Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) Secondary Essay Prompts

These are the secondary application essay prompts for Oregon Health & Science University School of Medicine (OHSU). To put your best foot forward and maximize your chance of an interview invitation, visit our secondary application editing page.

about Oregon Health & Science University School of Medicine

Secondary Deadline: Unknown
Secondary Fee: $100
FAP Waiver: Full Fee Waived
CASPer Required: Yes
Screens Applications: No
Accepts Application Updates: Yes

Mission

It is the mission of the School of Medicine to enhance human health through programs of excellence in education, research, health care and public service to the larger community including underserved populations. In achieving these goals, the Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) School of Medicine seeks to establish an educational environment that challenges its students to strive for academic excellence and fosters the development of compassion, humanism, professionalism, and cultural competence in the care of patients from their first days in the classroom to their final rotation in the hospitals and clinics. A fundamental priority throughout OHSU is to enable each student to fulfill his or her potential as a human being and as a health care professional while effectively meeting the health-related needs of the multiple communities he or she will serve.

2023-2024

1. What experience have you had that has given you insight into the patients you hope to eventually serve? (1550 characters)

2. Tell us about a time you went into a situation completely unprepared. (1550 characters)

3. Discuss a time in your life that demonstrated your resilience and ability to overcome adversity. (1550 characters)

4. In 1990, Salovey and Mayer defined emotional intelligence (EI) as “the subset of social intelligence that involves the ability to monitor one’s own and others’ feelings and emotions, to discriminate among them and to use this information to guide one’s thinking and actions”. The components of EI include self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skills. Briefly describe one example of a time you harnessed your EI to resolve a difficult situation, AND one example of a time your failure to use your EI compounded a difficult situation. What did you learn about yourself in each of these situations? (1550 characters)

5. Give an example of personal feedback in the last few years that was difficult to receive. How did you respond? (1550 characters)

6. Please discuss the roles Dignity, Respect and Deference play in how medical teams optimize patient care. (changed from last year) (1550 characters)

Optional:
7. Are there any additional ties to the state of Oregon you wish to share? If yes, use the space below. If no, leave blank. Please note that this does not factor toward your consideration as an Oregon resident or Oregon Heritage.(1550 characters)

8. We know that many of our applicants in the OHSU UME Program may have familial relationships with individuals who are OHSU faculty, residents, staff, or current students who serve as evaluators in our admissions process. We have added this question in hopes to prevent perceived or actual conflicts of interest that can occur when an applicant has a family member (or someone with a similar close personal relationship) they may encounter through the admissions process. If you have any such connections, please list those individuals’ names and departments below. If no, leave blank. (2050 characters)

Supplemental Information section with additional prompts:

9. Based on your own experiences or the experiences of family and friends, do you believe that the area in which you grew up was adequately served by the available health care professionals? Were there enough physicians, nurses, hospitals, clinics, and other health care service providers and how did that affect your experience and relationship with health care? Please explain. (4000 characters)

10. [“While you were growing up, did you experience any of the following types of adversity?” with options to select the severity of the following adversities: economic, educational, ethnic/cultural, family] Please describe the nature of the adversity and how social, economic, academic, or other circumstances affected you and your opportunities. (4000 characters)

11. We acknowledge that our application is not fully comprehensive. If there is anything additional you would like to let us know about you, please briefly state it here. (550 characters)

2022-2023

Regular MD: (all are 1550 characters except for #4 is 2050)

Question 1 – What experience have you had that has given you insight into the patients you hope to eventually serve?

Question 2 – Tell us about a time you went into a situation completely unprepared.

Question 3 – Discuss a time in your life that demonstrated your resilience.

Question 4 – In 1990, Salovey and Mayer defined emotional intelligence (EI) as “the subset of social intelligence that involves the ability to monitor one’s own and others’ feelings and emotions, to discriminate among them and to use this information to guide one’s thinking and actions”. The components of EI include self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skills. Briefly describe one example of a time you harnessed your EI to resolve a difficult situation, AND one example of a time your failure to use your EI compounded a difficult situation. What did you learn about yourself in each of these situations?

Question 5 – Give an example of personal feedback in the last few years that was difficult to receive. How did you respond?

Question 6 – Please discuss how your personal experience demonstrates the ability to overcome adversity and contributes to diversity in the provision of healthcare. Please include any insight into the diversity that you would bring to OHSU School of Medicine and the profession of medicine in the context of OHSU’s definition of diversity: Diversity at OHSU requires creating and sustaining a community of inclusion. We honor, respect, embrace and value the unique contributions and perspectives of all employees, patients, students, volunteers and our local and global communities. Diversity may include age, color, culture, disability, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status. We respect diversity of thought, ideas and more. Diversity maximizes our true potential for creativity, innovation, quality patient care, educational excellence and outstanding service.

