Chances for PCOM...

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cetrav

cetrav

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Hi everyone. I am a little anxious here.. just got my MCAT score back--26--and trying to decide whether or not to apply to PCOM for this cycle, or wait until next year.

GPA is 3.8, non-science major. EXcs are good, I wouldn't say spectacular. Getting a letter of rec from a DO attending, alumni of PCOM.

Do you think it's way too late to apply, or do I still have a shot?
 
With PCOM its very important to apply early. They get more apps than any other DO school, and they love to leave you hanging with no update until the end of the cycle. It being Oct. and with your MCAT, I think your chances aren't great.

That said, I'm not one to say you shouldn't apply if you really want to go there (you have zero chance if you don't apply). Worst case scenario you are out what, ~$100? In 4 yrs you'll have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars that you don't have for your medical education. You aren't going to remember the $100 you spent on one app.
 
hallowmann said:
With PCOM its very important to apply early. They get more apps than any other DO school, and they love to leave you hanging with no update until the end of the cycle. It being Oct. and with your MCAT, I think your chances aren't great.

That said, I'm not one to say you shouldn't apply if you really want to go there (you have zero chance if you don't apply). Worst case scenario you are out what, ~$100? In 4 yrs you'll have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars that you don't have for your medical education. You aren't going to remember the $100 you spent on one app.
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But how bad would it look if I were to be a re-applicant?
 
Don't put your eggs in one basket though.
There are people who applied with ~4.0/30+ that have been rejected at 1-2 schools they applied to for some reason and had to apply to more in the later part of the cycle.
Just because you have good stats/EC/Letters/w/e doesn't mean you will get into a school you want.
Of course your chances are higher with good stats/EC.... but sometimes, it's a hit or miss.
 
PCOM gets major applications...I want to say 7k....every year. Not that they are the most competitive school, numerically, but you sure picked a tough 1st choice.
 
cetrav said:
Hi everyone. I am a little anxious here.. just got my MCAT score back--26--and trying to decide whether or not to apply to PCOM for this cycle, or wait until next year.

GPA is 3.8, non-science major. EXcs are good, I wouldn't say spectacular. Getting a letter of rec from a DO attending, alumni of PCOM.

Do you think it's way too late to apply, or do I still have a shot?
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What do you have to loose? I would go for it. Be sure to use that letter from their Alumni! PCOM loves their alumni!
 
Nothing wrong with throwing your app in, but it's definitely a long shot. If you're cool throwing down the $, go for it. If it doesn't work out, try to boost the MCAT (I know the new one won't be fun to take) and come back bright and early next year to get your app in once AACOMAS opens
 
PCOM admissions is the epitome of crap-shoot. apply, but do not count on hearing back no matter how stellar your CV is.
 
Definitely wasted money and time applying to PCOM. They wouldn't complete my application because they wanted like 3 science letters from me, took me way too long to get the extra letter. Shouldn't have bothered mailing my secondary money to them.
 
songl4a said:
Do they take committee letters or require 3 science no matter what?
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Please don'y apply this cycle. It is way to late.

PCOM does take a committee latter, but that letter has to have 3 science prof letters in it as well. Or at least note that you had 3 science prof's write your health profession office LOR's for you.
 
songl4a said:
I'm not OP, but that sounds counter-intuitive when so many schools take a committee letter with 2 science and 1 non-science. Guess I won't be applying there.
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It is a strange requirement. Guess it helps them keep application numbers low. My pre-health committee requires us to get 3 science professor letters anyway so it wasn't a big deal for me.
 
referee3 said:
Please don'y apply this cycle. It is way to late.

PCOM does take a committee latter, but that letter has to have 3 science prof letters in it as well. Or at least note that you had 3 science prof's write your health profession office LOR's for you.
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This is wrong. PCOM will accept 3 letters, 2 have to be from a science professor and 1 a non science professor. This can be used in place of a committee letter.
 
11
songl4a said:
I'm not OP, but that sounds counter-intuitive when so many schools take a committee letter with 2 science and 1 non-science. Guess I won't be applying there.
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PCOM will take 2 sciences letters and 1 non-science in place of a committee letter. I was accepted without a committee letter and fulfilled that requirement.
 
cetrav said:
Hi everyone. I am a little anxious here.. just got my MCAT score back--26--and trying to decide whether or not to apply to PCOM for this cycle, or wait until next year.

GPA is 3.8, non-science major. EXcs are good, I wouldn't say spectacular. Getting a letter of rec from a DO attending, alumni of PCOM.

