GA-PCOM 2009- Where are you?

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As a former Realtor I must point out the "Risk" involved with buying a home without having a solid income (if this might apply while attending school). Without a solid income people usually wind up qualifing for a high risk type of loan such as an interest only type loan (unless you have a rich uncle willing to take on your risk). With short term interest only home loans people usually get upside down on their home. Meaning that in order to sell your home at fair market price you must pay to get out of the home. In a volatile market (an "exploding" market) there is even more risk involved. Not trying to scare anyone here. I'm sure all of you guys are in the know.. but you would not believe some of the stories I used to get from potential home buyers.
 
OrthoFixation said:
I want to buy, but was unaware of any market upticks. I guess that's good, if I get in before they go up further.
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If you don't mind driving, you'd be better off trying to buy in Lilburn or South Duluth so that you'd drive against traffic both ways during your first 2 years, but would be much closer to the likely clinical hospital sites your 3rd and 4th years. OTOH, prices are best in Lawrenceville and further north. The school districts are best in Duluth and Lilburn (Brookwood, Parkview, where I used to live), but you'll pay more.
 
Everyone keeps asking me when we're moving. I keep saying late July, but it all depends when school starts! Anyone know? Has anyone received any financial aid, school bulletin, anything from the school other than the $2000 deposit? Has anyone sent in the $2000 deposit?
 
biosailgirl said:
Everyone keeps asking me when we're moving. I keep saying late July, but it all depends when school starts! Anyone know? Has anyone received any financial aid, school bulletin, anything from the school other than the $2000 deposit? Has anyone sent in the $2000 deposit?
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when is the $2000 deposit due?
 
Beano: It's interesting that you mention rich uncle because my uncle was talking about going in with me on the house since he does a lot of financial biz in athens. This way he would only be about 1 hr. from athens if we shared the house. He wouldn't be there all the time, like one weekend a month. I don't know what I am going to do, but I do appreciate your input, esp. since you are in the know in the area of real estate. I am not crazy about buying a home on a creaky income, but if I would end up coming out even as opposed to losing money in an apt., then it might be worth it. My uncle is looking for an investment, so he would buy out my part at the end of the four years. I want to look at what kind of deal we can get thru the school with apts. first. Buying a house is my last resort. :scared: I guess we are all in the same boat about what to do relative to housing, right? Very few of us are actually going to be from the metro area, with the exception of BMW19.

Brent and biosail: $2000 is due May 15. I don't know about y'all, but I'm going to write that check like May 13. I need plenty of time to generate that kind of revenue. :laugh:
 
We just had a meeting up here so that some of the student whom are familiar/have lived in the area can answer your questions.

If you go to the PCOM homepage there is now a link for new students. Go there and you can request that a student get a hold of you to answer questions.

All my best, Bert.
 
I can answer any questions about Atlanta itself, but I have to admit I have always lived close to the city. The school is about a half-hour North, so I am not so familiar with Gwinett County. I myself will be commuting 30 miles everyday!! So maybe i'm the wrong person to talk to.

Biosail: I have received nothing from the school since they asked for the 2000. I think they want transcripts as well (thought they would have those already). I assume that they are more focused on filling the rest of the class than sending us info right now. I'm sure once they have secured the slots we will be seeing a lot more.

Has anyone filled out the fafsa yet? I am procrastinating as usual


HNS said:
We just had a meeting up here so that some of the student whom are familiar/have lived in the area can answer your questions.

If you go to the PCOM homepage there is now a link for new students. Go there and you can request that a student get a hold of you to answer questions.

All my best, Bert.
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No go on FAFSA for me...I have filed my taxes, but I'm waiting for my parents to file theirs. It is like this every year. I have to wait and wait on them...*sigh*...

I know this has been mentioned in passing, but what plans does everyone have for this summer? How many are still in undergrad like me?
 
Hello drugtech and other future GA-PCOMer's. My name is sbp24. I just got my acceptance letter and I am thrilled!

Your comments/discussion thus far have been great.

