2014 Applicants?

[MainerRD12]

Hi All!

I saw there was a small forum a couple months ago but I wanted to start one now for all of us that applied to Pacific U for 2014.  I received an e-mail that everything is received/verified/etc and my application was sent off to admissions comittee, that was just last week (I was a bit on the late side :)) - I know many of you submitted several months ago and maybe have received interview dates?  Anyway, I am excited to meet other applicants and support each other during this crazy time :)

~Sarah

[Max PA17]

They don't have a rolling admissions process so I don't believe anyone has heard yet (or maybe just me)! Looks like most will know after the September deadline. If anyone has heard let us know! Otherwise it only seems you get contacted early if you DON'T meet minimum requirements.

 

Thanks for starting the post and good luck to everyone.

 

 

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[PASASM92]

I just finished my supplemental yesterday. I do believe that they are not rolling, so people get contacted for interviews (possibly) in order of the interest Pacific has for each candidate... Good luck to everyone!

 

 

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[Bluelilly]

I just finished my supplemental app. I'm so excited to see what happens. I wish everyone good luck!!

I'll keep you posted on my progress.

[RachelG]

I received notifcation that everything was in July 21st and haven't heard back yet so you're not alone.

[BBecker]

Hi all! I just received an email for an interview invite on October 4th! Good luck everyone. Hopefully you will hear back soon. 

[rainyday]

Just received an interview invite as well - incredibly excited! Best of luck to everyone. 

[fakingpatience]

Congratulations Becker and rainyday!

 

I received an invite for the 4th as well!  Does anyone want to meet up for dinner or something the day beforehand?  

[BBecker]

I would love to meet up, but unfortunately I won't be able to fly in until 11:30pm or so the night before. Congratulations fakingpatience and rainyday!

[H2J2]

I will be there on the 4th too! :)

[Wilsocam]

October 4th is also my interview date.

Meeting up would be very nice the night before. Having a few familiar faces the day of the interview may ease the nerves a bit.

[AprilMedicPA]

Congratulations to all the interviewees!  I hope a lot more of us are offered the chance to interview soon!

[lemonhead555]

Congratulations interviewees!!  I'm still anxiously awaiting to hear back at the moment. :)

[zoopeda]

Someone at the info session mentioned they don't start reviewing applications until September 1.  I imagine they have a huge amount of reading to do over the course of the month.  Trying to be patient!  :-)

[Wes4981]

Hello Everyone! I received an interview invite today for the 4th of October.  I submitted my documents in July.  At the moment I am unsure if I will be accepting the invite.  I really think I should attend but have already accepted a seat elsewhere and need to pay my deposit by the 19th of this month.  I do not want close the door on other programs and have great interest in Pacific but then again I don't want to pay my deposit, decide I want to attend Pacific and lose a thousand dollars. Anyone have thoughts that may be able to help me come to a decision before I need to respond back to Pacific by the 15th? The school I have accepted is in Florida, so location is a factor. 

[zoopeda]

I attended a Pacific info session.  They have a very unique program, which might help you decide.  (You should call and interview the admissions directors for both of the schools you're considering.)  Their campus is 20 miles outside of Portland, OR.  Very cozy feeling program.  I know, every admissions program is so "warm and friendly;" that's their job.  But this place--staff, faculty, and several students--really felt like a family.  They have a systems-based curriculum (i.e., one test per week or so covering all subjects (i.e. Anat, Phys, Pharm, Clinical Med, etc), organ system by organ system) and utilize a lot of team-based exam review and study.  They revamped their testing methods a couple years ago which explains the spike in PANCE scores to high 90s, so expect to see their more recent PANCE performance to become the norm.  Clinical rotations are all over the country and world (if requested) including China and Ecuador.  They are not associated with a medical school, have relatively few local rotations, do not provide or pay for housing during the clinical year, not sure about cadavers but definitely have a simulator.  I've heard mixed things about their rotation sites--specifically not great ER experience in a regular Idaho site--but spectacular regular trauma rotations at Emmanuel in Portland.  I'm sure a lot of schools have great sites and not so great, so take that for what it's worth.  (I do think it's probably easier to keep an eye on your site quality when they're local, however.)  Also, you couldn't pick much different locations: FL vs OR.  It rains up here for about 8 months straight, although not downpour rain--mostly drizzle--and is spectacularly dry and sunny for 3-4.  Moderate temp in winter and summer.  People are progressive/liberal--lots of transplants, colleges, rapid population growth, youth, creative and different ideas, homeless and drug presence (although less in Hillsboro), bike-commuters, green this-and-that, local business and farm-to-table movements are strong.  So if you're into a damp but beautiful (glacier-topped mountains visible from downtown PDX) west coast living, this would be your place.  I've never lived in Florida, but I'm sure it's always sunny (and painfully hot and humid in summer), full of retirees, rigid/traditional mindset, and a more east coast vibe.  No idea what the school would be like either.  Just make sure there aren't alligators in the parking lot, I suppose ;-p.  Donno if that's helpful, but it's a try.  Good luck!  

