2015-2016 Oregon Health & Sciences University Application Thread

BU Medical Sciences
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pinacol said:
I'm interviewing at OHSU on the 18th this month! Could anyone please describe how their interview day was? What was your impression of the MMI? Conversational or 8 minute monologues? I know you all probably signed a non-disclosure agreement, but any thoughts on it would be helpful!
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Congrats on your interview! OHSU MS1 here taking a break from hematological malignancies to eat a sandwich and dole out some advice!

MMI:

I believe it is 8 stations including your 1 on 1 interview. To prepare I reviewed some common ethical dilemmas and then used some widely available question stems and timed myself as I tried to give a concise answer. I also utilized a mock interview service that my school career center had. It was helpful to be asked questions by someone I had never met before.

I felt that the MMI stations were definitely more conversational than I thought they would be going in. If you have a well articulated answer and it falls short of the time frame allowed, the interviewer will undoubtedly want to hear more about what you think and prompt you with pointed questions.

My biggest advice for answering MMI questions is to try to tie everything back to being a physician at the end.

eg. Communication

- If asked about what was the toughest time you had communicating with someone, I would respond with my personal example and explain why it was difficult. Talk about how it could have gone better. THEN I would talk about how important communication is in the healthcare setting especially coming from a physician to the care team. REMEMBER THAT IT IS ALL ABOUT THE PATIENT!

* Don't BS though, if you can't tie it don't. *

Other advice:

I truly believe that OHSU in particular is very interested in students who are mature and confident in their decision to pursue medicine. They are also a group of unbelievably kind individuals who truly want you to do well. I would be surprised if there were any nasty tough interviewers looking to trip you up. The purpose of the MMI is to get to know the applicant and to not have a singular view from one interviewer.

Have a good answer for "why medicine, or why do you want to become a doctor": not the typical I love science and people, or I want to help people. If you had a meaningful patient experience in clinical volunteer experience, talk about that and how that shaped your career path or something.

The MMI was a lot of fun. I am typically introverted in crowds but excel in one-on-one interactions, MMIs tend to favor those that can get comfortable in new situations quickly. The beauty of it all is that if you royally screw up one station IT WILL NOT RUIN YOUR INTERVIEW. Shake off a bad station because the person in the next room has never met you and 1st impressions are everything. If you bring in the stress from the previous room, they will sense it. Take a deep breath between stations and think of it like a game and you will be fine.

I think the best thing you can do is to reflect on your journey toward medicine and be comfortable talking about it. Be excited and remember to smile!

Hope that helps! Let me know if you have any more questions! If you want to meet to talk some more about OHSU after your interview I would be more than happy to grab coffee with you when you are done.

Best of luck!
 
medskool123 said:
What dates were available? Anything after the 1st of the year?
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The dates I had ranged from mid-December through the end of January, so I picked a date that would be near the end of my winter break so I wouldn't miss too much school. Hope this helps!
 
Just FYI for those who interview 10/28: The portal has been updated! You should be able to see if you were denied/held/accepted
 
Does this school often select from applicants once they are on "pre-interview hold" or is it basically a decline?
 
Finally complete! Hooray! It took 3 months to the day since my secondary was submitted.
 
Has anyone who has been accepted received their contract in the mail yet?
 
Hey SDN, another ms1 here! My experience with ohsu has consistently shown that they would rather triple check an application to make sure they are not missing anything. This means they are not super quick, but you will love the diverse interesting and kind people in your class because of this! I was a third time applicant with strong state ties and a 31 mcat paired with a lower GPA. They saw my potential and I love being here! I was put on hold pre and post interview and interviewed the second to last date in the cycle. Be patient (I know how hard that is) and know that if you stay focused on the end goal (becoming a great physician) you can make it through. Everytime you get a no, it is a chance to improve (even though your heartbreaks). Now back to leukemia and lymphoma! 🙂
(written from my phone so sorry for grammatical errors)
 
italiancowgirl said:
Hey SDN, another ms1 here! My experience with ohsu has consistently shown that they would rather triple check an application to make sure they are not missing anything. This means they are not super quick, but you will love the diverse interesting and kind people in your class because of this! I was a third time applicant with strong state ties and a 31 mcat paired with a lower GPA. They saw my potential and I love being here! I was put on hold pre and post interview and interviewed the second to last date in the cycle. Be patient (I know how hard that is) and know that if you stay focused on the end goal (becoming a great physician) you can make it through. Everytime you get a no, it is a chance to improve (even though your heartbreaks). Now back to leukemia and lymphoma! 🙂
(written from my phone so sorry for grammatical errors)
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Thanks for the encouragement! It's so hard to wait but everything I have read about the school is overwhelmingly positive. And as a bonus, who doesn't like Portland?!
 
