What's the deal with PCOM's LORS?

albaniandoc · Sep 21, 2006

I got a letter from PCOM saying that they specifically need a letter from an undergraduate advisor. Well, here is what they require:

Applicants are required to submit a letter of recommendation from the premedical committee or premedical advisor of the undergraduate college that grants or will grant a bachelor's degree, regardless of your academic major, course of study or graduation. If that is not possible, a letter from your academic advisor or Dean of the same institution may substitute. Another letter of recommendation, preferably from an osteopathic physician, is suggested but is not required.

I have no idea who my Dean is. I have met my undergrad advisor a couple of times but I doubt she even remembers me. I sent them three letters from professors and they won't take them. How could a letter from someone that barely knows you be better that letters from professors that know you well? Anyone else having this problem?

heyimnick · Sep 21, 2006

onmywayRN said:
I got a letter from PCOM saying that they specifically need a letter from an undergraduate advisor. Well, here is what they require:

Applicants are required to submit a letter of recommendation from the premedical committee or premedical advisor of the undergraduate college that grants or will grant a bachelor's degree, regardless of your academic major, course of study or graduation. If that is not possible, a letter from your academic advisor or Dean of the same institution may substitute. Another letter of recommendation, preferably from an osteopathic physician, is suggested but is not required.

I have no idea who my Dean is. I have met my undergrad advisor a couple of times but I doubt she even remembers me. I sent them three letters from professors and they won't take them. How could a letter from someone that barely knows you be better that letters from professors that know you well? Anyone else having this problem?

Thank you, onmywayRN!

I'm in the exact same position (applying to PCOM-GA). I had my pre-med committee packet in for easily a month or so, and they finally told me (after placing several calls) that the reason my file was incomplete was because my letters were from the school I did my post-bacc at, and not where I received my degree.

I've basically been told by them to get a letter from the natural sciences dept where I graduated to indicate that I graduated with good academic standing, but when I've spoken to that department, they've indicated I have to get an actual FORM from PCOM to write such a letter.

It's all very frustrating, and I'm holding out on hearing decisions on other schools before I proceed with this.

cee · Sep 21, 2006

heyimnick said:
Thank you, onmywayRN!

I'm in the exact same position (applying to PCOM-GA). I had my pre-med committee packet in for easily a month or so, and they finally told me (after placing several calls) that the reason my file was incomplete was because my letters were from the school I did my post-bacc at, and not where I received my degree.

I've basically been told by them to get a letter from the natural sciences dept where I graduated to indicate that I graduated with good academic standing, but when I've spoken to that department, they've indicated I have to get an actual FORM from PCOM to write such a letter.

It's all very frustrating, and I'm holding out on hearing decisions on other schools before I proceed with this.

this isnt new news.. if you do a search in this forum, others have complained about this as well... i'm waiting for my undergrad advisor's letter as well, because i completed post-bacc classes at another institution. it is very annoying, and i see no point in why we have to do this. at my youthful stage, i had no interest in medicine during my undergrad years whatsoever. yet, they want us to dig up the grave and get letters from these advisors that we havent seen in over 5 years.

Orthodoc40 · Sep 21, 2006

It is a royal pain. I called & said, "You must get a ton of people applying that have been away from school for a long time - what are they (we) supposed to do?" Basically you just need to get someone at the Dean's office where you graduated to write a letter (there may even be a form to use) that states when you attended, when you graduated, and that you graduated in 'good standing' meaning no violations against you.

You'd think a transcript & degree would be enough, since it is for most everywhere else. But no. Each school has their own set of hoops they want you to jump through.

noshie · Sep 21, 2006

what the crap! they did the same thing to me last week, they sent me a letter saying I needed to turn in letters of rec, but my schools committee sent it in July! So I called them and the lady said they didnt get my secondaries for either PCOM campuses, but they sure did cash my checks pretty quick! So when I told her I had letters from them saying that they had received my secondaries, she put me on hold for like 10 min and came back to say they had received my secondaries but had not gotten my letters of rec. I had my committee resend it, but I think they probably already have the 2 packets I already sent and are just somewhat disorganized. Oh well, it is just frustrating. I wish my school did that online LOR thing.

