2009-2010 Oregon Health & Sciences University (OHSU) Application Thread

[OregonNuke]

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What does it matter how much our parents make? We're adults. Our mommies and daddies aren't going to pay our parking tickets. We're all broke together. That's why it's crazy that schools base financial aid on our parents' incomes. If my parents make $30,000 or $500,000, I'm still in the exact same boat. I'm filling out financial aid forms right now and thinking, wtf??? It's actually kinda insulting.

I'm sorry about the comment. It was a little presumptuous of me to jump to conclusions like that. I was just a little testy at the time because I had heard someone that day with 2 degrees from a private school and both parents as doctors talk about how they talked about "understanding how underserved populations feel" in their interview. They had lower scores (MCAT, GPA) than me and had been accepted to OHSU, whereas I don't even have an interview yet. I'm sorry, but there is nothing in that individuals situation that can come close to giving them the experiences that equal what underserved populations have gone through. I respect that you have sustained for yourself but in my experience it seems as though you would be the minority. Especially having gone to the U of O (I'm assuming you did based on your name) you didn't know multiple people that would just say, "I'll get money from my parents for groceries," or, "I'll just put this weekend on the credit card"? Even those that did sustain for themselves always had the comfort of knowing that if something bad did happen there was a back-up plan. And it's that fact that does not really place you in the exact same boat. If something happens, for me, there is no safety net. Without a third party, equalizing force, such as financial aid, college wouldn't even be an option for a lot of people including me. If financial aid wasn't available do you think that a lot well-off parents that force their kids to sustain themselves and try to teach them to grow up would throw them out in the real world or would they pay for thier college to allow them more opportunities in life? I have payed for my college 100% out of my own pocket without even so much as having my parents buy me a meal. I love my family and they have been 100% emotionally supportive but nobody in my immediate family has ever stepped foot on a college campus (they still haven't, they've never visited the campus) and some have never even graduated high school. It might be the same river but it is a very different boat.

 

[Go Ducks]

It is silly to think that SES has no bearing on educational and professional attainment. The simple fact is that medical school is mostly filled up with children from upper-middle class families.

That's true, of course. Schools should try to recruit people from families with lower incomes by giving them opportunities to enroll in special programs and get college scholarships before they apply to med school.

People from lower-income families aren't enrolling in med school because they haven't been exposed to medicine as a career option or because they spend so much time during undergrad working for min wage that they don't have time to volunteer, do research, and study. Trying to fix this by giving money to students who already beat the odds and have already been accepted isn't an effective way to address the problem.

I've been told by multiple people from financial aid offices that they give out financial aid based on parents' incomes simply because they can't think of any other way to do it. We're all broke and we're all worthy (or we wouldn't have been accepted). Even so, it still seems ridiculous to me. We're not eighteen anymore.

 

[driftkitty]

Many, if not most, students don't pay for parking. You generally don't want to drive up and down the hill too often due to traffic. Here are some options:

-- Live on the hill, ~$20/yr city parking permit
-- Bike to the Tram, they PAY you $50 for every 30 trips
-- Take the Bus/MAX/Streecar, ~$300 for a YEARLY pass through the school
-- Motorcycle, free on the street next to the Plaid or about half the cost for the OHSU permit

I work at OHSU and just park in a neighborhood on Lair Hill (the neighborhood under the tram). Then I walk about a half mile to my building at the base of the tram.

 

[Go Ducks]

Oregon Nukes:

I hear you. I too was venting frustration, and I wrote too rashly.

I think that providing scholarships for lower-income students to attend undergrad is REALLY important because there isn't enough financial aid to go around and because parents very frequently help students out financially when they're in college (as you pointed out).

Med school is different: we're older, independent, and we can all get enough loans to cover our costs. We will also all have enough money to pay back our loans eventually (perhaps with the exception of family practice doctors, who I believe should get some dept forgiveness from our government after graduation... but that's another story).

About the parking: getting up the hill by car is awful. It's the only ride that ever makes me feel car sick. Your best bet is to live on the hill or park below and take the tram up.

