2010-2011 Oregon Health & Sciences University Application Thread

[Gara]

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As of today there are 19 members on the OHSU 2015 class facebook page. By requesting to join the group they have effectively signified that they were given an offer of admission, and 19 people is slightly more than 15% of the total final class...

Even if everyone who's a member was granted acceptance, that's already more than 15% of possible acceptances prior to the mid-May date.

However, a couple of these members have expressed mixed feelings, so from this sample there's still a lot of room for movement.

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As someone already pointed out, according to the traffic rules OHSU should have already given out as many offers as they expect to have final seats. I've gotten mixed messages about OHSU's policies, so I don't know if they adhere to this rule or not, so I'm not complaining or anything, just making an observation!

Ugh I wish I hadn't read that

"4. By March 30 of the matriculation year, March 15 for MD-PhD programs, each school or program have issued a number of offers of acceptance at least equal to the expected number of students in its first-year entering class and have reported those acceptance actions to the AAMC Section for Medical School Application Services."

 

[Takeyourstep]

Signed into my portal at 5:30am this morning (thought they may have updated it since yesterday around 6pm) They had.

You are on H-O-L-D. I interviewed Feb 15th.

LOL this entire process is making me feel so childishly helpless.

Guess this means I'm waiting till May 15th. Just to settle my nerves though, did anyone decide what hold typically leads to? Does everyone get placed on hold end up on the waitlist? Or is hold the back burner for eventual rejection? Gah and I retake my MCAT tomorrow, my entire application process is upside down.

Anyway guys we can do this! Some of the recent posts, mine included, have been gloomy and laced with some spent nerves. So I'm just going to try and be annoyingly optimistic this sunny Friday. Only 1 month left of waiting!

 

[WESTSIDE LOC]

Only 1 month left of waiting!

Actually one month and one week, but who's counting...🙄 Spent nerves here too.

 

[Dmannn]

Signed into my portal at 5:30am this morning (thought they may have updated it since yesterday around 6pm) They had.

You are on H-O-L-D. I interviewed Feb 15th.

LOL this entire process is making me feel so childishly helpless.

Guess this means I'm waiting till May 15th. Just to settle my nerves though, did anyone decide what hold typically leads to? Does everyone get placed on hold end up on the waitlist? Or is hold the back burner for eventual rejection? Gah and I retake my MCAT tomorrow, my entire application process is upside down.

Anyway guys we can do this! Some of the recent posts, mine included, have been gloomy and laced with some spent nerves. So I'm just going to try and be annoyingly optimistic this sunny Friday. Only 1 month left of waiting!

If this is only your first time applying don't despair! There is still possibilities to be accepted off the waitlist or however hold works here. Last year when I applied I did not get a single interview. A lot can change in one year. Just keep at it and keep improving yourself and your app just in case.

 

[Gara]

If this is only your first time applying don't despair! There is still possibilities to be accepted off the waitlist or however hold works here. Last year when I applied I did not get a single interview. A lot can change in one year. Just keep at it and keep improving yourself and your app just in case.

I know personally I was thinking I wouldn't care if I had to reapply but after this whole long process I've changed my mind. I was thinking I'd enjoy a year off but you really have to start applying again right away so it's not really relaxing anyway.

Also I really don't know how I feel about the implementation of the MMIs next year. I know what I did wrong this application process and if they change the whole thing I might make entirely new mistakes.

 

[Dmannn]

I know personally I was thinking I wouldn't care if I had to reapply but after this whole long process I've changed my mind. I was thinking I'd enjoy a year off but you really have to start applying again right away so it's not really relaxing anyway.

Also I really don't know how I feel about the implementation of the MMIs next year. I know what I did wrong this application process and if they change the whole thing I might make entirely new mistakes.

I understand how you feel. Applying again really sucked. I've been accepted this second time around and it felt really good. Then about a month after I realized...crap my Fiancee and I still need to get into programs at least in the same state (hers is grad). That has not happened yet unfortunately, but I am positive that it will happen before I matriculate! This process will beat you up and can frankly shatter your ego. You realize very quickly that you are just not as special and awesome as you thought you were. I think the MMI probably will be better than you think, at least there are multiple reviews and not just one or two people deciding your fate.

