PCOM: AACOM GRADE REPLACEMENT POLICY

[Ichorbaron]

---

Members don't see this ad.

I'm sure this question has been asked before but I've been searching since last week when I found out about AACOM's grade replacement policy.

According to PCOM's website says "Our admissions process will continue to be what it has been and will be unaffected by the change in the AACOMAS policy."

http://www.pcom.edu/academics/progr...opathic-medicine-philadelphia-campus/faq.html

So does that mean it's worth it to retake classes (I need to retake 4 pre-reqs)? Are their any other Osteopathic schools that will be unaffected by the policy? Our their other health career programs that will allow for replacing grades?

 

[Goro]

This is the first I've heard of a school refusing to follow the AACOMS change (which is good). I have no idea what my own school is doing.

Therefore, for PCOM, compare your GPAs as before and after retakes, and then figure out how competitive they are. At a minimum, retake all Fs and Ds in science coursework.

I'm sure this question has been asked before but I've been searching since last week when I found out about AACOM's grade replacement policy.

According to PCOM's website says "Our admissions process will continue to be what it has been and will be unaffected by the change in the AACOMAS policy."

http://www.pcom.edu/academics/progr...opathic-medicine-philadelphia-campus/faq.html

So does that mean it's worth it to retake classes (I need to retake 4 pre-reqs)? Are their any other Osteopathic schools that will be unaffected by the policy? Our their other health career programs that will allow for replacing grades?

 

[Ichorbaron]

This is the first I've heard of a school refusing to follow the AACOMS change (which is good). I have no idea what my own school is doing.

Therefore, for PCOM, compare your GPAs as before and after retakes, and then figure out how competitive they are. At a minimum, retake all Fs and Ds in science coursework.

I started going down the list of US DO schools, it looks like AZCOM will extend the grade replacement policy for the entering fall class of 2018

https://www.midwestern.edu/programs_and_admission/az_osteopathic_medicine.html#Admission Requirements

 

[AlmondCroissant]

@Goro Do you predict PCOM/other schools will be just doing grade replacement for this year, or that they completely reject the policy even for the next few years?

 

[DexterMorganSK]

Kudos to Pcom and Azcom for doing this...even if it's just for a year. Hoping others will follow!!

Thanks OP


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

 

[Goro]

My suspicion is that at some point soon, grade replacement will be gone forever.

@Goro Do you predict PCOM/other schools will be just doing grade replacement for this year, or that they completely reject the policy even for the next few years?

 

[Goro]

My suspicion is that at some point soon, grade replacement will be gone forever.

@Goro Do you predict PCOM/other schools will be just doing grade replacement for this year, or that they completely reject the policy even for the next few years?

 

[holdthemayo]

Hat's off to both schools for taking steps to protect those student's who were blindsided by AACOMAS' handling of their policy change.

I'm not sure about PCOM's policy, but it looks like Azcom will be limiting by MCAT score and only for this upcoming cycle:

"To allow our applicants time to adjust to the removal of the AACOMAS grade recalculation policy, Midwestern University Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine will still consider grade recalculation for those seeking entrance into the Fall 2018 class. To be considered applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Submitted AACOMAS application
• Submitted AZCOM supplemental application
• Verified MCAT score of 507/29 or greater
• Science and Cumulative GPA of 3.00 or greater

Applicants will need to submit their request for grade recalculation to the Office of Admissions via email to [email protected] on or before March 1st, 2018.
source: https://www.midwestern.edu/programs_and_admission/az_osteopathic_medicine.html#Admission "

 

[darkeon]

Does PCOM really mean that they'll keep counting only the latest attempt of a course?
All I read is that they will continue to see everyone holistically no matter what. Maybe I'm overthinking it?

 

[Yhorm the Giant]

Does PCOM really mean that they'll keep counting only the latest attempt of a course?
All I read is that they will continue to see everyone holistically no matter what. Maybe I'm overthinking it?

I read it the same way initially, but now it seems like the general consensus is that they will be doing grade replacement, and I can see it both ways I suppose... Maybe we will get more clarification soon on the specifics of what exactly they mean, and if there are any qualifying factors like AZCOM.

 

[Ichorbaron]

Does PCOM really mean that they'll keep counting only the latest attempt of a course?
All I read is that they will continue to see everyone holistically no matter what. Maybe I'm overthinking it?

I read it the same way initially, but now it seems like the general consensus is that they will be doing grade replacement, and I can see it both ways I suppose... Maybe we will get more clarification soon on the specifics of what exactly they mean, and if there are any qualifying factors like AZCOM.

I think it's damning as in, they can see the grades and the attempts but tell us they will turn a blind eye.

