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INS ID E TH IS I S SUE :
PASS Program Description 1-2 Linkage and Summary 4
PASS Application Process 2 Linkage Timeline 5
PASS Timeline 3 Princeton Application Procedures 6
Penn Access Summer Scholars (PASS)
Penn Access Summer Scholars (PASS) Program was established in
2008 to increase the access of students underrepresented in
medicine to the Perelman School of Medicine. This linkage program
began with three affiliated institutions, Penn, Princeton, and
Haverford, and expanded in 2018 to include students from five
His-torically Black Colleges and Universities - Howard, Morehouse,
Spelman, Oakwood, and Xavier (HBCU PASS). Diversity for this
program is broadly defined and meets both the Penn Compact and the
AAMC definition of inclusion.
PASS Program Description
The PASS program is an eight-week summer research program that
augments the undergraduate educational program by providing
research, career and professional insight, clinical exposure to
medicine, and individual mentoring with the focus on the Perelman
community. A schedule of activities for the program includes
scientific seminars, presentations skills and research regulation
information, social science seminars with other university groups,
community service and other activities relating to the medical
school curriculum and admissions process. Social activities are
also planned with medical student liaisons and faculty mentors.
Students live on campus and have time to meet students, explore
Philadelphia, and learn about the Penn community.
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Nominations for the program are made by the prehealth advisor at
each school after reviewing academic records, SAT/ACT scores,
essays, and letters of recommendation for each student. The goal of
the prehealth advisor is to identify students for nomination who
have a strong interest in medicine, a profile of academic success
and the personal attributes of a physician, successful completion
of science courses, and have the potential to succeed at Perelman.
PASS applications are received in January and are reviewed by the
faculty in the Perelman School of Medicine; interviews, selection,
and student notification will occur by early April.
PASS Application Process
Each PASS student delivers a presentation at the end of the
summer which is observed by the faculty mentor, peers, and the
directors of the program. Several of the students also have
publications in progress with our faculty or spend additional time
during the year doing continued research or thesis research.
Students have the opportunity to return for a second summer
provided that certain academic requirements are met. An individual
exit interview with each student participant is conducted along
with a formal evaluation of the program. Faculty mentors are also
asked to submit evaluative comments about the students, their work,
and their suitability for medicine.
PASS Program Description, continued
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PASS SUMMER PROGRAM TIMELINE
SPRING SEMESTER OF SOPHOMORE YEAR
January 18: Submit application to Princeton HPA. January 20-31:
Select applicants will interview with prehealth advisor. Finalists’
materials will be forwarded to the PASS program. APRIL: PASS
program announcements made.
SUMMER AFTER SOPHOMORE YEAR JUNE: First PASS Summer program
begins.
SPRING SEMESTER OF JUNIOR YEAR
JUNE: Confirm academic requirements are met with continued
interest. Return to Perelman for second summer research
program.
SUMMER AFTER JUNIOR YEAR
AUGUST: Discuss plans for medical school admission/ linkage
eligibility with Office of Admissions.
FALL SEMESTER OF SENIOR YEAR
Discuss plans for medical school application and linkage with
prehealth advisor.
PASS STUDENTS ARE ASKED TO
1. SEND TRANSCRIPTS AFTER EVERY SEMESTER TO OFFICE OF
ADMISSIONS. 2. CONSULT WITH PREHEALTH ADVISOR ONCE PER SEMESTER. 3.
CONTACT OFFICE OF ADMISSIONS WITH ANY QUESTIONS.
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Medical School Admission & Linkage into Perelman
One of the goals of the PASS program is to offer an opportunity
to matriculate at the Perelman School of Medicine through the
PASS/Linkage program. MCATs are not required in the Linkage process
and students apply only to the Perelman School of Medi-cine.
Eligibility is based on the following: 1. successful completion of
two summers in the PASS
program. 2. demonstrated academic accomplishment in their
undergraduate work, including science, at a 3.60 GPA level.
3. demonstrated personal attributes and leadership suitable for
a career in medicine.
4. outstanding letters of recommendation from mentors and
prehealth advi-sors.
Review the Linkage timeline on page 5.
Summary To date, 80% of students who complete PASS attend
medical school, and 68% enroll at the Perelman School of Medicine.
Our expectation is to have addi-tional PASS students in the MD
pipeline for the foreseeable future. Students are encouraged to
remain in close contact with their prehealth advisors in making any
decisions related to medical school admissions or entrance into the
PASS program.
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LINKAGE TIMELINE
FALL SENIOR YEAR
DETERMINE IF YOU ARE A CANDIDATE FOR LINKAGE & NOTIFY OFFICE
OF ADMISSIONS OF YOUR INTENT TO LINK Eligibility Requirements:
Participation in 2 successful summers at
Penn. Endorsements by prehealth advisor, Associ-
ate Dean for Admission and Director of Admissions
Minimum overall and science GPA: 3.60 Attend Princeton HPA
Applicant Information Session for details about the committee
let-ter of recommendation process.
DECEMBER OF SENIOR YEAR
File AMCAS as a Special Program candidate and report AMCAS ID to
the Office of Admis-sions. Ask for letters of recommendation.
JANUARY OF SENIOR YEAR
Participate in preapplication interview with Princeton HPA. HPA
will send committee let-ter through AMCAS.
FEBRUARY OF SENIOR YEAR Admissions interview.
MARCH OF SENIOR YEAR
Admissions decisions are announced.
AUGUST Matriculation into Perelman School of Medi-cine.
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PASS Program: Princeton Application Procedures
Application (available on HPA website)
Resume (refer to Center for Career Development Resume
Guidelines)
Short essay questions:
Please tell us about yourself, including information about how
yourunique background (e.g., culture; race; ethnicity; sexual
orientation;gender identity; socioeconomic status; educational,
life and work expe-riences) have influenced your career interests
in medicine and science.Please include information about your
personal strengths as a futurephysician, and what you hope to gain
from participating in the PASSprogram. (no page limit, two pages
double-spaced is suggested)
Please describe your interest in participating in scientific
research. Ifyou have done research in the past, please describe
your contributionsand what you learned from your participation. (no
page limit, up to onepage is suggested)
One required letter of recommendation from a Princeton professor
or pre-ceptor that knows you and your academic abilities well (does
not need to be ascience faculty member).
Application Deadline: • Applications, essays, and resumes must
be emailed to [email protected] by
9am on Monday, January 18, 2021.• Letters of recommendation
should be received by January 18. Applicants will
receive an email confirmation of receipt when letters are
received by HPA.• HPA will be in touch with applicants who are
selected to move forward in the
application process to schedule an interview by the end of
January.
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