Oregon Health & Sciences University School of Medicine

I guess I put "no change" as my impression because while the orientation and the student lunch positively impressed me, the interviews themselves left a negative impression, and I left OHSU in a fairly foul mood. One interview was definitely more positive than the other. I think the more negative second interview has colored how I feel about the first one because it's fresher in my mind, but I guess if I think about it, the first interview wasn't so bad, and I definitely felt much more confident leaving it. I guess I feel pretty torn about how I feel about OHSU. I like that it looks like I'd have a lot of free time and early patient contact at OHSU, but I really couldn't tell how going there would affect which residency programs I could match to. (I suppose I mean, is it a "good" school?)

When did you decide you wanted to be a doctor? Why? What will you do next year if you don't get in? How do you support yourself if you only have a part time job? (pretty much asking, do you parents still give you money?)

What is the most difficult thing you have ever had to deal with and what resources did you use to do so? Where do you see yourself in ten years, specifically? (the interviewer was insistant that I be specific -- including in what city, which was diffiult for me as I honestly don't know, and don't really want a rigid plan)

The orientation was very well thought out and organized, and the students at the lunch were really helpful -- they answered questions I didn't even know I had. And the food was actually good, which is, of course, always a plus. Plus, OHSU has a really beautiful campus -- although, I already had a soft spot in my heart for Doernbecher Children's Hospital -- it's such a great place.

I don't like that they don't allow the interviewers to see your grades or your MCAT scores. I understand the philosophy behind it (and I bet I'd feel differently if I'd done poorly on the MCAT), but with good grades and an awesome MCAT score, I WANT my interviewers to see them. Although of course they don't define me, I worked hard to get those grades and that score. Also, neither interviewer had ever heard of my small, liberal-arts college and both seemed to think that must mean it wasn't a particularly exceptional school -- if they'd been able to see that I got a 38 on my MCAT, I don't think they would have doubted the quality of my classes. The applicants from Stanford or Harvard I'm sure were not questioned about how good their college was -- consciously or not, the repuation of an applicant's undergraduate institution must affect the interviewer. And, well, I suppose that's just my bitter rant! sorry. got to have one of those every once in awhile :) I suppose the interviews themselves negatively impressed me because they just weren't positive experiences in general (although one was definitely much better than the other). And I guess they usually aren't -- it was just a bit of a shock coming from the wonderful, friendly, laid-back interview I had had the week prior.