Do you think it's way too late to apply, or do I still have a shot?
Click to expand...

Its the toughest DO school, as hard to get into as most MD schools but really you have to apply to find out.
 
MA resident. Interested in psychiatry. Here are my stats:

-Cumulative GPA: 3.61
-Science GPA: 3.52 (2 W's, retook for A-'s)
-MCAT Scores: 10/6/10, 129/124/127/127, [waiting for scores]
-Research: 12 months linguistics/cognitive neuroscience, 8 month neuropsych with poster presentation, secondary author in a textbook chapter overviewing pediatric psychiatric disorders
-Employment history: mental health counselor on an inpatient psych ward (2014-present), runner/busser in high school+college
-Volunteering (clinical): dementia outpatient unit my senior year of high school (6 hrs/wk); EMT (12-24 hours/month) in college (sophomore-senior year)
-Non-clinical volunteering: youth basketball coach, homeless shelter event organizer
-Physician shadowing: 40 hours orthopedic surgeon, 40 hours hematology/oncology
-4 great LOR's: 2 research, 1 professor, 1 psych ward nurse manager

Given my profile and interest in psychiatry, would I be a competitive applicant?

Thank you!!!
 
Seth Joo said:
Its the toughest DO school, as hard to get into as most MD schools but really you have to apply to find out.
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Where are you getting this info? It's only true if your OOS. MCAT avg is 27 and GPA avg isn't high either. If you live in PA it's not that hard to get into IMO, based on stats
 
Howlin_Radio said:
Where are you getting this info? It's only true if your OOS. MCAT avg is 27 and GPA avg isn't high either. If you live in PA it's not that hard to get into IMO, based on stats
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The 2012 stats were an average of a 28 mcat 3.5 gpa, they have probably gone up by now.
 
Userneedmoreinfo said:
The 2012 stats were an average of a 28 mcat 3.5 gpa, they have probably gone up by now.
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The coastal tourous have 30 MCAT averages in addition to CCOM and I also believe AZCOM. I'd argue those schools are harder to get into than PCOM
 
Howlin_Radio said:
Where are you getting this info? It's only true if your OOS. MCAT avg is 27 and GPA avg isn't high either. If you live in PA it's not that hard to get into IMO, based on stats
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We get 10 thousand apps. Lots don't get in who don't have the stats. I think Pcom isn't looking for just high numbers. If they were they probably could have higher averages.
 
Camaxtli said:
We get 10 thousand apps. Lots don't get in who don't have the stats. I think Pcom isn't looking for just high numbers. If they were they probably could have higher averages.
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I have not seen evidence other than SDN user's say so that PCOM gets 10 thousand applications. CCOM got only 7500 in 2014.
https://www.midwestern.edu/programs_and_admission/il_osteopathic_medicine/admission/apply.html

NYIT only got 6200 applications in 2014.
http://www.nyit.edu/medicine/admissions/frequently_asked_questions/

MSU so far only has 5367 applications this year.

I would assume PCOM gets somewhere similar to CCOM. 10,000 seems a little bit farfetched. I highly doubt PCOM gets 50% more applications than CCOM. Mabye 8500 seems a little more reasonable.
 
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mathnerd88 said:
I have not seen evidence other than SDN user's say so that PCOM gets 10 thousand applications. CCOM got only 7500 in 2014.
https://www.midwestern.edu/programs_and_admission/il_osteopathic_medicine/admission/apply.html

NYIT only got 6200 applications in 2014.
http://www.nyit.edu/medicine/admissions/frequently_asked_questions/

MSU so far only has 5367 applications this year.

I would assume PCOM gets somewhere similar to CCOM. 10,000 seems a little bit farfetched. I highly doubt PCOM gets 50% more applications than CCOM. Mabye 8500 seems a little more reasonable.
Click to expand...
http://www.aacom.org/docs/default-source/data-and-trends/2002-15AppsbyCOMandGen.xls?sfvrsn=4

Pcom gets 9,596. More than any com, proof above. It's a fact
 
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Camaxtli said:
We get 10 thousand apps. Lots don't get in who don't have the stats. I think Pcom isn't looking for just high numbers. If they were they probably could have higher averages.
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Still have lower stats. I'd bet it has less to do with stats and more to do with their instate bias (they are more likely to take less competitive applicants in state). Slots available / #apps doesn't equate to how difficult a school is to get into.

PCOM isn't that hardest DO school to get into if you live in PA, that's for sure.
 
