2010-2011 Oregon Health & Sciences University Application Thread

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Simplify said:
I don't think they screen at all for the secondary. Before you pay money to submit a secondary you should make sure you fit this category if you are OOS:
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The MSAR (and Oregon experts above) say that they do screen....
The worst that can happen is that you waste $32 bucks, right? Why not give it a try🙂
 
masterwolfie said:
OOS - just received my secondary (verified end of June)! Does anyone know what kind of screening they do? Is it just stats or do they also read your primary app?
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It's a very basic screen based on numbers only. I want to say that the cutoffs are something like 2.6 and 24, but I may be slightly off on that...
 
"Screen" is 2.8 and 24. They talk about it in the "Admissions FAQ" they sent with the secondary invite.
 
Have these secondary invites been email or hard copy?

Thanks!
 
QuesoAndFromage said:
does that also include OOS? I hope the 3.65/32 thing isnt true because I have a 3.63/34 haha
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I don't think that 3.65/32 is a requirement, whereas the 2.8/24 thing is. I think the 3.65/32 is more of a preference rather than a requirement for OOS. I imagine you should be ok. I'm OOS as well and I'm 3.72/35, and I don't think think they would look at my app and not yours just because of a .09 GPA difference. That would be lame.
 
mcctwist1 said:
I don't think that 3.65/32 is a requirement, whereas the 2.8/24 thing is. I think the 3.65/32 is more of a preference rather than a requirement for OOS. I imagine you should be ok. I'm OOS as well and I'm 3.72/35, and I don't think think they would look at my app and not yours just because of a .09 GPA difference. That would be lame.
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hopefully thats true.. funny thing is that if I waited the extra half month for my spring quarter grades to be included on AMCAS i would have been over 3.65 haha
 
DonutShot said:
I got a secondary, I'm OOS and one of my stats does not meet both of those so you should be fine if they're screening via numbers only.
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I think the cause for some folks' concern is that OHSU doesn't screen until you *return* the secondary. They're pretty explicit about it--return a secondary without making the cutoffs and they'll gladly process your fee and toss the app.
 
Simplify said:
I don't think they screen at all for the secondary. Before you pay money to submit a secondary you should make sure you fit this category if you are OOS:
Click to expand...

Thanks, Simplify! Thanks as well, Mctwist and URHere!
 
Northwesterly said:
I think the cause for some folks' concern is that OHSU doesn't screen until you *return* the secondary. They're pretty explicit about it--return a secondary without making the cutoffs and they'll gladly process your fee and toss the app.
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I'm not positive as to whether or not the 24/2.8 screen happens before or after submitting a secondary, but I would bet that it happens beforehand. As for the other, "suggested numbers", I absolutely wouldn't consider them a screening tool.

After turning in the secondary, screening is based on much more than numbers - in fact, 80% of OHSU's admissions decisions are non-numbers based. The catch is that IS applicants are given higher preference for interviews, so in order to ultimately be interviewed and accepted as an out of state applicant, you either need to have the full package, or some very compelling essays, ECs, and volunteer work.

Either way, I know a number of my classmates were accepted OOS with numbers below a 3.5/30, so don't place too much emphasis on arbitrary numbers. All "preference" means is that you get a couple of points added to your score for falling into one of the preferred categories. Even without those preference points your applicant score can easily be high enough for admission.
 
So quick question:

I lived in Portland for about 8 years while I was growing up. Unfortunately, I am now classified as OOS. Any suggestions on how I can let the adcom know this without sounding like a prick???

I was thinking of subtly inserting "I'm technically an Oregonian and I like locally-brewed beer..." into one of my essays, but I don't think it will go over too well. Any thoughts??
 
mcctwist1 said:
So quick question:

I lived in Portland for about 8 years while I was growing up. Unfortunately, I am now classified as OOS. Any suggestions on how I can let the adcom know this without sounding like a prick???