 

[Gara]

I understand how you feel. Applying again really sucked. I've been accepted this second time around and it felt really good. Then about a month after I realized...crap my Fiancee and I still need to get into programs at least in the same state (hers is grad). That has not happened yet unfortunately, but I am positive that it will happen before I matriculate! This process will beat you up and can frankly shatter your ego. You realize very quickly that you are just not as special and awesome as you thought you were. I think the MMI probably will be better than you think, at least there are multiple reviews and not just one or two people deciding your fate.

Congrats on the acceptance. I hope you're able to figure all of that out.

I've proposed this question on another school specific thread but maybe I'll get opinions here too. Statistically it looks like I have a better chance of getting accepted to a school in Illinois (even being OOS) but now that it's between UI and OHSU I'm doubting whether I'd want to matriculate there. The facilities are just unimpressive (at least to the casual observer) and the COA would easily be 400K. So here's the question: If I got accepted to an OOS school but NOT OHSU would I be crazy to turn down the other acceptance in favor of trying my hand at OHSU next year?

Consider how stupidly I've gone about my application this round and that I'm confident I'd make a much better run of it next time. Anyone have an opinion or had to make a similar decision? (This is all entirely hypothetical btw I still haven't been accepted anywhere else)

 

[mashers]

Congrats on the acceptance. I hope you're able to figure all of that out.

I've proposed this question on another school specific thread but maybe I'll get opinions here too. Statistically it looks like I have a better chance of getting accepted to a school in Illinois (even being OOS) but now that it's between UI and OHSU I'm doubting whether I'd want to matriculate there. The facilities are just unimpressive (at least to the casual observer) and the COA would easily be 400K. So here's the question: If I got accepted to an OOS school but NOT OHSU would I be crazy to turn down the other acceptance in favor of trying my hand at OHSU next year?

Consider how stupidly I've gone about my application this round and that I'm confident I'd make a much better run of it next time. Anyone have an opinion or had to make a similar decision? (This is all entirely hypothetical btw I still haven't been accepted anywhere else)

I would say if you get in, then go for it! You never know how the next cycle will go and there would be a large monetary and even larger mental expense associated with another application cycle. This is my second go-around and before getting my first acceptance, it was really tough because I felt like I had put my life on hold for over two years, not just one. Med school is med school and you'll get a good education pretty much anywhere. And maybe transferring would be an option? I don't know much about that process, though.

 

[hockeyjunkie]

Congrats on the acceptance. I hope you're able to figure all of that out.

I've proposed this question on another school specific thread but maybe I'll get opinions here too. Statistically it looks like I have a better chance of getting accepted to a school in Illinois (even being OOS) but now that it's between UI and OHSU I'm doubting whether I'd want to matriculate there. The facilities are just unimpressive (at least to the casual observer) and the COA would easily be 400K. So here's the question: If I got accepted to an OOS school but NOT OHSU would I be crazy to turn down the other acceptance in favor of trying my hand at OHSU next year?

Consider how stupidly I've gone about my application this round and that I'm confident I'd make a much better run of it next time. Anyone have an opinion or had to make a similar decision? (This is all entirely hypothetical btw I still haven't been accepted anywhere else)

I have heard mixed reviews on this. Some people say do not turn down an acceptance to re-apply, but others have said they have done it and been successful re-applying.

People say that this shows you aren't willing to make sacrifices to be a doctor if you turn down an acceptance. That is why schools may look down upon it.

But, I think if you have a valid reason to turn down an acceptance it isn't looked down upon.

I think also remember you have to state in your AMCAS application that you were accepted previously to a Med School. I may be wrong here and you only have to state if you matriculated at a school, but either way I think you need to be able to really justify why you don't want to go to that medical school. Also it probably depends on the school you apply too.

I have no hard proof of this, but these are just observations that I have made through previous posts.

 

[Thom1986]

Congrats on the acceptance. I hope you're able to figure all of that out.

I've proposed this question on another school specific thread but maybe I'll get opinions here too. Statistically it looks like I have a better chance of getting accepted to a school in Illinois (even being OOS) but now that it's between UI and OHSU I'm doubting whether I'd want to matriculate there. The facilities are just unimpressive (at least to the casual observer) and the COA would easily be 400K. So here's the question: If I got accepted to an OOS school but NOT OHSU would I be crazy to turn down the other acceptance in favor of trying my hand at OHSU next year?

