Also, choosing times that you stepped out of your comfort zone or dealt with a learning curve can be a good approach, since your shortcomings will be more forgivable.

Still have questions about USUHS? What secondaries guide should we do next? Let us know in the comments below and we’ll respond personally!

MCAT-2015 is a newly revised version of the Medical College Admissions Test that will be in effect for those applying for entrance to medical school in the fall of 2016. MCAT-2015 will have four sections and will include content typically taught in one-year introductory college courses in biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, and one-semester college courses in biochemistry, sociology, and psychology. Knowledge of research methods and statistics, as normally encountered in the courses just mentioned, is also important. MCAT-2015 will be administered beginning in spring, 2015. The last administration of the old MCAT will be in January, 2015. See www.aamc.org and follow links to MCAT for details. It is important that you keep abreast of the admissions requirements of medical schools you may be applying to in the future as these requirements may be in flux over the coming months as the transition to the new MCAT takes place.

Introduction

The opportunity exists for a very limited number of midshipmen to service select Navy Medical or Dental Corps and enter medical or dental school directly upon graduation from USNA. The purpose of this document is to provide some basic information about the program and to provide some advice about the application processes for a medical/dental corps billet and for admission to medical/dental school. The focus will be on medical school, but most of the discussion can be equally well applied to dental school. If you are a midshipmen interested in the program you should contact Dr. Kinter to be included on the e-mail list so that you receive announcements about information sessions, important deadlines, and the like. Also, please feel free to contact either Dr. Kinter or Dr. Urban for advisement regarding issues such as major selection, course selection, extra-curricular activities, the application process, or any other questions you might have.

USUHS Service Obligation

The premedical program at USNA began in 1970 with the Class of 1974. In 1982, The Secretary of the Navy, upon recommendation by the Chief of Naval Operations, established a program which would permit a limited number of highly motivated and well qualified Naval Academy graduates to participate in subsequent naval medical training. In 1996, the Secretary of the Navy expanded the program to provide midshipmen with the opportunity to enter either the Medical or Dental Corps. Current Navy regulations cap the maximum number of combined Medical and Dental Corps billets for graduating USNA midshipmen at 15, but, in any given year, the actual number of billets available may be less than that depending on the needs of the Navy.

Midshipmen are encouraged to read in its entirety USNA Instruction 1531.47C which governs the program. This instruction states a number of minimum qualifications including:

CQPR (grade point average) of at least 3.2 (however, the average value for those who’ve been recommended for the billet in recent years and have been accepted to medical school is ~ 3.6)
No grade in military performance lower than B in second and first class years.
No grade in conduct lower than B in second and first class years
Completion of the medical school required courses before the start of 1/C year
Competitive score on the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) by mid-summer prior to 1/C year
Role of the PPAC

The role of the Premedical/Predental Advising Committee (PPAC) is to provide information and counseling to midshipmen interested in Navy medicine or dentistry and to provide to the Superintendent its recommendations concerning the selection of midshipmen for the Medical and Dental Corps. The committee is chaired by the Naval Academy Premedical Adviser (Dr. Kinter) and consists of the Associate Provost for Academic Affairs (Dean Davis), a senior representative of the Commandant’s staff (normally a Battalion Officer), a Navy physician representing Navy Medical Corps (a senior officer from Brigade Medical, for instance), a Navy dentist representing Navy Dental Corps (a senior officer from Brigade Dental, for instance) and a faculty representative from the Chemistry Department (Dr. Urban). Midshipmen who wish to be considered for a Medical or Dental Corps billet will submit a formal application to the PPAC Chair by the end of 2/C year. The PPAC will review all of the application materials, conduct interviews of the applicants over the summer, and make recommendations to the Superintendent about billet selection early in the fall of 1/C year.

