Oregon Health & Science University School of Medicine Secondary Application Essay Tips and Timeline [2025–2026], Class Profile
The Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) School of Medicine is Oregon’s only academic health center and one of the oldest medical schools in the western United States, with roots dating back to the late 19th century. Celebrating over 125 years of service, OHSU is home to a vibrant, collaborative community of educators, students, scientists, and clinicians united by a mission to heal, teach, discover, and serve. Its nationally and internationally recognized faculty conduct groundbreaking research in areas ranging from molecular biology and cancer to heart disease, behavioral science, and public health. The school is deeply committed to advancing education, research, and clinical care, particularly in improving access to health services for all Oregonians, and serves as a vital resource to all 36 counties in the state.
OHSU seeks future physicians, scientists, and health professionals who embody a commitment to lifelong learning, leadership, discovery, and service. The school values individuals who are dedicated to improving health and access to care, especially for underserved and rural populations across Oregon. Strong applicants will demonstrate a passion for translating scientific discoveries into effective, patient-centered healthcare, along with the ability to work collaboratively in a collegial environment. OHSU also looks for candidates who are motivated by both scientific curiosity and a sense of social responsibility – those prepared to address complex health challenges, serve diverse communities, and contribute meaningfully to the advancement of medical knowledge and practice.
OHSU Secondary Essay Tips
Essay #1
Tell of a patient experience that influenced your perspective on becoming a physician. (1550 characters)
For this prompt, the goal is to share specific details while keeping the patient’s identity private. Paint a picture for the adcom about the patient’s chief complaint, your memory of what the patient said, and the type of setting where you interacted with the patient. Reflect on details such as what the patient needed, how you may have helped, what you were feeling at the time, and how it impacted your desire to pursue medicine. This could have been an educational, clinical, volunteer, or personal experience. And remember, it doesn’t have to necessarily be a pleasant memory. You can write about a patient experience that was frustrating, sad, or disappointing.
Essay #2
Describe the effect of an endeavor that didn’t go according to your plan. (1550 characters)
This essay is about flexibility, adaptability, and – possibly – one’s ability to handle stressful situations. You could consider highlighting a story where you had fully prepared for something and the plan went in an unforeseen direction. Or you could write about being presented with a situation where you felt completely unprepared. Did you underestimate an academic, professional, or personal challenge? Describe the context of the problem and recognize your lack of preparation. Focus most of your response on what you did to adapt in this setting. How did you manage stress, uncertainty, or unexpected information? What did you learn about yourself? How will this experience influence your future approach to preparation?
Essay #3
Discuss a time in your life that demonstrated your resilience and ability to overcome adversity. How did this change you? (1550 characters)
Consider a challenge that demonstrates your resilience or shows growth, and then describe the adversity you faced and how it made you feel. Why was it important for you? What was your response? Focus the majority of your response on how you overcame the challenging experience and what you learned. What strategies did you use? Did you reach out for help? You should highlight your resilience and adaptability in the face of adversity. What did you learn, and how will this strengthen your response moving forward?
Essay #4
How does intellectual and academic struggle fit into your identity as a future physician? (2050 characters)
As with any profession, medicine will have periods of time when you will need to rely on your resilience and help-seeking behaviors. It is important to recognize that these “struggles” exist and to let the adcom know you have cultivated certain tools and strategies that will help you address them – as both a medical student and a future physician. You could highlight your ability to maintain a healthy work-life balance, to seek peer support when needed, to meet with faculty during office hours, or to implement a daily meditation practice.
Essay #5
Discuss your experience of recent personal feedback that was difficult to receive. (1550 characters)
Consider a piece of feedback that was difficult to receive, and then describe the context of the feedback and why it was particularly challenging. Did it touch on something personal? How did it make you feel, and what was your initial reaction? Most of your essay should focus on how you processed this feedback and responded to it. Show self-reflection, adaptation, and resilience. How have you incorporated this feedback into your life? What did you learn from this experience, and how has it impacted the way you accept feedback? Feedback is a significant part of medicine and medical training, so it is important to demonstrate your willingness to work through challenging feedback and grow from it.
Essay #6
Describe a time when you had to reconsider or change a deeply held belief or perspective. What prompted this change? (1550 characters)
Answering this question involves a multistep process. First, clearly identify the belief or perspective for your narrative. This could be social, cultural, ethical, moral, personal, or something else. Second, let the reader know of the circumstance in which your belief was challenged. Perhaps it was in a classroom debate, a social situation, or a political debate, or perhaps during an interpersonal exchange/conversation. Finally, focus on the last part of the prompt: “What prompted this change?” Were you able to see a new point of view? Did you hear a compelling argument? Was a new policy implemented that helped you shift your thoughts?
