PCOM Discussion thread 2008-2009

[roody41]

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whats up y'all-

Here's my stats: 3.44 cumulative, 3.5 science. 27Q MCAT, good ECs and shadowing experience. I submitted my primary to PCOM back in October and was invited to complete the application in late November but I haven't done it yet. Do you think its too late? I have an interview at KCUMB on the 28th but I'd definitely like to keep as many options open as possible. Any chance I can sneak in this late?

Thanks!

 

[mattng]

whats up y'all-

Here's my stats: 3.44 cumulative, 3.5 science. 27Q MCAT, good ECs and shadowing experience. I submitted my primary to PCOM back in October and was invited to complete the application in late November but I haven't done it yet. Do you think its too late? I have an interview at KCUMB on the 28th but I'd definitely like to keep as many options open as possible. Any chance I can sneak in this late?

Thanks!

Secondary deadline is like February 1st. Since no one here is on the admissions committee, I would say go for it, you will never know. You've already paid $___ on application fees what's another $50? Good luck!

 

[mopeds]

Send it in ASAP. You will never know until you do and people still get in late in the cycle. goodluck.

whats up y'all-

Here's my stats: 3.44 cumulative, 3.5 science. 27Q MCAT, good ECs and shadowing experience. I submitted my primary to PCOM back in October and was invited to complete the application in late November but I haven't done it yet. Do you think its too late? I have an interview at KCUMB on the 28th but I'd definitely like to keep as many options open as possible. Any chance I can sneak in this late?

Thanks!

 

[sabai sabai]

Hey Guys, here is my situation:

31P MCAT, 3.56 Overall, 3.29 Science ( 3.9 last 2.5 years of college, with all A's in upper division science courses)

Have volunteered at a homeless clinic for 4 years, worked as a phleb for 3 years, student gov't in college, alcohol and drug awareness program mentor, Big Brother for Big Brothers Big Sisters(Big Brother of the Year 2008 for my city-chosen among 1700 others), two undergrad research projects, 2 years post-grad research (no pubs), Volunteer healthcare for the homeless research project (ongoing), Organized a fundraiser (2K for breast cancer) and various others......I'll spare you!!!

Would it be ridiculous to still apply?

I recently shadowed a DO, and was very impressed. Did some research and I really like the philosophy. Currently I have had 2 MD interviews with decisions pending, and 7 MD schools to hear from.

Any advice would be much appreciated!

 

[mattng]

Hey Guys, here is my situation:

31P MCAT, 3.56 Overall, 3.29 Science ( 3.9 last 2.5 years of college, with all A's in upper division science courses)

Have volunteered at a homeless clinic for 4 years, worked as a phleb for 3 years, student gov't in college, alcohol and drug awareness program mentor, Big Brother for Big Brothers Big Sisters(Big Brother of the Year 2008 for my city-chosen among 1700 others), two undergrad research projects, 2 years post-grad research (no pubs), Volunteer healthcare for the homeless research project (ongoing), Organized a fundraiser (2K for breast cancer) and various others......I'll spare you!!!

Would it be ridiculous to still apply?

I recently shadowed a DO, and was very impressed. Did some research and I really like the philosophy. Currently I have had 2 MD interviews with decisions pending, and 7 MD schools to hear from.

Any advice would be much appreciated!

I think you're an excellent candidate for DO school. Stat-wise, MCAT is above average and GPA is average, so go for it. What's there to lose (besides some money...). Good luck!

Also, if you get the DO to write you a LoR, you'll be golden.

 

[matlabsux]

I've noticed a few posts here alluding to the AdCom being really behind in applications. I've been complete (3.4 undergrad, 4.0 M.S., 34Q) since 10/20/08 and I called today (1/8/09) and no change. They will not give any info other than complete and waiting for review or decision rendered.

Anyone else in the same boat?

 

[virya]

I am in the same boat...
I have high GPA with a low MCAT and have been complete since early November in both PCOM and PCOM-GA.

 

[Bleurberry]

I've noticed a few posts here alluding to the AdCom being really behind in applications. I've been complete (3.4 undergrad, 4.0 M.S., 34Q) since 10/20/08 and I called today (1/8/09) and no change. They will not give any info other than complete and waiting for review or decision rendered.

Anyone else in the same boat?

I wouldn't expect anything less. You probably knew going in that the best time to apply was June-July. PCOM gets thousands of applications.

 

[237696]

I wouldn't expect anything less. You probably knew going in that the best time to apply was June-July. PCOM gets thousands of applications.

