Ross Scholars/Pace Program
Since so many people seemed to be interested in the Ross Scholars/Pace program that I mentioned in my last post, I thought I should give some more information about it. The program was developed a few years ago with the idea that some students do not learn best through the standard didactic teaching approach. Instead of just going to class and being lectured to by a professor for hours every day, the founders of the program thought that some students might learn better via a more interactive and independent program. The Scholars Program was born. I’m not actually sure if Mediasite was available before the Scholars program, but I know that the program is based on Scholars students being able to use the site. (As I mentioned in my previous post, Mediasite provides online video recordings of all lectures.)
The Scholars program was designed so that students in the program could study independently, and at their own pace. In addition, there are “Scholars Classes,” which have evolved over the course of the program. Currently, we meet twice a week for class and twice a week to do prosections. In class, we either take a quiz that was written by the professors or one that was made up of questions that we wrote ourselves (each group has to write 1-3 questions a week for the quiz). We also have “Clinical Case Presentations,” in which a professor will write up a clinical case relevant to the topic they have currently taught. We are then supposed to talk through the case with each other and the professor assists (though sometimes it’s more of the professor talking than us). Also, when we do the professor written quiz, each professor is there to answer our questions.
In addition to the class meetings, we meet twice a week to do a prosection. This was supposed to consist of our program director teaching one group of students the pertinent information related to whatever dissection we were on, and then each group teaching the next group. It hasn’t really worked that way, but it still seems to be going okay. Usually, our director does most of the talking, and sometimes quizzes us on the material. We are frequently several dissections ahead of the rest of the class, and I think that’s definitely a benefit.
Since the Scholars program was envisioned as more of an independent learning program, the Scholars students aren’t “supposed to” go to class. I say, “supposed to” because it seems like a lot of them still go to class anyway. But the idea is that since the lectures are taped, we don’t really ever have to go to class. Instead, we can study independently, and then watch the lectures for review. As I mentioned before, I LOVE Mediasite, because I can watch the lectures whenever I want to, and at a much higher speed than real life.
For reasons that I’m not sure about, (so I shall not pontificate) the decision was made to limit the enrollment in the Scholars program. In order to be eligible for the program, you had to have a minimum of a 3.5 GPA and 25 MCAT score upon admission. If you did not meet the requirements upon admission, you could join the program later on if you maintained a 3.5 GPA here at Ross. In addition, everyone has to maintain a 3.0 GPA to stay in the program.
It seems as though many people felt that the Scholars program was designed in such a way that it ended up being elitist, and excluded students whom might benefit from the program. And actually, I do agree in some ways. So, this semester the Pace program was started. They lowered their admissions criteria to something like a 2.5 GPA, and I’m not sure about the MCAT score. Now, anyone who wants to try the more independent style of learning can do so. I think this was probably a good idea, but I’m glad that it will still say “Scholars” on my diploma, and that I’ll be recognized for my GPA. I hope that does sound like a snobby thing to say. Really, I’m just saying that it’s nice to have recognition for maintaining a high GPA, especially when it comes time to getting a residency.
Now, for those of you who think the Mediasite sounds like your thing, but you don’t want to join the Scholars/Pace program, have no fear! Mediasite is available on campus to EVERYONE. Scholars/Pace students also have off campus access, but hey, that’s really not that much better (especially since the connection can be crappy).
If any of you out there qualify for the Scholars/Pace program, I would say that if you are a self-motivated person, you should definitely join. However, if you need a rigid schedule set in front of you to get stuff done, you might want to reconsider. For me, the program has been a blessing because I really love making my own schedule, and I do very well with independent learning.
Okay, that’s all I can think of for now! I hope that answers most of your questions.
My name is Kendra and I am a newly minted doctor about to begin my residency in Psychiatry at 
if i am reading this right, you could potentially get a 3.5 the first semester and then join the scholors program?
That was correct as of last semester. However, since they added the Pace program, they may have (possibly) even lowered the minimum GPA. But again, as of last semester, if you had a 3.5 GPA at Ross (after your first semester), you could join the Scholars/Pace program even if you hadn’t qualified when you first entered Ross (your undergrad GPA).
Kendra,
Thank you for talking about Ross Scholars/Pace Program. Love this better then the tradional, spl way of learning, but still would prefer to have it both ways.
