2014-2015 Oregon Health & Science University Application Thread

[gettheleadout]

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Space reserved for prompt.

Please PM the essays or lack thereof to me when the secondary is available and I will update this.

Good luck to everyone applying!

 

[sunflower18]

State school! Would love to attend, too. The brand new building is gorgeous, the Knight Cancer Institute is fabulous, and Portland is awesome.

 

[Amirr]

Hey class of 2019. Here are the prompts from last year (2013-2014). I highly suggest at least thinking them through, if not completely writing them, while you're being verified. They were the same as the previous year for me:

1) What experience have you had that has given you insight into the patients you hope to eventually serve?
2) What will be your greatest challenge in becoming a physician?
3) Give an example of a time when you tried your best to work with a person or a group but the problems still remained. What did you learn from the experience?
4) Describe a time when you did not receive what you felt you deserved, and how you reacted (1500 characters)
5) Give an example of personal feedback in the last few years that was difficult to receive. How did you respond?
6) Please discuss the diversity that you would bring to the OHSU School of Medicine and the profession of medicine. (2000 characters)
[OPTIONAL]
While you were growing up, did you experience any of the following types of adversity?
Economic:
Educational:
Ethnic/Cultural:
Family:

Please describe the nature of the adversity:


Good luck, everyone!

 

[sunflower18]

Hey class of 2019. Here are the prompts from last year (2013-2014). I highly suggest at least thinking them through, if not completely writing them, while you're being verified. They were the same as the previous year for me:

1) What experience have you had that has given you insight into the patients you hope to eventually serve?
2) What will be your greatest challenge in becoming a physician?
3) Give an example of a time when you tried your best to work with a person or a group but the problems still remained. What did you learn from the experience?
4) Describe a time when you did not receive what you felt you deserved, and how you reacted (1500 characters)
5) Give an example of personal feedback in the last few years that was difficult to receive. How did you respond?
6) Please discuss the diversity that you would bring to the OHSU School of Medicine and the profession of medicine. (2000 characters)
[OPTIONAL]
While you were growing up, did you experience any of the following types of adversity?
Economic:
Educational:
Ethnic/Cultural:
Family:

Please describe the nature of the adversity:


Good luck, everyone!

Thanks so much for posting this! Very helpful. Do you happen to know offhand the character counts for 1, 2, and 5?
This looks like a really monstrous secondary...

 

[Osteoth]

Hey class of 2019. Here are the prompts from last year (2013-2014). I highly suggest at least thinking them through, if not completely writing them, while you're being verified. They were the same as the previous year for me:

1) What experience have you had that has given you insight into the patients you hope to eventually serve?
2) What will be your greatest challenge in becoming a physician?
3) Give an example of a time when you tried your best to work with a person or a group but the problems still remained. What did you learn from the experience?
4) Describe a time when you did not receive what you felt you deserved, and how you reacted (1500 characters)
5) Give an example of personal feedback in the last few years that was difficult to receive. How did you respond?
6) Please discuss the diversity that you would bring to the OHSU School of Medicine and the profession of medicine. (2000 characters)
[OPTIONAL]
While you were growing up, did you experience any of the following types of adversity?
Economic:
Educational:
Ethnic/Cultural:
Family:

Please describe the nature of the adversity:


Good luck, everyone!

What is the pre-clinical grading scheme at Oregon?

Thanks,

 

[sunflower18]

hey guys! i'm curious as to how to interpret Question 1. Is it trying to ask what specialty we are interested in, and what experience we've had with it? Or is it generally just asking what clinical experiences have we had?

 

[URHere]

hey guys! i'm curious as to how to interpret Question 1. Is it trying to ask what specialty we are interested in, and what experience we've had with it? Or is it generally just asking what clinical experiences have we had?

It's basically asking how you know you'll be able to relate to your (future) patients.

 

[URHere]

What is the pre-clinical grading scheme at Oregon?

Thanks,

MS1/MS2 grading has always been Honors/Near Honors/Satisfactory/Marginal/Fail in the past, but I'm fairly certain it's being switched to a Pass/Fail system for this coming year. It's anyone's guess whether that will continue in the future.

 

[sunflower18]

It's basically asking how you know you'll be able to relate to your (future) patients.

Right. But "patients" as a general term, or the specific types of patients in our speciality of interest? I.E. Pediatric, adult, cardiac?

 

[URHere]

Right. But "patients" as a general term, or the specific types of patients in our speciality of interest? I.E. Pediatric, adult, cardiac?

OHSU has a habit of leaving its questions at least somewhat open to interpretation. If you want to talk about a desired specialty, you should feel free - just make sure you can support what you're saying, so that you don't seem unrealistically fixated on something you have little to no experience with.

 

[breaklinedestroyed]

do CA residents even have a chance unless their stats/EC are absolutely stellar?

 

[Sabate]

What is the pre-clinical grading scheme at Oregon?

Thanks,

Its officially changing to P/F for pre-clinical starting with Med18.