Howlin_Radio said:
Still have lower stats. I'd bet it has less to do with stats and more to do with their instate bias (they are more likely to take less competitive applicants in state). Slots available / #apps doesn't equate to how difficult a school is to get into.

PCOM isn't that hardest DO school to get into if you live in PA, that's for sure.
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I agree with this. I have stats a lot better than their averages and still haven't received a II.

I know plenty of applicants who have lower averages who were accepted from PA.

I would bet that the reason why PCOM and LECOM gets a lot of applications because it has one of the cheapest OOS tuition rates available out of all the COMs.
 
mathnerd88 said:
I agree with this. I have stats a lot better than their averages and still haven't received a II.

I know plenty of applicants who have lower averages who were accepted from PA.

I would bet that the reason why PCOM and LECOM gets a lot of applications because it has one of the cheapest OOS tuition rates available out of all the COMs.
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I don't agree with your theory about price.
First of: lecom's numbers are for both its campuses in PA so that's why they have the second highest applicants.

Second of: there isn't oos tuition, they are private com.

I don't know why you personally didn't get an interview and I hope you get one. But it's very competitive statistically speaking
 
Userneedmoreinfo said:
I don't agree with your theory about price.
First of: lecom's numbers are for both its campuses in PA so that's why they have the second highest applicants.

Second of: there isn't oos tuition, they are private com.

I don't know why you personally didn't get an interview and I hope you get one. But it's very competitive statistically speaking
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I agree, but for a private school, it has one of the cheapest tuition rates available. PCOM is an established school, near a major city, that has reasonable and significantly cheaper tuition rates compared to CCOM and NYITCOM and also RowanSOM (OOS.) I believe PCOM also takes 270 students and LECOM has 350 for PA campuses? CCOM only accepts 206 students.

AnatomyGrey12 said:
Stats wise sure. But PCOM recieves the largest amount of applicants by a pretty solid number. By simple percent yield it is the hardest to get into.
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I disagree.
PCOM rate of matriculation/applicants= 270/9596= 0.0281
CCOM rate of matriculation/applicants= 206/7871= 0.0262
RowanSOM rate of matriculation/applicants= 162/5442= 0.0298
LECOM-PA rate of matriculation/applicants= 350/8526= 0.0411

This means that CCOM is actually harder by simple percent yield to get into than PCOM. Even RowanSOM is similar with far less matriculants AND has an in-state bias. One could argue that RowanSOM for OOS is even more difficult than PCOM.

If CCOM had its tuition to be equal to that of PCOM's, I would definitely see an application number on par with PCOM.

http://www.aacom.org/docs/default-source/data-and-trends/2015-16COM-tuition-and-feesFY.pdf?sfvrsn=4
 
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mathnerd88 said:
I agree, but for a private school, it has one of the cheapest tuition rates available. PCOM is an established school, near a major city, that has reasonable and significantly cheaper tuition rates compared to CCOM and NYITCOM and also RowanSOM (OOS.) I believe PCOM also takes 270 students and LECOM has 350 for PA campuses? CCOM only accepts 206 students.



I disagree.
PCOM rate of matriculation/applicants= 270/9596= 0.0281
CCOM rate of matriculation/applicants= 206/7871= 0.0262
RowanSOM rate of matriculation/applicants= 162/5442= 0.0298
LECOM-PA rate of matriculation/applicants= 350/8526= 0.0411

This means that CCOM is actually harder by simple percent yield to get into than PCOM. Even RowanSOM is similar with far less matriculants AND has an in-state bias. One could argue that RowanSOM for OOS is even more difficult than PCOM.

If CCOM had its tuition to be equal to that of PCOM's, I would definitely see an application number on par with PCOM.

http://www.aacom.org/docs/default-source/data-and-trends/2015-16COM-tuition-and-feesFY.pdf?sfvrsn=4
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These are what ifs. I think all these institutions are fine ones and the best in their respective fields. If you get into one of these programs you are in good position. Since they are all similar, it comes down to personal preference. I would chose PCOM because it is IN a top 5 city and many more things such as tuition mentioned above, reputation etc.
 
PCOM is the best DO school in the nation. They are a classy program filled with premiere faculty, excellent facilities, top notch rotations, and one of the best residency situations.