Jessica
“Now, anyone who wants to try the more independent style of learning can do so.”
HI Kendra! =)
I am not sure for the 2nd semester but for the 1st semester, the PACE program is not available to everyone.
I think that the students should be given the option to choose whether they would like to “try out” PACE or not. It seems like the PACE students have more options than us – which does cause some sort of segregration.
Moreover, it seems like the PACE students receive more guidance than the other students who have to attend classes along with 300+ other students, without the benefit of “small group sessions.”
However, Ross is awesome in such a way that we do have peer tutoring sessions. Although it’s different than the small group sessions with the professors, it is still beneficial to many.
I also think that it will be better if the other students could also benefit from the small anatomy group sessions – because we dissect and the PACE students just observe and study them.
=)
Thanks for the correction. That is true, not everyone qualifies for the Pace program. I will have to ask Dr. King what the new requirements are. I’m pretty sure the GPA is 2.5, but I’m not sure about the MCAT score. And I “think” that you are allowed to try out the program if you like (and you qualify). At least, they gave us that option when I joined last semester (which was good because I wasn’t sure if it was going to work for me). I do agree about the segregation, and I sometimes feel like I’m a little isolated.
I also agree about the smaller groups – it’s definitely nice. But I’m glad Ross does have the peer tutor sessions available to everyone.
Also, with the prosections, I totally understand. Actually, I dissected last semester (they just started the prosections this semester), and honestly, I’m not sure if the prosections are the perfect solution. I really learned a lot better when I was in the lab for more time, digging around in the bodies looking for structures. I’m actually considering requesting to dissect with everyone else. It’s nice to have someone show you everything (the prosection), but I think many people learn best by finding stuff in a more hands on approach. So, we’ll see how things go. But yes, it would be nice if all students got the prosections as well.
Thanks for the feedback!
Kendra
[...] Originally Posted by RossMay thanks for ur help Carlota, thats the only decent neutral advise on this thread. I guess people really hate the Pace program. I still haven’t understood the reason why? Is it harder? does it have more projects or something? If someone can pm me a proper response i would be glad to correspond. thanks PS my interviewer told me it helps with the "Minis", so i guess that was the quizzes right? also what are the minis? thanks read this girl’s blog: Island Med Student » Ross Scholars/Pace Program she is in the program and gives a pretty good description of it. __________________ [...]
Hi Kendra,
This is a very good explanation about the scholar’s program however, and I hope it doesn’t come very offensive, students in that program, not all of course, are arrogant. And I say that because I left the program because of the “crap” that I’ve seen in it.
We are all here to achieve one goal and not to screw each other, however, when comparing and interaction of the scholar student with non-scholar — it is disgusting. Non-scholars are looked down-upon, they get treated like crap b/c they either don’t know as much or their GPA is lower and their word gets basically disregarded. Another important thing one should remember, that most of us here aren’t by choice and in fact if we could have been in The States, we would even know about Dominica, but we weren’t able to make it there – SO HERE WE ARE.
Now, I’ve left the program, not because I didn’t maintain the average, but because I feel that “extra help” that scholars’ get should really be directed to folks who are on the opposite side of the GPA and not to people who already do well.
Yes, I know I’m only one person writing this, but I assure you I’m not the only one who feels that many students, NOT ALL – G-D4bid, who are in scholars are snobby. Now, from the 5 minute conversation that I once had with you once, I’ve noticed that you are actually humble… I hope that you can pass that on to the rest of the group & rather them being (*&^%&^%$ they would be of more assistance and be more friendlier to folks who aren’t in the same situation…
Unfortunately, Students in the Off-Shore schools have to ‘compete’ with students in US, home-front-advantage, but this “invisible wall” that exists w/in every class doesn’t allow us successfully, as a group, overcome the challenges of being a Caribbean-Med-Student.
As I’ve said before, I left because of the mess that I saw, I hope maybe you, while still being there, can do something about it
Hello Kendra,
Sorry to disappoint you and the rest of the folks that are and will be reading this but here is the “unofficial” story about the Scholars’ Program & a bit More
The first time that it was created was for the folks who are in their 5th sememster now. It was, at that time, the LARGEST class Ross ever accepted, in fact it was so large that administration couldn’t fit the whole class under one roof. Thus, it was decided that -Scholars shall be born… It was also decided to have particular GPA and MCAT scores to be in it.
