2024-2025 Oregon Health and Sciences University (OHSU)

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OOS A today..! Do we have to acknowledge the acceptance anywhere?
Congratulations!!! Were you on hold before receiving the A?

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Any updates? I interviewed back on 2/10. Not holding out too much hope atp. Are all the seats gone?
 
Anyone who interviewed in February who has not heard any updates including hold?
yup! Do you think it's pointless to send a letter of intent at this point? Also, I heard that they send out acceptances through June but will we at least hear back by the end of the month if we were placed on hold or otherwise? it's tough to not hear anything 😭
 
yup! Do you think it's pointless to send a letter of intent at this point? Also, I heard that they send out acceptances through June but will we at least hear back by the end of the month if we were placed on hold or otherwise? it's tough to not hear anything 😭
Definitely pointless to send a letter at this point.

By the end of April, everyone will receive an acceptance, a rejection, or be put on the waiting list. Any acceptances after the end of April will come in order off of the waiting list as seats become available. OHSU typically ends up taking ~40-60 off the waitlist and will take people from that list through about the first week of August.
 
Definitely pointless to send a letter at this point.

By the end of April, everyone will receive an acceptance, a rejection, or be put on the waiting list. Any acceptances after the end of April will come in order off of the waiting list as seats become available. OHSU typically ends up taking ~40-60 off the waitlist and will take people from that list through about the first week of August.
MVP of this thread keeping everyone up to date
 
Historically would you say there is a lower chance of admission if we have not received a hold yet at this point?
 
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Historically would you say there is a lower chance of admission if we have not received a hold yet at this point?
No. When you interview at OHSU, you are interviewing for a seat. If you haven't heard, you just...haven't heard.
 
Listen up, everyone. I know this is hard. I have been in your shoes (late interviewee, didn't hear anything at all until the end of April) and it sucks. If you're in that boat, take a Xanax or a shot or a nap and just wait it out. You WILL hear by the end of the month. Some of you will get As. Some will get Rs. Some will get wait-listed (with a number so you know exactly where you are on the list).

OHSU may have a slow admissions process, but it's also extremely fair and does not favor applicants based on when they interviewed. They hang on to a lot of these seats so they can build the very best cohort.

If you're on hold or haven't heard, you are very, very much in the running. So relax! Nothing you can do now. Plan to hear on April 28 and be pleasantly surprised if you hear earlier.

Good luck, friends.
 
Listen up, everyone. I know this is hard. I have been in your shoes (late interviewee, didn't hear anything at all until the end of April) and it sucks. If you're in that boat, take a Xanax or a shot or a nap and just wait it out. You WILL hear by the end of the month. Some of you will get As. Some will get Rs. Some will get wait-listed (with a number so you know exactly where you are on the list).

OHSU may have a slow admissions process, but it's also extremely fair and does not favor applicants based on when they interviewed. They hang on to a lot of these seats so they can build the very best cohort.

If you're on hold or haven't heard, you are very, very much in the running. So relax! Nothing you can do now. Plan to hear on April 28 and be pleasantly surprised if you hear earlier.

Good luck, friends.
Your posts in here really do help me feel more sane (even though I will continue to obsessively refresh my email for a status update lol) so thank you 🙏
 
Definitely pointless to send a letter at this point.

By the end of April, everyone will receive an acceptance, a rejection, or be put on the waiting list. Any acceptances after the end of April will come in order off of the waiting list as seats become available. OHSU typically ends up taking ~40-60 off the waitlist and will take people from that list through about the first week of August.

Listen up, everyone. I know this is hard. I have been in your shoes (late interviewee, didn't hear anything at all until the end of April) and it sucks. If you're in that boat, take a Xanax or a shot or a nap and just wait it out. You WILL hear by the end of the month. Some of you will get As. Some will get Rs. Some will get wait-listed (with a number so you know exactly where you are on the list).

OHSU may have a slow admissions process, but it's also extremely fair and does not favor applicants based on when they interviewed. They hang on to a lot of these seats so they can build the very best cohort.

If you're on hold or haven't heard, you are very, very much in the running. So relax! Nothing you can do now. Plan to hear on April 28 and be pleasantly surprised if you hear earlier.

Good luck, friends.
THANK you so very much. This process is definitely not for the weak. Thank you for reinforcing our thoughts and giving us feedback. I am eternally grateful for all that you have provided.
 
Dear friends, I've held off on writing something for a really long time but could use a little extra encouragement at this point in what has been a very painful journey.

I interviewed on September 9th, 2024. On November 7th, I was placed into the hold pool. It has now been five months in the hold pool. I've found myself wondering -- was it just random chance that I was selected for an interview so early? Or did they think I seemed promising and then I interviewed so poorly that it just hasn't worked out? I have a friend who got accepted in early March. I'm thrilled for her, but don't think that we're necessarily that different. So it's really been getting in my head.