 

[Yhorm the Giant]

I think it's damning as in, they can see the grades and the attempts but tell us they will turn a blind eye.

That's how I thought it would be, but that the first GPA that was placed in front of them is not one with grade replacement. Just they will look at it as though there was. Them not having a minimum cut off is helpful for that I would think. But it still doesn't shake first impressions.

Sent from my SM-G935V using SDN mobile

 

[MADD!!!]

They will do grade replacement (PCOM), because this is their response to AACOMAS's grade change policy specifically.

With that said, and being a recently accepted PCOM student, don't bank on PCOM. I say this because if you apply with grade replacement hoping to get into PCOM, chances are slim. I still don't even know how I got in and they get literally 10k apps. So although they may do grade replacement, I'd highly suggest preparing your app as if it still doesn't exist overall.

 

[Doc_Ock]

I should chime in that WesternU claims that they have NEVER done replacement. So for them it's sort of unchanged.

 

[Doc_Ock]

Also when people find out a school's policy they should update it here

 

[MADD!!!]

I should chime in that WesternU claims that they have NEVER done replacement. So for them it's sort of unchanged.

It's not really the school doing it, it's AACOMAS. WesternU, like all the other DO schools, just got a printout of each applicant's overall GPA and sGPA. I doubt if someone had grade replacement, they went back and tried to re-calculate their original GPA after AACOMAS inputted it with grade replacement.

 

[Doc_Ock]

It's not really the school doing it, it's AACOMAS. WesternU, like all the other DO schools, just got a printout of each applicant's overall GPA and sGPA. I doubt if someone had grade replacement, they went back and tried to re-calculate their original GPA after AACOMAS inputted it with grade replacement.

Welcome - Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO)
"We have never recalculated the GPA and have always been aware of grade replacements as a part of our evaluation."

 

[MADD!!!]

Welcome - Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO)
"We have never recalculated the GPA and have always been aware of grade replacements as a part of our evaluation."

I can't find where it says that quote, but nonetheless they are saying verbatim they never recalculated the gpa.

Basically means that your gpa with grade replacement still stands as your gpa, but when they look at your transcript and see grade replacement you get dinged on their end. This is much better than AACOMAS not performing grads dellacement for you because now you actually show up on their end with a lower gpa.

 

[roselilydrop]

I e-mailed PCOM admissions, and this was the response:

"Thank you for your email. The Faculty Committee on Admissions follows a holistic approach in reviewing applications for the DO program at all PCOM campuses Our committee members look not only at grades and test scores when evaluating applications, but also read the entire application as submitted by the applicant, along with the letters of recommendation and personal statements. There are no cutoffs or minimums. We rely on the GPA received from AACOMAS. We send supplemental applications to all of our AACOMAS applicants. Our admissions process will continue to be what it has been and will be unaffected by the change in the AACOMAS policy."

Do this mean that the GPA entered on AACOMAS, will be received as so, without grade replacement?

Does this mean, PCOM will look at the GPA (w/o grade replacement) and re-calculate our GPA with grade replacement at their institution, when considering a student?

 

[de Ribas]

I e-mailed PCOM admissions, and this was the response:

"Thank you for your email. The Faculty Committee on Admissions follows a holistic approach in reviewing applications for the DO program at all PCOM campuses Our committee members look not only at grades and test scores when evaluating applications, but also read the entire application as submitted by the applicant, along with the letters of recommendation and personal statements. There are no cutoffs or minimums. We rely on the GPA received from AACOMAS. We send supplemental applications to all of our AACOMAS applicants. Our admissions process will continue to be what it has been and will be unaffected by the change in the AACOMAS policy."

Do this mean that the GPA entered on AACOMAS, will be received as so, without grade replacement?

Does this mean, PCOM will look at the GPA (w/o grade replacement) and re-calculate our GPA with grade replacement at their institution, when considering a student?

More than a year later.

 

[DameJulie]

I e-mailed PCOM admissions, and this was the response:

"Thank you for your email. The Faculty Committee on Admissions follows a holistic approach in reviewing applications for the DO program at all PCOM campuses Our committee members look not only at grades and test scores when evaluating applications, but also read the entire application as submitted by the applicant, along with the letters of recommendation and personal statements. There are no cutoffs or minimums. We rely on the GPA received from AACOMAS. We send supplemental applications to all of our AACOMAS applicants. Our admissions process will continue to be what it has been and will be unaffected by the change in the AACOMAS policy."

Do this mean that the GPA entered on AACOMAS, will be received as so, without grade replacement?

Does this mean, PCOM will look at the GPA (w/o grade replacement) and re-calculate our GPA with grade replacement at their institution, when considering a student?

This means whatever your GPA is on AACOMAS will be the GPA used in consideration by PCOM.