 

[noctopodes]

The admissions portal now has a '2015' option for the application year... meaning somebody, somewhere has seen the 2015 prompts... hopefully they will get posted soon.

 

[sunflower18]

Hopefully they are the same as the 2014 prompts!! Cause I already wrote them!! 🙂

 

[invissideways]

When did this secondary come out last year?

 

[Lemon Lime]

When did this secondary come out last year?

I think 7/16/13

 

[Kay293T]

I received my secondary today. The prompts are the same as last year. Good luck everyone!

 

[sunflower18]

I received my secondary today. The prompts are the same as last year. Good luck everyone!

Congrats!! I'm relieved that they are the same prompts 🙂 I hope I get the secondary soon too!


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[gkberger]

I received my secondary today. The prompts are the same as last year. Good luck everyone!

What are the character limits??

 

[WaterPog]

1500 characters on each, 4000 on the adversity essay

 

[blubearzangel]

.

 

[EsotericAlchemy]

What is the OOS acceptance rate for this school? And the OOS GPA/MCAT averages? Not sure how state-selective OHSU is but it seems like a great school!

They focus on the mission-based OOS students.

From their website:
" The School of Medicine gives preference to the following applicants:
1. Residents of Oregon.
2. Non-resident applicants with Oregon Heritage. The School of Medicine uses the Oregon Heritage Policy for student selection, but it is not used as a basis for determining residency, and therefore the tuition a student pays. Oregon Heritage is defined as 1) A student with one or both parents residing in Oregon at the time of application, 2) A student who graduated from high school in Oregon with at least two years at a high school in Oregon, or 3) A student who graduated from an Oregon institution of higher education with a bachelor’s or advanced degree with at least two years of attendance at an institution of higher education in Oregon.
3. WICHE-Certified residents of Montana and Wyoming.
4. Applicants applying to the M.D./Ph.D. Combined Degree Program.
5. Applicants applying to the M.D./M.P.H. Combined Degree Program.
6. Non-resident applicants with superior achievements in academics and other related experiences. For the 2015 cycle, superior academics is defined as a cumulative Total GPA, as reported by AMCAS, of 3.70 or higher and a cumulative score of 32 or higher on the most-recent eligible MCAT.
7. 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.

 

[sunflower18]

1500 characters on each, 4000 on the adversity essay

4000?? I thought it was 2000 last year! Crazy. Ok!


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[WaterPog]

Just double checked, it's 4000. There is no way I'm going to use that much space but I can easily see where some could.

Also of note OHSU has a rolling deadline for the secondary based on when you receive your invite, mine for instance is august 8th, so pay attention and don't let it linger.

 

[Kay293T]

Congrats!! I'm relieved that they are the same prompts 🙂 I hope I get the secondary soon too!


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I am sure you will! This is what they said in the email.

"We are gradually rolling out the 2015 Secondary Application and you are in the first batch of applicants to receive it. If you encounter any technical difficulties or problems, please contact us immediately by email so we can correct these issues."

 

[Kay293T]

Just double checked, it's 4000. There is no way I'm going to use that much space but I can easily see where some could.

Also of note OHSU has a rolling deadline for the secondary based on when you receive your invite, mine for instance is august 8th, so pay attention and don't let it linger.

I just checked and mine says 2000. We're talking about this question: "Question 6 - Please discuss the diversity that you would bring to the OHSU School of Medicine and the profession of medicine." correct?

 

[WaterPog]

No, in the supplemental info section, Adversity not Diversity. I hadn't noticed that the Diversity question had a higher character count than the others either.

 

[sunflower18]

oh wait, there is an essay about the greatest challenge you've overcome? interesting! ok! 🙂 thank you!

 

[Kay293T]

oh wait, there is an essay about the greatest challenge you've overcome? interesting! ok! 🙂 thank you!

Just to clarify, the adversity essay only applies if you have experienced adversity:
7. While you were growing up, did you experience any of the following types of adversity?
None Mild Moderate Severe No response
Economic
Educational
Ethnic/Cultural
Family
Please describe the nature of the adversity (4000 characters):

 

[sunflower18]

Just to clarify, the adversity essay only applies if you have experienced adversity:
7. While you were growing up, did you experience any of the following types of adversity?
None Mild Moderate Severe No response
Economic
Educational
Ethnic/Cultural
Family
Please describe the nature of the adversity (4000 characters):

Oh ok 🙂 thanks!

 

[godawg300]

Has everyone taken a separate genetics course for their requirements? I took a class that was titled Genetics, Evolution and Ecology. I'm wondering if that would count.

 

[WaterPog]

With questions that specific your best bet is to call the school and ask.

 

[Osteoth]

Got the secondary OOS! How strict is the screen?

 

[godawg300]

Got the secondary OOS! How strict is the screen?

24 MCAT and a 2.8 GPA. Otherwise everyone gets a secondary from the MSAR.

 

[Osteoth]

Dangit... I was hoping this school was like U Wash where they screen hard on the primary.

 

[sunflower18]

I'm IS and I haven't gotten it yet 🙁 but it's only a matter of time if they don't screen!


