Oregon State University College of Veterinary Medicine
Corvallis, OR
Veterinary Schools | Public Non-Profit
Going on an interview at OSU-CVM? Add your feedback to help others!
⭐ Overall Impressions ▼
How did the interview impress you?
Most respondents felt positively about their interview.
What was the stress level of the interview?
Most respondents rated their interview as average stress.
How you think you did?
Most respondents thought they performed well at the interview.
How do you rank this school among ALL other schools?
Most respondents rank this school above all other schools.
How do you rank this school among other schools to which you've applied?
Most respondents rank this school above other schools they applied to.
0 = Below, 10 = Above
💬 Interview Questions ▼
What is one of the specific questions they asked you?
The most commonly asked interview questions at medical schools include discussing vaccine schedules for animals, ethical views on animal research, handling financial constraints in veterinary care, and scenarios related to professional ethics and decision-making. Additionally, respondents mentioned specific questions about veterinary school costs, relaxation techniques, program preferences, and practical scenarios like medication dosage calculations and responding to cheating incidents. Notably, some responses indicated an MMI format with questions about vaccination protocols and a nondisclosure agreement regarding a math problem at the end of the interview.
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Describe a typical vaccine schedule for a new puppy.
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What do you do to relax?
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What do you think the costs of attending veterinary school are and how much do you expect to earn following graduation?
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What are your opinions on animal research?
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What do you do at your job as a veterinary student?
What was the most interesting question?
Students said the most interesting question asked at Oregon State University College of Veterinary Medicine discussed ethical dilemmas in veterinary practice, legislation concerning animal welfare, managing differing viewpoints on surgical procedures, and the use of live animals for training, indicating a focus on ethical awareness and critical thinking skills in their interviews.
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How do you feel about using live animals for surgical practice during your courses?
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They asked me to discuss the ethical/legal responsibilities of a veterinarian.
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What do you know about the current legislation relating to the unwanted horse problem?
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How will you deal with people having different opinions from you on the issue of terminal surgeries?
What was the most difficult question?
Students said the most difficult question asked at Oregon State University College of Veterinary Medicine discussed how applicants overcame application "blemishes" and their ability to handle the rigors of vet school despite academic challenges. Additionally, questions about working with difficult individuals, ethical dilemmas in veterinary medicine, and personal motivations for pursuing veterinary medicine were commonly faced. Some respondents mentioned an MMI format with potential nondisclosure agreements in place.
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They were really interested in having me explain how I overcame some of the "blemishes" on my application.
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Describe a time that you had to work with a difficult person. How did you respond?
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Asked how I felt about going into vet med, when people spend so much on healthcare for their pets in the U.S. while you can feed a person in a third world country for a dollar a day. This one just threw me off.
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After seeing that I had a couple not so good grades in O-chem and physics one interviewer asked me to convince them that I would be able to handle the rigors of vet school. (This one just threw me off guard because my grades for my last two years of undergrad were really good and I didn't get asked about grades at all in my other interviews)
🤝 Interview Format and Logistics ▼
How long was the interview?
Most respondents had an interview of 20 - 30 minutes.
How many people interviewed you?
Most respondents were interviewed by 3 people.
What was the style of the interview?
Most respondents had a one-on-one interview.
What type of interview was it?
Most respondents had an open file interview.
Was this interview in-person or virtual?
Most respondents had a virtual interview.
Data includes both pre- and post-COVID interviews.
Where did the interview take place?
Most respondents were interviewed at the school.
📍 On-Site Experience ▼
Who was the tour given by?
Tours were most commonly given by a Student
How did the tour guide seem?
Most tour guides were enthusiastic about the school.
How do you rank the facilities?
Most respondents rank the facilities as above average.
What is your in-state status?
Most respondents rank the facilities as below average.
What were your total hours spent traveling?
Most respondents spent 2-3 hours traveling to the interview.
What was your primary mode of travel?
Most respondents traveled by automobile to the interview.
About how much did you spend on room, food, and travel?
Most respondents spent less than $100.
What airport did you fly into?
Respondents who flew to the interview generally used Portland International Airport (PDX)
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Portland
Where did you stay?
Most respondents stayed either Other or at another housing option.
What is the name of the hotel you stayed in?
No responses
How would you rate the hotel?
Most respondents rated their hotel as average
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
Would you recommend the hotel?
No responses
What is your ranking of this school's location?
Most respondents rate the school location as good.