To answer your question drugtech, I am an old man (25 this march) and have been out of school for 2 years.

Comment on earlier posts re: taxes and fafsa :
I highly recommend using turbotax to file both federal and state income taxes. Easy as pie. Honestly. If you have any questions for me feel free to reply.
 
sbp24 said:
Hello drugtech and other future GA-PCOMer's. My name is sbp24. I just got my acceptance letter and I am thrilled!

Your comments/discussion thus far have been great.

To answer your question drugtech, I am an old man (25 this march) and have been out of school for 2 years.

Comment on earlier posts re: taxes and fafsa :
I highly recommend using turbotax to file both federal and state income taxes. Easy as pie. Honestly. If you have any questions for me feel free to reply.
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Congrats sbp and welcome to the forum.


Mandar
 
From the website, it looks like we may need to be there for orientation for august 9th. At least that's the case for PCOM. Any word on the apartments next to the school?
BMW19, my husband and I are planning to make a trip in March-maybe we could meet up and go look at the school and the apartments around there, maybe if Dr.Evans has time, set up a meeting to talk about some of this stuff?

For everyone else, what about volunteering and research during med school? We'll be coming from a new school and even though med school is hard enough as it is, we'll need to work even harder to show that we're a good school, with good students to take residents from. I don't think there's any research really available in osteopathy, but there are so many schools around there- I wonder how hard it would be to latch onto another school's research department. BMW19, what's the closest school that would have graduate students doing medical research? I know I'm jumping the gun and I probably won't have time, but it's good to think about these things.

As for volunteering, I wonder if there's a clinic close by that GAPCOM can associate itself with. Maybe even have a student run organization responsible for setting up times for students to volunteer/participate at the clinic.

Just some ideas here, what do you guys think?
 
Welcome sbp24...it's good to have you. BTW, 25 gets younger and younger every day 😛--If you haven't already, you might want to PM your email addy to BMW19 because he has an email thread with most of us on it.

Biosailgirl, we are thinking in the same plane for sure. I would like to do research, but I don't know how soon or if we will get to with GAPCOM trying to get the teaching part of school up and running. I, like you said, don't know how much time we'll have for that sort of thing, but I definitely want to do it if it is possible. I also thought about maybe once we get some clinical skills under our belt, if the school would be able to set up health screenings for us to do for maybe elementary schools or something like that. Just throwing some more stuff out there. For all I know once I get there, I may not give a rip about anything other than trying to stay above water academically speaking. 😀
 
Congratulations sbp24 . . . welcome to the GA PCOM club 👍


On the research note, I think their will be plenty of students interested. Maybe they will get some of the PCOM projects moved south by summer '06, when we have 2.5 months to get really involved. I'm sure the first few months will be hectic enough for the administration getting the curriculum hiccups worked out.
 
Hey GAPCOM how are you doing?

I could not help but to glance over some of your correspondance and I wanted to enlighten you further on our curriculum here in philly. Now, I know that you guys will mirror our courses, but I am not sure to what degree. So know that this in not gospel but maybe a foreshadowing.........

The curriculum is an integrative one. The school year is divided into 3 trimesters - the first two are your basic sciences and the third term starts the systems based med that continues through the second yr. You have two full yr courses OMM and PCS (patient care skills) along with the first term SPOM - Structural Principles of Osteopathic Medicine (ana, rad, dev, histo), second term Cell & Tissue (biochem, genetics, immuno, micro, pharm, path, mol bio), third term Cardio Vas Med/ Renal Pulm / Emer Med. We have standardized pt. during PCS where we are eval for our clinical skills along with OMM practicals where we hone in our osteopathic manipulation skills. There is no alt learning modules (PBLs, etc), only lecture hall type classes. However, they do incorporate case studies during both the SPOM and C&T courses to develop our diff. diagnostic skills.