I was complete 11/29 and got my interview invitation on 12/18, so we're talking about a 2-3 week range. And please don't assume that everyone knows that it's typical, or even possible, to apply in June, especially older non-trads who aren't immersed in a collegiate pre-med culture 24/7. Not all "late" applicants are clueless slackers, nor do they realize they are even considered late. Sorry, that's not really directed at you because you weren't implying that (I hope) but it's a general sentiment I've noticed all over this forum.

I didn't know anything about SDN until very recently and was shocked to read about people who were submitting to AACOMAS way back in May. I submitted to AACOMAS in mid-September and had no idea that I was actually behind the curve. I didn't apply for my graduate degree program until a few months before starting. I'm thinking maybe the pre-med committee at my undergrad alma mater could have (should have?) clued me into this when I went back to interview there over the summer for my letter, but no one ever questioned my timeline. Oh well, too bad I didn't find this forum last year.

 

[Semicolon]

I was complete 11/29 and got my interview invitation on 12/18, so we're talking about a 2-3 week range. And please don't assume that everyone knows that it's typical, or even possible, to apply in June, especially older non-trads who aren't immersed in a collegiate pre-med culture 24/7. Not all "late" applicants are clueless slackers, nor do they realize they are even considered late. Sorry, that's not really directed at you because you weren't implying that (I hope) but it's a general sentiment I've noticed all over this forum.

I didn't know anything about SDN until very recently and was shocked to read about people who were submitting to AACOMAS way back in May. I submitted to AACOMAS in mid-September and had no idea that I was actually behind the curve. I didn't apply for my graduate degree program until a few months before starting. I'm thinking maybe the pre-med committee at my undergrad alma mater could have (should have?) clued me into this when I went back to interview there over the summer for my letter, but no one ever questioned my timeline. Oh well, too bad I didn't find this forum last year.

Hmph. Pre-med committees are often very lacking when it comes to doing what they're supposed to. It really is quite a shame.

 

[cliquesh]

I was just wondering if PCOM has a reputation in philly or PA. If you told someone, like the general public, you were going to PCOM if they'd know what you are talking about. I guess someone from philly or PA would be best to answer the question.

 

[mattng]

I was just wondering if PCOM has a reputation in philly or PA. If you told someone, like the general public, you were going to PCOM if they'd know what you are talking about. I guess someone from philly or PA would be best to answer the question.

I heard that PCOM is well known in the PA area. They have a lot of connections with the area hospitals as well as the allopathic hospitals too. They say students from the other med schools go to PCOM to use their Harvey bot or something like that.

 

[rajaholick]

i think one of the reasons the general public lacks knowledge about DO schools is because most are not affiliated with undergrad institutions
in philly if you told someone you're doing med school at temple, they would recognize it because they have a sizable undergrad population
but if you asked someone hey do you know of the universities in philly which ones have medical schools, they may not know the answer
you know what i'm saying?

 

[maberk]

I was born and raised in the Philly area. PCOM is very well known, if not for its great reputation in the medical community for the fact that the 76ers practice on campus.

 

[237696]

i think one of the reasons the general public lacks knowledge about DO schools is because most are not affiliated with undergrad institutions
in philly if you told someone you're doing med school at temple, they would recognize it because they have a sizable undergrad population
but if you asked someone hey do you know of the universities in philly which ones have medical schools, they may not know the answer
you know what i'm saying?

Bingo. Only a few osteopathic schools, like Michigan State and University of New England, are affiliated with "real" colleges. Almost all of the allopathic schools are. They have instant name recognition which is practically synonymous with legitimacy.

 

[cliquesh]

Anyone know what the workload at PCOM is like? I know med school is suppose to be tough, but some programs seem to be more work intensive than others, CCOM for example. So anyone hear what PCOM is like in this respect?

 

[Bleurberry]

If I had made any assumption, it was that you weren't clueless, so don't fret about that. By and large, I find it best to keep an even head on this forum; it's easy to be riled by anonymous posts, but only because our imaginations give them more importance than their proper due.

I was complete 11/29 and got my interview invitation on 12/18, so we're talking about a 2-3 week range. And please don't assume that everyone knows that it's typical, or even possible, to apply in June, especially older non-trads who aren't immersed in a collegiate pre-med culture 24/7. Not all "late" applicants are clueless slackers, nor do they realize they are even considered late. Sorry, that's not really directed at you because you weren't implying that (I hope) but it's a general sentiment I've noticed all over this forum.

