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What exactly is—and isn’t—a DO? And what does it take to get into a Tier 1 primary care medical school that operates across two very different campuses?

In this episode of Accepted’s Admissions Straight Talk, host Dr. Valerie Wherley sits down with the leadership and a current student from the College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific (COMP) at Western University of Health Sciences. Dr. Lisa Warren, the dean and a COMP graduate; Dr. Marcel Fraix, associate dean for admissions and also a COMP graduate; TJ Pe, assistant director of recruitment; and Sarah Shirley, a rising second-year COMP DO student, walk listeners through what makes this program distinctive.

The conversation covers the school’s two-campus structure—urban Pomona, California, and rural Lebanon, Oregon—and how the shared curriculum delivers a consistent experience in two very different environments. COMP has now earned U.S. News & World Report’s Tier 1 recognition for primary care training for three consecutive years, and the panel breaks down why that matters for applicants.

Sarah shares her nontraditional path: a literature degree, a career in book publishing, a mid-20s pivot, and what drew her to osteopathic medicine specifically. The panel also discusses COMP’s longitudinal student tracks (business, rural health, sports medicine, and more), the technology-infused curriculum including simulation and AI exposure, and the robust student wellness infrastructure—from free yoga to open-door faculty.

For applicants concerned about GPA and MCAT thresholds, Dr. Fraix and TJ offer a candid, encouraging reality check on holistic admissions and the one-year master’s program that creates a pathway for promising candidates who don’t yet meet full admission requirements.

Related Resources:

• College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific (COMP) at Western University of Health Sciences
• Experience WesternU (preview day): August 22, 2026
• Dr. Lisa Warren, dean, Western University of Health Sciences COMP and COMP-Northwest: lwarren@westernu.edu
• Dr. Marcel Fraix, associate dean, admissions and enrollment chair, professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation: mfraix@westernu.edu
• TJ Pe, assistant director of recruitment: pet@westernu.edu

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What does it take to get selected for a Fulbright or Boren Fellowship? In this episode of Accepted’s Admissions Straight Talk podcast, host Dr. Valerie Wherley sits down with Steven Tagle, an Accepted admissions consultant and fellowship specialist, to break down two of the most prestigious, and most misunderstood, awards in graduate education.

Steven draws on his own journey: a Stanford undergraduate, an MFA funded by a Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowship, a Fulbright that turned into eight years in Greece, and a second writing fellowship from the Institute of Current World Affairs (ICWA). Today, he helps applicants navigate the entire fellowship landscape, from “fellowship matchmaking” to final interviews.

The conversation covers the structure and purpose of the Fulbright U.S. Student Program, including the differences between Study/Research Awards and English Teaching Assistant Awards, and how country-specific requirements shape a successful application. Steven also makes a case for the Boren Awards, an often-overlooked option with acceptance rates as high as 40%, a service requirement, and language study built in.

Whether you are a college senior, a graduate student, or a professional considering funded study or research abroad, this episode offers a clear, practical foundation for approaching some of the most competitive awards available.

00:00 Introducing Steven Tagle

01:03 Steven’s Path: Stanford, Soros, Fulbright, and ICWA

02:36 What Exactly Is a Fellowship?

04:09 How Fellowship Selection Advice Works

05:52 Inside the Fulbright U.S. Student Program

10:33 Study/Research vs. English Teaching Assistant Awards

12:08 Why the Boren Awards Are Often Overlooked

14:32 When to Start Preparing a Fellowship Application

17:54 How to Submit the Most Competitive Application

19:30 Closing Thoughts and How to Work with Steven

Related Resources:

• Steven Tagle bio
• Accepted’s Fellowship Consulting Services
• Fulbright U.S. Student Program (U.S. Department of State)
• Boren Awards (National Security Education Program)

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This episode of Admissions Straight Talk covers what it takes to get accepted into the top-ranked Entry-Level Doctorate of Occupational Therapy (OTD) program at the USC Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy. Host Dr. Valerie Wherley speaks with Dr. Amber Bennett, associate professor of clinical occupational therapy at USC Chan, to break down how the occupational therapy (OT) field has shifted and what makes the school’s top-ranked curriculum stand out. This episode is especially valuable for OT school applicants seeking a competitive edge in the graduate admissions process.

Dr. Bennett highlights the division’s historic commitment to clinical innovation, its extensive experiential learning partnerships, and the vast professional power of the global USC Trojan alumni network. Listeners will discover how the unique 14-week doctoral capstone allows students to complete their final year remotely while translating cutting-edge clinical research into direct healthcare advocacy and community action.

For future applicants, Dr. Bennett delivers essential, hands-on strategies for mastering the program-specific prompts within the Occupational Therapist Centralized Application Service (OTCAS) application portal. Listeners will gain concrete insights into how to build a highly structured and reflective personal narrative, how to strategically select recommenders who can share character-driven examples, and how the USC Chan admissions committee evaluates applicants using a holistic review framework.

00:00 Introducing Dr. Amber Bennett, Associate Professor at USC Chan
00:39 The Evolution of Occupational Therapy and the Shift to the OTD Program
04:19 Why USC Chan Is the Nation’s Top-Ranked OT Program
08:39 Hands-On Learning, Fieldwork, and Student Experiences
12:15 Where Occupational Therapists Work: Traditional and Emerging Career Paths
14:44 Inside USC Chan’s 14-Week Doctoral Capstone
17:34 Application Essays: How to Answer USC Chan’s Prompts Effectively
20:05 What Makes a Competitive OTD Application?
24:13 Overcoming Imposter Syndrome and Final Advice for Applicants

Related Resources:

• Dr. Amber Bennett bio
• USC Chan Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy
• USC Chan Entry-Level Doctorate of Occupational Therapy (OTD) degree program
• Extracurricular Activities Can Help You Get Accepted to Graduate Therapy Programs

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