The 1st year is the only summer vacation you will receive. Come 2nd year, you will finish your courses in the spring, take your boards in June, and begin your rotations shortly after (typically a day or two after boards). You will receive a month off during rotations (typically around christmas) during 3rd year and 4th is TBD (my source of info does not run that high). :laugh:

I hope that I answered your questions w/o sounding overwhelming. If you require any more info you can email me [email protected] or go to the PCOM.edu and request for a fellow Georigan to email you.

Congratulations once again on your acceptance into our wonderful family. It will be great to meet you guys at our sister campus. In my book, you are already my colleagues. 👍

Enjoy your "months off" until school begins. Try to square away as many life things as you can, b/c once school starts it will seem as if you will have no time. Spend time with your family, friends, significants, etc. Take a vacation. Just enjoy the time. Because soon enough SPOM will begin and then you will have to learn BALANCE. Take it from me a fellow "old head" (32yo) doing this med school thang. But all that aside, I am truly enjoying my 1st year at PCOM and I would not want to be any where else.

Best wishes in all your endeavors, :clap:
Malliem
PCOM Class of 2008
 
Thanks malliem, your input sure is helpful 😀
 
Malliem,

Great post, with great info. To all new GA-Pcomers welcome to our thread and the pioneering class. Malliem, just a few Q's:

1) Do we really have classes at 8 everyday? It's not that i'm lazy or need to sleep late, its just that I will have a 30 mile commute every morning and that can get hairy with Atlanta traffic.

2) What is a typical day like, 8-4 straight lectures?

Biosail,

Emory and GA tech are great schools for research, but I don't know how we can get affiliated with them. As far as research and Clubs etc. , I think that will up to us to get stuff going. It seems like that admin will have their hands full with the curriculum, accreditation etc. I would possibly like to start an Emer. Med. club.

Any newcomers pm me your email and I will add it to our email list. Anyone who will be in Atlanta, I would love to get together.

BMW-



malliem said:
Hey GAPCOM how are you doing?

I could not help but to glance over some of your correspondance and I wanted to enlighten you further on our curriculum here in philly. Now, I know that you guys will mirror our courses, but I am not sure to what degree. So know that this in not gospel but maybe a foreshadowing.........

The curriculum is an integrative one. The school year is divided into 3 trimesters - the first two are your basic sciences and the third term starts the systems based med that continues through the second yr. You have two full yr courses OMM and PCS (patient care skills) along with the first term SPOM - Structural Principles of Osteopathic Medicine (ana, rad, dev, histo), second term Cell & Tissue (biochem, genetics, immuno, micro, pharm, path, mol bio), third term Cardio Vas Med/ Renal Pulm / Emer Med. We have standardized pt. during PCS where we are eval for our clinical skills along with OMM practicals where we hone in our osteopathic manipulation skills. There is no alt learning modules (PBLs, etc), only lecture hall type classes. However, they do incorporate case studies during both the SPOM and C&T courses to develop our diff. diagnostic skills.

The 1st year is the only summer vacation you will receive. Come 2nd year, you will finish your courses in the spring, take your boards in June, and begin your rotations shortly after (typically a day or two after boards). You will receive a month off during rotations (typically around christmas) during 3rd year and 4th is TBD (my source of info does not run that high). :laugh:

I hope that I answered your questions w/o sounding overwhelming. If you require any more info you can email me [email protected] or go to the PCOM.edu and request for a fellow Georigan to email you.

Congratulations once again on your acceptance into our wonderful family. It will be great to meet you guys at our sister campus. In my book, you are already my colleagues. 👍

Enjoy your "months off" until school begins. Try to square away as many life things as you can, b/c once school starts it will seem as if you will have no time. Spend time with your family, friends, significants, etc. Take a vacation. Just enjoy the time. Because soon enough SPOM will begin and then you will have to learn BALANCE. Take it from me a fellow "old head" (32yo) doing this med school thang. But all that aside, I am truly enjoying my 1st year at PCOM and I would not want to be any where else.