Consider how stupidly I've gone about my application this round and that I'm confident I'd make a much better run of it next time. Anyone have an opinion or had to make a similar decision? (This is all entirely hypothetical btw I still haven't been accepted anywhere else)

It's not stupid, but it's a risk. I turned down an interview the first time I applied (very sloppy and late application effort), and decided to wait a year considering the poor luck I had and some personal situations. Things went insanely better for me the second time around, and I have had multiple interviews (and now acceptances) versus one long-shot interview late last cycle. The key to this though: you must be improving yourself in the meantime (research and volunteer like crazy, learn an instrument or language or something, basically find a way to live at OHSU or in Ghana and do something there)- I think I actually became a stronger and more mature candidate, and had some stories to tell interviewers about my time off- but it was really hard.

That said, most medical schools are going to get you the residency you want, and another year of application hell is never preferable. I think most professionals would say go if you can. That would be a major question in interviews too, why you passed over an acceptance (are you accepted in Illinois?) Not to mention, OHSU's med school facilities are crumbling buildings that have been forgotten since they were built in the 70's (though I will learn to love them👍).

 

[hopefuldoc97239]

If I got accepted to an OOS school but NOT OHSU would I be crazy to turn down the other acceptance in favor of trying my hand at OHSU next year?

I'd hate to lead you astray, so take my advice with a grain of salt, but...

A former adcom member from OHSU told me that this kind of strategy is a great way not to get accepted at OHSU upon reapplication.

If the other school accepts you but you turn them down, OHSU will see that on your record next year. If you're thinking "This will show OHSU that I really love them" you're not the first, but the school isn't actually likely to view it that way.

Turning down a sure-bet and holding out for another school looks to the committee like you aren't committed to the idea of being a physician... makes it seem like you only want to go to med school if it's not too inconvenient.

This former adcom member told me an anecdote about a woman who applied to multiple schools. If I remember correctly, she interviewed at OHSU and elsewhere, was offered admission in California, but got rejected at OHSU. She turned down the California school and reapplied to OHSU for the next five years, but was never given an interview again.

If you're committed to going to OHSU and you really think you'd turn down an offer from this other school, I would suggest preemptively withdrawing that application rather than wait and then turn them down. I think this will prevent OHSU from ever seeing that "accepted, withdrew" line or whatever it is that they see exactly.

Or send them a rude e-mail and trick them into rejecting you

 

[BaronVonZ]

...

If you're committed to going to OHSU and you really think you'd turn down an offer from this other school, I would suggest preemptively withdrawing that application rather than wait and then turn them down. I think this will prevent OHSU from ever seeing that "accepted, withdrew" line or whatever it is that they see exactly.

Or send them a rude e-mail and trick them into rejecting you

This.

Also, I just got my hold notification this morning. Fan-fricken-tastic.

 

[secondyrapp]

Just got my acceptance email. Verrrrrry happy! See you all in P-town.

Interviewed feb 3, In state, second year applying and took my exit interview and really worked at what they said, 38 mcat, cum gpa 3.63

 

[hopefuldoc97239]

Just got my acceptance email. Verrrrrry happy! See you all in P-town.

Interviewed feb 3, In state, second year applying and took my exit interview and really worked at what they said, 38 mcat, cum gpa 3.63

Congrats!!

Don't forget to join the OHSU Med 2015 facebook page!

 

[Takeyourstep]

This.

Also, I just got my hold notification this morning. Fan-fricken-tastic.

Ah...Baron I feel ya on the hold notice. Hang in there though, you are not alone!

I'm a little confused though on what hold actually means, one of my friends asked if this was a good or bad thing to be put on hold and I honestly didn't know. It's good that they didn't reject me, but it's bad they didn't just outright accept me either.

O well, something to think about for the next month.

 

[Gara]

I'd hate to lead you astray, so take my advice with a grain of salt, but...

A former adcom member from OHSU told me that this kind of strategy is a great way not to get accepted at OHSU upon reapplication.

If the other school accepts you but you turn them down, OHSU will see that on your record next year. If you're thinking "This will show OHSU that I really love them" you're not the first, but the school isn't actually likely to view it that way.

Turning down a sure-bet and holding out for another school looks to the committee like you aren't committed to the idea of being a physician... makes it seem like you only want to go to med school if it's not too inconvenient.