The Administration allowed Dr. King with his homeboy Dr. James to run it. Well, few sememster down, Ross decided to have the incoming class of 400 students… and that is the reason, that is the ONLY reason why Annex was build. Now I hate to disappoint you and many folks out there but that is the REAL history behind scholars. — It started out because the class was too damn large.
Now after learning of this history my self, I spoke with few faculty members, off-the-record of course, and I cannot say who those people are (King and James aren’t them) but the UNofficial history of scholars is a fact- it was created because there are TOO DAMN MANY OF US HERE.
As far as people that run it goes, I will not say much about King – granted the guy is arrogant, but he is humble at the same time and easy to approach. James, on the hand, well he lost his PhD and YET was still allowed to teach, however, Sam Antone, who is a better educator then some of the anatomy faculty with PhDs isn’t allowed to teach – something is rotten in the State of Dominica (besides shacks).
Ok, I know it seems like I’m trashing a lot of thing but here are more-facts-of-life…
After DEVRY took over Ross and financed it like there is no tomorrow, a lot of great professors from VARIOUS departments left. They left because they were treated like an object of business and not an educator of medicine. Some of them went to AUA, other’s went to St. George, and others went back into The States… However, Ross, not DEVRY, has one thing that many Caribbean schools don’t have – Ross has a reputation of over 25 years; no matter how good the faculty is in another school, no matter how well they prepare you for standardized exams, you CANNOT buy reputation, at least I thought so, until DeVry did precisely that.
Now, I my self couldn’t get into US school simply b/c I didn’t care about GPAs while in undergrad – knowledge was always more important to me then the grade. So, when Ross accepted me I jumped on it… I will defend this school till the last moment because of the opportunity that if offered but at the same time I will call B*S* when I see it.
Totally agree with Kurk,
I was actually at the meeting back when they were contemplating the whole scholar’s program..King and James, and a few of us school representatives (namely SGA staff, such as myself, and class reps).
The whole idea was based on somehow getting more students on board. Clearly the logistics on campus didn’t allow so many students (class-sizes, etc). So King and James (mainly King) had the ingenious idea of taping the lectures, and letting some of the students just sit back and watch the videos of the lectures..
Now they were faced with the daunting task of somehow restricting those people from entering classrooms (cuz like i said, there just wasn’t room for that many ppl in classrooms). So again King and James had the ingenious idea of calling this the “Scholar’s program”, and making it seem like if you’re smart, you want to be in this program. Making seem as if the program was an advanced program, so to speak.
well a few things happened as a result:
-first of all, no one at first wanted to enroll, cuz no one knew what the f* this new program was! So Ross convinced the new students that they would have first dibbs in clinical rotation sites if they were Scholar students. For anyone out there who’s in their rotations, you know that this promise is absolute BS. Once you enter your clinical years, you’re just as insignificant to NJ as anyone else, regardless of whether your scholar’s or not. It was just a way of recruiting to first bunch of students into the program. An empty promise of being placed at your preferred clinical sites.
-second of all, many students who initially thought they were ‘scholars’ and thought they were better and smarter than anyone else…..but later realize that they were the ones getting screwed! They were paying the same tuition as everyone else, yet they weren’t even allowed to go to lectures!
-So with the decreasing popularity, the school changed the name to the “pace” program, and now EVERYONE has access to the videos.
(If they still have a so-called scholar’s program, than please realize that it’s just a remnant of the old program, as a means of placing students somewhere other than the over-filled classrooms)
So there you have it, the origins of the so-called Scholar’s program, from someone who was there at the first meetings where its idea was brought forth. I remember that meeting like it was yesterday. It was in the conference room beside the Dean’s office. It was a quick power point presentation by Dr. James, then by Dr. King. Then they asked us what we thought about it. All of us thought it was retarded and expressed our views. I still think to this day that the meeting was not really to get our opinion, but rather just formality, so they can tell their superiors in NJ that they had a meeting with the student body
The program was, and still is, just another innovative way for Ross to recruit more students.
G’luck everyone.