I was thinking of subtly inserting "I'm technically an Oregonian and I like locally-brewed beer..." into one of my essays, but I don't think it will go over too well. Any thoughts??
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You could use it as the final paragraph for one of your essays.

"All of the traits I possess...blah blah....make me an excellent candidate for OHSU...blah blah. After spending 8 years of my life living in Oregon, it feels like home and I know that this is important in medical school because....blah blah..., I know that I will be an excellent...blah blah... This is why you want me at your lovely school....blah blah...."

You can work it in🙂
 
CougarMD said:
You could use it as the final paragraph for one of your essays.

"All of the traits I possess...blah blah....make me an excellent candidate for OHSU...blah blah. After spending 8 years of my life living in Oregon, it feels like home and I know that this is important in medical school because....blah blah..., I know that I will be an excellent...blah blah... This is why you want me at your lovely school....blah blah...."

You can work it in🙂
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I don't know why but all of those "blah blahs" gave me a good laugh. I'll see if I can incorporate those in as well hahahaha.
 
I am filling out the secondary for OHSU now and I need some advice on the work activities section. If I do an annual event that I plan to do again in my gap year, should I list the end date of the activity as the future date or should I put in 2 separate entries? One for the past and one for the future dates?

Thanks!
 
alleydani33 said:
I am filling out the secondary for OHSU now and I need some advice on the work activities section. If I do an annual event that I plan to do again in my gap year, should I list the end date of the activity as the future date or should I put in 2 separate entries? One for the past and one for the future dates?

Thanks!
Click to expand...
I'd just say end date "current" and in the description explain that it's an annual thing.
 
Northwesterly said:
I think the cause for some folks' concern is that OHSU doesn't screen until you *return* the secondary. They're pretty explicit about it--return a secondary without making the cutoffs and they'll gladly process your fee and toss the app.
Click to expand...

Wait .. so, is the cutoff 2.8/24 or 3.65/32?
 
I am OOS and easily over the preference, but haven't even received word they received my app. Submitted/verified at the end of June.
 
dillydally said:
I am OOS and easily over the preference, but haven't even received word they received my app. Submitted/verified at the end of June.
Click to expand...

+1, except I was verified beginning of June. Just patiently waiting...
 
2. Diversity Essay, 4000 chars:
Please discuss the diversity that you would bring to the OHSU School of Medicine and the profession of medicine. You may want to consider important aspects of your life experience such as early educational opportunities, socioeconomic status, culture, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or life/work experiences and how these circumstances have shaped your perspective of medicine and better prepared you to become a physician.



As far as this diversity essay goes, doesn't it seem a tad irrelevant what one does with one's genitals behind closed doors? I don't understand why they are encouraging candidates to talk about sexual orientation. Do private sexual practices (and there are many) have anything to do with skill as a physician? And as far as "personality" goes, I know several manly gay men and effeminate straight men, so I think personality is a separate issue. Anyway, I don't get it. Just wondering what everyone else thinks. Should we be talking about sex here???
 
reblsmith said:
2. Diversity Essay, 4000 chars:
Please discuss the diversity that you would bring to the OHSU School of Medicine and the profession of medicine. You may want to consider important aspects of your life experience such as early educational opportunities, socioeconomic status, culture, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or life/work experiences and how these circumstances have shaped your perspective of medicine and better prepared you to become a physician.



As far as this diversity essay goes, doesn't it seem a tad irrelevant what one does with one's genitals behind closed doors? I don't understand why they are encouraging candidates to talk about sexual orientation. Do private sexual practices (and there are many) have anything to do with skill as a physician? And as far as "personality" goes, I know several manly gay men and effeminate straight men, so I think personality is a separate issue. Anyway, I don't get it. Just wondering what everyone else thinks. Should we be talking about sex here???
Click to expand...

In the context of sexual orientation and medical school applications, they aren't focusing on what one does behind the closed doors, but they're looking at the ability for one to relate to these unique populations. With gay/lesbian medical school students, it is more likely that they can empathize and better understand/relate to gay/lesbian patients. The question isn't prodding students for sexual desires, but ability to understand this patient population because of their own background.
 