Major Selection

Medical (and dental) schools generally do not require any one particular major but rather list specific courses as requirements. They accept applicants from many different academic majors as long as the required courses have been completed. You should check the webpages of the specific schools in which you are interested for their specific requirements. Generally, medical schools list the required courses as: one year each, of Biology with lab, Physics with lab, General Chemistry with lab, Organic Chemistry with lab, Calculus, and English. Several of these courses are contained in the USNA Core Curriculum and thus are fulfilled by any academic major at the Naval Academy. The courses that are remaining include one year of Biology with lab and one year of Organic Chemistry with lab. Biology I and II (SB251-252 including the labs) are offered by the USNA Chemistry Department. Organic Chemistry I and II (SC225-226), and the corequisite lab course (SC261-262), is also offered in the Chemistry Department. SC225, SC226, SC261, and SC262 are required courses for Chemistry Majors. For this reason, many midshipmen interested in pursuing medical corps choose to major in chemistry. But, you are certainly free to major in whatever you like. If you choose to major in something other than chemistry you must be very sure that you will be able to accomplish all of the medical school requirements by the end of second class year. The fact that these are laboratory sciences introduces some difficult scheduling challenges. For example, Integrated Lab I and II, the lab courses that accompany Organic Chemistry I and II, meet for three-hour sessions twice weekly. Typically midshipmen choosing majors other than chemistry take advantage of significant validation credits and/or voluntary summer school. Without validation credit, it will be very difficult or perhaps impossible to complete the required courses by the end of second class year as required for consideration for the billet. Note, medical schools generally do not accept AP credit so courses in the prerequisite subject areas must be taken in college. Over the period of 1998 to 2009, midshipmen from 13 different majors attended medical school after USNA graduation with about two thirds of them coming from the chemistry major.

Academic Performance

Grades

Gaining admission to medical school is a highly competitive undertaking and earning high grades is paramount. According to the American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC), for the period of 2007 – 2009, only ~55,000 of the ~124,000 applicants to U.S. medical schools were accepted. In 2009, the average GPA for those entering U. S medical schools was 3.66. The average GPA of those who applied for admission, but did not matriculate, was 3.39. Thus, each year across the county a large and highly competitive pool of applicants is vying to become part of a very select group who will gain acceptance to one of the 133 U.S. medical schools. In order to compete well in this applicant pool you should endeavor to build the strongest academic record possible with high grades in all subjects. In the application process, your grades in biology, chemistry, physics, and math courses are segregated into a separate category thus highlighting your performance in these key areas to prospective medical schools. The average GPA of those midshipmen who were recommended for a Medical Corps billet during the period of 1999 – 2009 was 3.63.

MCAT

The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is a standardized examination that is used as part of the admission process by essentially every U. S. medical school. It contains four sections: Physical Sciences (PS), Biological Sciences (BS), Verbal Reasoning (VR), and a Writing Sample (WS). The MCAT is offered numerous times beginning in late January through early September. For the class entering U.S. medical schools in 2009, the average score on the MCAT (PS, VR, and BS sections combined) was 30.8 (of 45 max). The average MCAT score among midshipmen awarded a Medical Corps billet during the period 1999 – 2009 was 29.8.

To be considered for a Med Corps billet, the PPAC must have your best MCAT score by early in August prior to your first-class year. Midshipmen should plan on taking the MCAT by spring of 2/C year. This will allow enough time to schedule and prepare for a retake in the event one is needed, and receive the new scores in time for PPAC consideration. MCAT scores are typically released 30 to 35 days after the test is taken. Also, gearing up for a retake may require significant preparation time especially if one is counting on the score improving significantly.

All MCAT attempts “count” in the eyes medical schools. You should prepare well for the MCAT and try to get the best score you possibly can. Many midshipmen find that with ample preparation, one MCAT is all that is needed. However, it is very dangerous to put off taking the MCAT for the first time until the last minute in case you discover you do need to retake the test because of a low score or because of unforeseen circumstances such as an illness on test day. It has happened that midshipmen who have delayed taking their first MCAT until 1/C summer have received an unexpectedly low score. Because they waited until the last minute to take the first MCAT, the score for the retake did not come back in time to impact the PPAC decision regarding a billet. We have seen very well qualified applicants lose the billet this way even though the score on the retake improved significantly; the better score just didn’t arrive in time. The scores on record when PPAC deliberates in early August of first-class year are the ones upon which the PPAC decision will be based.

Additional Activities

In addition to identifying applicants with outstanding academic credentials, medical school admission committees are also very interested in individuals with a proven track record of service to others and of leadership. Your desire to come to USNA is a strong testament to your willingness to serve your country and your desire take on the responsibility of leadership roles. You should also seek opportunities to engage in community volunteer activities. Be sure to adequately document all of your activities outside the classroom in your medical school application as you will participate in a variety of experiences that none of your counterparts in the large medical school applicant pool will.