This former adcom member told me an anecdote about a woman who applied to multiple schools. If I remember correctly, she interviewed at OHSU and elsewhere, was offered admission in California, but got rejected at OHSU. She turned down the California school and reapplied to OHSU for the next five years, but was never given an interview again.

If you're committed to going to OHSU and you really think you'd turn down an offer from this other school, I would suggest preemptively withdrawing that application rather than wait and then turn them down. I think this will prevent OHSU from ever seeing that "accepted, withdrew" line or whatever it is that they see exactly.

Or send them a rude e-mail and trick them into rejecting you

Hmm thanks for the opinions everyone. Looks like the consensus is that it would be a little foolish/risky. For some reason that makes me feel better about the possibility. I imagine I'd just be a little on the fence about it but it sounds like I'd have some pretty big incentive to go with any acceptance I get and of course this is still extremely hypothetical. I just didn't want to have not thought about any potential outcome and make some stupid knee jerk decision (As I have at numerous points during this process)

Just got my acceptance email. Verrrrrry happy! See you all in P-town.

Interviewed feb 3, In state, second year applying and took my exit interview and really worked at what they said, 38 mcat, cum gpa 3.63

Congratulations 🙂 Would you mind sharing some of the things they told you work on that you were able to improve upon? If it's not too personal of course.

 

[secondyrapp]

Congratulations 🙂 Would you mind sharing some of the things they told you work on that you were able to improve upon? If it's not too personal of course.

not at all. more direct health care length (I'd done shadowing for a wk or a couple days here and there at different places - a total of about 120ish I think) To fix it I shadowed about 25hrs/wk at a non-profit clinic and the local hospital for a total of like 300 hours. I had one of the dr's write a letter.
They also said more community "outreach" to demonstrate essentially dedication to the community and a moral compass/social concern/awareness - I guess. So I volunteered with a high school group, AIDS clinic, an Elementary school, the hospital, and a one-on-one mentoring program w at risk young teens, the local food pantry and kitchen - all of which amounted to about 20hrs/wk.
I just didn't want to leave any doubt that I'd fixed what they told me to work on.

 

[Cpck]

Just withdrew my acceptance. Good luck to whoever gets my spot! 🙂

 

[thomprya]

Just withdrew my acceptance. Good luck to whoever gets my spot! 🙂

Best news i've heard all day . Sounds like you've been accepted somewhere else so congrats to you! Thanks for letting us know 🙂

 

[jaeded]

Just logged into the admissions portal and saw that I was put on hold. 😕

 

[baysouth]

Accepted today. Interviewed early Feb.

 

[hopefuldoc97239]

Just logged into the admissions portal and saw that I was put on hold. 😕

Sorry to hear that... but there's still hope. Good luck for the May update!

Accepted today. Interviewed early Feb.

Congratulations! 👍

Don't forget to join the OHSU Med 2015 group on facebook!

 

[Gara]

I have no idea how you guys were able to wait so long for an answer. I interviewed March 29th which means I have pretty much the shortest wait time and I'm still going crazy....

 

[eggmanMD]

I have no idea how you guys were able to wait so long for an answer. I interviewed March 29th which means I have pretty much the shortest wait time and I'm still going crazy....

SAME! I interviewed 4/5 and I am losing it already!

 

[hopefuldoc97239]

...I'm still going crazy...

...I am losing it already!

It's tough, folks... hang in there!

Man, when I think about how much work I put in to getting into OHSU-- specifically OHSU, the '97239' in my username is no coincidence!--I would have been heartbroken if I hadn't been accepted. And some people do get broken hearts...

But it's a marathon, not a sprint. Keep your chin up, stay optimistic, don't be discouraged if something bad happens, and don't forget to celebrate every time something good happens!

And remember: sooner or later you'll find out where you stand. There's nothing you can do to change that outcome now. So just sit tight, keep being a bad-a** pre-med, keep on truckin', and sooner or later you'll be wearing that white coat. (It will be a short coat and you'll be humiliated constantly, but that's your fault for going down this path 😉)

 

[AGLAIA]

I have no idea how you guys were able to wait so long for an answer. I interviewed March 29th which means I have pretty much the shortest wait time and I'm still going crazy....

