ACES and PASS Programs

Summer Programs with Early Assurance Opportunity for Bryn Mawr Sophomores from Backgrounds Underrepresented in Medicine:

Bryn Mawr College has signed agreements with two medical schools for summer opportunities that include the possibility of consideration for early assurance acceptance to medical school.

Interested students should contact Dr. Gail Glicksman, Assistant Dean for Health Professions Advising, at the Health Professions Advising Office (HPAO) – gglicksman@brynmawr.edu.

Dr. Glicksman is eager to speak with any students who are potentially interested in these programs. There are many programs across the United States for students from backgrounds underrepresented in healthcare. Program criteria and emphases vary. Even if these two specific programs would not be of the best fit, there may be many other excellent opportunities that we could explore.

Academic Clinical Experience Summer Program (ACES): Rutgers—Robert Wood Johnson Medical School (RWJMS) 2024 

ACES is a six-week summer program for sophomores at Bryn Mawr, Haverford, Swarthmore, and Princeton who are seriously considering a career in medicine. RWJMS will provide academic and clinical experiences, faculty mentoring, and interaction with medical students. ACES aims to facilitate meaningful preparation for medical school for educationally and/or economically disadvantaged students. Note: Successful participants may be eligible for an early assurance acceptance to Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. 

• Open to Bryn Mawr sophomores (Class of 2026) who are educationally and/or academically disadvantaged. This includes first-generation college-goers, and/or those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. 
• GPA and: Minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA, with 3.2 by graduation.
• Standardized test scores for those who took a standardized test, a minimum combined SAT verbal/math score of 1300 or ACT score of 29. Applicants who have never taken the SAT or ACT will be considered, but they must take the MCAT prior to being offered admission to RWJMS. 
• Realistic plan for completion of RWJMS prerequisite courses by graduation
• US citizen or permanent resident
• Considered socioeconomically and/or educationally disadvantaged as measured by one of the below:
  • Socioeconomic disadvantage:
    • Your family’s income on the most recent tax return is 400% or less than the 2022 US Department of Health and Human Services poverty level guidelines for your family size. This aligns with the AAMC Fee Assistance program requirements for medical school applicants or
    • You and your family receive need-based aid (Pell grants, Bryn Mawr grant aid, or other) or
    • Your personal/family financial contributions to attend Bryn Mawr are less than 30% of the cost of attendance.
  • Educational disadvantage:
    • None of your parents or guardians has obtained a post-secondary degree (associate degree or higher) or
    • You attended a high school where less than 50% of graduates go to a two- or four-year college.

o    Please note: If you have financial or educational disadvantages, but you do not meet these specific criteria, please talk with Gail Glicksman about any special circumstances.

• Application materials include an application form, two short essays (in response to prompts), unofficial transcripts from any colleges you attended, and one recommendation. (An additional recommendation would be accepted.)

Application deadlines:

o    Student materials are due by 9:00 am ET on Wednesday, February 7, 2024.

o    Recommendation(s) due by 9:00 AM ET on Friday, February 9, 2024.

• Students apply through Bryn Mawr HPAO. ACES Participants are interviewed and selected by faculty of the Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School (RWJMS).
• Contact Gail Glicksman (gglicksman@brynmawr.edu) at HPAO to learn more about program details, application requirements, and about RWJMS. For application materials, please visit the HPAO One Drive folder ACES and PASS Programs.

PENN Access Summer Scholars (PASS): Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania 2024

PASS is a program for sophomores (Class of 2026) at Bryn Mawr (as well as Haverford, Howard, Morehouse, Oakwood, Penn, Princeton, Spelman, and Xavier or participants in the STEMM Prep Program). Students are paired with research mentors for 8 weeks during the sophomore and junior summers on Penn’s campus. coupled with enrichment that fosters the development of a physician identity and prepares students for the transition to medical school. Note: Students who successfully complete the PASS program may be eligible for an early assurance acceptance to the Perelman School of Medicine. 

• Open to Bryn Mawr sophomores (Class of 2026) from diverse backgrounds underrepresented in medicine, including those from socio-economically or educationally disadvantaged backgrounds, and those who are the first in their family to pursue higher education and/or medicine.
• Because the program’s summer research funding is from U.S. government grants, participants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
• GPA: Successfully completed three semesters with a roster of rigorous science courses (biology, chemistry, physics, and math), attaining science and cumulative GPAs of 3.6 or higher. 
• Standardized test scores: SAT of 1300 or higher or ACT of 29. Applicants who have never taken the SAT or the ACT will be considered, with two possible ways to proceed: Evidence of AP credit earned by the applicant in at least one STEM field will be provided by a liaison from the HPAO at Bryn Mawr College; or Evidence of strong ability on timed, multiple-choice tests in STEM courses at Bryn Mawr College will be provided by the liaison from the HPAO. 

·         Applicants should demonstrate strong personal attributes, character, leadership, maturity, as well as a clear and consistent motivation to study and ultimately pursue a career in medicine and readiness to matriculate in medical school.

• Students apply through Bryn Mawr HPAO. Finalists interview with the medical school. 
• Application materials include an application form, responses to two essays prompts, an unofficial copy of transcripts from any colleges you attended, and one recommendation. (An additional recommendation would be accepted.) 

Application deadlines:

o    Student materials due by 11:59 pm ET on Tuesday, January 16, 2024.

o    Recommendation(s) due by 9:00 AM ET on Monday, January 29, 2024.

• Students apply through Bryn Mawr HPAO. Participants are interviewed and selected by faculty of the Perelman School of Medicine.

• Contact Gail Glicksman (gglicksman@brynmawr.edu) at HPAO to learn more about program details, application requirements, and about the Perelman School of Medicine. For application materials, please visit the HPAO One Drive folder ACES and PASS Programs.