Oregon State University Premed Postbac

[532230]

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Hello All,
I am seeking any information about Oregon State University's premed postbac program. Has anyone attended/is currently attending? Is it easy to get the classes you need? What is the advising like? How are the classes?

I have conducted numerous searches on this forum and others using various parameters and have only found info for OSU's pre-pharm, pre-vet, and pre-dentistry postbac programs, but nothing about premed. Their website is very vague and no one answers the phone at the science department advising number listed.

Before you flame me for being lazy and not researching previous posts: Please notice this is NOT regarding OHSU medical school or University of Oregon's premed postbac program. Also, if anyone can offer comparisons between OSU and Portland State University's programs, that would be most helpful.

Thank you for reading.

 

[DrMidlife]

In six years of paying attention here, I've never seen anybody comment on doing prereqs at OSU Corvallis.

My suggestion: assume it's not actually a program, but a possibility for getting prereqs done. So evaluate it as you would any DIY postbac:
1. How much does it cost
2. How difficult is it to get into the classes I need
3. How difficult is it to get professors to write LORs
4. How difficult is it to get involved in labs and clinics

As with taking prereqs at any big university outside a structured formal program, you may find that you need to be degree-seeking to get the above list to work for you. Some people apply for a second bachelors degree to get that done.

The differences between premed/prevet/predent are not very interesting. Don't let this distract you.

Portland State, by contrast to OSU, has a well-organized program with structure and a good reputation. Being close to OHSU has unbelievable benefits for premeds. If you would be making a sacrifice to get to Corvallis, then sacrifice a little more and get up to Portland. Eugene would be slightly better than OSU, but I would rank PSU slightly higher than UofO for premed work, because of where OHSU is.

Best of luck to you.

 

[DrMidlife]

Another suggestion: troll the OHSU acceptance threads, and send some PMs to people from OR asking about the prereqs at the schools you're targeting.

 

[532230]

Thanks for the feedback, Dr. MidLife! I agree that PSU's program is certainly more well-known, but I'm actually leaning toward OSU at the moment. I've had amicable and informative phone conversations with the adviser for the pre-med program there (Chere), whereas Portland State has been much less reassuring in that regard. I have some pretty basic questions that have gone unanswered; the advisers won't speak to you without an appointment and the people answering the phones reply, "Um.. I don't really know about that. You'll have to speak with an adviser." The soonest appointment is in April. This concerns me.

Also, I've heard PSU's labs are not in good shape. Normally, this wouldn't be too big a deal, but seeing as how I'm only going to be taking science classes, it would be nice to work in a lab that wasn't described as "dilapidated." I would imagine that OSU's labs, on the other hand, would be pretty nice considering it is such a science-focused school.

The prices are comparable, with OSU's tuition being slightly higher, but the cost of living in Portland would quickly negate that difference. I appreciate your suggestion to contact OHSU med students. I might also call the adviser at OSU back and ask if there is an alum or two I could speak with.