I interviewed in September. After the first four or five months, you hit your stride. 🙂

 

[Thom1986]

Do any of you know how the loan package works? Is it flexible depending on things like different rent and how much food one consumes? (I eat a lot).

 

[byurazorhog]

Do any of you know how the loan package works? Is it flexible depending on things like different rent and how much food one consumes? (I eat a lot).

Not sure how the package here works but you'll most likely have to take out some grad PLUS and that's where the flexibility occurs as you can borrow more or less with that loan depending on your needs. With the estimated COA at OHSU, most people will be maxing out on direct fed subsidized and unsubsidized loans and will still have to apply for gradPLUS to cover the difference.

 

[chicamunga484]

this might seem like a silly question, but im already accepted and just finishing my last term of undergrad. if i take all my classes pass/no pass is that frowned upon/could that affect anything? trying at this point is just quite honestly a struggle. thanks!

 

[byurazorhog]

this might seem like a silly question, but im already accepted and just finishing my last term of undergrad. if i take all my classes pass/no pass is that frowned upon/could that affect anything? trying at this point is just quite honestly a struggle. thanks!

Unless you're taking any course that's required for matriculation, I think you can take them P/NP. I would just email the admissions office and double check though.

 

[hopefuldoc97239]

this might seem like a silly question, but im already accepted and just finishing my last term of undergrad. if i take all my classes pass/no pass is that frowned upon/could that affect anything? trying at this point is just quite honestly a struggle. thanks!

If you take the class for P/NP instead of a grade, most classes/departments/schools have a policy that says you have to be doing work that's equal to a C grade in order to receive a "Pass" mark.

So... you'll probably still have to be doing the same level of "passing" work in order to pass. I doubt changing your grading option is going to make anything any easier for you to pass.

My advice is never take the easy way out. Keep the graded option and shoot for all A's in all your classes. You never know if you might need to show include your transcripts or a grade list for a scholarship down the road, and even a B- will look better than a P.

I don't know what you're taking this term, but your course load probably isn't half as hard as the first year of med school so look at this as a challenge to yourself to toughen up a bit before you start.

 

[Melicopter]

I switched a class to pass/no pass my last term for similar reasons. I was starting to slack off a bit, and I didn't want to miss graduating with my honor rank. Silly? Maybe. It worked out, though. I didn't switch all of them... I just didn't want too many B's to knock down my cumulative.

 

[dynasty12]

got accepted yesterday, interviewed 2/24 OOS. pretty surprising as i was almost set in my mind to go to a different school.

 

[unleash500]

hold 2/24 interview as well

 

[AGLAIA]

got accepted yesterday, interviewed 2/24 OOS. pretty surprising as i was almost set in my mind to go to a different school.

Congrats! Are you now conflicted or settled to go to OHSU?

 

[dynasty12]

Congrats! Are you now conflicted or settled to go to OHSU?

definitely leaning towards OHSU, but still conflicted. got a couple weeks to decide...haha

 

[IlaEm]

Hmmm interesting. I interviewed 2/22 and have yet to hear anything 🙁

Ah the waiting game.....

 

[byurazorhog]

Anybody else got their financial aid package in the mail today? A whole lot of money in loans just as I expected. I knew OHSU was expensive but I didn't realize how bad it actually was until the moment I see the total amount. 😱

 

[AGLAIA]

Current students:

In what format (if any) are notes/lectures available?

Thanks.

A

 

[URHere]

Current students:

In what format (if any) are notes/lectures available?

Thanks.

A

Prior to every "block" of class (1 block = one test-worth of material), the school will print out and give you a packet of lecture outlines, powerpoints, etc. These materials and a few extras (like old exams) will also be available on the online portal.

As for recordings of lecture, there are no video recordings, but audio is available for streaming.

This was all true as of one year ago. Hopefully some of the younger students can correct me if anything big has changed since then!

 

[AGLAIA]

Thank you!! Much appreciated!

 

[dynasty12]

does anyone know how sending in final transcripts work? if we have classes taken at other universities or community colleges, do you send those in separately than the one you graduated at?

 

[Gara]

does anyone know how sending in final transcripts work? if we have classes taken at other universities or community colleges, do you send those in separately than the one you graduated at?

Wouldn't you only send in a transcript for the institution at which you have completed classes since you applied? Have you done work at different schools since then? Either way I believe schools do not collect grades from other schools for you so you'll have to get each school to send them in individually.

