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COMP-Northwest campus Oregon (3)
WesternU / College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific (COMP) and COMP-Northwest / Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine / COMP-NW (OR): Your Interview

COMP-NW (OR): Your Interview

Preparing For Your Online Interview

This year COMP-Northwest will be conducting online interviews exclusively. Ensuring the safety of our applicants is of upmost importance to us and reducing unnecessary travel, contact and exposure to new communities will help to protect the health of our applicants, faculty, staff, and students during the pandemic.

Congratulations on advancing to the next step in the admissions process! By now, you have received an electronic invitation to select your interview day. If you have questions or if you need to reschedule your interview and need assistance with rescheduling, please contact Donna Fulton for assistance.

Please review the information below carefully to get a sense of what to expect of your online interview. The time spent with us is designed to be informative and enjoyable. The interview is a professional exchange of information. Questions can be challenging and thought provoking and we encourage you to approach it as you would an in-person interview. To make the best impression prepare, present yourself professionally, and remain focused.

Online Interview And Mini Multiple Interview (MMI)

To help ease the added stress of the online interview, we are providing you with a brief overview of what to expect on your interview day, including tips on technology. Our online interview platform is Zoom. If you do not have Zoom free versions are available for download. Be sure you have the newest version of Zoom to optimize your experience, version 5.0 or newer is best.

Prior to the interview, you will be required to view a series of short videos located at the bottom of this page. They can be viewed all at once or at different times prior to your interview. They are narrated by administration, faculty and staff and contain valuable information about our campus, pre-clinical and clinical education, residency placement, the community of Lebanon, and student support services. The Interview Day Guidebook is also posted with the videos for you to review prior to your interview.

We have restructured our interview and MMI this year. Interview days are on Tuesdays and Saturdays and last 4 hours. We have added two MMIs which are 5-minute interactions with standardized patients. You will be given instructions before each MMI. You will also be invited to join a pre-interview Ambassador Social. This is an informal evening providing you with the opportunity to talk with our students. Students will share their experiences at our school and answer any questions you may have. Spouses and significant others may attend the Ambassador Social with you.

Our online interview day contains the same components as our in-person interview day, a welcome from COMP Administration, ice breaker, orientation, traditional half-hour interview with a 2 or 3 panel interviewing team consisting of faculty, physician, community member, alumni, and student or staff, a Q & A session with current students, two MMIs, a narrated campus tour and a closing that will explain the next steps in the Admissions process. During the 30-minute interview you will be asked to draw from personal experiences to formulate your answers. The interview is meant to be a professional exchange of information. Questions can be challenging and thought provoking. As you progress through the day, you will be provided guidance on when to move to your breakout rooms and when to return to the main meeting.

You will receive a confirmation email after your registration is complete. The Zoom links will be sent to you three days before your interview. Times listed are in the Pacific Time Zone.

 

  • Check-In

    A Zoom meeting link and check-in time will be included in your Interview Day Reminder email, 3 days prior to your interview. You will be able to check in 15 minutes prior to your designated time. When you enter the meeting, you will be in the waiting area. Please be patient as we admit candidates, check IDs and invite you to the Main Session. Remember to have your government issued photo ID available for identity verification.
  • Ambassador Social

    A Pre-Interview Day Virtual Ambassador Social will take place the Friday before your interview from 5:30 – 7:30 pm Pacific Time. Information on how to register will be included in your Interview Confirmation email. You can attend all or a portion of the event, and spouses/significant others are welcome to attend with you. Our Ambassadors are looking forward to meeting you.
  • Preparing For Your Interview Day

    Here are a few things to keep in mind as you prepare for your time with us

    Interview Day Schedule

    • 7:45 Interviewee Check-in
    • 8:00 – 8:30 Greeting and Overview of the Day
    • 8:30 – 11:00 Interview, Ice Breaker/Lebanon Presentation, MMI, and Q & A with Current Students Panel
    • 11:00 – 12:00 Presentations – 1st & 2nd Year Curriculum, 3rd & 4th Year Curriculum, Student Support Services
    • 12:00 Admissions Next Steps, Final Questions, Closing
  • News From Campus

    Recent graduates have matched competitive residency programs throughout the country representing virtually all medical specialties
  • Technology

    On Online Interview Day you will need the following:

    • A stable internet connection
    • A computer or tablet with a good webcam and microphone. A mobile phone may be used if your mobile data connection is more stable than your internet connection. You will need a phone stand of some sort to keep your phone from moving. Use a device that will not accept phone calls during the interview, a phone call will disrupt the interview and may cause you to lose your focus.
    • If you would like to test your system with ours, please email to Chris Noe at cnoe@westernu.edu to schedule a time.

    Conduct a Technology Check

    • Check your microphone and camera to make sure they are working well, and the picture and sound are good quality.
    • Check your internet speed, you can do this at SpeedTest.net. Sometimes switching from Wi-Fi to a wired Ethernet connection improves your internet speed. If your home’s internet connection is too slow, consider using a private study room at a library or a private room at your school or other location with a stable Wi-Fi.
    • Practice positioning the camera at eye level so that you look directly at your interviewers.

    Setting Up

    Allow time before the interview starts to conduct a last-minute technology check:

    • Double check your microphone and camera to make sure they are working well.
    • Position your camera and microphone to obtain a clear video and audio.
    • Shut down all programs on your device so that no alerts, notifications, or other electronic interruptions distract you.
    • Make sure your device is fully changed. Have a charger with you and make sure you can plug into an outlet in case there is a problem with your battery.

    NOTE: Your interviewers and your SPs will have your cell phone number in case your technology fails.

    • Location

    • Identify a private, quiet, well-lit space where you can complete the interview by yourself, free of potential distractions, and where you can speak freely. Make sure you have control over the background noise and activity, so avoid open spaces.
    • Avoid having light sources directly behind you because they will cast a shadow on you. Instead, make sure a light source is in front of you so the interviewers can see you clearly.
    • Consider the background you will use on Online Interview Day and try to keep it clean, neat, and free of distraction.

    Identity Verification Policy

    Proper identification of individuals allows WesternU to provide a safe and secure campus environment. In addition, the United States Federal Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA), Public Law 110-315, requires that University confirm that a person enrolling in the University is the person who is completing the enrollment form, and that the student taking an examination is the student who participates in, completes, and receives credit for the course.

    It is the policy of Western University of Health Sciences that applicants to the University are required to provide a government issued ID when checking in for an Admissions interview. Applicants who are unable to provide an acceptable form of identification may reschedule their interview if space is available. For more information on acceptable forms of identification and the University’s Identity Verification policy, please visit: /registrar/records-forms/.

    Admissions Policy

    A candidate may only interview once per application cycle. Once the interview is over, we do not offer the opportunity to provide additional information to your interviewers. All decisions made by the Dean are final. We do not offer an appeal process.