Best wishes in all your endeavors, :clap:
Malliem
PCOM Class of 2008
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Hi everybody I am Johnathon from Memphis,TN... I would like to introduce myself since I will be in the class of 2009... since everybody is telling their ages I guess I had better tell mine too... I am 26.. got a BS in biology and 2 years of graduate studies in molecular biology... worked as an EMT, psychiatric tech and did some womens health work as well...I took my interview there at PCOM-GA on January 24th and was accepted the same day..of course that was very flattering so I decided to withdraw all of my applications at MD and DO schools and send my deposit in ...I must say for those who have not seen the campus that I really like it alot.. Its all red brick and VERY big.. great parking..great curb appeal... in a very affluent commercial district.. a great outlet mall (has SAKS and Neiman Marcus) is a couple of miles away..very close to great restaurants, nice neighborhoods... Suwanee is a really affluent and safe place to live... so I have nothing but positive remarks for the campus, Dr. Evans, Suwanee and the school in general....I am from Memphis and most of this city here is GHETTO and the med school here is in a terrible part of town.. so when I saw the beautiful campus of PCOM-GA I must admit that I felt like I was in a different world..How many people get to go to medical school in a really affluent, safe and beautiful suburb?? I think we are all truely blessed and I am really excited about meeting you guys in person.. If you would like to organize a social event please let me know because I would for sure show up...If you would like to contact me personally my email is [email protected] ...Take care and I look forward to being in your class ---Johnathon
 
Yes there will be quite a few 8 am courses (you can't get around that). But a typical week would be an 8 am maybe 3-4x a week. There are days (mon/tues) where we will have OMM from 2-5pm (50% of the class will meet during this time frame). Other afternoons will be slated for Lab times (histo, PCS, micro, case conferences,etc.). Usually the heavier days tend to be early in the week and taper off towards the end, but there are exceptions to every rule. Hopefully, b/c you guys are the only program down there right now (but don't quote me), you may not be under the time crunch like we are. (We share time and space with the Biomed and PA programs.) So just know that if there are 8am - it is not b/c they don't like ya. 😉 Just think of it as a hazing ritual to get you ready for 4am rotations 😀

Take care,
Malissa
 
Hi again.. I was reading about people looking for housing.. I realize I am out of state but I have been down there three times in the last month and I am working with a real estate agent.. here are the cliff notes for housing---Duluth and Suwanee are the best..period.... half of Lawrenceville is really nice and the other half of Lawrenceville is not what you will want trust me (hence why it is more affordable than Duluth/Suwanee)...traffic in Atlanta and even at times in the surburbs is TERRIBLE (and I am from Memphis so I am use to big city life).. so I suggest no matter what live within 5-10 miles of the school.... no further....period....Keep in mind we will be there 4 years at least and with residency maybe a few more years.. so throwing your money away in an apartment for say 5 years is not a good idea.. Instead I am going to buy a 2 bedroom condo/townhome in Duluth ..You can find a nice one for around $105,000 ---$120,000...I met with a mortgage broker and he worked it out for me that my payment was only going to be around 750 dollars per month (assuming you put 10% down).. Having said that why pay 650 a month for a one bedroom apartment and be throwing your money away when you can pay 750 a month for 2 bedroom condo/townhome and be investing in something..anyways, I hope my soap box may be of some help to you guys...---Johnathon
 
Johnathon,

Welcome to the class of 2009! I sent you a private message to post here, but you already did so disregard. I will add you to our email list if that is ok. Just thought on your last post:
keep in mind the first 2 years we will be in Suwannee, but the last 2 we don't know yet. 2 of the hospitals that Dr. Evans mentioned are downtown so being in Suwanee won't help! Just a caution if you are going to buy a house up there. An Apt. just might be a safer bet b/c we don't know about years 3-4 and residency yet. Just my opinion.

Malissa,

Thanks again for the post. You are right, we should get used to not making sleep a priority. But maybe since we are not sharing the facilities with anyone they will make 9 classes!