Question 7 – Are there any additional ties to the state of Oregon you wish to share? If so, use the space below. Please note that this does not factor toward your consideration as an Oregon resident or Oregon Heritage.

Question 8 – We know that many of our applicants in the OHSU UME Program may have familial relationships with individuals who are OHSU faculty, residents, staff, or current students who serve as evaluators in our admissions process. We have added this question in hopes to prevent perceived or actual conflicts of interest that can occur when an applicant has a family member (or someone with a similar close personal relationship) they may encounter through the admissions process. If you have any such connections, please list those individuals’ names and departments below.

Other: Using the fields below, please provide a brief chronological account of your major activities and employment, including volunteer and summer activities, for the five years immediately preceding your proposed entry to medical school. This should include present and projected activities to the point of matriculation to medical school. Please do not include activities that ended prior to or during high school. Note: You are limited to 20 entries in this section.

Adversity “Checklist” with optional elaboration

Specific to MD-MPH applicants: MPH (4000 characters):

The School of Medicine requires a statement of purpose for admission to the MD-MPH Combined Degree Program. The MD-MPH Combined Degree program offers two MPH concentrations, 1) Epidemiology and 2) Health Management and Policy.

Please explain:

1) Why you are applying for the combined MD-MPH Degree Program at OHSU?

2) Your interest in EITHER the Epidemiology or the Health Management and Policy concentration; and,

3) How you plan to use your training in medicine and public health training in your career.

Please submit your statement using the text area provided below. This cannot exceed the 4000 character limit. No particular formatting or spacing is required.

2021-2022

1. What experience have you had that has given you insight into the patients you hope to eventually serve? 1550 characters

2. Other than work-life balance, what will be your greatest challenge in becoming a physician? 1550 characters

3. Discuss a time in your life that demonstrated your resilience. 1550 characters

4. Please describe your path through the OHSU UME Admissions Recommended Premedical Competencies, with special attention to experiences that are not reflected in your transcript. Do not include specific grades or test scores in your response. AAMC’s Core Competencies for Entering Medical Students & OHSU Recommended Prerequisites. 2050 characters

5. Give an example of personal feedback in the last few years that was difficult to receive. How did you respond? 1550 characters

6. Please discuss how your personal experience demonstrates the ability to overcome adversity and contributes to diversity in the provision of healthcare. Please include any insight into the diversity that you would bring to OHSU School of Medicine and the profession of medicine in the context of OHSU’s definition of diversity: Diversity at OHSU requires creating and sustaining a community of inclusion. We honor, respect, embrace and value the unique contributions and perspectives of all employees, patients, students, volunteers and our local and global communities. Diversity may include age, color, culture, disability, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status. We respect diversity of thought, ideas and more. Diversity maximizes our true potential for creativity, innovation, quality patient care, educational excellence and outstanding service. 1550 characters

7. (optional) Adversity essay when you select degrees of adversity you’ve faced. Just says “please describe the nature of the adversity” 4000 character limit.

2020-2021

What experience have you had that has given you insight into the patients you hope to eventually serve? (1550 characters)
Other than work-life balance, what will be your greatest challenge in becoming a physician? (1550 characters)
Discuss a time in your life that demonstrated your resilience. (1550 characters)
Please describe your path through the OHSU UME Admissions Recommended Premedical Competencies, with special attention to experiences that are not reflected in your transcript. Do not include specific grades or test scores in your response. AAMC’s Core Competencies for Entering Medical Students & OHSU Recommended Prerequisites (2050 characters)
Give an example of personal feedback in the last few years that was difficult to receive. How did you respond? (1550 characters)
Please discuss how your personal experience demonstrates the ability to overcome adversity and contributes to diversity in the provision of healthcare. Please include any insight into the diversity that you would bring to OHSU School of Medicine and the profession of medicine in the context of OHSU’s definition of diversity: Diversity at OHSU requires creating and sustaining a community of inclusion. We honor, respect, embrace and value the unique contributions and perspectives of all employees, patients, students, volunteers and our local and global communities. Diversity may include age, color, culture, disability, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status. We respect diversity of thought, ideas and more. Diversity maximizes our true potential for creativity, innovation, quality patient care, educational excellence and outstanding service. (1550 characters)

2019-2020

The secondary application essay prompts from this medical school application cycle are the same as above.

2018-2019

General MD Questions

1. What experience have you had that has given you insight into the patients you hope to eventually serve? (1500 characters)

Draw on the prior patient interactions you have had. You can also be creative and consider other volunteer experiences during which you may have interacted with populations you wish to serve. The key is to not repeat what you have already stated in your primary application. You will likely have to use an experience you have already listed there. Try to come at it from a different angle. Perhaps provide an anecdote which you had not previously discussed. Focus on what that experience taught you and how it will help you serve such patients in the future.