MiesVanDerMom · Sep 21, 2006

i agree it's annoying as hell. but i wanted to share that when I applied to grad school I had to get the same thing from my Dean. So, it's just something some schools do for whatever the reason. That said, I was an undergrad back then. The thought of going back and dealing with that set of bureaucracy is daunting. I agree that a school with so many non-trad applicants (I'm assuming all DO schools get a lot since 25% of DO students are non-trad) might have the option of waiving it unless there was reason to suspect something....

albaniandoc · Sep 21, 2006

I guess, I will be withdrawing my application from there. I just spoke with the admissions office and they will not substitute a letter from a professor for that of the Dean. It sounds really stupid to me that the Dean should write a letter to say that I did not have academic difficulties. Can't they gather that from the transcripts? Lack of common sense is evident. In that case I do not need anymore headaches.

Orthodoc40 · Sep 21, 2006

onmywayRN said:
I guess, I will be withdrawing my application from there. I just spoke with the admissions office and they will not substitute a letter from a professor for that of the Dean. It sounds really stupid to me that the Dean should write a letter to say that I did not have academic difficulties. Can't they gather that from the transcripts? Lack of common sense is evident. In that case I do not need anymore headaches.

Don't freak out. That's not really true!! Read my post above. They just need a letter saying you graduated in good standing. That is all. Anyone in the dean's office from your undergraduate school can deal with that for you. They don't have to know you at all. I did it, and my undergrad school was Boston University - not exactly a small place. Yes, it is a stupid requirement, but don't let that put you off. It is just another small hoop to jump through.

Just find the Dean's office - call or email someone saying something like,

I graduated from (school) in (year) and am in the process of applying to
medical schools. One of the schools I am applying to requires a letter in support of my application that must come from the Dean of the college I received my bachelor's degree from. Apparently they want a letter confirming my attendance and graduation and that I left in "good standing". I'm hoping that this is something you can help me with?
Yours truly,
(You) (Your school ID # and years of attendance) (ID# 029-54-1003)

Mine got back to me within the hour. They get requests like this fairly often - it won't be a big surprise to them.

cee · Sep 21, 2006

Orthodoc40 said:
Don't freak out. That's not really true!! Read my post above. They just need a letter saying you graduated in good standing. That is all. Anyone in the dean's office from your undergraduate school can deal with that for you. They don't have to know you at all. I did it, and my undergrad school was Boston University - not exactly a small place.

easier said than done.. im still waiting on mine. i called over a month ago, told them exactly what they needed to write, and they completely understood. however, as i wait for them to send it, my app at both PCOM campuses waits in limbo as other people fill up interview spots there. it completely negates me applying early.

and as noshie said, they cash the check upon receipt.😡

albaniandoc · Sep 21, 2006

Too late, I already withdrew my application. I have nine interviews at the moment and don't think that it will kill my chances if I drop PCOM off the list.
I am at the point where I have jumped through too many hoops and have been fed up. If I didn't have any interviews it would be a whole other issue.

Orthodoc40 · Sep 21, 2006

onmywayRN said:
Too late, I already withdrew my application. I have nine interviews at the moment and don't think that it will kill my chances if I drop PCOM off the list.
I am at the point where I have jumped through too many hoops and have been fed up. If I didn't have any interviews it would be a whole other issue.

Makes sense, I guess. Unless of course it was your top choice or something!
Just trying to help. Encourage... Whatever!

albaniandoc · Sep 21, 2006

Orthodoc40 said:
Makes sense, I guess. Unless of course it was your top choice or something!
Just trying to help. Encourage... Whatever!

Don't get me wrong Orthodoc, I appreaciate your help. I don't want to come across as arrogant, but I get so frustrated at times. Some schools have some pretty strange requirements and I don't see it being neccessary. What is a generic letter from a Dean saying that X had no academic problems going to do for my application. That information can be summoned by looking at my transcript and the school should have enough common sense to do just that.
Anyway, thanks for your input. I am a little cranky because I am waiting to hear from NOVA and DMU. The wait is killing me.

