PCOM Discussion thread 2007-2008

[Jae]

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How realistic or do-able is it to do a decent research at PCOM while trying to survive through the overwhelming classes? Any med student who might be doing such a thing wanna share your thoughts?

 

[Nickelpennykid]

How realistic or do-able is it to do a decent research at PCOM while trying to survive through the overwhelming classes? Any med student who might be doing such a thing wanna share your thoughts?

I am not doing research, but I know people that do. One was a biomed at PCOM and had research going before they were actually accepted. People do it, so it is possible, but you pretty much have to be a superstar or be willing to take a hit in terms of your grades to get your PhD. Bascially, it can be and is done, but the vibe that I get from those people is that you really have to have your $#@$ together from day 1.

 

[Jae]

I am not doing research, but I know people that do. One was a biomed at PCOM and had research going before they were actually accepted. People do it, so it is possible, but you pretty much have to be a superstar or be willing to take a hit in terms of your grades to get your PhD. Bascially, it can be and is done, but the vibe that I get from those people is that you really have to have your $#@$ together from day 1.

Thanks!
sounds little intimidating, though. But, I get the idea...
I guess these folks are DO/PHD students, huh.

 

[MaximusD]

i just got a PCOM invite! Dec 3rd..is this early, late, or just ok timing? what percent of interviewed students gain acceptance? good luck to all of you still waiting!

hey! it's not late at all... middle of the application cycle. By Dec 3rd, PCOM prob will be at ~40-50% for the class of 2012, if I had to guess.

I didn't interview until January 29th last year and I wasn't officially accepted til March having been complete since October 😱 PCOM gets the most apps of any DO school... it takes them a while.

Be patient.

 

[medhacker]

Hang in there, there are still seats left 👍

 

[Doc11Hopeful]

So I interviewed not too long ago at PCOM and now I'm freaking out a little bit. I totally fell in LOVE with the school when I was there. I wasn't expecting it at all. I was going just to check it out but now I am foaming at the mouth to get in! Since I realized how bad I wanted it RIGHT before my interview, I got really nervous. I think my responses were decent but I was stumbling over my words and my hands were shaking when I used them while talking.

I guess I'm just looking for words of encouragement or other terrible interview experiences from current students. 😳

Also, does anyone have the inside scoop on when the adcom meets next??

 

[InTheMaking]

Never got the complete message in the mail... but then again I sent in my LOR mid October... so hopefully I'll be complete soon and getting to pcom sooner!!!!

 

[Corrupt200]

question: I need to get that letter from the dean...but what can the dean really write?

 

[zeb414]

Once you have your interview, you hear from them really fast... they told us 7-10 days and I heard in less than a week. So once youre in for an interview the process speeds up, dont worry!

 

[walla189]

I'm completing an Excel file for many of the DO schools for the purpose of comparison. The main stat I'm missing however is

% of students that were accepted to First Choice Residency
Can someone enlighten me?

In case someone needs the info, so far I have..

ECurriculum Power point, Mp3 Lecture
Attendance Not Required
Grading 0-100
% Primary Care 37%
GPA 3.34
MCAT 24.3
Class Size 268
Tuition $34122

Let me know if any of my stats are off (Include source plz)

 

[DO Sigma Nu guy]

I'm completing an Excel file for many of the DO schools for the purpose of comparison. The main stat I'm missing however is

% of students that were accepted to First Choice Residency
Can someone enlighten me?

In case someone needs the info, so far I have..

ECurriculum Power point, Mp3 Lecture
Attendance Not Required
Grading 0-100
% Primary Care 37%
GPA 3.34
MCAT 24.3
Class Size 268
Tuition $34122

Let me know if any of my stats are off (Include source plz)

Tuition is higher than it is listed online. It is 35,904 a year now. Plus $450 fee and another 300 for garage parking vs. 160 for parking lot.

Source: My Bill.

 

[Lednerg]

Veteran's Day!!!!! No mail!!!

I'm dying to know if I got in. I interviewed about 2 weeks ago and I have an interview at UNECOM Thursday that I'd just love to cancel.

PCOM...I want to send you a check, don't you want my money (that I don't really have)?

Has anyone called to find out their post interview status??

 

[Dancing Doctor]

Veteran's Day!!!!! No mail!!!

I'm dying to know if I got in. I interviewed about 2 weeks ago and I have an interview at UNECOM Thursday that I'd just love to cancel.

PCOM...I want to send you a check, don't you want my money (that I don't really have)?

Has anyone called to find out their post interview status??

The policy is that they will not tell you over the phone. They have too much to do, so even if you call you'll get the secretary and not anyone who knows your status anyway.

