OHSU SOM Interview Prep Guide (2025-2026)

OHSU School of Medicine’s interview process is structured as a virtual Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) circuit with brief scenario-based stations and a one-on-one interview, allowing a holistic assessment beyond academics ohsu.edu. As Oregon’s only academic health center and medical school, OHSU embraces a mission to improve the health and well-being of Oregonians in all communities – from urban centers to rural areas – while fostering a diverse, inclusive environment ohsu.edu. Its MD program features an innovative curriculum emphasizing both scientific knowledge and skills like teamwork and communication ohsu.edu, and offers dual-degree options (e.g., MD/MPH, MD/PhD) for specialized career paths ohsu.edu. Interview questions at OHSU often touch on ethical decisions and healthcare policy issues (reflecting Oregon’s unique health landscape) as well as personal experiences, aligning with the school’s values and selection criteria studentdoctor.net studentdoctor.net. Understanding OHSU’s applicant evaluation – which prizes attributes such as communication, problem-solving, and commitment to service ohsu.edu – along with the timeline of the admissions cycle ohsu.edu, provides a strong foundation for interview preparation.

OHSU’s interviews use a hybrid format combining a Multiple Mini Interview circuit with a one-on-one traditional interview ohsu.edu. In the MMI, applicants rotate through multiple short (around 8-minute) stations; each station presents a prompt (with a brief period allowed for the interviewee to read and prepare) ohsu.edu. The separate one-on-one session with an admissions committee member is more conversational and open-file, meaning the interviewer has reviewed the applicant’s file and may ask about personal statement details or experiences studentdoctor.net. In recent cycles, interviews have been conducted remotely via video conferencing ohsu.edu. OHSU typically interviews roughly 540 candidates each year and extends offers to over 230 of them, yielding an acceptance rate of approximately 40–45% post-interview ohsu.edu.

As Oregon’s only academic health center, the OHSU School of Medicine carries a broad mission to serve the people of the state and beyond ohsu.edu. The school’s mission emphasizes improving health and well-being for all Oregonians – reaching from Portland’s urban communities to remote rural areas – through excellence in education, research, clinical care and community service comparably.com. OHSU also fosters a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion as a core value, seeing these as essential to its mission ohsu.edu. Reflecting these priorities, OHSU gives strong preference to Oregon residents (about 82% of a recent incoming class were in-state students ohsu.edu) and seeks applicants dedicated to caring for underserved communities ohsu.edu.

OHSU recently transformed its medical curriculum (dubbed Your M.D.) to train 21st-century physicians in a competency-based, learner-centered model ohsu.edu. The program stresses not only a strong foundation in biomedical science but also the development of teamwork, communication, and continuous improvement skills so that graduates can adapt to rapidly advancing medical knowledge ohsu.edu. Students have access to a wide range of clinical experiences across OHSU’s health system – from the major tertiary care and trauma center in Portland to community clinics in rural Oregon – providing broad exposure to different patient populations. As Oregon’s leading academic medical center, OHSU also offers ample opportunities for students to engage in research and scholarly projects under faculty mentorship. Additionally, the School of Medicine provides dual-degree options like the MD/PhD and MD/MPH, among other programs, allowing students to tailor their training to interests in scientific research, public health, and other fields ohsu.edu.

Each entering class in the MD program is approximately 150 students ohsu.edu. Notably, the student population skews slightly older than the national average (the average age of incoming students is around 27) ohsu.edu, reflecting OHSU’s openness to non-traditional applicants with diverse life experiences. The school’s setting and mission ensure that students train in a variety of environments – from a Level 1 trauma hospital serving the entire state to frontline clinics in underserved areas – which helps cultivate well-rounded, community-oriented physicians. The collaborative, service-focused culture at OHSU is evident in student involvement in community health initiatives and the supportive relationships between faculty and learners. Being familiar with these program features can help you formulate insightful questions to ask during your interview.

Being well-versed in the program’s features and priorities can also help you ask thoughtful questions of your interviewers. For example, an applicant might ask:

• How does the Your M.D. curriculum integrate clinical experiences and hands-on learning throughout the four years?
• What opportunities do students have to work with rural or underserved communities during their training at OHSU?
• What resources or support does OHSU provide for medical students interested in conducting research or pursuing academic projects?