Not saying it was smart, but I know of 4 people who took PCOM Philly over MD schools like Drexel
 
Userneedmoreinfo said:
These are what ifs. I think all these institutions are fine ones and the best in their respective fields. If you get into one of these programs you are in good position. Since they are all similar, it comes down to personal preference. I would chose PCOM because it is IN a top 5 city and many more things such as tuition mentioned above, reputation etc.
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I would definitely love for an osteopathic medical school to open in the Boston-metro area. I would like to see the application numbers for a school there.
Dustbowl12 said:
PCOM is the best DO school in the nation. They are a classy program filled with premiere faculty, excellent facilities, top notch rotations, and one of the best residency situations.

Not saying it was smart, but I know of 4 people who took PCOM Philly over MD schools like Drexel
Click to expand...

We get it. You don't have to keep repeating yourself about PCOM. Your opinion is just that...an opinion with no real hard evidence. You've been posting your obsession with PCOM everywhere. There are too many factors, and PCOM isn't the top in every factor. Don't get me wrong, PCOM is an excellent school, but there are plenty of choices that are just as good.

If CCOM had the same tuition as PCOM, I would've said CCOM is the better school. Chicago>Philly. CCOM has a smaller class size, and Chicago has a much bigger population than Philly with even less number of medical schools in the area with more hospitals. Therefore, there are probably better rotations and even more GME spots for their students. They have the highest (or close to the highest) combination of average MCAT and GPA. They could achieve this even with ridiculously high tuition and COA.
 
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mathnerd88 said:
I have not seen evidence other than SDN user's say so that PCOM gets 10 thousand applications. CCOM got only 7500 in 2014.
https://www.midwestern.edu/programs_and_admission/il_osteopathic_medicine/admission/apply.html

NYIT only got 6200 applications in 2014.
http://www.nyit.edu/medicine/admissions/frequently_asked_questions/

MSU so far only has 5367 applications this year.

I would assume PCOM gets somewhere similar to CCOM. 10,000 seems a little bit farfetched. I highly doubt PCOM gets 50% more applications than CCOM. Mabye 8500 seems a little more reasonable.
Click to expand...

I go to PCOM they told us they get 10k apps but only about 9 thousand secondaries. That's why so many people with the numbers don't get in.
 
mathnerd88 said:
I would definitely love for an osteopathic medical school to open in the Boston-metro area. I would like to see the application numbers for a school there.


We get it. You don't have to keep repeating yourself about PCOM. Your opinion is just that...an opinion with no real hard evidence. You've been posting your obsession with PCOM everywhere. There are too many factors, and PCOM isn't the top in every factor. Don't get me wrong, PCOM is an excellent school, but there are plenty of choices that are just as good.

If CCOM had the same tuition as PCOM, I would've said CCOM is the better school. Chicago>Philly. CCOM has a smaller class size, and Chicago has a much bigger population than Philly with even less number of medical schools in the area with more hospitals. Therefore, there are probably better rotations and even more GME spots for their students. They have the highest (or close to the highest) combination of average MCAT and GPA. They could achieve this even with ridiculously high tuition and COA.
Click to expand...

You sure you don't want to be lawyer you sure like to debate haha. But just for your info ccom isn't IN Chicago it's like 25-30 miles west. Thought I would let you know.
 
Userneedmoreinfo said:
You sure you don't want to be lawyer you sure like to debate haha. But just for your info ccom isn't IN Chicago it's like 25-30 miles west. Thought I would let you know.
Click to expand...

True. PCOM is about 6 miles from Philly center. RowanSOM is about 16 miles away from Philly center.

CCOM does have rotations in Chicagoland. Downer's Grove is a nice big suburban area all on its own.

Nah, I'm just annoyed of people who just make blanket statements such as "XXX school is the best DO school EVAHH!" and then posts that on multiple threads, if possible.

I guess I'm also a little bit annoyed because somehow, PCOM didn't bat me an eye while I got into established schools like CCOM in the first round of interviews/acceptances even though I have no ties to the Midwest but strong ties to the Northeast. I apologize if I come off as a little...testy about the subject of PCOM.
 
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mathnerd88 said:
True. PCOM is about 6 miles from Philly center. RowanSOM is about 16 miles away from Philly center.

CCOM does have rotations in Chicagoland. Downer's Grove is a nice big suburban area all on its own.

Nah, I'm just annoyed of people who just make blanket statements such as "XXX school is the best DO school EVAHH!" and then posts that on multiple threads, if possible.

I guess I'm a little bit annoyed because somehow, PCOM didn't bat me an eye while I got into established schools like CCOM even though I have no ties to the Midwest but strong ties to the Northeast. I apologize if I come off as a little...testy about the subject of PCOM.
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It's all good hopefully you will get one!
 
mathnerd88 said:
I got hard data that says they get 9596 primaries. I grossly underestimated haha.
Click to expand...

