PASS Program Reviews 

Great program. Found it very helpful for laying a foundation for how to go about studying. I do think that this would work best for those who have at least a decent amount of content foundation. The pace is very fast and it feels as though this almost requires the program be done twice to truly maximize its effect. For the most part the staff themself were very friendly and quick to respond when I sought help. I definitely plan on doing it a second time when content has been solidified.

The study videos were so easy to follow and the flashcards were amazing!

When I came to the PASS Program, I was struggling with Step 1. Although I needed some content review, I also knew that I needed help with my confidence. The program was recommended to me by a mentor, and this has completely changed my relationship not just to Step 1, but to medical school. Dr. Francis taught me how to properly study and approach these problems that USMLE and medical school challenge their students with. I never would have imagined I would see what he saw - that the test is not all that bad when you're organized. It completely changed the way I review and synthesize material. I would recommend this program to anybody, especially those starting medical school. Had I been aware of the program before school began over two years ago, I would have come to the program to build a foundation. My only regret is I never came sooner.

My experience with the PASS Program online course has been excellent. What impressed me the most was how effective the teaching methodology is at simplifying complex concepts and helping students truly integrate and apply knowledge instead of just memorizing facts. All the lectures were highly engaging, organized, and clinically oriented, and the instructors clearly understand the challenges USMLE students face. I also appreciated the structure of the platform, the focus on test-taking strategies, and the consistent emphasis on active learning and pattern recognition.

People who left contact info didn't respond to emails I sent them: phoebe pochcial dr. González Hernández.
I worked with a tutor on my own for drilling and evaluating my assessments.
Selectively attended step 1 lectures, but attended all step 2 CK lectures .
I had a PDF of the course textbook, but no access to a physical copy.
Hard to get noticed online.
Minimal improvement on assessments before and after pass.
Surprise to no access to morning questions link after course date.

This course was an excellent experience. It helped me connect and organize what I already knew while building new understanding in a very clear and practical way. The exam taking strategies helped reduce my fear and anxiety about exams. Dr. Francis and all the staff were amazing. The entire learning experience was motivating and enjoyable.

The PASS Program for Step 1 completely changed the way I approach studying and organizing medical knowledge. Before joining the program, I often felt overwhelmed trying to memorize disconnected facts. PASS helped me systematically organize concepts into patterns and connections that actually make sense clinically and for the exam.

What stood out most was how the program taught me to think in a structured, pattern-based way rather than just memorizing isolated information. It helped me build stronger frameworks for understanding pathology, pharmacology, microbiology, and physiology in an integrated manner. The explanations, strategies, and question dissection techniques made difficult concepts much easier to retain and apply.

I now feel significantly more confident in my preparation and much more equipped to tackle Step 1 with a clear strategy and mindset. I truly look forward to passing my exam and continuing with the PASS Program for the next USMLE step. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to strengthen both their medical knowledge and their clinical reasoning approach.

I had failed STEP2 before this class and was feeling pretty hopeless. This morning I woke up to a pass score on STEP2! Phenomenal program! If you trust the process and Dr. Francis’ teaching, you’ll definitely get through an excel. Also amazing tutors (shout out to Dr. Merzier). Worth your money and your time. It’s a phenomenal community to be a part of not just during the program but beyond. God is with you! Don’t be discouraged. The best is yet to come!

The information and the way that information is delivered is truly mind blowing. After attending the class, I can honestly say that I understand medicine. I was an online participant and it changed my way of thinking, I could only imagine how it would have been if I were in person. The tutors and the entire staff make it a welcoming situation, everyone wants you to succeed. Hearing the testimonies really give you hope. I would definitely recommend this program!!

