PASS 2014 general questions thread

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.

ShaunT

Full Member
10+ Year Member
Joined
Apr 22, 2013
Messages
23
Reaction score
0
Hey guys - just thought of having this thread where people can help and guide one another with questions related to applying for these specialities- I am sure later subject specific threads might come up - but having answers here would benefit every one in general. Advice and guidance from seniors is much desired and most welcome.

so my first question
What is the word/character limit for the essay/statement of purpose in PASS? Is it advisable to utlilize the entire word limit or keep it shorter?

Members don't see this ad.
 
There is a webinar that goes over PASS info by the people who run it on May 8th. I think you have to sign up to watch. Google around
 
Regarding LOR and PPI

you are allowed 2 LOR's to be sent digitally to each program. If you have additional LOR, it will be sent through mail.

PASS allows minimum 3 and maximum 5 PPI's.

so lets say you plan to have 3 LOR sent and 4 PPI's. This equals 7 potentially (and ideally) different individuals writing / evaluating you.

Just wanted to make that clear for you guys this year.

Goodluck
 
Members don't see this ad :)
Regarding LOR and PPI

you are allowed 2 LOR's to be sent digitally to each program. If you have additional LOR, it will be sent through mail.

PASS allows minimum 3 and maximum 5 PPI's.

so lets say you plan to have 3 LOR sent and 4 PPI's. This equals 7 potentially (and ideally) different individuals writing / evaluating you.

Just wanted to make that clear for you guys this year.

Goodluck

PEFs.... are not exactly LOR- wanted to make that clear for you, FYI
 
Hey guys - just thought of having this thread where people can help and guide one another with questions related to applying for these specialities- I am sure later subject specific threads might come up - but having answers here would benefit every one in general. Advice and guidance from seniors is much desired and most welcome.

so my first question
What is the word/character limit for the essay/statement of purpose in PASS? Is it advisable to utlilize the entire word limit or keep it shorter?


"1. Limit your response for the Applicant Essay to 5,200characters(e.g. words at eight characters per word)."

Less is more regarding the length.
 
[

"1. Limit your response for the Applicant Essay to 5,200characters(e.g. words at eight characters per word)."

Less is more regarding the length.

Hey Thanx ! great info everyone...hope we continue to share and help :thumbup:
 
Is it better to include the dean's recommendation in the form of a PPI or is it better in the PEF type (the one closer to the conventional LOR)? :confused:
 
Is it better to include the dean's recommendation in the form of a PPI or is it better in the PEF type (the one closer to the conventional LOR)? :confused:

I think the dean's letter goes under "school", and not PPI nor PPE.
 
Regarding LOR and PPI

you are allowed 2 LOR's to be sent digitally to each program. If you have additional LOR, it will be sent through mail.

PASS allows minimum 3 and maximum 5 PPI's.

so lets say you plan to have 3 LOR sent and 4 PPI's. This equals 7 potentially (and ideally) different individuals writing / evaluating you.

Just wanted to make that clear for you guys this year.

Goodluck

Don't forget the Dean's letter in that as well. Last year for OMFS I did the Dean's letter, Program director, then another OMFS faculty for the 2nd' PEF. That + 4 different PPI's made 7 unique people evaluate me and that seemed to be more than enough. The only program that I applied to that wanted a separate 4th LOR was UCLA.

Also, just as a quick tip to everyone, the PEFs are obnoxious because every program has different requirements of whether or not they want them on just pass, paper or both. So do yourself a favor and ask your evaluators to write the letter in Word, save it, and just copy/paste it into PASS in case you have to have them print out a hard copy to mail off. I wish i had known that going into it last year.
 
Don't forget the Dean's letter in that as well. Last year for OMFS I did the Dean's letter, Program director, then another OMFS faculty for the 2nd' PEF. That + 4 different PPI's made 7 unique people evaluate me and that seemed to be more than enough. The only program that I applied to that wanted a separate 4th LOR was UCLA.

