If you check off the IFM or PIL block on the application, you are not accepted directly into either pathway. Once you are accepted, you are sent a small application (easy to fill out) with questions about what experiences you have had working in a group and why PIL will work for you.
Once you are in PIL, you have 1 or 2 weeks to drop out into IFM (but like college- you are knee deep in material by that point and we don't start at the same place).
This year
PIL: 38
IFM: 210 or so.
The great thing about PIL is that whenever you see material that you've had before, you always remember a certain "case patient" that was associated with that material. Plus, with the small class, there is an intimate learning environment with the professors and each other. We work very hard to make sure we all do well.
I don't know how to post a link to another thread, so I will copy what I wrote in another thread.
"I am a PIL 1st year. I am prejudiced toward PIL!! We are given cases to start studying from (i.e. hyperthyroidism for endocrine system) and to identify with. Then we have Resource Sessions (like lectures) to teach us about the general subject (not just the case!!!!!!!) Most of our questions are answered in the resource sessions (as long as your group isn't crazy about assigning learning issues that are irrelevant which is learned quickly the first week of class). Plus, we have our own "Resource Room" which is like a library, but we can't take books out. So if you need any information, it is there or in the brains of our professors (who are always willing to answer questions) I love that every time I come across a subject I have done before, I think of Mr. Johnson or Ms. Li from group.
Most PIL students are not in school longer or are studying less or more than IFM lecture students. Group is mandatory for PIL students, but resource sessions are not. Plus, in both pathways we can watch lectures on the internet.
One great thing I have noticed about PIL is that we form a bit of a family. We are all intent on helping each other succeed and do well. Quite often, study guides/worksheets/tables/charts/concept maps are posted on the bulletin board in the PIL room. We have these "integrated science" topics that are generated by each groups that involve our cases and then some subject that is not a focus science (i.e. pathology or pharmacology during the Neuroscience blocK) and we get together and submit maps from each group for everyone to share from."
PIL has been around for 12 years, and I assume that IFM has been around since the beginning of the school? But I'm not sure-- there has probably been some super modification as they've gone.
Board scores are usually the same. There was one year where the PIL students didn't do as well. My opinion of board scores is this: All schools say they have this or that pass rate. A percent. You could be talking to a school that has a 99% pass rate with scores being just above passing and a school toting an 85% pass rate with everyone blowing the exam out of the water. Which one is better? Unfortunately, no school tells you what the ACTUAL scores of the students are. All you know is that a certain percent passes. I don't know what the scores of PIL vs. IFM are, but I know that they are very close to the same percents.
PIL student tend to do better 3rd year (because we practice hypothesizing about what is wrong with the patient and what tests to do etc etc) from day one. But I think IFM catches up quickly.