[Bluelilly]

Great advice Zoopeda!!

Pacific is my #1 choice school. I finished my capsa app at the end of July and I'm anxiously waiting to hear back too. Good luck!!

[Wes4981]

I attended a Pacific info session.  They have a very unique program, which might help you decide.  (You should call and interview the admissions directors for both of the schools you're considering.)  Their campus is 20 miles outside of Portland, OR.  Very cozy feeling program.  I know, every admissions program is so "warm and friendly;" that's their job.  But this place--staff, faculty, and several students--really felt like a family.  They have a systems-based curriculum (i.e., one test per week or so covering all subjects (i.e. Anat, Phys, Pharm, Clinical Med, etc), organ system by organ system) and utilize a lot of team-based exam review and study.  They revamped their testing methods a couple years ago which explains the spike in PANCE scores to high 90s, so expect to see their more recent PANCE performance to become the norm.  Clinical rotations are all over the country and world (if requested) including China and Ecuador.  They are not associated with a medical school, have relatively few local rotations, do not provide or pay for housing during the clinical year, not sure about cadavers but definitely have a simulator.  I've heard mixed things about their rotation sites--specifically not great ER experience in a regular Idaho site--but spectacular regular trauma rotations at Emmanuel in Portland.  I'm sure a lot of schools have great sites and not so great, so take that for what it's worth.  (I do think it's probably easier to keep an eye on your site quality when they're local, however.)  Also, you couldn't pick much different locations: FL vs OR.  It rains up here for about 8 months straight, although not downpour rain--mostly drizzle--and is spectacularly dry and sunny for 3-4.  Moderate temp in winter and summer.  People are progressive/liberal--lots of transplants, colleges, rapid population growth, youth, creative and different ideas, homeless and drug presence (although less in Hillsboro), bike-commuters, green this-and-that, local business and farm-to-table movements are strong.  So if you're into a damp but beautiful (glacier-topped mountains visible from downtown PDX) west coast living, this would be your place.  I've never lived in Florida, but I'm sure it's always sunny (and painfully hot and humid in summer), full of retirees, rigid/traditional mindset, and a more east coast vibe.  No idea what the school would be like either.  Just make sure there aren't alligators in the parking lot, I suppose ;-p.  Donno if that's helpful, but it's a try.  Good luck!  

Zoopeda, thank you for the help.  The information you provided was helpful.  I have done research on both Pacific and Hillsboro. You can only learn so much from their site.  I have literally reviewed it top to bottom and the PANCE was a concern but did notice two years of vast improvement.  But as you mentioned it is the area, staff and people that I need to know that are going to be a good fit. Oregon's reputatuon precedes it being a beautiful state.  I grew up on the east coast, New York to be exact. I lived in CA for a few years and moved back to NY in 2010.  The west coast was beautiful, I love nature and being outdoors but more than likely one is going to have very little chance to do much except go to school and study. I will have to contact Pacific today. Thank you for all of the information and the time to respond.

[zoopeda]

Zoopeda, thank you for the help.  The information you provided was helpful.  I have done research on both Pacific and Hillsboro. You can only learn so much from their site.  I have literally reviewed it top to bottom and the PANCE was a concern but did notice two years of vast improvement.  But as you mentioned it is the area, staff and people that I need to know that are going to be a good fit. Oregon's reputatuon precedes it being a beautiful state.  I grew up on the east coast, New York to be exact. I lived in CA for a few years and moved back to NY in 2010.  The west coast was beautiful, I love nature and being outdoors but more than likely one is going to have very little chance to do much except go to school and study. I will have to contact Pacific today. Thank you for all of the information and the time to respond.