 

[IUgrad]

Okay, this might seem like a weird question, but here goes...

I read elsewhere on here that sometimes when students are going to be in the area (where a school they've applied to is located) it is advantageous to let the school know this so that they could consider them for an interview and/or visit at that time. I am going to be driving through Philadelphia in December; do you think it would be worthwhile to let them know? I know they are pretty backed up, but it would save me a lot of $$ if I could somehow get in while I was in/near town.

If you do think this is acceptable, how would you approach it with admissions? (Is what I said above okay? Contact anyone in the school or director/dean of admissions?)

Thanks! 🙂

 

[BklynWill]

Okay, this might seem like a weird question, but here goes...

I read elsewhere on here that sometimes when students are going to be in the area (where a school they've applied to is located) it is advantageous to let the school know this so that they could consider them for an interview and/or visit at that time. I am going to be driving through Philadelphia in December; do you think it would be worthwhile to let them know? I know they are pretty backed up, but it would save me a lot of $$ if I could somehow get in while I was in/near town.

If you do think this is acceptable, how would you approach it with admissions? (Is what I said above okay? Contact anyone in the school or director/dean of admissions?)

Thanks! 🙂

This is a good question. This idea seems to help more for residency interviews, when the process is more personal.

However, IMO this probably won't expedite a decision on whether or not to interview you, nor will you get their decision over the phone. Therefore you will not be able to arrange a visit for interview until you receive their letter.

I would always advise setting up a date to visit at the very least. You should definitely swing by in December. It will emphasize your interest and you'll get a more thorough tour.

 

[CurlyWhirly]

I was wondering how the PCOM interview invites come? Snail mail or email? I am really anxious to hear from them and I was wondering which mail box I should be checking obsessively 🙂

Thanks!

 

[prionsRbad]

I was wondering how the PCOM interview invites come? Snail mail or email? I am really anxious to hear from them and I was wondering which mail box I should be checking obsessively 🙂

Thanks!

Email.

 

[IUgrad]

This is a good question. This idea seems to help more for residency interviews, when the process is more personal.

However, IMO this probably won't expedite a decision on whether or not to interview you, nor will you get their decision over the phone. Therefore you will not be able to arrange a visit for interview until you receive their letter.

I would always advise setting up a date to visit at the very least. You should definitely swing by in December. It will emphasize your interest and you'll get a more thorough tour.

Thanks, I thought that it probably wouldn't make a difference, but I thought I'd ask. I appreciate the advice. I think I will try to set up a date to see the school, if possible.

 

[Playmakur42]

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[g8trdrkmk]

We have such a variety of rotations that it is impossible to answer your question accurately. You will have 1-on-1 with attendings from time to time. And even if a program has many residents, if you're the assertive-type, all you have to do is stick with the resident who will let you do the most on your own.
I can't say I got much hands-on experience during my 3rd-year (except with surgery). You really get to try things on your own during your fourth year when you get into EMed and any ICU electives. In summary, your rotation experiences will be what you make of them.

your rotations sound abundant and diverse, any chance it will be the same at the Georgia campus?

 

[Playmakur42]

.

 

[MaximusD]

your rotations sound abundant and diverse, any chance it will be the same at the Georgia campus?

If you remind me next month, I can ask dr schure at our next SGA meeting...

 

[Nasem]

this question is sorta out of the subject of this thread... but I was curious... what are your "responsibilities" as a 3rd / 4th year student ? I mean, is the environment similar to your residency years ? or do you just go and "observe" procedures

 

[g8trdrkmk]

If you remind me next month, I can ask dr schure at our next SGA meeting...

Thanks, I'll do that.

 

[medhacker]

this question is sorta out of the subject of this thread... but I was curious... what are your "responsibilities" as a 3rd / 4th year student ? I mean, is the environment similar to your residency years ? or do you just go and "observe" procedures

Varies from observanship to sub-i responsabilities depending on the rotation

 

[JonnyG]

Varies from observanship to sub-i responsabilities depending on the rotation

depends on the site and the student

 

[packitinstan]

i just spoke with marsha about my app. and she said that it has been reviewed and that if I'm offered an interview, i will be contacted via email. she then asked me what other schools i've applied to and whether i've heard back form anywhere. i told her that i have but that i want to stay in this area(i'm not a pa resident, i live in ophilly though). She also said that she'll look at my app. again. I'm not sure what all this means for me, but I am super bummed now 🙁 My numbers arent too bad 3.54 27 with decent ec's...coupled with my desire to go to pcom I figured I'd be able to get an interview. Anyone experience anything similar?