I have a question about how to fill out the activities section. If you started an activity more than five years ago but continued into less than 5 years ago, what should you list as the start date? Should you put 5 years ago to keep it within 5 years, or actually put the start date?

Also does anyone know the phone number or email address to contact the admissions office? I had some trouble finding it.

Thanks a lot in advance
 
Does anyone know the latest you can submit your primery application to OHSU? I'm on the waitlist at 38 and they're at 32 now so I dn't want to apply if I don't have to.
 
chuck84 said:
Does anyone know the latest you can submit your primery application to OHSU? I'm on the waitlist at 38 and they're at 32 now so I dn't want to apply if I don't have to.
Click to expand...


According to the website (http://www.ohsu.edu/xd/education/sc...md-program/admissions/application-process.cfm) the primary deadline is October 15th. (although I'm sure you know that the odds with an October submission would be pretty low.) Sounds like your waitlist number is right around where they ended up last year. Good luck!
 
chuck84 said:
Does anyone know the latest you can submit your primery application to OHSU? I'm on the waitlist at 38 and they're at 32 now so I dn't want to apply if I don't have to.
Click to expand...

For what it's worth, Med14 orientation begins next week. Historically, the class will be full by the end of orientation week if not sooner. If you haven't heard anything by this time next week, I would go ahead and reapply.
 
Northwesterly said:
According to the website (http://www.ohsu.edu/xd/education/sc...md-program/admissions/application-process.cfm) the primary deadline is October 15th. (although I'm sure you know that the odds with an October submission would be pretty low.) Sounds like your waitlist number is right around where they ended up last year. Good luck!
Click to expand...

They claim (on the phone) that it doesn't matter as long as you apply by the deadline. I have a friend who is a first year and applied at the last minute.
 
reblsmith said:
2. Diversity Essay, 4000 chars:
Please discuss the diversity that you would bring to the OHSU School of Medicine and the profession of medicine. You may want to consider important aspects of your life experience such as early educational opportunities, socioeconomic status, culture, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or life/work experiences and how these circumstances have shaped your perspective of medicine and better prepared you to become a physician.



As far as this diversity essay goes, doesn't it seem a tad irrelevant what one does with one's genitals behind closed doors? I don't understand why they are encouraging candidates to talk about sexual orientation. Do private sexual practices (and there are many) have anything to do with skill as a physician? And as far as "personality" goes, I know several manly gay men and effeminate straight men, so I think personality is a separate issue. Anyway, I don't get it. Just wondering what everyone else thinks. Should we be talking about sex here???
Click to expand...

Jesus.

Please read the discussion about this prompt on the previous page, at the very least.

Have you have felt excluded from a group? Have you ever been discriminated against or seen discrimination? Have you worked to promote equality (in any sense of the word)? Why in the world doesn't everybody look, think, and talk the same?

Being gay is much more than who you have sex with. In fact, you are kinda promoting a stereotype of sexuality by equating gay maleness with sex in the bedroom. Think about it.
 
hobbes23 said:
Jesus.

Please read the discussion about this prompt on the previous page, at the very least.

Have you have felt excluded from a group? Have you ever been discriminated against or seen discrimination? Have you worked to promote equality (in any sense of the word)? Why in the world doesn't everybody look, think, and talk the same?

Being gay is much more than who you have sex with. In fact, you are kinda promoting a stereotype of sexuality by equating gay maleness with sex in the bedroom. Think about it.
Click to expand...

Medical schools are a bit behind the times when it comes to professional standards. I worked as a mechanical engineer at a biotech firm before going post bac. We would have possibly been fired if we had asked anything about a candidate's sexual orientation. I checked with a buddy who is a PhD high up manager at Intel, and he said the same. Absolutely off limits. Fortunately they aren't asking women whether or not they want to have children. Medical schools are behind industry when it comes to delineating professional decorum. So, wear your scarlet letters if you like.