 

[OregonNuke]

Go Ducks:

I totally agree with you that we are all adults and should be able to take care of ourselves. I am curious though, why do you think everyone would be on an even playing field coming out of undergrad but not on an even playing field coming out of high school? I think the same reason income should be taken into account in financial aid during undergrad is the same reason it should be taken into account in med school.

 

[3cheers4snow]

So I got an interview invite email yesterday....YAAAAAAAAA!!!!
I called the office about an hour after they had sent the email and I got a voicemail and left my info and I still havent heard back from them. I tried calling again but it went straight to voicemail and I didnt want to leave a 2nd message.
Does it take them awhile to confirm your interview date?

 

[futureNCmed]

So I got an interview invite email yesterday....YAAAAAAAAA!!!!
I called the office about an hour after they had sent the email and I got a voicemail and left my info and I still havent heard back from them. I tried calling again but it went straight to voicemail and I didnt want to leave a 2nd message.
Does it take them awhile to confirm your interview date?

congratulations!! Give us some more info tho... IS/OOS? Complete date? ect...

 

[calimed214]

So I got an interview invite email yesterday....YAAAAAAAAA!!!!
I called the office about an hour after they had sent the email and I got a voicemail and left my info and I still havent heard back from them. I tried calling again but it went straight to voicemail and I didnt want to leave a 2nd message.
Does it take them awhile to confirm your interview date?

When I left a message, a lady called me back a couple hours later but they tell you to give them 24 hours to get back to you. So if you don't hear by Monday, give them another call. 🙂

 

[3cheers4snow]

Thanks for the replies, they got back to me today, i'm sure they are swamped.
Anyway, I was complete 11/5 and i'm OOS 34Q and 3.85 GPA. Really I am just excited they even want to interview me!

 

[calimed214]

Thanks for the replies, they got back to me today, i'm sure they are swamped.
Anyway, I was complete 11/5 and i'm OOS 34Q and 3.85 GPA. Really I am just excited they even want to interview me!

Good luck! I enjoyed my time while I was there. Just be prepared to possibly have a lot of downtime in between interviews. And check the weather. As an OOSer, I had no idea Portland rained so much!

 

[Ascenda]

I work at OHSU and just park in a neighborhood on Lair Hill (the neighborhood under the tram). Then I walk about a half mile to my building at the base of the tram.

Lair Hill is my neighborhood 🙂

What is your travel time starting from the parked car to the building you need to reach? I ask because there is no efficient route (that I know of) to the tram from Lair Hill - unless you're willing to play frogger on I-5 South. I walk up a wooded trail that takes me no more than 15 minutes to get to the Casey Eye Institute.

I thought I'd mention this in case you hadn't considered it - of course, then you'd miss out on the neat-o tram ride.

Ascenda

 

[driftkitty]

Lair Hill is my neighborhood 🙂

What is your travel time starting from the parked car to the building you need to reach? I ask because there is no efficient route (that I know of) to the tram from Lair Hill - unless you're willing to play frogger on I-5 South. I walk up a wooded trail that takes me no more than 15 minutes to get to the Casey Eye Institute.

I thought I'd mention this in case you hadn't considered it - of course, then you'd miss out on the neat-o tram ride.

Ascenda

I park near the bottom of lair hill, walk under the Ross Island bridge, down the macadam ramp that goes over I-5, back under the ross island bridge, and down the little hill under the tram. It takes me maybe 5 minutes from parking to my building at the base of the tram.

 

[Ascenda]

I park near the bottom of lair hill, walk under the Ross Island bridge, down the macadam ramp that goes over I-5, back under the ross island bridge, and down the little hill under the tram. It takes me maybe 5 minutes from parking to my building at the base of the tram.

So there *is* a more efficient route! I knew there had to be!

 

[rbnsafsadgf]

I park near the bottom of lair hill, walk under the Ross Island bridge, down the macadam ramp that goes over I-5, back under the ross island bridge, and down the little hill under the tram. It takes me maybe 5 minutes from parking to my building at the base of the tram.