It is also important to gain clinical experience to help you discern if working with patients appeals to you. Medical schools look for this kind of experience to be sure that you know about the issues facing healthcare providers today and that you have seen an insider’s view of the medical profession. There is a formal mechanism available to selected midshipmen in the form of an internship for rising 1/C. See below for more information about the USNA medical internship opportunities. But, you should also try to take advantage of any opportunities to shadow physicians or volunteer at local hospitals that you can. Also, on your summer cruises, you may be able to get the opportunity to see Navy medicine in action. Many midshipmen report that they have been able to interact with personnel in the medical departments aboard ship during their cruises.

Internships

The Chemistry Department sponsors two internship programs available to midshipmen in any academic major specifically designed for those interested in Navy medicine and dentistry. These internships are available only to rising first class midshipmen with approval of the USNA faculty POCs. It is important to note that midshipmen are responsible for travel and other costs associated with these internships. It is possible that the internships may be counted for summer training credit for qualified midshipmen.

Clinical Rotations at Navy Medical Centers (USNA POC: Dr. Urban, Chemistry Dept.)
This program provides midshipmen the opportunity to spend a summer block shadowing Navy physicians in a variety of medical departments in a large navy hospital. The internship runs at the National Navy Medical Center in Bethesda, Navy Medical Center San Diego (Balboa), and Navy Medical Center Portsmouth.
Infectious Disease Research/Tropical Medicine (USNA POC: Dr. Kinter, Chemistry Dept.)
This program takes place at the U. S. Naval Medical Research Center Detachment Lima and Iquitos, Peru. Midshipmen will participate in research in infectious disease and tropical medicine and may also work alongside Navy Medical Corps staff providing healthcare and humanitarian aid in the region.
Timeline for the Application Processes (Medical Corps Billet AND Medical School)

4/C Year Academic Year
Do very well academically
Choose an appropriate major that will allow you to complete all of the medical school requirements by the end of 2/C year.
3/C Summer
Gain some exposure to Navy Medical Corps while on summer cruise if possible
Volunteer or shadow while on leave if possible
3/C Year
Do very well academically
Earn high grades in medical school requirements (organic chemistry and/or biology and the accompanying labs)
2/C Summer
Prep for MCAT (some mids opt to take the MCAT during the summer prior to 2/C year if they’ve completed both biology and organic chemistry).
Gain some clinical experience and/or participate in volunteer work
Take Bio I if needed
2/C Year
Do very well academically
Complete the medical school requirements (organic chemistry and/or biology and the accompanying labs)
Take the MCAT: NOTE: PPAC must have your final score by early August of 1/C year. Be sure to allow ample time in case a retake is necessary!!)
Submit PPAC application end of 2/C year.
1/C Summer
Retake MCAT if necessary (in EARLY summer at the latest)
Participate in a medical internship
Submit AMCAS primary application. AMCAS is an electronic clearing house where you load all of your application information including grades in college courses. The information is then normalized and validated. You fill out one AMCAS application for all of the schools to which you are applying. The application opens on 1 June. Most medical schools operate on a rolling admissions basis meaning it is in your best interest to submit your AMCAS application early.
Interview with PPAC
Return secondary applications. Upon receipt of your AMCAS application, medical schools may or may not send you a secondary application. Secondary applications are specific to individual medical schools. You should return these to schools in a timely fashion. Medical school admissions committees may interpret the timeliness with which you process the secondary application as an indication of your level of interest in their school.
1/C Year
Continue to return secondary applications
Interview at medical schools
Await Supt’s decision on Med. Corps Billets
Prepare HPSP application
The figure below shows the timeline for the pathway to a Medical Corps billet.

timeline

The figure below shows one example of how the timeline can fit into a midshipman’s matrix. This example is the case of a chemistry major with no validation credit. The organic chemistry courses are part of the major requirements in 3/C year. Biology I is taken in 2/C summer and Biology II is taken as the free elective in 2/C fall. This allows the MCAT to be taken in the spring of 2/C year with ample time for a retake by early summer if needed. The presence of validation credit may allow biology (and therefore the MCAT) to be taken earlier. For other majors, it will be necessary to make use of open slots from validations and/or summer school. Make sure you can map out a specific plan where organic chemistry with lab, biology with lab, and the MCAT can be all be accomplished the end of 2/C year and that all of the needed courses will fit into a schedule for each semester along the way.

courses

After USNA

The path to becoming a physician involves four years of medical school followed by post-graduate training in the form of a residency program. First-year residents are known as interns. The duration of the residency training program depends on the specialty. For example, family medicine, internal medicine and pediatrics are three-year residency programs, OB/GYN is four years, and general surgery residencies are typically five-year programs. Subspecialty training may extend these time frames further.