BMW-



Cadillac Man... said:
Hi again.. I was reading about people looking for housing.. I realize I am out of state but I have been down there three times in the last month and I am working with a real estate agent.. here are the cliff notes for housing---Duluth and Suwanee are the best..period.... half of Lawrenceville is really nice and the other half of Lawrenceville is not what you will want trust me (hence why it is more affordable than Duluth/Suwanee)...traffic in Atlanta and even at times in the surburbs is TERRIBLE (and I am from Memphis so I am use to big city life).. so I suggest no matter what live within 5-10 miles of the school.... no further....period....Keep in mind we will be there 4 years at least and with residency maybe a few more years.. so throwing your money away in an apartment for say 5 years is not a good idea.. Instead I am going to buy a 2 bedroom condo/townhome in Duluth ..You can find a nice one for around $105,000 ---$120,000...I met with a mortgage broker and he worked it out for me that my payment was only going to be around 750 dollars per month (assuming you put 10% down).. Having said that why pay 650 a month for a one bedroom apartment and be throwing your money away when you can pay 750 a month for 2 bedroom condo/townhome and be investing in something..anyways, I hope my soap box may be of some help to you guys...---Johnathon
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Not to state the obvious or scare anyone, but is everyone aware HOW MUCH studying we are going to have to do. Especially if we are going 8-4 most days...it'll be a late start for studying. I was studying for biochem just now and I thought to myself...this is nothing compared to what is going to be required in a few months. Just a thought...strange how you can get these reality checks every so often 😛
 
A few of us have talked about doing research, but I'm wondering have any of y'all done any kind of research, undergrad/grad? I haven't, but just wanted to see what everyone else has done.
 
Drugtech said:
A few of us have talked about doing research, but I'm wondering have any of y'all done any kind of research, undergrad/grad? I haven't, but just wanted to see what everyone else has done.
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I did fluid dynamic research for a private company for two years, about 30 hours a week. Then again, it was the majority of my job responsibilities. Medical research will be new to me.

How much time is involved to do research to the level of publishing a paper? How big are the teams? I know some med schools have paid research opportunities during the off months.
 
Once I move to ATL, I won't be able to move back home for the first summer. Once I move, I move for good...until after residency, obviously. I was hoping that we could get research stipends for the first and second summers so that I could pay bills for those first two summers. Otherwise, I am going to be hitting up every Banana Republic and GAP for summer jobs.
 
Yeah, I'm with you Drugtech. A paid position would be the best of both worlds. If we mirror PCOM schedule, I don't think there will be a second summer break. It's chewed up by board review and exams.

I would like to make a few extra bucks too. I sure those shekels would come in handy.
 
Hi everyone, I was just wondering when everyone was planning to send in their 2000 dollars. What is everyone doing during the last summer before matriculating at PCOM-GA? Is anyone planning to take the COMLEX and USMLE? I hope they arrange for us to do our residencies in the GA area, so we will not have to uproot our lives again. Has anyone heard anything about whether or not they got the surgeon to teach gross anatomy? Do you all think we need laptops? Just a few questions I have been pondering here lately, just wanted some input from my fellow groundbreakers. 😀
 
I am interested in doing some research into sickle cell anemia, diabetes, and hypertension. I am interested in so many medical research topics, and would love to publish something before I graduate. Emory is a fairly big research hospital and it is located close to our school so maybe arrangements could be made there for us to participate. We may also have to apply for grant money so that those who would like to conduct research during the 1st summer would have adequate funding and receive a stipend. 😉
 
2000 dollars- 2 days before it is due!

Will be working all summer (except for maybe a nice weeks vacation out west)

Comlex/Usmle- will wait to see what field I want to go into. Most likely EM and won't need the Usmle. For competitive residencies, you might need it like Neuro, Ortho, Derm.

Did you mean clinical rotations or residency (probably the former) We are responsible for getting a residency ourselves. The rotations 3 and 4th year I believe will be mostly in GA. Dr. Evans did say that they were making contacts in AL and FL. I am hoping those will be elective.

Haven't heard anything about hiring of professors, but that would be cool to have a surgeon teaching us anatomy. Who knows it better.