 

[searun]

Anybody else got their financial aid package in the mail today? A whole lot of money in loans just as I expected. I knew OHSU was expensive but I didn't realize how bad it actually was until the moment I see the total amount. 😱

This is why I am chose to attend a private med school on the East Coast that gave me a full tuition grant for the past 4 years, instead of OHSU, my state school that gave me a package of loans. I saved over $100,000 since I started med school.

 

[hopefuldoc97239]

This is why I am chose to attend a private med school on the East Coast that gave me a full tuition grant for the past 4 years, instead of OHSU, my state school that gave me a package of loans. I saved over $100,000 since I started med school.

Well, this is why I chose to attend OHSU, so that I don't have to hang out face-to-face with the kind of person who trolls the threads of schools they aren't even attending just so they can brag about the size of their scholarships. 😉

This is why I am chose to attend a private med school on the East Coast that gave me a full tuition grant for the past 4 years, instead of OHSU, my state school that gave me a package of loans. I saved over $100,000 since I started med school.

Nice grammar, by the way 😛

 

[martij1]

Hmmm interesting. I interviewed 2/22 and have yet to hear anything 🙁

Ah the waiting game.....

I interviewed 2/22 as well. Just got put on hold 🙁 guess i will be waiting until may 15th. Hopefully in your case no news is good news.

 

[Patron27]

I like visiting this thread for updates please lets not lower it to correcting grammar. Medical students already have enough bad stereotypes.

Good luck to everyone... I was pretty good until a week or two ago--now compulsively checking for any word to my status on secondary portal. Since I started checking everyday it is definitely not making the wait go any faster!

 

[AGLAIA]

Does anyone know for sure if interviews are complete now?

 

[picklerick!]

Does anyone know for sure if interviews are complete now?

I'm pretty sure interviews are complete for the season. I interviewed on the last possible day (April 7). The admissions committee told us we would be notified of a decision at the earliest on May 13; however, I just logged into the admissions portal and saw that I'm put in the hold category. This is a lot earlier than expected! :-(

Does anyone know what is the purpose of a hold?

"Since your interview, you have been discussed by the Admissions Committee and are currently in a hold category.

With 550+ interviews conducted over the course of six months (October through March) and a limited number of placements to offer, the Admissions Committee must put many applicants in a hold pool until they have had a chance to discuss each of their interviewed candidates. The Admissions Committee will be discussing applicants through the beginning of May, which means that you will be notified of a final decision regarding your application no later than May 15, 2011. Applicants put on hold will remain on hold until May 15, when final decisions will be made. At that point you will hear a decision of Accept, Alternate, or Refuse. Please note that further updates will not reopen your file or change the committee's decision.

We realize this is an anxious time of waiting and thank you for your understanding and patience."

 

[Gara]

I'm pretty sure interviews are complete for the season. I interviewed on the last possible day (April 7). The admissions committee told us we would be notified of a decision at the earliest on May 13; however, I just logged into the admissions portal and saw that I'm put in the hold category. This is a lot earlier than expected! :-(

Does anyone know what is the purpose of a hold?

"Since your interview, you have been discussed by the Admissions Committee and are currently in a hold category.

With 550+ interviews conducted over the course of six months (October through March) and a limited number of placements to offer, the Admissions Committee must put many applicants in a hold pool until they have had a chance to discuss each of their interviewed candidates. The Admissions Committee will be discussing applicants through the beginning of May, which means that you will be notified of a final decision regarding your application no later than May 15, 2011. Applicants put on hold will remain on hold until May 15, when final decisions will be made. At that point you will hear a decision of Accept, Alternate, or Refuse. Please note that further updates will not reopen your file or change the committee's decision.

We realize this is an anxious time of waiting and thank you for your understanding and patience."

Yeah I agree it seems extremely unlikely they're still giving interviews. I mean a hold is meant for applicants who don't qualify for instant acceptance or rejection (top 15% or bottom 15% of applicant pool respectively) according to previous posters. OHSU in particular likes to place people on hold until they get the chance to review most of the applicants.

I'm curious why you got placed on hold so quickly when others have heard nothing at all 0.o

In particular interest to me since I interviewed March 29th and haven't heard anything. Of course I didn't expect to hear anything for awhile but does anyone know why some might be put on hold while others hear nothing at all?