There are two pathways to medical school available to graduating midshipmen:

HPSP: Health Professions Scholarship Program:
https://www.navy.com/what-to-expect/education-opportunities/college-options-and-scholarships
Scholarship to any U. S. medical school.
HPSP pays educational costs including tuition, fees, books, supplies, equipment
Students receive a monthly stipend ($2200 as of Feb 2017) plus full active duty pay and benefits for 45 days per year.
4 year service obligation
USUHS: Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences:
http://www.usuhs.edu/
DoD health sciences university
No tuition. DoD pays education cost.
Students receive full salary and benefits of a junior officer.
7 year service obligation
Notes about service obligation for both HPSP and USUHS:
The service obligation is to be paid back while in a non-training status. Thus, the time spent in residency training does not apply to the service obligation.
The service obligation incurred for medical school is normally added to the USNA obligation
See program websites and/or contact program representatives for details
Applying to Medical School Later

Many USNA graduates attend medical school later in life. In some cases, this happens while still on active duty via a lateral transfer into the medical corps. In other cases, individuals opt to go to medical school after fulfilling their USNA service obligation. For some individuals, there was an interest in medicine when they were midshipmen but they did not obtain a med. corps billet, or they simply chose to do something else in the Navy first (aviation, submarines, surface warfare, etc.). For others, the thought of going into medicine didn’t happen until later in life. Regardless of the circumstances, we have seen many USNA graduates attend medical school some years after USNA and go on to have successful careers in medicine in both the Navy and the civilian world. Medical schools are very attracted to individuals who have had varied life experiences, have sought opportunities to serve, have shouldered responsibility, and have developed strong leadership qualities. Thus, applicants who have spent time in the Fleet and Marine Corps make for attractive candidates. The application requirements are the same as those stated above in terms of academic course work and the MCAT. Thus, those going this route will often need to fill in some gaps in terms of required courses, take refresher courses, and prepare for the MCAT. Dr. Kinter and Dr. Urban can help advise former midshipmen about the process.

Imagine practicing medicine in the wilderness, aboard a carrier ship, in a submarine, or inside a hangar of jet planes.

Some USUHS students get to travel to Central America on a ship for four weeks. Others are part of the initial response to public health and medical crises around the world, like ebola or hurricanes. One graduate became Saddam Hussein’s urologist, so you never know what you’re going to do.    

Maybe it sounds corny, but medical training through the military would offer a unique path, full of interesting travel, unusual cases, and novel settings.

You have to admit it sounds pretty cool – something more fun than usual before the slog of residency. Two USUHS graduates even became astronauts. 

2. RESIDENCY ADVANTAGE

Speaking of residency, training through the military will make it easier to get into competitive residency programs.

There are exclusive programs just for the military match or special health professions programs; if you attend USUHS for medical school, you’ll have the luxury of both the normal match system and the military match system.

Depending on specialty, this advantage can make it significantly easier to match, especially for the most specialized programs like orthopedic surgery. 

3. LIVE AND PRACTICE IN CALIFORNIA

Most Savvy Pre-med contributors live in California, and we must admit it’s pretty nice. Great weather, delicious food, enormous diversity. 

California is important for many students we work with, and USUHS could be an additional way for in-state candidates to hedge their bets.

There is a huge military presence in California: the Navy in San Diego (all specialties), the Air Force in Davis (active duty but working at UC Davis), and Camp Pendleton (family medicine).

4. GAIN A SECOND FAMILY

Medical school can be stressful and isolating, often reducing one’s social life and sense of community.

But training through the military would let you be a part of another extended family, with the privilege of caring for soldiers – people who have sacrificed everything and earned the title of “hero.”

It’s rare to be able to serve the service-oriented, but military medicine gives you this opportunity. You can become a part of a long-standing tradition and find lifelong friendships with your cohort of peers. 

Just a small example – the “Honor Salute” – when someone dies on the floor of a military hospital, everything stops. Everyone mans the rails. Everyone is at attention as the person is taken out in full silence. 

5. GET PAID TO GO TO MEDICAL SCHOOL

For many candidates, this might be the primary selling point for applying to USUHS. Medical school is undoubtedly expensive, but this route could let you avoid debt altogether. 

If you’re accepted to USUHS, you’re paid $64,000 (or more) to attend. It involves a 7-year commitment after residency, but you’re made a full-time commissioned officer. During your active duty, you’re given a tax-free housing allowance and free healthcare for you and your family.