Some day there will be a Ped bridge.

http://www.gibbsbridge.org/

 

[dlaw7]

Hey everyone,

I interviewed in late december (12/17/09) and am still waiting for a decision! Is anyone else in this situation? Has anyone else who interviewed on this day heard anything??

Thanks!

 

[MiniMoo]

Hey everyone,

I interviewed in late december (12/17/09) and am still waiting for a decision! Is anyone else in this situation? Has anyone else who interviewed on this day heard anything??

Thanks!

I interviewed before you and no news yet. They say it can take up to 6 weeks. With the holiday break and everything, I think this is really only week 5 for you.

 

[Dazedaisy]

Just wondering if anyone has heard about people with lower stats getting into OHSU. I have good experience with underserved populations, but my stats are not Harvard-worthy. I've been complete since mid December, I know it may take up to 12 weeks, but I'm getting nervous now because I have deposits due at another school 🙁 Will a LOI help?
Anybody that was compelte in december hear anything yet??

 

[MiniMoo]

My stats are not Harvard worthy either. 😉 Very average GPA with a good MCAT. If you want exact numbers, you can PM me. I think OHSU really looks at fit though. I got an interview pretty quickly after being complete, while others with higher stats than mine were put on hold.

 

[cah87]

Hey everyone,

I interviewed in late december (12/17/09) and am still waiting for a decision! Is anyone else in this situation? Has anyone else who interviewed on this day heard anything??

Thanks!

I interviewed the day before you and no news. Someone from the 15th said they got in last Tuesday. So, I'm assuming they'll get to us the next time they meet. I've tried to call to confirm this, but it rings four times and then goes to a voicemail.

 

[RunningDiva]

Hey everyone,

I interviewed in late december (12/17/09) and am still waiting for a decision! Is anyone else in this situation? Has anyone else who interviewed on this day heard anything??

Thanks!

Interviewed first week of Dec and I got nuthin!

 

[long]

To those who say that they haven't received any word since your interview, remember to check your status page. If you didn't get accepted and just got put on hold they aren't going to send you anything.

 

[RunningDiva]

To those who say that they haven't received any word since your interview, remember to check your status page. If you didn't get accepted and just got put on hold they aren't going to send you anything.

yeah good call. i've been checking mine, nothing changed since interview. adcom meetings every thursday, right?

 

[MiniMoo]

yeah good call. i've been checking mine, nothing changed since interview. adcom meetings every thursday, right?

They meet EVERY Thursday?? At the rate they're going, I thought it was once a month.

 

[RunningDiva]

They meet EVERY Thursday?? At the rate they're going, I thought it was once a month.

hmmm, well, i'm trying to recall from 2 months ago so i could be wrong. it was very early in the morning and suboptimal-caffeination status when they told us. that's why i was asking, hehe.

 

[premed541]

hmmm, well, i'm trying to recall from 2 months ago so i could be wrong. it was very early in the morning and suboptimal-caffeination status when they told us. that's why i was asking, hehe.

They told my interview group every Thursday also!

 

[MiniMoo]

Wow just got my acceptance email! Was not expecting this as I'm OOS. Very happy. 🙂 Good luck to everyone still waiting!

 

[RunningDiva]

Wow just got my acceptance email! Was not expecting this as I'm OOS. Very happy. 🙂 Good luck to everyone still waiting!

Me too! Kinda shocked being an OOS and all. I really liked Portland.

 

[RunningDiva]

They told my interview group every Thursday also!

okay so i'm not that crazy (well, maybe sometimes, lol). hopefully decisions will start rolling out of here for all those waiting .

 

[jm2014]

complete 11/2, OOS, no change on status page but i'm 13+ weeks under review. are they still giving interview invites here?

 

[premed541]

Can anyone let me know how long it took to get the acceptance packet in the mail? Thanks! 🙂

 

[skakaiser]

complete 11/2, OOS, no change on status page but i'm 13+ weeks under review. are they still giving interview invites here?