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[godawg300]

Dangit... I was hoping this school was like U Wash where they screen hard on the primary.

Very few schools screen like that. The UC schools in California, u of washington, and Vanderbilt come to mind. The rest don't screen too heavily.

 

[juliuspepperwood]

Received OOS

 

[Amygdalarian]

OOS, received secondary 2 days ago (July 15).

 

[sunflower18]

IS, got secondary today!


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[hope2b62a]

Does anyone have a handle on how successful OOS non-WICHE folks are at OR? Their secondary paints a bleak picture...

 

[Osteoth]

Does anyone have a handle on how successful OOS non-WICHE folks are at OR? Their secondary paints a bleak picture...

+1

 

[godawg300]

What is WICHE?

 

[Amygdalarian]

OHSU has a habit of leaving its questions at least somewhat open to interpretation. If you want to talk about a desired specialty, you should feel free - just make sure you can support what you're saying, so that you don't seem unrealistically fixated on something you have little to no experience with.

So for Question 2 ("What will be your greatest challenge in becoming a physician?"), I talked about what my greatest challenge as a *future physician* would be before seeing that it asked what the greatest challenge in *becoming* a physician should be. Is that okay? I'm not sure how to take that question. They're not asking about what our challenge in med school/residency will be, are they?

 

[4forsmores]

I'm OOS and have sub par gpa and a slightly above average MCAT for this school. I have alot of research experience and experience in underserved communities. Do you think I have a chance here? the past two semesters have been 36 hours @ a 3.76gpa. Any opinions would be greatly appreciated! Good luck everyone!

 

[Sabate]

Does anyone have a handle on how successful OOS non-WICHE folks are at OR? Their secondary paints a bleak picture...

OHSU definitely takes a number of OOS non-WICHE folks (especially cause the tuition is so damn high for them) but its a much lower % due to the bigger pool of applicants. If you've got something unique to contribute to their program make sure to talk it up. You pretty much need to have one of their special non-Oregonian categories met to be considered (that's probably what you're seeing on the 2ndary).

 

[Buskutsustah]

Hey guys,

I just got the secondary but after reading the mission-based groups statement I don't know if it's worth completing this because I am OOS and have 3.66 GPA (but just because of two bad grades first semester freshman year--strong upward trend) and 30 MCAT (9PS/10VR/11VS). But my ECs are really strong and I know I could blow the secondary essays out of the water. I also just feel like my personality really fits with this school which is why I want to go here so much and think I could convey that in my secondary essays. Do they really not look outside the mission-based groups though? If not, I dunno if I have a chance, sadly... Advice appreciated 🙂

Good luck to everybody! This school rocks!

 

[BillrothI]

For the work/activities section of the OHSU application, would it be advisable to list each shadowing experience individually or group them all together? I shadowed five different physicians and it would take up quite a bit of room to include them all.

Thanks,
Bill

 

[URHere]

So for Question 2 ("What will be your greatest challenge in becoming a physician?"), I talked about what my greatest challenge as a *future physician* would be before seeing that it asked what the greatest challenge in *becoming* a physician should be. Is that okay? I'm not sure how to take that question. They're not asking about what our challenge in med school/residency will be, are they?

I'm not the authority on this, but honestly I think you should be fine. The word "becoming" is vague and could be interpreted either way.

For the work/activities section of the OHSU application, would it be advisable to list each shadowing experience individually or group them all together? I shadowed five different physicians and it would take up quite a bit of room to include them all.

It would probably be tidiest to group them all together and it would also free up more space for you to talk about other things. It's such a small point that I can't imagine it will impact your application much either way.

I'm OOS and have sub par gpa and a slightly above average MCAT for this school. I have alot of research experience and experience in underserved communities. Do you think I have a chance here? the past two semesters have been 36 hours @ a 3.76gpa. Any opinions would be greatly appreciated! Good luck everyone!

For those of you with questions like this - the trend for the past couple of years has been that OHSU has not needed to look outside of its mission groups when considering applicants. This means that if you have no ties to Oregon/neighboring WICHE states, aren't applying MD/PhD or MD/MPH, and don't have at least a 3.7/32, your application may not be considered. That being said, there is no guarantee that Oregon will not look outside of its mission groups this year, especially with the new curriculum, so if you really have your heart set on this school, my advice would be to apply.

 

[4forsmores]

I'm not the authority on this, but honestly I think you should be fine. The word "becoming" is vague and could be interpreted either way.



It would probably be tidiest to group them all together and it would also free up more space for you to talk about other things. It's such a small point that I can't imagine it will impact your application much either way.



For those of you with questions like this - the trend for the past couple of years has been that OHSU has not needed to look outside of its mission groups when considering applicants. This means that if you have no ties to Oregon/neighboring WICHE states, aren't applying MD/PhD or MD/MPH, and don't have at least a 3.7/32, your application may not be considered. That being said, there is no guarantee that Oregon will not look outside of its mission groups this year, especially with the new curriculum, so if you really have your heart set on this school, my advice would be to apply.

Thank You!