Yes I will prob. get a laptop since everything will be wireless. They have really small ones now for about $1500. If any of you guys know which ones are good feel free to comment, not my area of expertise.

What field do you guys think you want to go into?

BMW-




Nicola1926 said:
Hi everyone, I was just wondering when everyone was planning to send in their 2000 dollars. What is everyone doing during the last summer before matriculating at PCOM-GA? Is anyone planning to take the COMLEX and USMLE? I hope they arrange for us to do our residencies in the GA area, so we will not have to uproot our lives again. Has anyone heard anything about whether or not they got the surgeon to teach gross anatomy? Do you all think we need laptops? Just a few questions I have been pondering here lately, just wanted some input from my fellow groundbreakers. 😀
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COMLEX/USMLE: I'm going to wait too to see what field I am for sure going into. We definitely have to take COMLEX I,II to grad, so might as well take COMLEX III. I would only take USMLE I if I were to take the USMLE. I will prob. end up taking USMLE I, too.
Residency: I'm currently thinking about IM, OBGYN, and Anesth, still want to see what all's out there.
$2000: I'm with BMW, overnight mail.
 
Hello everyone!! I got my acceptance letter today! I am so excited to become the pioneering batch. Anyway, this is some of the info I have found out during my interview:
1. They have approx. 50+ accepted students (secured with deposit)
2. Orientation will starts around August 8
3. The administrative staff will move into the building in July 2005 and everything should be ready before the class starts.
4. PCOM-GA has secured affiliation for clerkship with Atlanta Medical Center, not St. Joseph though, MCG Hospital, and a few more in Albany, Macon, and Savannah. One near Miami, one in Huntsville, Alabama, Columbus, and more are under negotation.

Also, a few of you are interested in buying a home around Gwinnett area. If you are interested, please PM me. My husband is a realtor in Georgia and he can definitely help!

Ok for now, hopefully we can all meet up soon!! 🙂
 
Gadis,

Congrats and welcome. So they have only one hospital in Atlanta? Guess that means we will all be traveling around 3rd and 4th year. So much for buying a house for me. Anyway we are all pretty excited. What part of GA are you in?

BMW-



gadis said:
Hello everyone!! I got my acceptance letter today! I am so excited to become the pioneering batch. Anyway, this is some of the info I have found out during my interview:
1. They have approx. 50+ accepted students (secured with deposit)
2. Orientation will starts around August 8
3. The administrative staff will move into the building in July 2005 and everything should be ready before the class starts.
4. PCOM-GA has secured affiliation for clerkship with Atlanta Medical Center, not St. Joseph though, MCG Hospital, and a few more in Albany, Macon, and Savannah. One near Miami, one in Huntsville, Alabama, Columbus, and more are under negotation.

Also, a few of you are interested in buying a home around Gwinnett area. If you are interested, please PM me. My husband is a realtor in Georgia and he can definitely help!

Ok for now, hopefully we can all meet up soon!! 🙂
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Congrats gadis...pleasure to have you aboard. So far we seem to have a really awesome group! This class is going to rock, and we're glad you are joining us. Thanks for the info update 🙂
 
Congrats Gadis and welcome to GAPCOM (It took me a while to understand what is GAPCOM when some of these other guys started using this name. For a second I was thinking may be our school is taken over by GAP Inc. and we are going to get free GAP clothes next year :laugh: ) I won't be complaining about that.

Thanks for the extra information, it is always helpful.

Mandar



gadis said:
Hello everyone!! I got my acceptance letter today! I am so excited to become the pioneering batch. Anyway, this is some of the info I have found out during my interview:
1. They have approx. 50+ accepted students (secured with deposit)
2. Orientation will starts around August 8
3. The administrative staff will move into the building in July 2005 and everything should be ready before the class starts.
4. PCOM-GA has secured affiliation for clerkship with Atlanta Medical Center, not St. Joseph though, MCG Hospital, and a few more in Albany, Macon, and Savannah. One near Miami, one in Huntsville, Alabama, Columbus, and more are under negotation.

