I thought I'd share my experiences in PCOM Biomedical Sciences Program, since I'm indebted to SDN on so much information that enabled me to get this far. In fact, I wouldn't have known about PCOM if it wasn't for SDN!
So here it goes...
0. Overall impressions
- Faculty members are very engaging and willing to help their students. They're really easy to approach and you will have a much more personal relationship with them than you did with undergrad professors, especially if you're from a large school.
- There is a strong sense of solidarity among students in the program. Sharing of information and helpful resources come really handy throughout the year. Get to know them; you do need a break from time to time and those are the people that you would hang around with.
- To my own surprise, PCOM offers a ton of research opportunities for students. In case you're interested, take time to read over faculty page for their areas of research nefore the fall term starts, and send them your resume. Research can be done in conjunction with Federal Work Study program, which helps with finances as well. It would be best to get a position in the lab at the beginning, possibly a couple of weeks before classes start. The students who begin research later in the year (like winter or spring) find it difficult to get involved in concrete projects, so this is something for you to keep in mind.
- Classes are held 5-9pm, 3 days a week, so you will have time to pursue other things. Flexibility is the key here; NEVER hesitate to cut down your other schedules when you're beginning to struggle. I've learned that lesson the hard way.
- A majority of students in the program seek admission to PCOM's own DO program, with a few of them shooting for dental schools, PA schools, etc. Many people would apply/interview during the first year, while others choose to apply after the first year. As always, applying early will maximize your chances.
- IMPORTANT: If MD is your ultimate goal (like I used to be), I would not come here. You would be better off taking more classes and/or retaking MCAT to have at least 3.7/30 or 508. If neither are your options (too many undergrad credit/MCAT retakes), then adjust your expectations and focus on DO route.
1. First Trimester
- In retrospect, this semester was the easiest one. The courses are mostly straightforward biochem and immunology, and then some. There are no cadaver labs (Anatomy) or hundreds of drugs to memorize (Pharmacology). Make sure you do well on these two for a strong start. For every class, you have the option of video-streaming the lecture at home (Tegrity), but being physically there in the lecture hall worked better for me. Again, this is based on personal preference so do whatever that works for you.
- Molecular Basis of Medicine (MBM): The grade for this class is really important for DO admission, along with anatomy. I heard (please don't quote me on this) that the adcoms look for B+ or higher for when considering the applicant. There are a lot of grounds to cover for each exam (think 3x material than your typical undergrad class). Not falling behind is the key; you should shoot for 1-2 hours of studying each day.
- Infectious Processes (IP): The course is bit less rigorous than MBM, but still demands a lot of work. It covers much broader spectrum of subjects, ranging from immunology, microbiology, parasitology, and some current issues (e. g. Ebola outbreak). Some of the concepts, especially in immunology, are complex and not always straightforward; they take some time to settle down in minds, so don't freak out if everything doesn't make sense immediately. There are two in-class group activity, which I didn't particularly enjoy but still helped me understand the disease processes in a clinical setting.
2. Second Trimester
- Here we switch gears from concept-oriented classes to more visual subjects of anatomy and histology. This was the time when I started feeling a little burned out. Although I did okay in the first trimester, it took me a while to transition to completely different subjects. As I'm not the greatest visual learner, I probably had to spend a lot more time in the lab than others did. Be prepared to be there for a while even after the class is officially dismissed. Attendance in lecture/lab is not required, but I would not miss any of them if possible. I became a firm believer in group studying after this trimester.
- Anatomy: Again, adjusting your strategies is important. As the trimester went on, I focused less on reading and going over concepts by myself and relied more on group studying using cadavers and specimens while quizzing one another. That way I was still able to save myself from the worst outcome in spite of poor exam grades at the beginning. Anatomy is another key course for admissions; shoot for a B+ or better and you will be fine. Very few people (less than 5% of all students I believe) ever managed to get an A in this class so don't feel bad about yourself if you don't.
Regarding anatomy lab attire, Any long pants/t-shirts/closed shoes will do fine and long lab coat is provided free of charge. Just don't bring your Sunday best to the labs, since you would want to throw them out at the end of the trimester due to cadaver smell. It doesn't make much sense to buy $40+ scrubs from the bookstore.
- Histology: By far the most straightforward class of the program. Class is divided into lecture and lab. Lab begins with another short lecture and allows for a lot of group study so use these times to your own advantage. Attend every lab and take detailed notes. Rent a microscope from the classroom not the bookstore, and you would be spared from the trouble of carrying it to every class.
3. Third Trimester
- During the first and second trimesters, I kept hearing people say that this was the "easiest" trimester of the three. WRONG. I found that it was only partially right, since pharmacology was a killer, while physiology was a breeze, with neuroscience somewhere in the middle of the two. I would spend at least 50% of my time studying for pharmacology.
- It is also the time pick a concentration for the second year. There are currently three options: Forensics, Organizational Development and Leadership (ODL), and Thesis Research. People choose Forensics more to improve their grades and probably less due to personal interest in the subject itself. ODL is a great option if you're into learning about how to talk to people and manage relationships, both of which are essential skills in any career. Thesis research is chosen by the fewest students; however, it is the best concentration in terms of obtaining a job AND getting into a professional school after graduation. I will elaborate on this later.
- Pharmacology: Personally the biggest challenge in the whole program; a brutal class to say the least. I honestly don't have too much of good advice to offer. But other successful people 1) actually went to classes, 2) made flash cards way before the exams, 3) tried to get the "big picture." It's too easy to panic at literally hundreds of drug names and attempt to memorize all of them in futility, but it's important to calm oneself down and understand the story behind them. That indeed takes a while to process so definitely shift your priorities for the third trimester around pharmacology.
- Neuroscience: This class involves a lot of neural pathways in processing the signal and movement. Be sure of what would go wrong if certain parts are damaged. In addition to two exams, there is a graded group presentation, which gives you the opportunity to show off your speech skills AND to write a couple of exam questions.
- Physiology: Now it's time for you to take some breather after all the hard work so far. The course has 6 bi-weekly exams and a lab practical, which makes it much easier to study. Be there for the labs (muscle, cardio, and pulmonary) to have some fun!
4. Concluding Remarks
- Getting good grades in the program is definitely important, but building the right relationships and nurturing your passion will take you much further. I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to do so.
- If you choose to do the second year, definitely do research. Volunteer early in the year to get to know the professors and be open about your intentions of joining the lab for a thesis project. Even if you're not able to get what you're looking for (I know a lot more people are interested, say, in cancer or HIV, than in basic biochemistry), that by itself won't preclude you from switching to other subjects during your education/career. What counts the most is the publication of any kind and experience. As long as you have the sufficient grades to get you to the interview, it's those types of credentials that will push you over the edge. No other experiences show more clearly that you're a dedicated and hard-working person with a mastery of scientific principles that underpin healthcare professions. I was a bit skeptical about my advisor telling me those things at the beginning of the year, but now I fully understand the implications.
Throughout the program, I suffered from a lot of anxiety due to lack of information and initiative. Assuming that you've carefully read through what I wrote above, you should now have a good grasp on how the program works. So don't be like me and take control of your own course of education as early as possible.
If you have more questions, FIND someone to ask them when you come here to PCOM. Be it biomeds, DOs, professors, or someone in the admissions office, that's how you will learn to be proactive (if you haven't already) and gain access to more up to date information.
Best of luck to everyone.