Oregon’s healthcare environment and national trends present several policy areas that are relevant to OHSU’s program and may come up in discussion. Key topics include:

• State healthcare reform initiatives – Oregon has implemented innovative health care delivery models at a scale that could serve as a model for the nation ohsu.edu.
• Health care as a right – In 2022, Oregon became the first state with a constitutional obligation to provide affordable health care access to all residents opb.org, reflecting a strong commitment to universal coverage.
• End-of-life autonomy – Oregon’s Death with Dignity Act (implemented in 1997) legalized physician-assisted death for terminally ill patients under strict guidelines cga.ct.gov. This pioneering law originated in Oregon and continues to raise important ethical and policy discussions in medicine.
• Rural health care access – About one-third of Oregon’s population lives in rural areas with limited health services ohsufoundation.org. To address physician shortages in these communities, programs like the Scholars for a Healthy Oregon Initiative offer full medical school tuition in exchange for a commitment to practice in underserved areas after graduation ohsufoundation.org.

Beyond academics, OHSU evaluates applicants on a variety of personal qualities and experiences. Important non-academic criteria include:

• Strong motivation for a career in medicine and the ability to communicate effectively ohsu.edu.
• Life-enriching experiences that have shaped your perspective (e.g. leadership roles, volunteer service, unique personal experiences) and overall maturity ohsu.edu.
• Demonstrated problem-solving skills and critical thinking ability ohsu.edu.
• Awareness of current health care issues and, if applicable, involvement in or appreciation for biomedical research ohsu.edu.
• Interest in working with underserved populations, rural communities, and in primary care fields ohsu.edu.

OHSU’s admissions process is aligned with the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) competency framework. The school has eliminated specific course prerequisites and instead expects applicants to demonstrate proficiency in the 15 core competencies that the AAMC identifies as essential for entering medical students ohsu.edu. These competencies span scientific knowledge, critical thinking, interpersonal skills (like teamwork and communication), and intrapersonal traits (ethics, resilience, etc.), mirroring the attributes OHSU values in future physicians. Familiarity with this competency-based approach can help applicants highlight relevant skills and experiences during the interview.

Past OHSU interviews have covered a broad range of topics. Common themes reported by applicants include:

• Ethical dilemmas and clinical scenarios – Interviewers may present scenarios requiring ethical reasoning or medical decision-making (for example, managing a situation where a patient refuses a recommended treatment) studentdoctor.net.
• Health policy and social issues – Questions about healthcare policies or societal responsibilities have been noted (e.g. discussing whether physicians should be required to serve in underserved areas) studentdoctor.net.
• Personal background and self-reflection – Expect inquiries about your experiences and personal qualities. Interviewers often ask about topics like mistakes you’ve learned from, how you handle criticism, leadership examples, and your motivations for pursuing medicine studentdoctor.net.
• Application-specific questions – In the one-on-one interview, the interviewer typically has access to your application. They might probe into particular elements of your personal statement or activities that you listed studentdoctor.net.
• Unconventional or lighthearted prompts – Some candidates have been asked unexpected questions aimed at revealing personality or creativity (for instance, “What makes you laugh?”) studentdoctor.net.

The following are key dates for the 2025–2026 application cycle (for the class entering in 2026) ohsu.edu:

• AMCAS primary application period – May 31, 2025 to Oct. 15, 2025 (final deadline) ohsu.edu.
• Secondary application – Rolling invitations starting in mid-July 2025, with secondary submissions accepted until late December 2025 ohsu.edu.
• Interview season – Interviews conducted from late August 2025 through March 2026 ohsu.edu.
• Initial admission offers – Sent on a rolling basis from mid-October 2025 through April 30, 2026 ohsu.edu.
• Alternate (waitlist) offers – Made from May 1, 2026 to early August 2026 (as spots in the class open) ohsu.edu.
• “Commit to Enroll” deadline – By mid-July 2026, accepted students must formally commit to OHSU (per AAMC guidelines) ohsu.edu.
• Orientation for new students – Early August 2026 ohsu.edu.

In summary, thorough preparation for an OHSU School of Medicine interview means understanding the school’s unique interview format, mission-driven values, and the local healthcare context. By familiarizing yourself with the program’s structure, priorities, and timeline – and considering how your own experiences reflect the qualities and competencies OHSU seeks – you can approach the interview with confidence and a clear sense of your fit with the OHSU community.