 

[DocInProgress]

i just spoke with marsha about my app. and she said that it has been reviewed and that if I'm offered an interview, i will be contacted via email. she then asked me what other schools i've applied to and whether i've heard back form anywhere. i told her that i have but that i want to stay in this area(i'm not a pa resident, i live in ophilly though). She also said that she'll look at my app. again. I'm not sure what all this means for me, but I am super bummed now 🙁 My numbers arent too bad 3.54 27 with decent ec's...coupled with my desire to go to pcom I figured I'd be able to get an interview. Anyone experience anything similar?

do u have any interviews at all with ur stats?

 

[Jae]

i just spoke with marsha about my app. and she said that it has been reviewed and that if I'm offered an interview, i will be contacted via email. she then asked me what other schools i've applied to and whether i've heard back form anywhere. i told her that i have but that i want to stay in this area(i'm not a pa resident, i live in ophilly though). She also said that she'll look at my app. again. I'm not sure what all this means for me, but I am super bummed now 🙁 My numbers arent too bad 3.54 27 with decent ec's...coupled with my desire to go to pcom I figured I'd be able to get an interview. Anyone experience anything similar?

I was asked what other schools I applied at my interview. I told them pretty much all of them(all the osteo schools) and they didn't seem to mind too much. I even told them I applied to few allo schools in the region(philly). I did mentioned my desire to stay in philly area. I think they like that idea.
You know, she might have meant to look at you home state. I would not worry about it much. Since you are OOS with desire to stay in philly, it should be a positive thing. When I went to MSUCOM for an interview, the interviewer was very interested whether I would move permanently or just for school.

pm me if you have any specific questions

 

[medhacker]

i just spoke with marsha about my app. and she said that it has been reviewed and that if I'm offered an interview, i will be contacted via email. she then asked me what other schools i've applied to and whether i've heard back form anywhere. i told her that i have but that i want to stay in this area(i'm not a pa resident, i live in ophilly though). She also said that she'll look at my app. again. I'm not sure what all this means for me, but I am super bummed now 🙁 My numbers arent too bad 3.54 27 with decent ec's...coupled with my desire to go to pcom I figured I'd be able to get an interview. Anyone experience anything similar?

So do you have an interview? if yes what is your concern exactly?

 

[Ilikescience]

Is there a lot of people from California or the West Coast in general going to PCOM? During my interview, I got the feeling that most students were from PA and close by eastern states.

 

[packitinstan]

So do you have an interview? if yes what is your concern exactly?

I dont have an interview at pcom which is why im worried. I have two other interviews at nova and unecom from which i heard within a week of bein complete. ive been complete for about 3 weeks now at all schools.

 

[TexasTriathlete]

PCOM gets tons of applications, and you're a little late in the cycle. So unless your stats make you a slam-dunk, they will probably take some time to get to you.

 

[TexasTriathlete]

Also, keep in mind that they do a lot of the admissions stuff for GA-PCOM through the office in Philly, so they are keeping extra-busy.

 

[medhacker]

I dont have an interview at pcom which is why im worried. I have two other interviews at nova and unecom from which i heard within a week of bein complete. ive been complete for about 3 weeks now at all schools.

If PCOM is interested, given the time you completed your application, you may be getting an invite maybe January for February. Enjoy the holidays.

 

[Jill32579]

Does anyone know if PCOM screens for secondaries? I found a copy online and I am about to send it but I don't know if I am being premature. And, obviously I don't want to waste the money if I am going to be screened out. I have been complete for over a month and got secondaries from everywhere else I applied already. Help would be great!

 

[WestcoastMedicine]

To the question about the demographics of PCOM. The school does draw students from all over the country, and a few international students, I think two in our class(not talking about foreign born US students because that would probably be 30-40% of the class). I believe the statistic for our class was 50% of the students were from PA-NJ or something similar to that. I am apprehensive to say it was just 50% from in state because its not a state school. There are students from WA, CA, NV, CO, FL, GA, MN, OH, NY, NJ, DE, MD, VA, TN, NC off the top of my head. My class was also 50% male, 50% female and I think our average age starting was 25.

 

[MaximusD]

Does anyone know if PCOM screens for secondaries? I found a copy online and I am about to send it but I don't know if I am being premature. And, obviously I don't want to waste the money if I am going to be screened out. I have been complete for over a month and got secondaries from everywhere else I applied already. Help would be great!

Call the admissions office and ask if your app has been reviewed yet. I would hesitate to send anything without being requested to do so first. However, the second that secondary hits your mailbox, mail that sucker in.

Also, a letter of intent/interest NEVER HURTS. I chose to send mine immediately post-interview for maximal effect though. That way, I could include specific impressions from my interview day.

 

[EEL08]

Was anyone allowed to submit a different LOR in place of the pre-med committee/dean LOR?