 

While you might not have time to scale Mt Hood every weekend, having short hikes and natural beauty right at your doorstep could prove valuable in the stress management department of your training.  We all handle stress differently, and just knowing you can head to the coast for lunch or get lost in forest park before an exam might be a way some students balance the workload.  Food for thought.  It does sound like you're on the fence, and in that case, I'd point out that $1000--while a lot of money to you (and I) now--is really a drop in the bucket compared to a lifetime of earning and loan-repayment and risking possibly not finding the best possible fit for schooling and your future life and career.  I'm sure you wouldn't drop the FL school from your list if their listed tuition was $1001 more than that of Pacific, right?  If you can swing it at all, take the interview.  See how you FEEL on campus and with the people.  They are also unique in that they tell you within a week of your interview whether you've been accepted, so no wait.  Just food for thought.  One way or another, in 6 months, we'll all be done with this grueling process--and on to another!  Good luck.

[rtm]

Congratulations to those receiving interview invites! If you've been offered an interview, would you mind sharing your application stats (GPA, HCE, etc)? Thanks!

[fakingpatience]

Does anyone know what to expect from the Pacific interview?  

 

Zoopeda, if they decide right away if they're going to accept us or not, does this mean there is a time where applicants do something without the interviewers, so they have a chance to sit and evaluate who they're going to accept?  

[zoopeda]

I'm not sure how it works. A current student mentioned how impressed he was by the interview, including this fact. Definitely pretty cool

feature!

[Z PA-C]

Does anyone know what to expect from the Pacific interview?  

 

Zoopeda, if they decide right away if they're going to accept us or not, does this mean there is a time where applicants do something without the interviewers, so they have a chance to sit and evaluate who they're going to accept?  

While I decided against attending PacificU, there was definitely a lot about the program that I loved. One of those things was the interview experience. If it's anything like the last cycle, it is NOT true that they decide right away if they're going to accept you or not. I had my interview on a Saturday and found out I was accepted Wednesday morning (which is still pretty fast!). After the interview we were told that there were three outcomes, you could either be: A) accepted B) rejected or C) put on hold (meaning they put your app on hold until they finish all three interview dates to see if there are any spots left and if after this time you are not offered a seat, you get put on a waitlist. The waitlist is ranked so you know what position you are on the list.)

 

The interview day was the most relaxed and fun experience I had out of all of my interviews. Everyone starts off with a timed essay. Afterwards you get split into groups of around 10. Each group has their interview at a different time slot throughout the day while the other groups go to different info sessions. The interview was an individual ~20 minute interview with 2-3 faculty where your application package is reviewed beforehand. The interviewers are very nice and ask basic questions to get to know you. I wouldn't stress about it what-so-ever.

[zoopeda]

While I decided against attending PacificU, there was definitely a lot about the program that I loved. One of those things was the interview experience. If it's anything like the last cycle, it is NOT true that they decide right away if they're going to accept you or not. I had my interview on a Saturday and found out I was accepted Wednesday morning (which is still pretty fast!). After the interview we were told that there were three outcomes, you could either be: A) accepted B) rejected or C) put on hold (meaning they put your app on hold until they finish all three interview dates to see if there are any spots left and if after this time you are not offered a seat, you get put on a waitlist. The waitlist is ranked so you know what position you are on the list.)

 

The interview day was the most relaxed and fun experience I had out of all of my interviews. Everyone starts off with a timed essay. Afterwards you get split into groups of around 10. Each group has their interview at a different time slot throughout the day while the other groups go to different info sessions. The interview was an individual ~20 minute interview with 2-3 faculty where your application package is reviewed beforehand. The interviewers are very nice and ask basic questions to get to know you. I wouldn't stress about it what-so-ever.

Interesting.  Thank you, Aiv.  I wonder if things change year to year, or if I misunderstood the student I spoke with.  Thanks for the info!

[DJFenn]

Does anyone know what to expect from the Pacific interview?  

 

Zoopeda, if they decide right away if they're going to accept us or not, does this mean there is a time where applicants do something without the interviewers, so they have a chance to sit and evaluate who they're going to accept?  

 

As a recent graduate of Pacific, I can tell you that they don't tell you at the interview if you've been accepted. They do tell you the following week if you've been selected though!! If not, you receive an email pretty quick for the wait list or a "we regret to inform you..." Any other questions about the interview feel free to ask, or you can read about how it went for me 2 years ago on my blog!