Also, a few of you are interested in buying a home around Gwinnett area. If you are interested, please PM me. My husband is a realtor in Georgia and he can definitely help!

Ok for now, hopefully we can all meet up soon!! 🙂
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I am in Powder Springs, GA. My commute is about 40 miles. It will probably takes me about 1.25 hours to get to the campus. So, we are thinking to move to Alpharetta (my husband works there) or somewhere closer. Will see. As for the hospital, I am sure GA PCOM will be able to get more affliations in Atlanta. For now, we can only just wait and see.

BMW19 said:
Gadis,

Congrats and welcome. So they have only one hospital in Atlanta? Guess that means we will all be traveling around 3rd and 4th year. So much for buying a house for me. Anyway we are all pretty excited. What part of GA are you in?

BMW-
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If I could chime in.... here in philly we have local hospital affiliations set to do our rotations, but the a good portion of our network (the PCOM Network) is spread among the neighboring states (NJ, NY, DE, MD). While maintaining plenty of rotation sites here in the city (and for that matter on campus), we still have the choice to go western/rural PA, any of the neighrboring states, FL, GA, TN, TX, and students have also been allowed to do international rotations. With all that said, PCOM has been known to be flexible with 3rd/4th yr rotation sites. As you guys progress down there, I am sure that you will have your choice of what area hospital, clinic, or doc that you would like to rotate with (whether that choice be local or abroad).

God Bless,
Malissa

(Hopefully, I will get to meet you guys when I start my rotations in a yr) - GA Bound, But Still and Eagles Fan.
 
Malissa,

Thanks for your voice of experience. This has been an area of concern for me as I think about my family cohesion and upcoming home purchase. I have forced myself to believe that these things will be resolved over the next 2 years. My faith comes stems from the dealings with GA PCOM up to this point. I have been impressed in many facets.
 
Thanks for your input Malissa. With this first pioneering class I believe that the sky is the limit. Dr. Evans and the crew at GAPcom really seem to have their stuff together. The attitude he expressed during my interview about the future possibilities of clinic rotation sites was also terrific. Research opportunities however will probably be like that at most Osteopathic schools...if you are truely interested in research you will have to be proactive and seek out those types of opportunities. The people here in this forum ROCK! and are indicative of how helpful and cohesive our class will be! 👍

-the bean

Ga-PCOM class 2009
 
Thanks again Malissa for the great info. You have already eased our minds about a lot of issues. Maybe we will get to meet you in person.

BMW-


malliem said:
If I could chime in.... here in philly we have local hospital affiliations set to do our rotations, but the a good portion of our network (the PCOM Network) is spread among the neighboring states (NJ, NY, DE, MD). While maintaining plenty of rotation sites here in the city (and for that matter on campus), we still have the choice to go western/rural PA, any of the neighrboring states, FL, GA, TN, TX, and students have also been allowed to do international rotations. With all that said, PCOM has been known to be flexible with 3rd/4th yr rotation sites. As you guys progress down there, I am sure that you will have your choice of what area hospital, clinic, or doc that you would like to rotate with (whether that choice be local or abroad).

God Bless,
Malissa

(Hopefully, I will get to meet you guys when I start my rotations in a yr) - GA Bound, But Still and Eagles Fan.
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And you have to switch birds to the Falcons
 
I must add, thanks Malissa. I think most of us GAPcom-ers are a little in the dark about what it will be like. I know that we are going to be a twin of PCOM, and your input is greatly welcomed. Thanks again. Come on down to GA, we're more than glad to have you 😎
 
Hey guys,

There are new updates on www.pcom.edu. Nothing major, but they did say that they have now accepted 51 students. Guess we have the minority here on SDN. Anyway, check it out.

BMW-
 
94% are GA residents...that's awesome. I knew they were shooting for a GA resident majority, but that is incredible. This class should be very interesting to say the least.
 
In keeping with our mission, 94 percent of those accepted are from Georgia or surrounding states.
Click to expand...