At this point I'm relieved that at least we'll have more information in 9 more days, but the whole process has really eaten at my self-confidence. For context, I'm in my thirties, have tons of life and clinical experience, especially in rural and underserved places, and have been in managerial/leadership positions before. My sGPA got screwed over from my undergrad classes from 15-ish years ago (postbacc sGPA was around a 3.9 but AMCAS reported a 3.6) and I have a 504 MCAT, which I know is not very impressive. I'm starting to think that I must be much worse at interviewing than I thought. 🙁

I did get accepted to a DO school so I'm starting to plan for that. But anyway, for anyone else in the hold pool, I feel your pain, and I'm sure that you are an amazing person who will be an absolutely wonderful doctor no matter where you end up.

I also want to thank everyone who's been keeping us informed about the process and any updates along the way. Also, my sincere congratulations also to anyone who has gotten accepted!!
 
Dear friends, I've held off on writing something for a really long time but could use a little extra encouragement at this point in what has been a very painful journey.

I interviewed on September 9th, 2024. On November 7th, I was placed into the hold pool. It has now been five months in the hold pool. I've found myself wondering -- was it just random chance that I was selected for an interview so early? Or did they think I seemed promising and then I interviewed so poorly that it just hasn't worked out? I have a friend who got accepted in early March. I'm thrilled for her, but don't think that we're necessarily that different. So it's really been getting in my head.

At this point I'm relieved that at least we'll have more information in 9 more days, but the whole process has really eaten at my self-confidence. For context, I'm in my thirties, have tons of life and clinical experience, especially in rural and underserved places, and have been in managerial/leadership positions before. My sGPA got screwed over from my undergrad classes from 15-ish years ago (postbacc sGPA was around a 3.9 but AMCAS reported a 3.6) and I have a 504 MCAT, which I know is not very impressive. I'm starting to think that I must be much worse at interviewing than I thought. 🙁

I did get accepted to a DO school so I'm starting to plan for that. But anyway, for anyone else in the hold pool, I feel your pain, and I'm sure that you are an amazing person who will be an absolutely wonderful doctor no matter where you end up.

I also want to thank everyone who's been keeping us informed about the process and any updates along the way. Also, my sincere congratulations also to anyone who has gotten accepted!!
Hi Friend,

I wanted to offer some words of encouragement <3

If OHSU wanted to interview you so early, I'm sure it's because they believed you would be a good addition to the school! The fact that your friend got in already and you did not is not entirely a reflection of you. Ultimately we don't control how others perceive us. Your friend might have really vibed with her interviewer, and you might have gotten placed with one who is VERY hard to impress..

You should be VERY proud of all you've accomplished, and I hope you know that your skills as a non-trad will be invaluable to whatever institution you end up at and will serve you for the rest of your career.

I know it is SO much easier said than done, but please try not to get down on yourself. You didn't receive an R, you were put on Hold! Don't forget Petey's advice! The hold pool is a great place to be!!! I really hope things work out in your favor and that we see you in August!

Best of luck with everything!
 
Does anyone have any thoughts on reapplying to OHSU this cycle (in like 1-2 months) I might retake the MCAT so that would make my application slightly late but I really don't want to have to wait an entire year to apply. Any feedback on what to do post-rejection would be greatly appreciated!
 
Does anyone have any thoughts on reapplying to OHSU this cycle (in like 1-2 months) I might retake the MCAT so that would make my application slightly late but I really don't want to have to wait an entire year to apply. Any feedback on what to do post-rejection would be greatly appreciated!
Same question here. Received my post II R today and may be retaking the MCAT and still very much want to apply this cycle. Emailed OHSU about personal feedback, and they gave me a generic checklist to read to try and identify where I could have improved. Unfortunately, they don't do personalized feedback now.
 
It doesn’t seem to me that OHSU is a score wh*re school. Especially if you’re IS. The team does give a good amount of chance to nontrad students from what I can see. Will a higher MCAT score and all things the same give you a better chance of acceptance next time? Highly doubt it. Take it these thoughts with a grain of salt ofc.

To those who are still waiting:
I was interviewed in August. First batch of interviewees. Meant nothing.
Hold on Thanksgiving.
Silence.
Accepted on May before the waitlist was made.
August to May.
August to May.
Again, August to May.
Got it?
 
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It doesn’t seem to me that OHSU is a score wh*re school.
Patience is right.

The dean of admissions is very open about not giving the MCAT much weight.

If OHSU is the goal, I'd focus on service, pushing yourself out of your comfort zone, leadership, and proving your interest in and understanding of medicine. A higher MCAT score may help you at other schools, but not really at OHSU.
 
