2020-2021 Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM-PA)

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Fun1nth3sun1 said:
Oh okay, I was expecting an email confirmation since that is what most schools are doing. Thank you for letting me know. I sent over my LORS through interfolio directly to the school and wanted to confirm receipt. How do I log into the portal to check if the school received LORS? I am so confused...
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You should’ve received an email with the portal link and login info 2-3 weeks after you submitted your primary.
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I recieved and started my secondary application for PCOM in the beginning of July. Since then I have just waited for proper documents from AACOMAS to be uploaded into the PCOM secondary portal so I can submit. I emailed them in the first week of August that some of my letters of rec were uploaded into the wrong portions of the secondary application and they said to wait 15 days. I emailed them again a few days ago stating the issue is still not resolved and I am still "missing" required documents although I actually have them all uploaded to AACOMAS, but I have not hear back. I know they are busy with reviewing applications, especially during covid. Is anybody else experiencing a similar problem or know what else I can do?
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TIA
 
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My app was verified on 9/24. I haven't heard anything from PCOM. I just need to take a seat and chill, right?

Care reacts accepted in lieu of written response. I know I'm being extra here. 🙁
 
Has anyone emailed them about a fee waiver? How long does it take to show up on the portal? They said my fee could be waived, but it's been over a week and the portal still hasn't updated.. 🙁
 
StressedBiClown said:
My app was verified on 9/24. I haven't heard anything from PCOM. I just need to take a seat and chill, right?

Care reacts accepted in lieu of written response. I know I'm being extra here. 🙁
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You’re not being extra! This is a stressful process. You are fine, so wait until they email you the link to the portal. Everything will be okay, so in the mean time, learn how to skateboard
 
FBaritone said:
You’re not being extra! This is a stressful process. You are fine, so wait until they email you the link to the portal. Everything will be okay, so in the mean time, learn how to skateboard
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I am in the same boat. I feel like the more I think about it and obsess over it the more I feel anxious and I have learned to preoccupy my thoughts with other things in the meantime lol
 
StressedBiClown said:
My app was verified on 9/24. I haven't heard anything from PCOM. I just need to take a seat and chill, right?

Care reacts accepted in lieu of written response. I know I'm being extra here. 🙁
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I had to wait about a month before I got my secondary from here, unfortunately they’re pretty slow

Just gotta wait it out unfortunately
 
I was just about to apply to PCOM but from what I gather online, it seems like the 3 faculty letters is a hard and fast requirement and I only have 2 faculty and 2 physicians. Has anyone by any chance heard of anyone getting around this requirement? I've been out of school so not sure I can get one this late
 
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lethargicdaffodil said:
I was just about to apply to PCOM but from what I gather online, it seems like the 3 faculty letters is a hard and fast requirement and I only have 2 faculty and 2 physicians. Has anyone by any chance heard of anyone getting around this requirement? I've been out of school so not sure I can get one this late
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Hi friend, I'm in the same boat. I have 2 faculty, 1 DO, 2 MD, and 1 character LOR. I'm trying to recruit another faculty now, but that isn't easy. It sounds like it really is a hard and fast rule.
 
StressedBiClown said:
Hi friend, I'm in the same boat. I have 2 faculty, 1 DO, 2 MD, and 1 character LOR. I'm trying to recruit another faculty now, but that isn't easy. It sounds like it really is a hard and fast rule.
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Most schools seem to be lenient about letter requirements and will accept substitutes. It's a shame PCOM is strict about it. I hope your additional faculty letter comes through quick!
 
lethargicdaffodil said:
Most schools seem to be lenient about letter requirements and will accept substitutes. It's a shame PCOM is strict about it. I hope your additional faculty letter comes through quick!
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Same to you! We'll figure it out. :prof:
 
lethargicdaffodil said:
I was just about to apply to PCOM but from what I gather online, it seems like the 3 faculty letters is a hard and fast requirement and I only have 2 faculty and 2 physicians. Has anyone by any chance heard of anyone getting around this requirement? I've been out of school so not sure I can get one this late
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I got an II from them
MCAT 503
GPA: 3.69, sGPA 3.70
LOR: 2 science professors, 2 MD, 0 DO.