Wow, I just checked the portal and it said I was rejected. No email or anything else which is strange, extremely surprised by this, firstly I wasn't aware they did pre II rejections yet, and second I've been a rural Oregon resident my entire life and my stats are right in their median. This is crushing, was at least hoping for an interview from my state school. I was complete 9/21, 3.7 GPA, 512 MCAT. Definitely pretty crushing, extremely surprised as well. Best of luck to those of you in the running, really an excellent school.
 
camtheram1815 said:
Wow, I just checked the portal and it said I was rejected. No email or anything else which is strange, extremely surprised by this, firstly I wasn't aware they did pre II rejections yet, and second I've been a rural Oregon resident my entire life and my stats are right in their median. This is crushing, was at least hoping for an interview from my state school. I was complete 9/21, 3.7 GPA, 512 MCAT. Definitely pretty crushing, extremely surprised as well. Best of luck to those of you in the running, really an excellent school.
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I am sorry that sucks!! i would definitely follow up with them if I were you, ask why/what you can change?
Hope you get in somewhere 🙂
 
ajmpnw said:
Has anyone who has been accepted received their contract in the mail yet?
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Don't know what you mean by contract, but I did get my letter saying I accept the acceptance! They told me it's not binding until later in the cycle (springtime). It took a while for me to get it in the mail, though - probably 5 weeks(?). I'd call if it's been 6 and it hasn't arrived, since they ask that you return the forms in two weeks.
 
camtheram1815 said:
Wow, I just checked the portal and it said I was rejected. No email or anything else which is strange, extremely surprised by this, firstly I wasn't aware they did pre II rejections yet, and second I've been a rural Oregon resident my entire life and my stats are right in their median. This is crushing, was at least hoping for an interview from my state school. I was complete 9/21, 3.7 GPA, 512 MCAT. Definitely pretty crushing, extremely surprised as well. Best of luck to those of you in the running, really an excellent school.
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All my updates happened by portal with a laggy e-mail later - so it might just be that you haven't gotten other notice yet.

I'm sorry to hear about it, though. Last year, I didn't even get an interview from my state school, either. Hang in there, and keep fighting the good fight!
 
Anyone have experience with being on the pre-interview hold? I can't seem to find much info - and also can't find any info on if they accept update letters? I have two more terms I can report that should help my case (grades publish next week), but can't find any info on either thing. I can always call, but it's finals season right now and things are crazy for the next two week.
 
Submitted late October, complete mid November! IS, so i'm guessing they process a lot faster? How long after complete do people usually receive interviews. Sorry i'm very new to SDN
 
EDlover23 said:
Submitted late October, complete mid November! IS, so i'm guessing they process a lot faster? How long after complete do people usually receive interviews. Sorry i'm very new to SDN
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For instate I would expect to wait 6ish weeks. May be different later in the cycle though.
 
Anyone remember how long it took to hear about interview date confirmation? I emailed the same day I got the invite.
 
It took a weekend and a few work days. In the event you missed the confirmation email, the date is listed on the portal.
 
Finished the interview recently. Absolutely gorgeous facilities and a renowed hospital to boot. Student body is eclectic and welcoming. The curriculum, once developed seems like a great idea; however, currently it is in a very inchoate form and liable to labile changes weekly (students remarked how lectures, what was being tested changed quickly with very short notice). Kinda turned me off, but who knows perhaps by next year (its third year) it will be much better!
 
been complete for 17 weeks . I really would love to interview here. OOS. I fit the grades mission but that's it.
 
This is my first SDN Post. I held off so I could avoid anxiety but I'm on this site so much anyways that I made an account.