I didn't know anything about SDN until very recently and was shocked to read about people who were submitting to AACOMAS way back in May. I submitted to AACOMAS in mid-September and had no idea that I was actually behind the curve. I didn't apply for my graduate degree program until a few months before starting. I'm thinking maybe the pre-med committee at my undergrad alma mater could have (should have?) clued me into this when I went back to interview there over the summer for my letter, but no one ever questioned my timeline. Oh well, too bad I didn't find this forum last year.

 

[Bleurberry]

Bingo. Only a few osteopathic schools, like Michigan State and University of New England, are affiliated with "real" colleges. Almost all of the allopathic schools are. They have instant name recognition which is practically synonymous with legitimacy.

On a slightly separate note, PCOM students' have Philadelphia clinical sites and the greater PA as their playground. That is to say, because they don't have a hospital, they sought and secured a wide net of clinical rotation spots at the best hospitals in the region.

 

[Bacchus]

A friend from my undergrad is in her first year at PCOM. She said compared to my undergrad, she has more time now than she did back then with all of the committments and hoops jumped through to get into medical school. In other terms, its not that bad but there is a time investment.

 

[Bleurberry]

A friend from my undergrad is in her first year at PCOM. She said compared to my undergrad, she has more time now than she did back then with all of the committments and hoops jumped through to get into medical school. In other terms, its not that bad but there is a time investment.

I guess it's all relative (staying for clubs and late for OMM practice or whatever) but, still, that's good to hear. I have 1st year friends at Temple who did the post-bacch with me (I wasn't in the program but took all the same classes at the same time with them) and they shared a similar sentiment.

 

[AnxiousMango]

Ok let me preface this by saying I did attempt to search this thread but was unable to come up with any solid answer. If one is in here somewhere and I missed it, I apologize, please don't jump down my throat. Anyway... I sent in the same LoRs I sent to other schools to PCOM (1 D.O., two science professors) and got a letter in the mail the other day saying they had received my D.O. letter but still needed a committee letter. My undergrad institution has no such committee. Was anyone else able to get away with just using science letters?

 

[DO Sigma Nu guy]

Ok let me preface this by saying I did attempt to search this thread but was unable to come up with any solid answer. If one is in here somewhere and I missed it, I apologize, please don't jump down my throat. Anyway... I sent in the same LoRs I sent to other schools to PCOM (1 D.O., two science professors) and got a letter in the mail the other day saying they had received my D.O. letter but still needed a committee letter. My undergrad institution has no such committee. Was anyone else able to get away with just using science letters?

You have to get a letter from your Dean. The letter can be very brief.

Mr/s. XXx was a student at X university from 2004-08. He was in good standing and graduated with Honors.

Done.

 

[niranjan162]

You have to get a letter from your Dean. The letter can be very brief.

Mr/s. XXx was a student at X university from 2004-08. He was in good standing and graduated with Honors.

Done.

maybe also have him say that there is no committee, I think you can also use an pre-med advisor letter as well.

 

[Bleurberry]

maybe also have him say that there is no committee, I think you can also use an pre-med advisor letter as well.

Right!
The order is:

Committee letter, if no, then pre-med advisor, if no, then dean.

 

[jrbst4]

Finally got my letter. PCOM Class of 2013. 🙂 Can't wait for Philly!

 

[Bleurberry]

Finally got my letter. PCOM Class of 2013. 🙂 Can't wait for Philly!

Do you know Jeremy? He lives in the same town you do and he just got in too... weird.

 

[jrbst4]

Do you know Jeremy? He lives in the same town you do and he just got in too... weird.

Hmm...I don't think so. I didn't even know I had where I was from listed on here anywhere for you to make that connection, haha. Any contact info for him?

 

[Bleurberry]

Hmm...I don't think so. I didn't even know I had where I was from listed on here anywhere for you to make that connection, haha. Any contact info for him?

Will PM you. 😛

 

[DannMann99]

I guess it's all relative (staying for clubs and late for OMM practice or whatever) but, still, that's good to hear. I have 1st year friends at Temple who did the post-bacch with me (I wasn't in the program but took all the same classes at the same time with them) and they shared a similar sentiment.

heh. I can't speak for your friend, but i can give you some truths.

Throughout your 2 preclinical years. You have OMM, PCS, and Sciences concurrently.