Does anyone have any thoughts on reapplying to OHSU this cycle (in like 1-2 months) I might retake the MCAT so that would make my application slightly late but I really don't want to have to wait an entire year to apply. Any feedback on what to do post-rejection would be greatly appreciated!
I think during my feedback they emphasized that you can reapply the immediate following year if there were noticeable improvement and positive difference from your previous application. Have you done anything since applying this cycle? More hours or new service and clinical experience?

Otherwise they don’t recommend you to reapply immediately if it is the substantively same application.

Hope this helps.
 
OOS Oregon Heritage post II (12/13) R yesterday from hold, 2/2. Definitely a gut punch, but good luck to everyone else still waiting to hear back! This is my third time applying to, interviewing with, and being rejected by OHSU and it's tough not to take it personally. I also just heard back that they are no longer providing individual feedback as they've done previously, but rather a form for self-reflection.
To those feeling jaded by OHSU, just don't, as hard as that may be. Having been through this process multiple times, it does really seem to me that they just want to give all applicants a fair shot at a spot. Unfortunately, a byproduct of that is the painstakingly long waiting periods. It's tough when you really just want to plan your life, but it's nothing personal. From my feedback from previous cycles (and take this with a grain of salt since I am yet to be accepted lol), they really do want to see growth between applications, both personally and professionally, so to echo what others have said, I'd think carefully before diving into an immediate reapp with this upcoming cycle unless you had pretty big recent changes. I wouldn't see it as any major setback to take an extra year or two, just a redirection--an opportunity to diversify your experiences before coming back to reapply, be it retaking the MCAT, pursuing other higher education, gaining additional work/volunteer/leadership experiences, etc. Use this time to further figure out who you are and why you want to do this and live your life! Firm believer that everything happens just as it's meant to.
xoxo sappy lurker
also, happy earth day, go outside!
 
dodged the R wave yesterday but also no status update today for placement on the alternate list. Has the alternate list historically come out in waves, or is this a delayed rejection?

EDIT: got the alternate list email an hour ago, looks like it coming in waves. 3 figures so I’m cooked, good luck friends
 
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I believe the number is your exact spot on the alternate list. I think I've heard 30-60 people tend to get accepted from the list, but don't quote me on that
There’s a spreadsheet someone had made of AL movement for years 2018-2022 that was posted in last years thread, and the counts were 58, 50, 47, 29, and 44 accepted by orientation. I know at least 60 were accepted off AL last year

Just got a status update that I’m assuming is my AL position but I’m waiting until I’m off work to open it 🫠
 
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There’s a spreadsheet someone had made of AL movement for years 2018-2022 that was posted in last years thread, and the counts were 58, 50, 47, 29, and 44 accepted by orientation. I know at least 50 were accepted off AL last year

Just got a status update that I’m assuming is my AL position but I’m waiting until I’m off work to open it 🫠
I couldn’t wait - IS alternate list (40s) today, interviewed 2/13
 
Total alternate list movement in previous years:
2024: 76
2023: 64
2022: 44
2021: 29 (pandemic year fwiw)
2020: 48
2019, 2018, 2017: 48, 50, 58

Based on previous years, I'd expect movement starting in May, tapering off by early June, then decreasingly slow movement until orientation around August 11. The timeline could shift a bit earlier this year given alternate list positions were released earlier.
 
Total alternate list movement in previous years:
2024: 76
2023: 64
2022: 44
2021: 29 (pandemic year fwiw)
2020: 48
2019, 2018, 2017: 48, 50, 58

Based on previous years, I'd expect movement starting in May, tapering off by early June, then decreasingly slow movement until orientation around August 11. The timeline could shift a bit earlier this year given alternate list positions were released earlier.
do you know if many people withdraw from the alternate list or if it’s basically that people up to spot 60 have a good chance? I guess what spot is nearly hopeless?
 
do you know if many people withdraw from the alternate list or if it’s basically that people up to spot 60 have a good chance? I guess what spot is nearly hopeless?
Based only on the above data from prior years, I'd consider odds at 40 or less quite good, 41-50 pretty good, 51-70 could go either way, and at 71+ I'd presume a rejection and put my energy toward planning my next steps (though it's still possible despite not great odds, so I certainly wouldn't remove myself from the alternate list only due to a high number). Of course, every year is different and we don't really know until we know.

My personal strategy at this point is to be open to the possibility of seeing little movement until June, be prepared for either decision, and most importantly, be patient. AL movement should start in early May (though as of today we're up to 3 off the AL for some reason).
 
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OOS MD/MPH moved to alternate list yesterday! interviewed and Hold-Pool'd in November

anyone know if an MD/MPH can be moved to MD cohort? though the MD/MPH was the only reason I could apply to OHSU (due to the mission based criteria)....
 
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