Today I got put on hold pre-interview. OHSU is my #1 choice, I'm in-state, applying to MD/MPH, and my stats are 31 mcat and 3.77 GPA and 3.67 sGPA.
I'm keeping my fingers crossed for an interview! Congratulations to everyone who's gotten an interview or gotten accepted. It is a great school 🙂
 
italiancowgirl said:
Hey SDN, another ms1 here! My experience with ohsu has consistently shown that they would rather triple check an application to make sure they are not missing anything. This means they are not super quick, but you will love the diverse interesting and kind people in your class because of this! I was a third time applicant with strong state ties and a 31 mcat paired with a lower GPA. They saw my potential and I love being here! I was put on hold pre and post interview and interviewed the second to last date in the cycle. Be patient (I know how hard that is) and know that if you stay focused on the end goal (becoming a great physician) you can make it through. Everytime you get a no, it is a chance to improve (even though your heartbreaks). Now back to leukemia and lymphoma! 🙂
(written from my phone so sorry for grammatical errors)
Click to expand...

How long did it take you to transition from pre-interview hold to II? Thanks for sharing your story.
 
To current students/people who have already interviewed/people who have found this on the OHSU website,

I'm a little bit confused about what the first two years of medical school look like at OHSU. I know with the new integrated curriculum, the courses may be more individualized, but in general, what are days like for first and second year medical students? What courses do they take?

Do current students like the new curriculum? Does it feel like you will be prepared for Step 1?

Does anyone know anywhere I could find more detailed on the website? All I have found so far is the infographic of the new curriculum...

Thanks!
 
I don't know when I was complete because I didn't check the portals. And I am
In one of the mission based groups
 
Starl0rd said:
How long did it take you to transition from pre-interview hold to II? Thanks for sharing your story.
Click to expand...
No idea, can't remember. Too long ago and too many hematologic malignancies in my brain now. I know it took "forever" to hear back and I interviewed super late. In the end they picked the students that they thought made the best class, and I love my peers so I can't complain about it from this side. Keep practicing patience and ALWAYS work on improving yourself. If you have free time take some courses, or volunteer, or work. Never be idle, there are too many things you have to hone to be the best. And PLEASE take some anatomy if you have time to do so. At least figure out where the kidneys are, and what a spleen does, so you aren't blindsided when you get rolling!
 
For any of you who have waited at least 12 weeks and are still not complete, I would give the admissions office a call. I submitted my secondary on 8/27 and when I called today to see why it wasn't complete I was told all the august secondaries had already been reviewed and that mine was "accidentally missed." :bored:
 
pinacol said:
To current students/people who have already interviewed/people who have found this on the OHSU website,

I'm a little bit confused about what the first two years of medical school look like at OHSU. I know with the new integrated curriculum, the courses may be more individualized, but in general, what are days like for first and second year medical students? What courses do they take?

Do current students like the new curriculum? Does it feel like you will be prepared for Step 1?

Does anyone know anywhere I could find more detailed on the website? All I have found so far is the infographic of the new curriculum...

Thanks!
Click to expand...
Lots of questions, let's see how I can address this. First off you will get most/all of these questions answered on interview day. So far I have not seen individualization to the curriculum, though it may happen without me knowing about it. Each day M-R we spend half the day in class, lecture style with some q&a and active learning scattered in, and half doing a different activity. That might be preceptorship, or clinical skills, or science lab or something else. We learn in system blocks, so first was a fundamentals block with basic sciences, then into hematology/immunology/oncology, skin/bones/muscle, and after that cardio/pulmonary/renal. (etc etc). "Threads" like microbio and pharm are scattered through blocks as appropriate. We test every Friday, which gives us more low stakesopportunities to test our learning. We may test on lectures, labs, or clinical skills (or a combo of that). Sometimes we take electives (during lunch or after class) to work on special interest areas. There are many perspectives on this new curriculum. I personally love it. It makes sense to me and I feel like I am able to understand bit by bit the craziness that is medicine. I have no idea where to find this info online, it may not be easily accessible. We don't know how well it prepares us for Step 1, we haven't taken that yet, but we do have an NBME component which I think is very helpful (and challenging)! Hope that helps. And again, take an anatomy class now.
 
Interviewed 11/4 and received the hold status a couple days ago. Will be withdrawing eventually, but I'm waiting to see what the decision is later out of sheer curiosity.
 
Does anyone know if OHSU is still offering IIs?
 
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