Also, just as a quick tip to everyone, the PEFs are obnoxious because every program has different requirements of whether or not they want them on just pass, paper or both. So do yourself a favor and ask your evaluators to write the letter in Word, save it, and just copy/paste it into PASS in case you have to have them print out a hard copy to mail off. I wish i had known that going into it last year.

Great tip - thanks so much.
 
I think the dean's letter goes under "school", and not PPI nor PPE.

Don't forget the Dean's letter in that as well. Last year for OMFS I did the Dean's letter, Program director, then another OMFS faculty for the 2nd' PEF. That + 4 different PPI's made 7 unique people evaluate me and that seemed to be more than enough. The only program that I applied to that wanted a separate 4th LOR was UCLA.

Also, just as a quick tip to everyone, the PEFs are obnoxious because every program has different requirements of whether or not they want them on just pass, paper or both. So do yourself a favor and ask your evaluators to write the letter in Word, save it, and just copy/paste it into PASS in case you have to have them print out a hard copy to mail off. I wish i had known that going into it last year.

Thanks a lot. Gosh, getting 7 people is really going to be difficult for me . might just limit the no. of PPI to 3 and 2 pef's then. Now confused whether to keep the program director in the PPI or PEF! it's really very diffcult to find 6-7 specialists from the field to which I am applying. Do ppl actually do that?
 
Thanks a lot. Gosh, getting 7 people is really going to be difficult for me . might just limit the no. of PPI to 3 and 2 pef's then. Now confused whether to keep the program director in the PPI or PEF! it's really very diffcult to find 6-7 specialists from the field to which I am applying. Do ppl actually do that?

It's really up to you, but last year, I assigned my chairman's letter to PPI. I had 5 PPI and just 2 PEF. One PEF was from a professor emeritus in the specialty, and the other was a veteran clinical faculty. Best of luck!!
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user
Members don't see this ad :)
What is the difference between PEFs and LORs?

PEF is a "personal evaluation form", which PASS uses. It's like a questionnaire that the faculty answers about you. LORs are just conventional letter that one would write in an essay form. For PASS application, they only want PPI or PEF, no free form LORs. However, in PEF, there is a small section where the faculty can comment about you in general. Both PPI and PEF can be done online by the faculty when you send them a link.

LORs maybe useful as secondary application materials for individual programs. Anyway, have your faculty save up an LOR for you in their database because individual programs may ask for it later.

Good luck.
 
It's really up to you, but last year, I assigned my chairman's letter to PPI. I had 5 PPI and just 2 PEF. One PEF was from a professor emeritus in the specialty, and the other was a veteran clinical faculty. Best of luck!!


Thank you! :thumbup:
 
I haven't seen the format of the ppi or pef's - do any of them require a college stamp and sign on it...is there a space for that too? or are my recommeders just supposed to fill and upload the answers electronically with say a digital sign
 
I haven't seen the format of the ppi or pef's - do any of them require a college stamp and sign on it...is there a space for that too? or are my recommeders just supposed to fill and upload the answers electronically with say a digital sign

Its all electronic. You will enter the email address of the person who is evaluating you into the database and it sends them the form. They just fill it out and submit it.
 
Hi There!
Is it mandatory to have the PPI /PEF from the faculty of the specialty I'll be applying to? My interest in the specialty came into play only after starting to practice general dentistry. Unfortunately, did not interact with any professor in the specialty that I wish to apply now.. Any suggestions?
 
Hi There!
Is it mandatory to have the PPI /PEF from the faculty of the specialty I'll be applying to? My interest in the specialty came into play only after starting to practice general dentistry. Unfortunately, did not interact with any professor in the specialty that I wish to apply now.. Any suggestions?

Most programs do. It is fair game for them to ask for such. For sure, you will compete with applicants have glorious letters from the specialist faculty. Maybe you can find a specialist in practice to write one for you. Good luck
 
Hi There!
Is it mandatory to have the PPI /PEF from the faculty of the specialty I'll be applying to? My interest in the specialty came into play only after starting to practice general dentistry. Unfortunately, did not interact with any professor in the specialty that I wish to apply now.. Any suggestions?