Packamylase · Sep 21, 2006

onmywayRN said:
Don't get me wrong Orthodoc, I appreaciate your help. I don't want to come across as arrogant, but I get so frustrated at times. Some schools have some pretty strange requirements and I don't see it being neccessary. What is a generic letter from a Dean saying that X had no academic problems going to do for my application. That information can be summoned by looking at my transcript and the school should have enough common sense to do just that.
Anyway, thanks for your input. I am a little cranky because I am waiting to hear from NOVA and DMU. The wait is killing me.

I'm with you, LD. I'm leaving my cell phone on tomorrow from 12-1pm.

albaniandoc · Sep 21, 2006

Packamylase said:
I'm with you, LD. I'm leaving my cell phone on tomorrow from 12-1pm.

I already tried to contact Delia. I figured she must have the answers by now. I got no answer though. I will in scrubed in surgery all day tomorrow. I can try to break for lunch and run home. Good luck Packamylase, I certainly hope we both get accepted. What's your first choice at the moment?

captaindargo · Sep 21, 2006

i'm having the same problem.... i have a question i need to give my dean the address to PCOM-GA but what address should i give the one in GA or the main campus address.

Packamylase · Sep 22, 2006

onmywayRN said:
I already tried to contact Delia. I figured she must have the answers by now. I got no answer though. I will in scrubed in surgery all day tomorrow. I can try to break for lunch and run home. Good luck Packamylase, I certainly hope we both get accepted. What's your first choice at the moment?

My first choice of where I have interviewed...that's a tough one. DMU or NOVA?

However, my top choices of where I have interviews are probably CCOM, UMDNJ, KCUMB, and KCOM. DMU and KCOM are probably tied, though.

Orthodoc40 · Sep 22, 2006

onmywayRN said:
Don't get me wrong Orthodoc, I appreaciate your help. I don't want to come across as arrogant, but I get so frustrated at times. Some schools have some pretty strange requirements and I don't see it being neccessary. What is a generic letter from a Dean saying that X had no academic problems going to do for my application. That information can be summoned by looking at my transcript and the school should have enough common sense to do just that.
Anyway, thanks for your input. I am a little cranky because I am waiting to hear from NOVA and DMU. The wait is killing me.

Sure - understood. And agreed! It is tiring and ridiculous and totally annoying. I pretty much flipped out when I found out I was going to have to do it, and for really the same exact reasons you're stating. It was a good thing that when I checked into it I found out it wasn't going to be as big a hassle as I first thought it would be because if I had had to do much more than email someone and make a phone call, I would have been non-stop grumbling & complaining, and probably have withdrawn there myself.

The whole application process is pretty insane. School A wants some stupid letter from the Dean where you got your degree. School B wants you to submit your application online but mail in your payment with a photo. School C wants you to submit your payment on line and mail in your application. School D wants you to print out a copy of your AMCAS application and mail it in along with your secondary. School E wants you to list all of your classes AGAIN, School F wants you to submit your work & experiences, but in the form of a CV.....and on and on and on....🙄

slindswim · Sep 22, 2006

I completely agree with you guys. I am finally complete at PCOM after them loosing a few letters. I think their requirement for this letter from the Dean is insane. I guess the whole process is crazy. I think the admissions process for law school is much more straight forward. They have a centralized primary application like us but actually have their recommendations sent to that application service. No secondaries, shallow essay prompts, etc... Oh well, once it is over and in school we will all look back at it and laugh that we obsessed so much.🙂

What's the deal with PCOM's LORS?

albaniandoc

Full Member

heyimnick

Senior Member

cee

Full Member

Orthodoc40

Full Member

noshie

Don't judge!

MiesVanDerMom

D.o. or Die

albaniandoc

Full Member

Orthodoc40

Full Member

cee

Full Member

albaniandoc

Full Member

Orthodoc40

Full Member

albaniandoc

Full Member

Packamylase

MSIV

albaniandoc

Full Member

captaindargo

Member

Packamylase

MSIV

Orthodoc40

Full Member

slindswim

Full Member

Similar threads