 

[Playmakur42]

.

 

[MaximusD]

Hey all,

I'm going to PCOM this fall, and people keep asking me if they can get any medical school related gifts for me for Christmas.

Does anyone have any suggestions of textbooks (anatomy) or other items that I'll have to buy for med school that I could ask for now?

Thanks for the help!

hmm

1. Netter's flashcards (not the actual book, you can join SOMA and get it included..)
2. Robbins Pathology (dont have it yet dont know the exact title..)
3. BRS Gross Anatomy by Chung
4. Atlas of Osteopathic Techniques by Nicholas
5. Clinical Anatomy by Moore or Essential Clinical Anatomy by Moore...
6. Before We Were Born
7. A stripper
8. A hotel room
9. Instructions on how to integrate 7 & 8 if you're confused.
10. Rohen's Atlas
11. Grant's Atlas

lots of books... I'd look at some of them before buying though.

 

[TexasTriathlete]

Does anyone know if the admissions committee for the GA campus is held at the GA campus or at the PA campus?

 

[Jwalker9]

Does anyone know if the admissions committee for the GA campus is held at the GA campus or at the PA campus?

Tex, im almost positive they are at the GA campus. I found out 9 days after the meeting last time.

 

[medhacker]

Hey all,

I'm going to PCOM this fall, and people keep asking me if they can get any medical school related gifts for me for Christmas.

Does anyone have any suggestions of textbooks (anatomy) or other items that I'll have to buy for med school that I could ask for now?

Thanks for the help!

Take the money...

With a few exceptions [books] many students do not use books that much.

But if you have the money and you need a book, maybe you'll get it for less and save some money on top of that.

 

[medhacker]

Was anyone allowed to submit a different LOR in place of the pre-med committee/dean LOR?

The dean of my school did not want to give me the LOR, it took me about a month of explaining to him, following up and making him understand that the LOR only needed to state that I was an actual student at that school, and I finally got it.

It is hard to make deans understand it is only a protocollary letter, but if you insist, even as a means of getting rid of your nagging they will give it to you.

Best wishes.

 

[EEL08]

The dean of my school did not want to give me the LOR, it took me about a month of explaining to him, following up and making him understand that the LOR only needed to state that I was an actual student at that school, and I finally got it.

It is hard to make deans understand it is only a protocollary letter, but if you insist, even as a means of getting rid of your nagging they will give it to you.

Best wishes.

Thanks for the input. It's actually the problem my husband is having. He's already sick of dealing with his undergrad institution so I'm not sure if he'll want to harrass the dean some more or not. I will suggest it though. He got his BS in Computer Science so the dean is not really aware of how this stuff works. He told my husband he doesn't write LORs for people he doesn't know and if he needs a letter that he's in good standing he can just get one from the registrar. Very aggravating situation. I'll let him know maybe he should try at least one more time. Maybe including the section from the PCOM website that states the requirement would help.

 

[medhacker]

Thanks for the input. It's actually the problem my husband is having. He's already sick of dealing with his undergrad institution so I'm not sure if he'll want to harrass the dean some more or not. I will suggest it though. He got his BS in Computer Science so the dean is not really aware of how this stuff works. He told my husband he doesn't write LORs for people he doesn't know and if he needs a letter that he's in good standing he can just get one from the registrar. Very aggravating situation. I'll let him know maybe he should try at least one more time. Maybe including the section from the PCOM website that states the requirement would help.

That's exactly what I did, I sent the PCOM website* to my dean. I've never seen the guy in my life and that's the reason he did not want to give it to me. Just try to get through him, that all he has to say is that your husband is a student there - that letter per se does not need to say much more. Also, explain to the dean, that no other letter is accepted by PCOM and failure to submit that letter makes your husband inelegible for admissions - maybe he will understand better that way.


BTW: your baby is beautiful, how old?

 

[EEL08]

That's exactly what I did, I sent the PCOM website* to my dean. I've never seen the guy in my life and that's the reason he did not want to give it to me. Just try to get through him, that all he has to say is that your husband is a student there - that letter per se does not need to say much more. Also, explain to the dean, that no other letter is accepted by PCOM and failure to submit that letter makes your husband inelegible for admissions - maybe he will understand better that way.


BTW: your baby is beautiful, how old?

Sounds like a plan. Thanks! 🙂 That's my son in the picture and he was about 18 months old at the time. He's 2.5 now. I'll have to change my avatar soon because I don't want to leave out my daughter. She's almost 15 months old. 😀

 

[Jpc984]

I didn't get a Dean's lor... But, I didn't get an interview either.

 

[EEL08]

Which LORs did you send in?