PASS application questions

[greengrapes2006]

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A few things I'm not sure about....thought someone might be able to help 🙂

Are professional evaluations the same as letters of recommendations?
Can the PPI's be completed by the same people that write letters of recommendations?
The Pass application does not say anything about official transcripts or board scores being sent to PASS (unless I missed it). Do we need to send them to PASS? Or just to the programs we're applying to?

Thanks!!!

 

[CMistry]

Are professional evaluations the same as letters of recommendations?

Yes.

Can the PPI's be completed by the same people that write letters of recommendations?

They can be but they're not supposed to be, only so that you don't overwhelm the recommenders.

The Pass application does not say anything about official transcripts or board scores being sent to PASS (unless I missed it). Do we need to send them to PASS? Or just to the programs we're applying to?

Re-read the section on "Dental Schools Attended" - you must send your official transcript, however your board scores are reported in your Dean's Letter.

-Cyrus

 

[Hysteria24]

In regards to using the same evaluators for LOR's and PPI:

They can be but they're not supposed to be, only so that you don't overwhelm the recommenders.

That is what I took from the website as well. But forget about bothering faculty for a second and look at it from an application strength point of view:

Do you think it is better to use the few people who are writing LOR's also in the PPI since those people are probably the higher caliber faculty who also know the applicant well? The reasoning for this would be because it looks like PASS is trying to emphasize this PPI evaluating system and some programs are not even requiring LOR's anymore and thus maybe lessening the importance of them. In that case it would seem valuable to have them in the PPI as well.

Or conversely...

Do you think it is better to use different people for LOR's and PPI? This would show that more faculty can speak highly of an applicant (3 LOR's + 5 PPI evals). The drawback however is that an applicant may have removed some solid evaluators from the PPI pool.

So I guess one of the underlying questions too is which is more important now: LOR or PPI?

 

[greengrapes2006]

I think I will be using the same people PPI and letter of recs.
It's hard enough finding someone you know well enough to ask for a letter of rec. Some programs are asking for 3 PPI's and 2 LORs, one program even asked for 5 PPI's and 2 LORS. I don't know many people who can find 5 or 7 docs to ask!

 

[greengrapes2006]

What does everyone think of PPI- is it a good or bad thing?

 

[Hysteria24]

It's hard enough finding someone you know well enough to ask for a letter of rec.

Really though, the people who fill out the PPI don't have to know an applicant that well. They wouldn't be writing paragraphs about an applicant in an LOR, but merely bubbling in answers to ~24 questions. In actuality it may be best to find faculty who are more willing to round up when they rate an applicant in each category. This might be those who are only somewhat familiar with an applicant and are willing to do it.

 

[coffeecrzd]

Hi!
Does anyone fill out the additional information section? Do programs really care about that?
Also, another question: would anyone know where would I enter this in PASS - I presented a poster at an oral biology mtg
Thanks!
c

 

[sarah_bellum]

I think I will be using the same people PPI and letter of recs.
It's hard enough finding someone you know well enough to ask for a letter of rec. Some programs are asking for 3 PPI's and 2 LORs, one program even asked for 5 PPI's and 2 LORS. I don't know many people who can find 5 or 7 docs to ask!

One of our program directors was of the opinion that PPI evaluators and letter writers cannot be the same people.

 

[Hysteria24]

Hi!
Does anyone fill out the additional information section? Do programs really care about that?

I second this question...

 

[HupHolland]

I second this question...

I listed my hobbies in that section.

 

[Vicarbo]

If I did a one week externship, where do I put that information into PASS? There is a drop down choice under "Advanced Dental Education Programs Attended" then "Program Level" that gives the option to select "Externship", but this feels like it's intended for more formal things like an AEGD or GPR.

Is this where other people are putting in this information?

Thank you!

 

[sarah_bellum]

If I did a one week externship, where do I put that information into PASS? There is a drop down choice under "Advanced Dental Education Programs Attended" then "Program Level" that gives the option to select "Externship", but this feels like it's intended for more formal things like an AEGD or GPR.

Is this where other people are putting in this information?

Thank you!

I put mine under professional experience - practice of dentistry (if you actually did something).

 

[hot]

I think I will be using the same people PPI and letter of recs.
It's hard enough finding someone you know well enough to ask for a letter of rec. Some programs are asking for 3 PPI's and 2 LORs, one program even asked for 5 PPI's and 2 LORS. I don't know many people who can find 5 or 7 docs to ask!

For ORTHO, University of Detroit Mercy Dental School requires that both PEF's "MUST also fill out a PPI (Personal Potential Index) evaluation in addition to the PEF (Professional Evaluation Form).

This is the only school I have encountered that requires thisss. Eeek. So confusing!

 

[Yaramash]

I sent my transcript and recommendation both in one big envelope. the transcript showed in the status as received but the recommendation hasn't yet showed up. it's been five days. Should I be worried?