2. What will be your greatest challenge in becoming a physician? (1500 characters)

This question will require some introspection. Try to choose something that is a moderate challenge but does not point to a weakness or deficiency you have in your qualifications to become a doctor. Make it something you can certainly overcome and explain how you plan to do so.

3. Discuss a time in your life that demonstrated your resilience. (1500 characters)

Brainstorm experiences or accomplishments which were particularly formative. Think of a scenario in which you overcame particular adversity. Tie the experience to what lesson it taught you and how it made you encounter your own limitations, and was thereby challenging. Then focus on what skill or trait you gained that made you a stronger person. Be humble; do not emphasize our tout your personal excellence but rather show your introspection and personal growth.

4. Describe a time when you did not receive what you felt you deserved, and how you reacted. (1500 characters)

Tread softly when answering this question. Be careful not to sound entitled. Think of a time when you worked very hard to overcome adversity, but perhaps you failed for some reason. This may be the best way to point out that your efforts were not rewarded, but also state possible reasons why and what lessons you learned.

5. Give an example of personal feedback in the last few years that was difficult to receive. How did you respond? (1500 characters)

In this question the goal is to demonstrate a time when you dealt positively with something that was difficult to hear. Choose a piece of feedback over which you reflected and had personal growth, but not something that actually points out a strong weakness which could be alarming to an admissions committee. Focus on how you tried to respond positively by reflecting on the feedback, introspecting about your opportunities for personal growth, and implementing the feedback into your actual behaviors.

6. Please discuss the diversity that you would bring to the OHSU School of Medicine and the profession of medicine. (2000 characters)

Start by brainstorming what is unique about you and your background. Is it your place of birth, your family, your culture, or you path to medicine? Also consider prior adversity you have had to overcome and how that has shaped your values. Next consider your personal strengths and attributes. Consider 1-2 of these characteristics to focus on. Discuss them in detail, providing specific examples as to how you demonstrate these qualities. Weave a story which shows how your unique characteristics will contribute to your medical school class as well as the future field of medicine. Be sure to answer both of these components. Consider the effect you might have on your peers, professors and patients.

MD/PhD Questions

7. What specifically interests you in the OHSU MD/PhD program? (1500 char)

The first step to answering this question is doing some research on the program website to understand some of its nuances. Is it very strong in a particular field of research or does it provide unique opportunities to collaborate with other disciplines such as bioengineering or finance If one of these aspects aligns with your strengths or interests, explain how you are a great fit for this reason. Outline how these opportunities will help you grow toward your career goals as you envision them. Think about the opportunities the location provides in terms of clinical experience and social experience as well. Be sure to tailor your answer to the unique aspects of OHSU.

8. Please list 3-5 faculty members at OHSU whose research is of interest to you. (1500 char)

This will be a very personalized answer for each applicant. It likely will not be difficult, as any MD/PhD applicant will likely already have a significant research interest. Do your background research and answer based on your preferences.

9. Thinking about one of your research projects, how could the results affect the way we diagnose and treat patients? If your research is non-biomedical, describe how it advances scientific knowledge. (1500 char)

Draw on your prior research experiences and provide the clinical implications for the practice of medicine and treatment of patients (or how it adds to the general body of scientific knowledge). Be optimistic but realistic.

10. List publications and grants.

Answer as appropriate based on your research history.

11. Please tell us the graduate program at OHSU you are most interested in (this is not binding)

Here is a list of the OHSU MD/PhD graduate programs. Answer based on your preferences.

2017-2018

1. What experience have you had that has given you insight into the patients you hope to eventually serve? (1500 char)

2. What will be your greatest challenge in becoming a physician? (1500 char)

3. Discuss a time in your life that demonstrated your resilience. (1500 char)

4. Describe a time when you did not receive what you felt you deserved, and how you reacted. (1500 char)

5. Give an example of personal feedback in the last few years that was difficult to receive. How did you respond? (1500 char)

6. Please discuss the diversity that you would bring to the OHSU School of Medicine and the profession of medicine. (2000 char)

2016-2017

1. What experience have you had that has given you insight into the patients you hope to eventually serve? (1500 char)

2. What will be your greatest challenge in becoming a physician? (1500 char)

3. Give an example of a time when you tried your best to work with a person or a group but the problems still remained. What did you learn from the experience? (1500 char)

4. Describe a time when you did not receive what you felt you deserved, and how you reacted (1500 char)

5. Give an example of personal feedback in the last few years that was difficult to receive. How did you respond? (1500 char)

6. Please discuss the diversity that you would bring to the OHSU School of Medicine and the profession of medicine. (2000 char)

Optional: Explain your adversity in: Economic, Educational, Cultural, Family (4000 char)

Disclaimer: The information on this page was shared by students and/or can be found on the medical school’s website. Med School Insiders does not guarantee the accuracy of the information on this page.