Mon-Fri you're more often then not on campus from 8am - 3pm. Sometimes 9-4... depends but its about 7 hours.

Not to mention about once a week you have some type of practical, exam, quiz, standardized patient, or lab which will stress you out and keep you on campus alittle later.

I don't know what your friend did in Ugrad but I double majored, worked ~20hrs a week, and volly'd for 6hr/wk... This is more time consuming and stressful then that.

Having said that, if you budget your time right you can find some downtime here and there... but id be cautious in defining that as being easier then undergrad...

 

[Lauren0415]

My undergrad school doesn't have a pre-med committee either, but I called the admissions office as I was filling out the secondary a few months ago and they said just send in the packet of letters usually used for MD schools (2 science and 1 non-science) along with the letter from DO and that would be completely fine.

 

[Lauren0415]

maybe also have him say that there is no committee, I think you can also use an pre-med advisor letter as well.

My undergrad school doesn't have a pre-med committee either, but I called the admissions office as I was filling out the secondary a few months ago and they said just send in the packet of letters usually used for MD schools (2 science and 1 non-science) along with the letter from DO and that would be completely fine.

 

[whateva07]

Been complete since mid-October, and I'm still so-called "under review"..... Not looking goood.

 

[kumarn]

I've noticed a few posts here alluding to the AdCom being really behind in applications. I've been complete (3.4 undergrad, 4.0 M.S., 34Q) since 10/20/08 and I called today (1/8/09) and no change. They will not give any info other than complete and waiting for review or decision rendered.

Anyone else in the same boat?

Complete 12/13/08 and still no word. mdapplicants profile for stats

 

[beachblonde]

Been complete since mid-October, and I'm still so-called "under review"..... Not looking goood.

I called recently and was told that I'm "complete and ready for review."

Good thing I submitted everything in September, gives them plenty of time to think about whether or not they're even going to look at my file. Also a good thing they went ahead and cashed my check 4 months ago, too. 😡

 

[Bleurberry]

heh. I can't speak for your friend, but i can give you some truths.

Throughout your 2 preclinical years. You have OMM, PCS, and Sciences concurrently.

Mon-Fri you're more often then not on campus from 8am - 3pm. Sometimes 9-4... depends but its about 7 hours.
...

We had a similar schedule as how you describe your first year in out last undergrad year (or post bacc year if you prefer) to get the pre-reqs under our belts. I think there was a lot of perceived pressure that is replaced by a collaborative effort, however, on the graduate level. Anyhow your point is well taken.

 

[DannMann99]

where did you do your post-bac love?

Those PCOM post-bac students have a disgusting advantage over everyone else. It frankly isn't fair. (we have about 50/270 that attended PCOMs post-bac which is essentially M1 thats not called M1... so all these kids have had the SAME lectures by the SAME professors who in many many many instances use the SAME notes and SAME powerpoints) I think its so LOL when they complain about things.

 

[Bacchus]

Damn, I should have done the postbacc .

 

[JonnyG]

where did you do your post-bac love?

Those PCOM post-bac students have a disgusting advantage over everyone else. It frankly isn't fair. (we have about 50/270 that attended PCOMs post-bac which is essentially M1 thats not called M1... so all these kids have had the SAME lectures by the SAME professors who in many many many instances use the SAME notes and SAME powerpoints) I think its so LOL when they complain about things.

Seriously someone needs to collectively slap your class. You guys are so unPCOM like I wish we could disown you. I cannot believe how obssessed your class is with grades and not helping each other out. It is counter to the PCOM culture. The biomeds do not have a long term advantage (well more debt but i dont htink ts an advantage). When it comes to systems portion of the class they tend to perform like everyone else. Plus some of them were in post bac because the sciences didnt work so well for htem the first time around for them and the advantage isnt as great as you think. Everyone at pcom pretty much does exactly the same there are a few who do really well and others who do poorly.

ALso there is no need ot be at pcom past 12 on most days. maybe two days a week are you there longer then 1. I stopped going to class and pretty much went up once a week. There are really only quizes during anatomy which are during lab. You should not be studying that hard for SPs.

I had to vent about how much your class needs a reality check that you will all be doctors no matter what and the boards pretty much will settle things out.

 

[cliquesh]

I hope the class of the 2013 is friendly and laidback...

And about time on campus, I thought anatomy lab was like 12-3pm. Did you just skip it, Jonny? Can you even skip anatomy and do well?