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
What is your ranking of this area's cultural life?
Most respondents rate the area’s cultural life as good.
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
What are your comments on where you stayed?
No responses
✅ Interview Preparation and Impressions ▼
How is the friendliness of the admissions office?
Most respondents said the admissions office was friendly.
How is the responsiveness of the admissions office?
Most respondents said the admissions office was responsive.
How did you prepare for the interview?
Most applicants prepared for the interview by practicing common questions found online, reviewing their applications, and seeking advice from mentors or counselors. They also researched the school and discussed strategies for answering difficult questions.
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Practicing MMI questions that I found online.
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Researched general veterinary school interviews and reviewed my VMCAS and supplemental applications.
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Looked over questions posted on forums online. Practiced talking through behavioral-based questions to a friend.
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Read practice questions I found online, reviewed my vmcas and supplemental apps, discussed interview strategies and how to answer difficult questions with career counselor from my undergrad
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Mostly looked for sample questions online and practiced in my head what I would say.
What impressed you positively?
Applicants were consistently impressed by the friendly and welcoming attitude of the interviewers, admissions office staff, and current students. They appreciated the relaxed atmosphere during interviews, the helpfulness of staff, and opportunities to engage with current students. Many also noted the beautiful facilities and the personal attention they received throughout the process.
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Each interviewer listened closely, asked their own questions, and responded to your own questions. They were all very relaxed and interested in you as a person.
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The staff in the admissions office are incredibly kind and helpful.
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The interviewers and the office staff were extremely friendly, the facilities were beautiful, and the students I talked to were open and excited about the program.
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Admissions secretary/coordinator was always very helpful and quick to respond. Tour guide was enthusiastic and answered lots of questions...she also took me to dinner with some other current students. Had a horse handling class for interviewees to attend (weekly class designed to help students unfamiliar with horses become more comfortable).
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There were a group of mostly first year students near the entrance that you could sit and talk with before the interview. Also the actual interview environment was pretty relaxed and friendly.
What impressed you negatively?
Applicants were disappointed by inconsistencies in the interview process, such as lacking student representatives as promised, encountering intimidating interviewers, and receiving vague or uninformed responses. Suggestions include ensuring a consistent and welcoming interview experience for all candidates, providing accurate information about the interview setup, and training interviewers to be more considerate and knowledgeable.
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One of the interviewers came off as really intimidating. I was surprised because I had heard from many people that Oregon's interview process was extremely relaxed and low-key.
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Nothing!
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Had been told there would be students (and possibly a dog) waiting in the lobby to answer questions, but no one was there--perhaps because my interview was at the end of the day. Hard to get pamphlets, etc. when researching schools.
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Nothing
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There weren't any students to talk to when I first got there, one interviewer kind of seemed out to get you, one of them gave a really vague answer when I asked about their specialty. One interviewer asked if I used animals in my senior thesis, had he read the title of my thesis or anything it would have been clear that I didn't, which I found a little frustrating since it was an open-interview.
What did you wish you had known ahead of time?
Applicants commonly wished they had known ahead of time that the interviews would be more relaxed than expected and that they shouldn't stress as much. Additionally, some applicants mentioned wishing they had been aware of the specific interviewers they would be meeting with.
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That I didn't need to stress as badly
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Who my interviewers would be specifically.
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That it would be pretty relaxed. I stressed out about it too much.
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That some of the interviewers would be kind of cold. At my other interview all of the interviewers were very warm and kind.
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Nothing, I had gone to a mock interview with the OSU Pre-vet club and for the most part the format was exactly the same.
What are your general comments?
Applicants commonly mentioned being relieved that the math question was simple and not a cause for worry, emphasizing the importance of preparing for it. Additionally, they advised future applicants to remember to bring their picture and not to stress about the interview process, as it may not feel as bad as perceived.
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Although I had heard that they would play "good cop bad cop", they didn't! There was a math problem, which I was glad I knew about beforehand.
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Don't forget your picture, and don't stress about the math.
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Just know that there is a math question, but it is very simple and nothing to be worried about.
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They accepted me so I guess the interview didn't go as badly as it felt.
What are your suggestions for the admissions office?
Applicants commonly suggest making the supplemental application electronic for convenience, and improving the interview experience by ensuring more interaction or support for candidates on campus.
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To make the supplemental application electronic.
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I felt a bit alone when I arrived for my interview. No other interviewees or current students there
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