I'm in week four. It's very well thought out, except for the tutoring organization. The notification process is faulty. My tutor told me my tutoring was on a Tuesday.
It was changed to a Monday when I went to look at the specific time on Tuesday. My tutor was nonchalant about telling me different & said it couldn't be made up. In week 1, I emailed my original tutor, but he never responded. I'm in week 4, and I've only had one tutoring session. The system is faulty. Who wants to miss a tutoring session? It's an opportunity to improve. That’s the program's primary weakness. The lectures from the founder & most of his colleagues are great. The director is a genius. You learn a lot. The atmosphere is could be good for studying as long as your don't have any issues with tutoring. When you point out that their explanation doesn't make sense, they get defensive. People come here to lean. No one has time for the excess drama. The things the tutoring leadership says on emails indicates they don't care about the students. I don't believe this is the case for Dr. Francis. Dr. Francis teaches concepts in a way that your mind easily absorbs. What may seem like tangents to some reviewers are really ways to help students retain information in a relaxed state of mind. The director showed an understanding of the mind. The program is very solid except for the tutoring organuzation.
I do wish they had an automatic barista machine that made different caffeinated coffee bean-based drinks. I also wish they had a machine that sold prepped meals. I do think you have to be open-minded to learn here. Overall, 70% of the staff are great I have had great experiences with the lecturers. I do wish they had an established partnership with a housing company so students could be close to the center. There's not much else to say. You have to put in the work. This is the kinda place where you could work with not distractions if you avoided engaging with the tutoring department. They will tell you something that's not true, and the evidence says its not true and they express to you that they haven't bought in to your success & get upset that you notice. If you are lazy, you shouldn't come. I trust their process will equip me to perform well on the USMLE Step 2. I can't speak on where there is retaliation from comments. Based on personality type, it’s likely from the Cao. Looking back, I probably should have taken the review online. It's less drama. Initially, I think there was an element of trust in the Dr. Francis & the staff, but my experience with the tutoring director and staff has tarnished that trust. This 5 week program & accommodations has cost me almost 9200, the program, food, lodging, car rental, and incidentals. I didn't come here to experience some of the treatment by the tutoring staff. This is the 5th week & I will leave here disappointed. I have no ill will to any of the staff. You can't let other people's negative behavior infect your behavior. You have to take the high road. This is what it means to be a professional. Even when dealing with rude people who have no interest in your success, it's important that you, as a professional, maintain composure & maximize the benefit available. Being a professional and objective leader means you never lose your composure & you focus on the facts. My statement is true & honest.

I attended the PASS Program in October 2025 while preparing for the CBSE and Step 1, and it ended up being a turning point in my journey. I had already passed Step 2, but I struggled for a long time with the CBSE/CCSE and honestly questioned whether I had what it took to get through Step 1.

What made the biggest difference for me was the way Dr. Francis and the program teach you how to think rather than just memorize. The focus on understanding concepts, staying calm under pressure, and approaching questions with a clear strategy helped me build the confidence I was missing. The daily structure—especially the morning questions—forced me to stay consistent and actively engage with the material.

The environment also played a huge role. Being surrounded by other students going through the same process, along with supportive tutors and staff, created accountability and kept me moving forward even when things felt overwhelming.

I can confidently say this program helped me get over one of the biggest hurdles in my medical journey—I passed Step 1.

Even now, as I prepare for residency and Step 3, I plan to continue using the PASS approach (especially the question-based learning and tutoring support) because it has changed the way I think about medicine and approach exams.

If you’re struggling with confidence, test-taking strategy, or getting through CBSE/Step 1, this program can genuinely make a difference if you commit to it.

Dr. Francis is a class act and a genius. He takes apart an extremely hard concept of medicine as a whole, and breaks it down to much more digestible material for you to absorb, learn, grow and build upon. I finally have a template that I will use to get me over this hump vs before I would read a question and see what answer matches best. As he often says in class, "stop guessing." It is going to take work but at least I have a proven template to work with. I wish I knew about this program earlier.

The one on one interaction is great. You cannot hide even if you want to. So this removes all the fear in you. Dr Francis teaches us timely responses. He also guides us what clues to see in solving the question and ignore what a distraction could be which i felt very important. He does'nt make you feel low even if your answer is wrong. We need more Dr Francises around the world who actually knows the pain of a test taker. There is always more good to talk about the program.

This program is an excellent adjunct to your preparation. Dr. Francis helps open your mind to different perspectives when assessing topics and diagnoses. The most important aspect of this program, in my opinion, is the relentless targeting of methods to tackle questions which ultimately results in excellent test-taking strategy/preparation. All in all, great experience for me.

I have never been taught the way Dr Francis does, no memorization only logic.

Learned how to become a great Medical Doctor by sitting in the classes of Dr. Francis

I attended the pass program in person in Houston. Although it was a big decision, it is one I would do 1000x over and one I wish I knew of sooner. I had previously failed STEP 2 twice, the first attempt by 7 points, the second attempt by 4 points, both completely devastating. I finished the Pass Program about a month before I sat for my next attempt. I just recieved my score and I passed with a 24 point increase from prior scores and well above the pass threshold! I could not have done it without Dr. Francis' teachings. He helped improve my foundational knowledge immensely. The other most helpful thing was learning how to organize the material in my mind. It gave clarity on topics I never thought would make sense. I would recommend this program to everyone, but especially to those who need help with foundational content and organization. I wish I had taken the course prior to STEP 1 too.

PASS truly changed my life. i would tell anyone considering it GO and go in person. i went from barely passing tests and always feeling inferior and wondering if i could pass my COMLEX to passing with flying colors and feeling more confident then i ever have

The PASS Program was a game changer for my USMLE Step 1 preparation. The structure, explanations, and high-yield pattern recognition helped me understand difficult concepts and build confidence. Thanks to this program, I was able to pass Step 1 successfully. A special thank you to Dr. Francis and Dr. Gaspar for the clear teaching, support, and motivation throughout the journey. I highly recommend PASS to anyone serious about passing Step 1!

Amazing program, you get MORE than what you pay for! I highly recommend!