 

[mashmetoo]

hey guys, I was verified December 17th 2008, with my file sent to PCOM. As of today, I still haven't received the email invite for the secondary yet.. I have mailed in the secondary for PCOM Georgia campus, and received their letter of receipt.. so, should I be worried for PCOM?

 

[ARR]

I interviewed on 1/15. We were told that we will hear from them in 2-4 weeks. Does anyone know when the committee meets every month? I am eager to know the outcome. Thanks!

 

[Cochan]

hey guys, I was verified December 17th 2008, with my file sent to PCOM. As of today, I still haven't received the email invite for the secondary yet.. I have mailed in the secondary for PCOM Georgia campus, and received their letter of receipt.. so, should I be worried for PCOM?

I was verified Nov 19th, and PCOM sent me a letter in the mail a few weeks after to complete the secondary. Once that was sent in i got another letter in the mail on Dec 12th that my application was complete and under review. Give PCOM-p some more time they have been very slow for every one still waiting on interviews.

 

[clemencewhite]

I interviewed on 1/15. We were told that we will hear from them in 2-4 weeks. Does anyone know when the committee meets every month? I am eager to know the outcome. Thanks!

how do you think you did on the interview and what type of questions did you had? I will interview on the 27th.
Thanks

 

[Bacchus]

I hope the class of the 2013 is friendly and laidback...

And about time on campus, I thought anatomy lab was like 12-3pm. Did you just skip it, Jonny? Can you even skip anatomy and do well?

From those I met at the luncheon, everyone was laid back.

 

[mopeds]

I really hope so too!!

I hope the class of the 2013 is friendly and laidback...

And about time on campus, I thought anatomy lab was like 12-3pm. Did you just skip it, Jonny? Can you even skip anatomy and do well?

 

[JonnyG]

I hope the class of the 2013 is friendly and laidback...

And about time on campus, I thought anatomy lab was like 12-3pm. Did you just skip it, Jonny? Can you even skip anatomy and do well?

anatomy is usually in the morning and is over around 1

 

[mashmetoo]

I was verified Nov 19th, and PCOM sent me a letter in the mail a few weeks after to complete the secondary. Once that was sent in i got another letter in the mail on Dec 12th that my application was complete and under review. Give PCOM-p some more time they have been very slow for every one still waiting on interviews.

I see, thanks Cochan!

 

[mopeds]

Hello,

In terms of filling out FAFSA, should we wait till we receive our packets or fill it out now. I don't have any tax information yet and my parents haven't filed yet (I heard you have to include parents).

Can a current student tell us what they did around this time? Will our packets have instructions for completing it?

Thank you in advance!

 

[DannMann99]

Seriously someone needs to collectively slap your class. You guys are so unPCOM like I wish we could disown you. I cannot believe how obssessed your class is with grades and not helping each other out. It is counter to the PCOM culture. The biomeds do not have a long term advantage (well more debt but i dont htink ts an advantage). When it comes to systems portion of the class they tend to perform like everyone else. Plus some of them were in post bac because the sciences didnt work so well for htem the first time around for them and the advantage isnt as great as you think. Everyone at pcom pretty much does exactly the same there are a few who do really well and others who do poorly.

ALso there is no need ot be at pcom past 12 on most days. maybe two days a week are you there longer then 1. I stopped going to class and pretty much went up once a week. There are really only quizes during anatomy which are during lab. You should not be studying that hard for SPs.

I had to vent about how much your class needs a reality check that you will all be doctors no matter what and the boards pretty much will settle things out.

You must be a 2nd year lol I love how every teacher/class we have has told us how much better we are doing then you guys.

It's alright though. As an aside to that, if you noticed most of the 1st years actually attend lectures... Could the be a correlation? Who knows.

pwnt.

(as far as biomeds go. honestly its one thing to learn the info once before... its another thing to learn it from the same prof's, via the same notes, who ask very similar if not the same questions on exams, as well as having old study guides for the biomed exams that arent available to M1s... Biomeds have no learning curves with how prof's teach/test... = advantage)

 

[Semicolon]

Hello,

In terms of filling out FAFSA, should we wait till we receive our packets or fill it out now. I don't have any tax information yet and my parents haven't filed yet (I heard you have to include parents).

Can a current student tell us what they did around this time? Will our packets have instructions for completing it?

Thank you in advance!

You DO NOT include parents' information in your FAFSA in this situation. Since you will be pursuing a professional/doctorate degree, you are automatically considered independent as far as FAFSA is concerned. So you only have to worry about your own info. 🙂