I took a pre-med class taught by an OHSU faculty and was appalled to find that a practice known as "pimping" is routinely used by faculty questioning students on rounds.

When I was studying for the MCAT I found a post on this network about how to remember solubility rules that centered around a story of a prostitute and her pimp. I could easily imagine a story about a woman who is a cashier at a grocery store also fitting that acronym, but I guess someone liked that prostitute one.

Another faculty member at OHSU told me that medical school is a bit of an Old Boys Network and that I should look at it as a means to an end and not try to reform anything.

So, let's play ball: inappropriate questions, questionable terms for pedagogy, whatever. Bring it on!
 
Roddy said:
Medical schools are a bit behind the times when it comes to professional standards. I worked as a mechanical engineer at a biotech firm before going post bac. We would have possibly been fired if we had asked anything about a candidate's sexual orientation. I checked with a buddy who is a PhD high up manager at Intel, and he said the same. Absolutely off limits. Fortunately they aren't asking women whether or not they want to have children. Medical schools are behind industry when it comes to delineating professional decorum. So, wear your scarlet letters if you like.

I took a pre-med class taught by an OHSU faculty and was appalled to find that a practice known as "pimping" is routinely used by faculty questioning students on rounds.

When I was studying for the MCAT I found a post on this network about how to remember solubility rules that centered around a story of a prostitute and her pimp. I could easily imagine a story about a woman who is a cashier at a grocery store also fitting that acronym, but I guess someone liked that prostitute one.

Another faculty member at OHSU told me that medical school is a bit of an Old Boys Network and that I should look at it as a means to an end and not try to reform anything.

So, let's play ball: inappropriate questions, questionable terms for pedagogy, whatever. Bring it on!
Click to expand...

Please discuss the diversity that you would bring to the OHSU School of Medicine and the profession of medicine. You may want to consider important aspects of your life experience such as early educational opportunities, socioeconomic status, culture, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or life/work experiences and how these circumstances have shaped your perspective of medicine and better prepared you to become a physician.
Click to expand...
SWEET.

I'm a gay, black and native American, transexual, hindu, Rhodes scholar that grew up on welfare and had a brief stint working as a stripper.

I'm going to dominate this diversity essay, you guys are all owned.
 
hobbes23 said:
Being gay is much more than who you have sex with. In fact, you are kinda promoting a stereotype of sexuality by equating gay maleness with sex in the bedroom. Think about it.
Click to expand...

I guess I just meant that my gay male friends are all different. The only thing I see that makes them gay men is their sexual orientation. Their personalities sure don't equate them. Although it sounds like you would disagree, so perhaps I am missing something? It is hard to communicate tone and intention in "email." I was just trying to say I didn't like the overall reductivism of the question, which is ironic given that it is suppose to be about diversity.

I agree with Roddy, industry would never get away with asking or encouraging someone to expound upon their sexual orientation. That has law suit written all over it. All you need is to draw a closet homophobe interviewer and get dismissed because you "aren't a good fit," and you file your discrimination law suit. Corporate lawyers wouldn't let that one slip through.
 
MCAT guy said:
SWEET.

I'm a gay, black and native American, transexual, hindu, Rhodes scholar that grew up on welfare and had a brief stint working as a stripper.

I'm going to dominate this diversity essay, you guys are all owned.
Click to expand...


If it is anything like the US census they can't question you on it. What do you mean I don't look black. I am, see the check mark!

But seeing myself bested by MCAT guy I think I will withdraw my application!!
 
Roddy said:
Medical schools are a bit behind the times when it comes to professional standards. I worked as a mechanical engineer at a biotech firm before going post bac. We would have possibly been fired if we had asked anything about a candidate's sexual orientation. ...
Click to expand...

They aren't asking you about your sexual orientation. They are asking that you show them that you can think about (and write about) a complex issue that relates to patients or medicine in general. This essay can literally be about whatever you want it to be about, and they include sexual orientation in there to re-affirm to those who want to talk about it, that that is an OK topic.