I'm from a nearby state 😀
 
Just wanted to let yall know that I have been reading this forum for a while, but have just now signed on. I interviewed in GA last week and received my letter in the mail Saturday! 🙂 I have more interviews still, but as it stands GAPCOM is tops on my list!
 
Of course GAPCOM is on the top of your list...Is there any other place it could be? Of course, we're a little biased here 😀
jpcol428, where are you from?
 
Drugtech said:
94% are GA residents...that's awesome. I knew they were shooting for a GA resident majority, but that is incredible. This class should be very interesting to say the least.
Click to expand...
Right, from GA and surrounding states. That is a big area but they are maintaining their goal of recruiting southerners to stay in the south.
 
jpcol428 said:
Just wanted to let yall know that I have been reading this forum for a while, but have just now signed on. I interviewed in GA last week and received my letter in the mail Saturday! 🙂 I have more interviews still, but as it stands GAPCOM is tops on my list!
Click to expand...

Great news jpcol. Welcome to the pioneering class (when you decide to lock in that seat). We're a supportive group around here. I can tell it already. We've been conversing amongst 10% of the new class (SDNers) and I think the climate will be one of helping each other to be the best.
 
Hey guys, congrats on your acceptance to PCOM-GA!

A poster who (who shall remain anonymous) asked me to post a little something about our curriculum here in Philly as yours in the dirty south is going to mirror ours...

For the most part our classes are arranged in a typical lecture format w/ a sprinkling of case studies where it will facilitate learning. Our schedule is arranged in trimesters and for the first two trimesters you start building a foundation of knowledge which you will need for trimester 3 when you will begin systems based medicine (cardio, renal/pulm etc...). You also have Primary Care Skills and OMM which begin during trimester 1 of year 1 and will continue through trimester 3 of year 2. Year 2 picks up with systems based medicine through trimester 2. Trimester 3 of year 2 we get surgery, pediatrics, geriatrics, and emergency medicine. You also start getting ready for boards (June).

Years 3 and 4 are clinical clerkships when were out on rotation. Our affiliates can be found at the following website: http://www.pcom.edu/Clinical_Education/Affiliate_Lists_/affiliate_lists_.html
These are places that we can rotate through for our core rotations. For our electives, we can schedule them wherever we want in whatever we want. My class doesn't have any electives during year 3. We get our electives (5 of them I believe) during our 4th year. Just browse through the website. All the information regarding our 3rd and 4th years is found there.

I hope this helps...

Panther
 
Panther basically hit it all.

PCOMs curriculum has changed every year in an attempt to make it more student-friendly while incorporating all of the necessary courses into the schedule.

Again, a quick rundown of how it is set up:

MSI Term I: Anatomy, Primary Care Skills, OMM
MSI Term II: Cell & Tissue, Primary Care Skills, OMM
MSI Term III: Renal/Pulm I, Cardiology, PCS, OMM
MSII Term I: Renal Pulm II, GI, Endo, PCS, OMM
MSII Term II: Neurosciences, PCS, OMM
MSII Term III: Peds, Geri, PM&R, Derm, Optho, Ortho, PCS, OMM

Obviously I am forgetting a few classes here and there, but that is the basic schedule.

There are several core rotations which must be done at a PCOM affiliate:

Peds, OB/GYN, Surgery, Specialty Surgery, Medicine, Family P, Pscyh, Cardiology

Radiology is on campus at PCOM

All rotations are 4 weeks in length except for Urban Medicine in your MSIV year (8 weeks) and certain selectives which can be 2 weeks.

I believe you now get 5 electives...I am a year or two above Panther so I have 6 electives. I think they added another Medicine rotation somewhere.

Hope this helps.
 
JPH and Pitt Panther,

Thanks for the information on curriculum and sequencing. How does the second trimester work out relative to Christmas? Do you still get a couple of weeks off?

Right now, I am mostly focused on tax completion and financial aid. Getting those taxes from my parents may be a bear. I've been on my own for over a decade.

Can anyone comment on school based awards at PCOM? How much and what percentage of the class typically?
 
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