Essay #7
Describe a time personal obligations had to be prioritized over school/work. What did it teach you about managing competing priorities? (1550 characters)
Even in medical school and as a physician, personal events will occur and your time management and ability to prioritize will be tested. OHSU SOM would like to read a narrative about a time you were successful in both identifying a need to prioritize a personal obligation and navigating it. The situation could be attending to ill family members, a military obligation, your personal wellness, or childcare. Highlighting your ability to successfully manage the situation would include clear communication with faculty/work supervisors, making up overdue work, and coordinating efforts with peers/coworkers.
Essay #8 (Optional)
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.
Answer this prompt if you want to expand on your reasoning for applying to medical school in Oregon. Have you spent time working, studying, or living in the state? Do you have friends or family who live there? This is an opportunity to demonstrate any connections to Oregon and explain why you hope to live, train, and serve there. Describe any interest you may have in the state’s healthcare system, patient population, or culture.
Essay #9 (Optional)
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.
List any connections you have to OHSU faculty, residents, staff, or current students. Include their departments.
Supplemental Essays
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)
If you grew up in an area with adequate healthcare resources and providers, simply state that. However, if you grew up in a rural or disadvantaged area with limited healthcare resources, begin by describing the area. In addition, tell the adcom what type of healthcare providers were conveniently located nearby (e.g., pediatricians) and what type of providers were a significant distance away (e.g., specialty providers). Include information about whether you could easily access services such as walk-in clinics, emergency departments, and hospitals. Finally, what did you think of healthcare providers as you were growing up? Did you think they were helpful or unattainable? Share your insights.
While you were growing up, did you experience any of the following types of adversity? (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)
If you did not experience any type of adversity listed in the essay prompt, simply state that. But if you experienced hardship and have a story about determination, overcoming adversity, hard work, growth, and resilience, be sure to share your story here.
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)
If you think you have told a compelling story – between your primary application and the secondary questions – you do not have to add anything else here. Some applicants will take the opportunity to use this essay to say “Here is why I want to attend the Oregon Health & Science University School of Medicine” given that the question has not specifically been asked.
OHSU Application Timeline
| Date/Time Frame | Event/Requirement |
| May 31 to October 15 | AMCAS transmits applications to OHSU. Applicants must set up an AMCAS account, complete the online application, and designate OHSU as a recipient. |
| Rolling (May 31 to October 15) | Letters of recommendation are submitted via AMCAS Letter Service. A minimum of three letters from college/university faculty (at least one science faculty) are required. Alternatives include a premedical committee letter or, for applicants out of school five or more years, two employer letters plus one faculty letter. Additional nonacademic letters are encouraged. |
| Up to six weeks after AMCAS submission | It may take six weeks for OHSU to receive your certified AMCAS application. |
| Mid-July to December | Secondary application invitations are emailed on a rolling basis. |
| Late August to March | Virtual interviews are conducted via Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) format (20-40 applicants/week), including multiple eight-minute interviews, a one-on-one committee interview, an orientation session, a student meet-and-greet, and an MD program information session. |
| Modified rolling basis | Admissions offers are made throughout the interview period. Spots remain open until interviews conclude. |
Source: OHSU website
***Disclaimer: Information is subject to change. Please check with OHSU directly to verify its essay questions, instructions, and deadlines.***
OHSU Class Profile
Here is a look at a recent OHSU entering class (data taken from the OHSU website):
Average total GPA: 3.66
Average science GPA: 3.57
Average MCAT score: 509
Total applications: 6,000+
Applicants interviewed: 543
Applicants accepted: 230+
Class size: Approximately 150
Oregon residents: 82%
Average age: 27
Previous applicants: 32%
Undergraduate institutions represented: 70+
As the former assistant dean of student affairs at the William Beaumont School of Medicine and former director of pre-health advisement and the Postbaccalaureate Certificate Program at Sacred Heart University, Dr. Valerie Wherely brings more than 20 years of success working with pre-health candidates in medicine, dental, vet, PA, PT, OT, exercise science, and nursing. Her clients appreciate her expertise in the holistic admissions process and her patient, thoughtful, strategic, and data-driven working style. Work with Valerie! Schedule a free consultation today!
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