I'm pretty much in the same boat. Complete 10/29 and no status change. Also I can't figure out any way to contact them except though snail mail. Is there any way to get in touch with this school other than snail mail?

 

[long]

I remember from last year, from personal experience, that if you incessantly call the number that always leads to the message machine for Lori Toner, and you call at the right time, someone actually picks it up every once and a while.

 

[Ascenda]

Hi everyone,

Does anyone know when the post-interview hold list sees updates? I know we are guaranteed notification by May 15, but has someone come across information on movement before then?

Thanks in advance!
Ascenda

 

[MDmaybe]

For anyone who's been accepted, is there a facebook group yet? I did a quick search and couldn't find one...

 

[goducks]

For anyone who's been accepted, is there a facebook group yet? I did a quick search and couldn't find one...

I don't think there is one. If you make it i'll join it!

 

[Sleight]

I remember from last year, from personal experience, that if you incessantly call the number that always leads to the message machine for Lori Toner, and you call at the right time, someone actually picks it up every once and a while.

Just for reference, what number are you calling?

 

[Sleight]

Just so everyone knows...I called about my status today and they told me that I do not meet the mission requirements (dang it!) and that they will be mailing out a mass notification to people who do not meet mission requirements (they are not dipping into the non-mission pot at all this year)...

I guess for those of us who hadn't received invites at this point should have probably been expecting this (and I sort of was but it still sucks...)

I am not sure if this goes out to EVERYONE that hasn't gotten an interview yet but if you haven't I would either call or keep checking your mailbox (snail mail)...sorry guys...

 

[ThatQuestionGuy]

I scheduled an interview for later this month, and I remember there being something about a student hosting list? I haven't gotten yet, are you supposed to get it a few days before your interview maybe?

 

[URHere]

I scheduled an interview for later this month, and I remember there being something about a student hosting list? I haven't gotten yet, are you supposed to get it a few days before your interview maybe?

You should have been given the email address of the student admissions liason either when you were invited, or shortly after. Basically, you email the liason with a little paragraph about yourself, and an email is sent out to current students who volunteer as hosts. Someone will pick you up, you'll be sent his/her email address, and that's pretty much it.

 

[Dazedaisy]

Just so everyone knows...I called about my status today and they told me that I do not meet the mission requirements (dang it!) and that they will be mailing out a mass notification to people who do not meet mission requirements (they are not dipping into the non-mission pot at all this year)...

I guess for those of us who hadn't received invites at this point should have probably been expecting this (and I sort of was but it still sucks...)

I am not sure if this goes out to EVERYONE that hasn't gotten an interview yet but if you haven't I would either call or keep checking your mailbox (snail mail)...sorry guys...

Sorry, but what "mission requirements" are you referring to? (I've read their mission, but how do they determine someone doesn't fit it based off of paper?)

 

[SN2ed]

Sorry, but what "mission requirements" are you referring to? (I've read their mission, but how do they determine someone doesn't fit it based off of paper?)

The three groups:

1. In-state residents and people from Montana or Wyoming

2. "Diverse" students

3. Academics: 3.65+ and 32+ MCAT

 

[Sleight]

The three groups:

1. In-state residents and people from Montana or Wyoming

2. "Diverse" students

3. Academics: 3.65+ and 32+ MCAT

its a bit hard to analyze "diverse" in my opinion though...unless you go strictly off of ethnicity...i have been told i am considered a "diverse" applicant at other schools but apparently im not diverse enough to meet ohsu's standards lol...honestly not bitter or anything im just kind of curious how they decide if you are diverse...whether it has ANYTHING to do with what you have done in life or if it is just what color skin you were born with...

I AM NOT HERE TO OFFEND ANYONE AND I AM NOT TRYING TO PICK RACIAL ARGUMENTS...just want to say that upfront because I could imagine this turning into an argument...

