WesternU COM-NW (DO) Medical School - 2027 Entry Requirements & Interview Format
Western University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific - Northwest (COMP-Northwest), located in Lebanon, Oregon, is the Northwest branch campus of WesternU's College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific (COMP) — one of the largest osteopathic health sciences universities in the country. Established in 2011, COM-NW trains DO physicians with an emphasis on rural Pacific Northwest medicine, interprofessional education, and primary care. Lebanon's location in the mid-Willamette Valley provides access to Oregon's diverse rural, agricultural, and coastal communities.
Entry Requirements
What you need to apply to WesternU COM-NW (DO).
Admission overview
Bachelor's degree and MCAT required. AACOMAS application. CASPer required. Interest in rural Pacific Northwest healthcare valued. DO shadowing expected. Interprofessional experience noted favourably.
MCAT median
505 (range 499–511)
GPA median
3.56 overall / 3.49 science (BCPM)
Acceptance rate
4.0%
Class size
112
In-state preference
None
CASPer
Required
Holistic review emphasis
Pacific Northwest rural health commitment, DO shadowing, interprofessional experience, primary care orientation.
Notes
Estimates from publicly available WesternU COM-NW and AACOMAS data; verify current cycle.
Specialities offered
Primary Care, Rural Medicine, Family Medicine, Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine, Agricultural and Environmental Health
Interview Format
How WesternU COM-NW (DO) interviews applicants.
Format
Traditional panel interview with faculty and student
Interview window
September–February
Decision date
Rolling admissions
Post-interview chances
Approximately 25–35% post-interview (estimated).
What to expect at a WesternU COM-NW (DO) interview
WesternU COM-NW conducts traditional panel interviews at its Lebanon, Oregon campus, involving faculty and a current student, typically 30–45 minutes. Interviewers explore motivation for osteopathic medicine, commitment to Pacific Northwest rural healthcare, and interprofessional values consistent with WesternU's health sciences culture. Lebanon is a small agricultural city in the Willamette Valley, and interviewers probe readiness for a rural Oregon clinical training environment. CASPer is required and assessed prior to interview invitation.
What makes WesternU COM-NW (DO) different
AACOMAS application with CASPer required. WesternU COM-NW is one of only two osteopathic medical schools in Oregon and offers unique access to the Pacific Northwest's rural, coastal, and agricultural health settings. WesternU's broader health sciences system provides interprofessional training opportunities across pharmacy, PA, optometry, and veterinary medicine.
Tutor insight
WesternU COM-NW interviewers value Pacific Northwest rural medicine commitment and interprofessional awareness. Research Oregon's specific health challenges: agricultural worker health, rural access gaps, Oregon Health Plan (Medicaid expansion), and coastal and tribal health. CASPer preparation is essential. The Lebanon campus is rural — show you are genuinely comfortable with small-town Oregon, not just tolerating it.
PrometheusQuestion Bank
595 medicine questions inside
Interview questions matched to WesternU COM-NW (DO)
Two questions our tutors flagged as a strong fit for WesternU COM-NW (DO)’s interview style. Try answering them out loud, then open Prometheus for the model answers and follow-up tips.
Easy·PanelQ1
Holistic Review: Research Experience Without Publication
You spent two years as an undergraduate research assistant in a neuroscience laboratory working on a project studying the neurochemistry of chronic pain. The project has not yet resulted in a publication. You are concerned this weakens your application compared to peers who have publications. How do you present your research experience, and what value does unpublished research experience have?
Likely follow-up · What are the most valuable things a medical school applicant can demonstrate through undergraduate research, whether or not it results in publication?
3 expert tips in Prometheus
Easy·PanelQ2
MCAT Preparation: Balancing Science and Humanities
The MCAT now includes a section on the Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behaviour, reflecting the AAMC's view that physicians must understand patients as social beings, not just biological systems. How did preparing for this section change or reinforce your thinking about the kind of medicine you want to practice?
Likely follow-up · Give an example of a concept from the behavioural sciences section that has direct clinical relevance you did not fully appreciate before studying it.
Bachelor's degree and MCAT required. AACOMAS application. CASPer required. Interest in rural Pacific Northwest healthcare valued. DO shadowing expected. Interprofessional experience noted favourably.
Traditional panel interview with faculty and student. WesternU COM-NW conducts traditional panel interviews at its Lebanon, Oregon campus, involving faculty and a current student, typically 30–45 minutes. Interviewers explore motivation for osteopathic medicine, commitment to Pacific Northwest rural healthcare, and interprofessional values consistent with WesternU's health sciences culture. Lebanon is a small agricultural city in the Willamette Valley, and interviewers probe readiness for a rural Oregon clinical training environment. CASPer is required and assessed prior to interview invitation.
WesternU COM-NW (DO) typically interviews in September–February.
Decisions are released Rolling admissions.
AACOMAS application with CASPer required. WesternU COM-NW is one of only two osteopathic medical schools in Oregon and offers unique access to the Pacific Northwest's rural, coastal, and agricultural health settings. WesternU's broader health sciences system provides interprofessional training opportunities across pharmacy, PA, optometry, and veterinary medicine.