I am not sure if I meet their requirement of 3 faculties. But I got an II. Fingers crossed for others
 
lethargicdaffodil said:
I was just about to apply to PCOM but from what I gather online, it seems like the 3 faculty letters is a hard and fast requirement and I only have 2 faculty and 2 physicians. Has anyone by any chance heard of anyone getting around this requirement? I've been out of school so not sure I can get one this late
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I am in the same boat as both of you. I have only 1 faculty, 1 DO, and 1 MD LOR. I thought that one of those physician LORs would replace the faculty requirement?!
 
Nerd300 said:
I got an II from them
MCAT 503
GPA: 3.69, sGPA 3.70
LOR: 2 science professors, 2 MD, 0 DO.

I am not sure if I meet their requirement of 3 faculties. But I got an II. Fingers crossed for others
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You did meet the requirement because 2 science and 1 nonscience
 
In the email they sent in the portal, it said the LOR requirements stated LOR
MCATHigh9 said:
You did meet the requirement because 2 science and 1 nonscience
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Since they also specified one non-science faculty do you think they are referring specifically to a professor that taught you a course?
 
Fun1nth3sun1 said:
In the email they sent in the portal, it said the LOR requirements stated LOR
Since they also specified one non-science faculty do you think they are referring specifically to a professor that taught you a course?
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I have a student org advisor as my non-science and it was accepted

Edit: But it was within my HPAC letter
 
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Fun1nth3sun1 said:
In the email they sent in the portal, it said the LOR requirements stated LOR
Since they also specified one non-science faculty do you think they are referring specifically to a professor that taught you a course?
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I don't think my character reference will qualify. 🙁 I think I still need that 3rd faculty.
 
Fun1nth3sun1 said:
I am in the same boat as both of you. I have only 1 faculty, 1 DO, and 1 MD LOR. I thought that one of those physician LORs would replace the faculty requirement?!
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I know you got the email, too, but so we have the exact wording in front of us:

Fulfillment of the Letter of Recommendation requirement which is as follows:
  • A letter of recommendation from your pre-health or academic advisor/committee (undergraduate, post-baccalaureate or graduate programs). NOTE: This is the preferred letter of recommendation by the DO Faculty Committee on Admissions. OR...
  • Three faculty letters of recommendation: Two of those three letters must be from SCIENCE professors (undergraduate, post-baccalaureate or graduate programs). The remaining required letter can come from any other faculty member.
This, to me, reads "must be faculty." But "any other faculty" also, to me, means "someone who has a position at a school." So, I think that opens up the field a little more to those of us who still need the 3rd faculty requirement.
 
StressedBiClown said:
I know you got the email, too, but so we have the exact wording in front of us:

Fulfillment of the Letter of Recommendation requirement which is as follows:
  • A letter of recommendation from your pre-health or academic advisor/committee (undergraduate, post-baccalaureate or graduate programs). NOTE: This is the preferred letter of recommendation by the DO Faculty Committee on Admissions. OR...
  • Three faculty letters of recommendation: Two of those three letters must be from SCIENCE professors (undergraduate, post-baccalaureate or graduate programs). The remaining required letter can come from any other faculty member.
This, to me, reads "must be faculty." But "any other faculty" also, to me, means "someone who has a position at a school." So, I think that opens up the field a little more to those of us who still need the 3rd faculty requirement.
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To me, it seems that unless it’s an HPAC letter, the requirements are strict! But I could be wrong 🙁
 
FBaritone said:
To me, it seems that unless it’s an HPAC letter, the requirements are strict! But I could be wrong 🙁
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I'm so sorry, what is HPAC? I'm baby, so still learning all of the terms and acronyms.
 