I asked my previous employer which isn't even in the healthcare field for a PPI. The way I look at these, is that you should ask the people who have the least ties to YOU and possibly the least ties to the field of OS. For example, I would ask any dental faculty member who I had spent adequate amount of time around for them to answer questions about my "professional potential". I had many programs bring up my PPIs and one commended me for getting somebody outside the profession that knew me well to give me a PPI. I know not all residencies look for the same thing, but the bottom line is, I got in...
 
where do we list externships (OMFS)? experience?

I am putting mine in "Professional Experienec" >> "Public Health Experience and Related Healthcare Experience

What about NBME CBSE scores? I have mine in additional information right now...
 
I am putting mine in "Professional Experienec" >> "Public Health Experience and Related Healthcare Experience

What about NBME CBSE scores? I have mine in additional information right now...

one guy who matched this year told me he listed his externships in "Additional information", another listed in "professional experience".

sounding like its kinda arbitrary
 
Do we know when AAOMS is going to send us an email with what programs we want to designate our NBME score to?
 
PASS application says PPIs are required (min 3 to max 5) and PEF's are optional
I have 5 references, should I make all of them for PPIs or should I have some(maybe 1 or2) write PEFs and 3 or 4 PPIs?
Any suggestions?

For those of you who went through the cycle previous years, do programs expect PEFs in addition to PPIs?
 
PASS application says PPIs are required (min 3 to max 5) and PEF's are optional
I have 5 references, should I make all of them for PPIs or should I have some(maybe 1 or2) write PEFs and 3 or 4 PPIs?
Any suggestions?

For those of you who went through the cycle previous years, do programs expect PEFs in addition to PPIs?

yes, PEF's are basically just the electronic formats of your LOR's. You can upload to pass a bunch, but to any given program you can only submit 2 (so most people mail hard copies of all their LOR's to the program directly).

i overlapped 1 PPI with a PEF, some say it doesnt matter, some say you should use diff people. i dont think it matters for OMFS, but maybe for other specialties it does.
 
yes, PEF's are basically just the electronic formats of your LOR's. You can upload to pass a bunch, but to any given program you can only submit 2 (so most people mail hard copies of all their LOR's to the program directly).

i overlapped 1 PPI with a PEF, some say it doesnt matter, some say you should use diff people. i dont think it matters for OMFS, but maybe for other specialties it does.

Thank you for your detailed and kind reply

some more questions though

1. You said I can upload to pass a bunch, does that mean I can maybe have 4 PEF's in my Pass application as long as I assign(maybe mix and match) 2 to each program I choose?

2. When you say hard copies of LOR, do you mean traditional LOR that is not formatted as in PEF but the ones that faculty/reference writes individually?

3. Do many programs require or encourage traditional LORs in addition to PPI? Do thery want or require the LORs in secondary applications?

I would appreciate your advice
 
Thank you for your detailed and kind reply

some more questions though

1. You said I can upload to pass a bunch, does that mean I can maybe have 4 PEF's in my Pass application as long as I assign(maybe mix and match) 2 to each program I choose?

2. When you say hard copies of LOR, do you mean traditional LOR that is not formatted as in PEF but the ones that faculty/reference writes individually?

3. Do many programs require or encourage traditional LORs in addition to PPI? Do thery want or require the LORs in secondary applications?

I would appreciate your advice

1. yes, i believe so

2. yes because as part of the PEF they basically upload a LOR anyway if i understand it correctly

3. PPI and LOR/ PEF are all different thigns. Programs dont require PPI's, PASS does (3-5), but programs may have specific requirements about LOR's

it gets confusing
 
1. yes, i believe so

2. yes because as part of the PEF they basically upload a LOR anyway if i understand it correctly

3. PPI and LOR/ PEF are all different thigns. Programs dont require PPI's, PASS does (3-5), but programs may have specific requirements about LOR's

it gets confusing

Thank you Anhedonia
 
Has anyone had any luck setting up their PPI account? I talked to the ADEA on Friday and they were aware that there was a problem. So have any of you folks actually been able to set it up?
 
yeah i set it up somehow before the issues arose and i'm still able to login just fine

Thanks so I know it has actually worked. Well, hopefully this week they will get the issues resolved. Over the next week I am going to start contacting programs to see exactly what they want.
 