Haha yep they told us that during orientation. I think they rounded. We get alot of applications!
 
mathnerd88 said:
I would definitely love for an osteopathic medical school to open in the Boston-metro area. I would like to see the application numbers for a school there.


We get it. You don't have to keep repeating yourself about PCOM. Your opinion is just that...an opinion with no real hard evidence. You've been posting your obsession with PCOM everywhere. There are too many factors, and PCOM isn't the top in every factor. Don't get me wrong, PCOM is an excellent school, but there are plenty of choices that are just as good.

If CCOM had the same tuition as PCOM, I would've said CCOM is the better school. Chicago>Philly. CCOM has a smaller class size, and Chicago has a much bigger population than Philly with even less number of medical schools in the area with more hospitals. Therefore, there are probably better rotations and even more GME spots for their students. They have the highest (or close to the highest) combination of average MCAT and GPA. They could achieve this even with ridiculously high tuition and COA.
Click to expand...

Chicago probably is better then philly but NYC is only 2 hours away! Philadelphia is also still the 5th biggest city by population in the country. It isn't small!
 
mathnerd88 said:
True. PCOM is about 6 miles from Philly center. RowanSOM is about 16 miles away from Philly center.

CCOM does have rotations in Chicagoland. Downer's Grove is a nice big suburban area all on its own.

Nah, I'm just annoyed of people who just make blanket statements such as "XXX school is the best DO school EVAHH!" and then posts that on multiple threads, if possible.

I guess I'm also a little bit annoyed because somehow, PCOM didn't bat me an eye while I got into established schools like CCOM in the first round of interviews/acceptances even though I have no ties to the Midwest but strong ties to the Northeast. I apologize if I come off as a little...testy about the subject of PCOM.
Click to expand...
I know that feel bro, I know that feel. I think either they heavily select for ECs or they have strong yield protection algorithms in place, because I was damn near two SDs above their mean and they were like, "nah bro, we're good."
 
Mad Jack said:
I know that feel bro, I know that feel. I think either they heavily select for ECs or they have strong yield protection algorithms in place, because I was damn near two SDs above their mean and they were like, "nah bro, we're good."
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Yeah. Perhaps they're biased since my state school is just over the river. It is possible they're looking for those who are heavily service oriented and not those with extensive research with publications oriented.

On the PCOM thread, most of those who have written they got II's are from PA...which leads me to believe they do have some regional bias. I guess I shouldn't really complain, as things did turn out relatively well for me in this application cycle. I'm also greedy for that II. 😉
 
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Camaxtli said:
Chicago probably is better then philly but NYC is only 2 hours away! Philadelphia is also still the 5th biggest city by population in the country. It isn't small!
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Haha yes, objectively Philly is a big city. Philly actually feels like a cross between Boston and NYC. Growing up near NYC, Chicago feels more like home to me than Philly (although I also do very much enjoy Philly.)
 
Dustbowl12 said:
PCOM is the best DO school in the nation. They are a classy program filled with premiere faculty, excellent facilities, top notch rotations, and one of the best residency situations.

Not saying it was smart, but I know of 4 people who took PCOM Philly over MD schools like Drexel
Click to expand...

lol...
 
PCOM is a crap-shoot and has a horrible electronic application organization system. Your primary, secondary, letters, emails, and II get processed on different servers/programs. If you send them an email, they will not respond for at least 3 weeks and if you call, they are always rude and unhelpful. On the other hand, if you call the Rowan admission office, they are the nicest people and you can even speak to the director if she is in the office, over the phone, without an appointment.
 
Henry101 said:
PCOM is a crap-shoot and has a horrible electronic application organization system. Your primary, secondary, letters, emails, and II get processed on different servers/programs. If you send them an email, they will not respond for at least 3 weeks and if you call, they are always rude and unhelpful. On the other hand, if you call the Rowan admission office, they are the nicest people and you can even speak to the director if she is in the office, over the phone, without an appointment.
Click to expand...

Yea the system isn't the best, but its not that bad. However, I usually find the people here helpful.
 
mathnerd88 said:
On the PCOM thread, most of those who have written they got II's are from PA...which leads me to believe they do have some regional bias.
Click to expand...


On their website, PCOM says that 54% of their Pennsylvania campus students come from Pennsylvania. This stat, of course, contains students in all of their programs on that campus. Just wanted to put a concrete number out there!
 
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