StressedBiClown said:
I'm so sorry, what is HPAC? I'm baby, so still learning all of the terms and acronyms.
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The health professions advisory committee letter! It’s what you get from some undergrads. They take all your letters and make a cover letter that summarizes them. I was saying that it seems that if the letters are in the HPAC letter, they are more lenient on what comprises the third letter than if they were just individual letters. I could be wrong, but that’s just what I think is the case.
 
FBaritone said:
The health professions advisory committee letter! It’s what you get from some undergrads. They take all your letters and make a cover letter that summarizes them. I was saying that it seems that if the letters are in the HPAC letter, they are more lenient on what comprises the third letter than if they were just individual letters. I could be wrong, but that’s just what I think is the case.
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Oh, I see! I haven't seen that acronym before (or I have and disregarded it).
But, yes, I totally agree with you. It seems they prefer the HPAC letter.
 
Would y'all say the consensus is the 3rd faculty doesn't necessarily need to be someone who taught you a course?
 
Hey guys! Kind of a new member here. I filled out PCOM's primary on Aug 3 and paid their $75 fee back on Aug 9. Should I have received an email from them at this point, such as rejection/invitation to interview?
 
DCDag said:
Hey guys! Kind of a new member here. I filled out PCOM's primary on Aug 3 and paid their $75 fee back on Aug 9. Should I have received an email from them at this point, such as rejection/invitation to interview?
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Unfortunately applying to med school can be a huge waiting game. You could hear back for an interview tomorrow, next month, and after the interview you could get a decision up until orientation. I don’t believe PCOM sends out rejections, at least not until close to the start of orientation in August

Keep in mind PCOM receives thousands of apps every year. I know it’s hard but try to be patient and focus on other things if you can while you wait!
 
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DCDag said:
Hey guys! Kind of a new member here. I filled out PCOM's primary on Aug 3 and paid their $75 fee back on Aug 9. Should I have received an email from them at this point, such as rejection/invitation to interview?
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The next time you’ll hear from them is if you get an interview! Interviews typically go until March so hang in there!
 
I was able to get a third faculty letter from someone who has known me since my early days at the community college. She's the only one I knew would write me a letter and get it done within a day. She didn't teach a class I was in specifically, but I'm hoping that's okay.
 
MotherofDragonflies said:
If I get an app in here and the other campus by the end of the week do you think the timing is still okay? My timing got thrown off.
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I vote yes do it. I submitted mine 9/24, got notified 9/29, and submitted my secondary same day.
 
StressedBiClown said:
I was able to get a third faculty letter from someone who has known me since my early days at the community college. She's the only one I knew would write me a letter and get it done within a day. She didn't teach a class I was in specifically, but I'm hoping that's okay.
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I have a committee letter so I don't need to worry about the 3 letter craziness, right?

Is there any value to adding extra letters?
 
MotherofDragonflies said:
I have a committee letter so I don't need to worry about the 3 letter craziness, right?

Is there any value to adding extra letters?
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Right, you're good. It actually says that the committee letter is the preferred LOR option, so I doubt there's any benefit to you submitting more. I doubt they would even read them.
 
Hey guys!! Quick question. So I applied to the Philly campus only and didn't fill out the text box for the South Georgia campus - but they said the $75 fee covers both campuses, wouldn't it make sense that I pay less for the secondary if I only applied to one of the campuses? Kind of confused now. Thanks!
 
ZealousLuckIdeal said:
Hey guys!! Quick question. So I applied to the Philly campus only and didn't fill out the text box for the South Georgia campus - but they said the $75 fee covers both campuses, wouldn't it make sense that I pay less for the secondary if I only applied to one of the campuses? Kind of confused now. Thanks!
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Unfortunately, I think this is how most schools with multiple campuses work (eg LECOM, NYITCOM). You pay the same fee but check off which campuses you want to be considered for. It seems that technically you are applying for one school, just identifying which campus would like to study at.
 
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