OHSU BSN 2016 Applicants

Shelby1215 · Mar 25, 2016

This is my first year applying and I've been invited to interview at the Portland campus. I have been spending a good amount of time preparing but I have never participated in a group interview before and have no idea what to expect. Heck, even my last job interview was 9 year ago!! Has anyone here been through the process before or have any tips or suggestion?

Well for the monmouth campus interview, at the mock interview session we were told that the interview will be more about "getting to know you" questions. So they will be more questions along the lines of "why did you choose this nursing program" "what are your strengths and weaknesses" or even "tell me about a time where you had to handle a difficult situations." That's for the monmouth campus, I'm not exactly sure what Portland campus interview is like, but it could be similar.

gere7404, BSN, RN · Mar 25, 2016

Very similar experience from the Ashland mock interviews. Three interviewees per table, one interviewer, one person was asked five questions, then another person was asked the same questions, then the last person went. The questions were pretty much exactly how Shelby described -- "why do you want to be a nurse, why OHSU, what difficulties might you have with the profession...?"

However, I'm not quite sure if the interviews are group interviews or not. The email said "personal interview" which could just mean in person, or it could mean one-on-one. I suppose in a group setting, unless they went round robin and asked everyone different questions, the last person interviewed could be at an advantage to better formulate their answers from having knowledge of the questions.

One thing I'm wondering, though, is the email said the interviews were scheduled for four hours. I'm wondering what else is included for it to last that long. The e-mail says there will be time to meet with administrators and learn about the program, but four hours seems a bit excessive.

Shelby1215 · Mar 25, 2016

We were told that there will be a proctored essay as well, not just an interview. So maybe that will be the same for Ashland? Because 4 hours seems like a long time for an interview and to meet with administrators.

gere7404, BSN, RN · Mar 25, 2016

That'd make sense. They didn't mention an essay, the first part of the mock interviews was a lecture on how to interview, but they didn't cover really what the interview would be conducted.

nicole., BSN, RN · Mar 25, 2016

This was included in the email I received:

Sample interview schedule is included below:

Arrival and Check in- Please arrive Â½ hour before your scheduled interview time.

Welcome and Orientation (1/2 hour)

Group Interview (1 hour)

Proctored Essay (1 hour)

Wrap-up and Q&A (1/2 hour)

Optional Self-Guided Campus Tour

Shelby1215 · Mar 25, 2016

Nicole, what campus did you get an interview for?

nicole., BSN, RN · Mar 25, 2016

Sorry, should have included that. Portland.

KourtneyS112, BSN, RN · Mar 30, 2016

So a family friend of mine who is about to graduate from the BSN program at SOU thinks that they might send out the essay prompt beforehand. Does anyone know if this is true? When she went through the interview process they did things differently so she's not 100% sure.

gere7404, BSN, RN · Mar 30, 2016

My friend that I work with who graduated last year and some other people have said the essay prompts are very similar each year, and usually ask questions about your experiences with underserved populations. The prompts sounded really similar to the questions asked on the application....

Here is the prompt from the 2013 year, available online here http://www.ohsu.edu/xd/education/schools/school-of-nursing/admissions/loader.cfm?csModule=security/getfile&pageid=2163447

"In your essay you will be asked to discuss: Your personal and professional goals as they relate to your desire to enter the nursing profession.How can the OHSU School of Nursing help you achieve those goals?What qualities do you have that would benefit the nursing profession and the patients/clients in your nursing practice? Describe a situation(s) in which you have experience with diverse, underserved, and/or vulnerable populations. What did you learn that will influence your health care practice as a nurse? (This can include those who are marginalized in a given situation by gender, age, ethnicity, race, religion,economic status, geographic location, education, health status, disease, or disability).

You will also be asked these situational questions:You have a bias against pregnant women who smoke. You have a patient who is pregnant and smoking. How do you reconcile your bias to care for this patient?Please provide examples of leadership and accomplishments achieved through positions in school or community organizations; organization of activities to meet community needs; advocacy; letters tot he editor; editorials.Please provide examples of your commitment to Social Justice: Examples include actions, such as advocacy for social justice and volunteering or working to help underserved or vulnerable populations."

itsmyturn4 · Mar 30, 2016

Getting nervous.....have an Interview tomorrow morning on the Klamath Falls campus!

nicole., BSN, RN · Mar 30, 2016

Good luck!

Loco-Bonita, BSN, RN · Mar 31, 2016

Good luck tomorrow! My interview is Friday morning in Klamath Falls.