For example, I wrote about having my MPH before going to med school for the diversity question last year. On the previous thread, someone wrote about being a music major.

We are moving beyond "don't ask, don't tell" to "it's not okay to ask, but you can share if you want". It is kinda a subtle distinction.
 
reblsmith said:
I guess I just meant that my gay male friends are all different. The only thing I see that makes them gay men is their sexual orientation. Their personalities sure don't equate them. Although it sounds like you would disagree, so perhaps I am missing something? It is hard to communicate tone and intention in "email." I was just trying to say I didn't like the overall reductivism of the question, which is ironic given that it is suppose to be about diversity.
Click to expand...

Yes, "gayness" doesn't define you. However, people may treat you differently once they put you into that box. A gay person's interactions with the world are going to be different than a straight person not because of who they are, but because how society (or just others) treat them once identified as gay.

Seriously, write about whatever you want to write about. Just make it introspective and meaningful to you.

Why did you choose to post your comment about two words in the question when in fact they suggest many possible topics?

One could seriously write about being richer than everyone in their community if they handled it well and were a good writer.
 
hobbes23 said:
Yes, "gayness" doesn't define you. However, people may treat you differently once they put you into that box. A gay person's interactions with the world are going to be different than a straight person not because of who they are, but because how society (or just others) treat them once identified as gay.

Seriously, write about whatever you want to write about. Just make it introspective and meaningful to you.

Why did you choose to post your comment about two words in the question when in fact they suggest many possible topics?

One could seriously write about being richer than everyone in their community if they handled it well and were a good writer.
Click to expand...

You raise some excellent points. And I have heard about people being treated differently because of wealth (wish I could say I knew how that felt!).

To answer your question, I have a lot of "professional" friends, and you just don't utter the word sex or anything remotely related to it in the workplace. I think that is why it jumped out at me like that.

I like what you say in the first paragraph. What this conversation has me thinking is that their desire for us to highlight our differences was worded in such a way as to create "bins" of difference. Gay people here, poor people here, etc. The compartmentalization of difference ironically serves to homogenize these diverse "groups" they have laid out. The idea of a group is pretty much antithetical to the concept of difference. So, though we all see what they are wanting and getting at, from a philosophical standpoint they are undercutting their goals by suggesting ways in which we might find ourselves defined.

Thanks for writing back, Hobbes. I think this has been ultimately a worthwhile discussion. Sorry we got off on the wrong foot.
 
reblsmith said:
I like what you say in the first paragraph. What this conversation has me thinking is that their desire for us to highlight our differences was worded in such a way as to create "bins" of difference. Gay people here, poor people here, etc. The compartmentalization of difference ironically serves to homogenize these diverse "groups" they have laid out. The idea of a group is pretty much antithetical to the concept of difference. So, though we all see what they are wanting and getting at, from a philosophical standpoint they are undercutting their goals by suggesting ways in which we might find ourselves defined.
Click to expand...


Agreed. But I can't really think of a good alternative method other than the essay. One can fit well into multiple groups too and there can be much variation within groups, as well as among them.
 
I am a rising senior, so when they ask applicants to list work/activities in the past 5 years do I have to include clubs and organizations I was involved with in high school (during junior and senior year)? That seems a little bit odd to me.
 
Does anyone know if OHSU has specific requirements for how much physician shadowing you do?

Does anyone have a sense of what the average accepted student did as far as time spent shadowing goes?
 
reblsmith said:
Does anyone know if OHSU has specific requirements for how much physician shadowing you do?

Does anyone have a sense of what the average accepted student did as far as time spent shadowing goes?
Click to expand...

None that I'm aware of. I don't know of any school that has clear cut requirements for shadowing hours. As to average accepted students, you can search MDApplicants, but anything else (unless an adcom member wants to chime in) is pure guesswork. Folks who've done a lot of shadowing will probably feel that 80-100 hours are normal, while those who have done little if any will tend towards the idea that it's all optional. Will more shadowing help a given applicant? Sure. Is it the single best thing you can do to assure success in the process? Depends. Probably not.
 