Does anyone know if is looked down upon to submit a 3rd PEF (paper copy) to programs that only require 2?
 
Do we send in transcripts, board scores separate from the application sometime soon even though the program doesn't have anything from us.
 
Does anyone know if is looked down upon to submit a 3rd PEF (paper copy) to programs that only require 2?

I wouldn't. You already have 2 PEFs and your Deans letter, in addition to the little blurb that is written about you on your PPIs. That's more than enough. If you have a person that is just itching to write a LOR for you, then you can have them do you 2 huge favors: 1, have them as one of your PPI's and let them write a great review of you; 2, have them draft a letter in a word document for the occasional program that requires another LOR (one of the programs I applied to required 4)

Anyone know the character limit for the PEF?

Probably doesn't matter. your professors will be able to write what they need about you and not run out of room. NO ONE is awesome enough for a two page letter. I promise.

Do we send in transcripts, board scores separate from the application sometime soon even though the program doesn't have anything from us.

I'm sure you probably can submit it at any time because I think the coordinators at the various programs just create folders and collect your stuff as it comes in. Then once it's "complete", I think the evaluators of the programs get a hold of it.
 
I am a dentist from Hong Kong who wish to pursue perio certificate programs in US. I noticed that the PASS 2013-14 cycle period is from May, 2013 to Feb., 2014. However, the deadlines of the application of most of the dental schools' perio program are between July to September. So for the PASS 2013-14 cycle, are we applying for the programs that start in the year 2014 or in the year 2015? Thanks for the answer in advance!
 
I am a dentist from Hong Kong who wish to pursue perio certificate programs in US. I noticed that the PASS 2013-14 cycle period is from May, 2013 to Feb., 2014. However, the deadlines of the application of most of the dental schools' perio program are between July to September. So for the PASS 2013-14 cycle, are we applying for the programs that start in the year 2014 or in the year 2015? Thanks for the answer in advance!


start July 1 2014
 
as im updating my pass application, does it matter the order of how i list my "awards, prizes or distinction" will they programs want to see most recent first.

thanks,
s4m
 
1. yes, i believe so

2. yes because as part of the PEF they basically upload a LOR anyway if i understand it correctly

3. PPI and LOR/ PEF are all different thigns. Programs dont require PPI's, PASS does (3-5), but programs may have specific requirements about LOR's

it gets confusing
When a program asks for 3 letters, are they asking for 3 PEFs? Only 2 can be uploaded on PASS, so the third is mailed directly? Do PPI's count as recommendations?
I wish programs were more specific about their requirements.
 
When a program asks for 3 letters, are they asking for 3 PEFs? Only 2 can be uploaded on PASS, so the third is mailed directly? Do PPI's count as recommendations?
I wish programs were more specific about their requirements.

The third was usually the deans letter.
 
It took me quite some time to figure this out.

Also, does anyone know where the NDBE scores needs to be reported to? The addresses/ contact name is inconsistent in AAPD/PASS versus the program website.
Do we generally send it to the admissions office or the program director directly where it isn't explicitly stated?
 
Are you guys waiting until all of your information is at PASS prior to paying for submission to the programs?

The reason I ask is I will have everything there long before my Institutional Evaluation is completed which it sounds like could take 4-6 weeks after they receive my CV and personal statement. All of my evaluations and PPI will be in the system by the end of the month.

My initial thought is a program would probably like to get all the electronic information at one time or does it matter since we will still need to send them in the transcripts etc...

What say you?
 
Top