 

[Dazedaisy]

its a bit hard to analyze "diverse" in my opinion though...unless you go strictly off of ethnicity...i have been told i am considered a "diverse" applicant at other schools but apparently im not diverse enough to meet ohsu's standards lol...honestly not bitter or anything im just kind of curious how they decide if you are diverse...whether it has ANYTHING to do with what you have done in life or if it is just what color skin you were born with...

Agreed! Who knows what goes through the adcoms minds *sigh* this whole application process at all schools seems a little too subjective for me🙄

 

[want2succeed]

Just wondering if anyone has heard about people with lower stats getting into OHSU. I have good experience with underserved populations, but my stats are not Harvard-worthy. I've been complete since mid December, I know it may take up to 12 weeks, but I'm getting nervous now because I have deposits due at another school 🙁 Will a LOI help?
Anybody that was compelte in december hear anything yet??

I just got accepted..and I my stats were no where near harvard status..with good GPA and beow avg MCAT. I think they really look at your extra Curric and essays.. they want someone who will fit their school personably..not just academically..
Good luck!

 

[want2succeed]

its a bit hard to analyze "diverse" in my opinion though...unless you go strictly off of ethnicity...i have been told i am considered a "diverse" applicant at other schools but apparently im not diverse enough to meet ohsu's standards lol...honestly not bitter or anything im just kind of curious how they decide if you are diverse...whether it has ANYTHING to do with what you have done in life or if it is just what color skin you were born with...

I AM NOT HERE TO OFFEND ANYONE AND I AM NOT TRYING TO PICK RACIAL ARGUMENTS...just want to say that upfront because I could imagine this turning into an argument...

I can see your point.. but just to let you know.. I asked one of my interviewers at OHSU whether she thinks the school really does have what they call a "DIVERSE" student body.. and her answer was more or less that the school doesnt look to be diverse by ethnicity with in the class.. but looks for students with diverse life experiences.. lots of people there are career changers..navy/army service... have crazy volunteer experiences... have a family and are wives/husbands and parents of children.. etc...which explains their higher than average age for entering freshmen at OHSU..they think this brings more to the student body then just smart people.but people who have experienced a bit of life outside of just college which makes them diverse in that aspect.. Hope that helps clear something..

Either way..goodluck with the app process!

 

[OneMCATAway]

I can see your point.. but just to let you know.. I asked one of my interviewers at OHSU whether she thinks the school really does have what they call a "DIVERSE" student body.. and her answer was more or less that the school doesnt look to be diverse by ethnicity with in the class.. but looks for students with diverse life experiences.. lots of people there are career changers..navy/army service... have crazy volunteer experiences... have a family and are wives/husbands and parents of children.. etc...which explains their higher than average age for entering freshmen at OHSU..they think this brings more to the student body then just smart people.but people who have experienced a bit of life outside of just college which makes them diverse in that aspect.. Hope that helps clear something..

Either way..goodluck with the app process!

according to this i am as diverse as it gets!! come on OHSU its been WAYYY over 12 months 😏

 

[Go Ducks]

About diversity:

Keep in mind that they are looking for lots of different types of people. With the volume of applications OHSU gets, it could be that they've already accepted someone like you. If you are a concert pianist, but they just accepted a concert violinist, then suddenly you don't look so diverse anymore... however unusual your experiences are.

That's why applying early and broadly is so important.

 

[tsefour]

Interviewed 12/17 and found out I got a "hold" today through online login. Does anyone know if a "hold" is equivalent to "wait list"? Because I remember OHSU specifically saying that the wait list is ranked and that you can see where you are on the wait list, as it is updated in real time. However, I don't see any rank when I login... Thanks

 

[rbnsafsadgf]

Does anyone know if a "hold" is equivalent to "wait list"?

No, they are not the same thing.

 

[tsefour]

No, they are not the same thing.

Thanks for the clarification, hobbes. Are you speaking specifically for OHSU or in general? I guess I never was aware of the distinction, as I always thought holds were only given out pre-interview. Thanks