How are you all doing your activities section? Are you just listing all of the activities you listed on AMCAS and then future ones? I just feel like that is so redundant.
 
I know this has been asked already, but I've read through 3 pages of this forum and it still hasn't been clarified. But, according to the MSAR statistics with respect to OOS applicants, are they counting WICHE in the OOS or IS category? The reason why I am asking this is because it's now the middle of the cycle and I'm debating whether I should write and submit the two long secondary essays. I am OOS in the northeast area--have no ties to Oregon--but have competitive stats (3.8, 33). The research programs, nice facilities, and the city of Portland were the reasons why Oregon appealed to me. Do you think I have a shot here? Thanks in advance.
 
Dr Pepp3r said:
I know this has been asked already, but I've read through 3 pages of this forum and it still hasn't been clarified. But, according to the MSAR statistics with respect to OOS applicants, are they counting WICHE in the OOS or IS category? The reason why I am asking this is because it's now the middle of the cycle and I'm debating whether I should write and submit the two long secondary essays. I am OOS in the northeast area--have no ties to Oregon--but have competitive stats (3.8, 33). The research programs, nice facilities, and the city of Portland were the reasons why Oregon appealed to me. Do you think I have a shot here? Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...


The short answer: No one knows whether they are IS or OOS.

If I had to guess, I would almost say they are marked IS, but it is only a hunch. I only say this because I've met quite a few OOS students who have gotten interviews and acceptances here who are not WICHE...but that could just be a sampling error or something.
 
Dr Pepp3r said:
I know this has been asked already, but I've read through 3 pages of this forum and it still hasn't been clarified. But, according to the MSAR statistics with respect to OOS applicants, are they counting WICHE in the OOS or IS category? The reason why I am asking this is because it's now the middle of the cycle and I'm debating whether I should write and submit the two long secondary essays. I am OOS in the northeast area--have no ties to Oregon--but have competitive stats (3.8, 33). The research programs, nice facilities, and the city of Portland were the reasons why Oregon appealed to me. Do you think I have a shot here? Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...

Here is what how their website ranks them:

--residents of Oregon
--WICHE
--applicants applying to MD/PhD and MD/MPH
--Non-resident applicants with superior achievements in academics and other related experiences.
--The School of Medicine Admissions Committee fully recognizes the importance of diversity in its student body and in the physician workforce in providing for effective delivery of health care. Accordingly, the OHSU School of Medicine strongly encourages applications from persons from all socioeconomic, racial, ethnic, religious, and educational backgrounds and from persons from groups underrepresented in medicine.


http://www.ohsu.edu/xd/education/sc...admissions/academic-and-selection-factors.cfm
 
Dr Pepp3r said:
I know this has been asked already, but I've read through 3 pages of this forum and it still hasn't been clarified. But, according to the MSAR statistics with respect to OOS applicants, are they counting WICHE in the OOS or IS category? The reason why I am asking this is because it's now the middle of the cycle and I'm debating whether I should write and submit the two long secondary essays. I am OOS in the northeast area--have no ties to Oregon--but have competitive stats (3.8, 33). The research programs, nice facilities, and the city of Portland were the reasons why Oregon appealed to me. Do you think I have a shot here? Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...

Oh, and here is what they say is "competitive" for OOS:

For the 2011 cycle, superior academics is defined as a cumulative Total GPA, as reported by AMCAS, of 3.65 or higher and a cumulative score of 32 or higher on the most-recent eligible MCAT.

So, you are better off than OOS and very competitive. Portland is a great place.

Of course the shrewd fellow applicant should be dissuading you I guess!
 
For the first essay, I'm confused. Are you suppose to address the diversity you experienced and how that has helped develop in you the quality of a leader/physician? Or is it explain things you've learned from any experience you thing will be helpful as a physician? How have you guys approached this essay question? Thanks!
 
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