PCOM GA vs PCOM PA

[orangeman25]

Obviously, the GA branch is the newer one. But my question is, is PCOM PA really more competitive/difficult to get into than PCOM GA? On their website, both branches have the same average stats (~3.4/27). Is it just the fact that the GA branch is newer, making it an easier school to get into?

This doesn't really apply to other schools; for example, the touros all basically have equivalent average stats

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[Path hall]

The philadelphia campus is signficantly better than the georgia campus.

 

[TopTomato]

Obviously, the GA branch is the newer one. But my question is, is PCOM PA really more competitive/difficult to get into than PCOM GA? On their website, both branches have the same average stats (~3.4/27). Is it just the fact that the GA branch is newer, making it an easier school to get into?

This doesn't really apply to other schools; for example, the touros all basically have equivalent average stats

Maybe the website is wrong, but I know they don't have the same stats. During the open house last year for PCOM Philly they showed us stats for both campuses, and the GA campus was lower.

 

[chizledfrmstone]

Maybe the website is wrong, but I know they don't have the same stats. During the open house last year for PCOM Philly they showed us stats for both campuses, and the GA campus was lower.

Does anyone know if they combine stats for both campuses like Western University does?

The students at Pomona have higher stats than the ones at NW but since it's considered 1 massive class they group the stats together.

From what I've seen the main PCOM campus definitely has more competitive students matriculate than the ones at PCOM-GA.

Pro-tip: When you send out primaries to WU you don't have to pick both Pomona and NW campus to send it to. When you get a secondary you can pick which campus you prefer. There, I just save you $35 or whatever it costs now. I take thank yous in the form of paypal, checks, or bricks of cash left in my mailbox. I don't take $1 bills because it always leads to an awkward conversation with the bank teller.

 

[orangeman25]

Maybe the website is wrong, but I know they don't have the same stats. During the open house last year for PCOM Philly they showed us stats for both campuses, and the GA campus was lower.

That's actually a little annoying. On their website, the main campus has average stats of 3.4/28, while the GA campus has average stats of 3.4/27. I feel like the website wouldn't lie though. Perhaps qualitatively the PA campus has more of a competitive class body.

 

[orangeman25]

Just wanted to give a little update.

The entering class for PCOM (PA branch) has an average science GPA of 3.5, cumulative GPA of 3.4, and an MCAT of 28. Also, apparently you cannot have less than an 8 on any section.

 

[Escape_Goat]

The philadelphia campus is signficantly better than the georgia campus.

Elaborate please.

 

[Dreamstoo]

Just wanted to give a little update.

The entering class for PCOM (PA branch) has an average science GPA of 3.5, cumulative GPA of 3.4, and an MCAT of 28. Also, apparently you cannot have less than an 8 on any section.

I believed the science and cumulative are flipped.

 

[orangeman25]

I believed the science and cumulative are flipped.

No that's correct. Got the info from admissions. I was surprised about that too though.

 

[ilovemacaroons]

No that's correct. Got the info from admissions. I was surprised about that too though.

Also would like to add that for the PA campus, the mcat range was from 21 - 39. Thought that was really interesting and it seems they do look at the whole package.

 

[chizledfrmstone]

Just wanted to give a little update.

The entering class for PCOM (PA branch) has an average science GPA of 3.5, cumulative GPA of 3.4, and an MCAT of 28. Also, apparently you cannot have less than an 8 on any section.

Do you know if this was a strict rule?

 

[Path hall]

Elaborate please.

I should clarify that I have no personal knowledge of the GA campus. With that said, they are basically 2 separate schools. The PA and GA campus share some of the same faculty members, but faculty members are not PCOM's strong suit. Pcom is good because of their clinical rotations and residency program, both of which are mostly located in PA. I'm sure Pcom-ga is fine.

 

[Mehd School]

PCOM-ga was one of the only schools that didn't extend an ii to me. I have to assume it's getting competitive there.


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[polylux]

Do you know if this was a strict rule?

Also would like to add that for the PA campus, the mcat range was from 21 - 39. Thought that was really interesting and it seems they do look at the whole package.

If lowest MCAT was 21, would have to assume that's not the strictest rule... But I thought I saw in the underdawgs thread that PCOM's cut off was 7, not 8?

 

[orangeman25]

Do you know if this was a strict rule?

This was straight from the mouth of admissions. They just said you cannot have a section less than an 8. It sounds like a requirement to me but I'm willing to bet if there is an applicant that really shines on everything else except has a section <8, they're willing to let it slide.

So, it's probably a "strict recommendation" rather than a requirement.

 

[Dr. Spaceman]

I should clarify that I have no personal knowledge of the GA campus. With that said, they are basically 2 separate schools. The PA and GA campus share some of the same faculty members, but faculty members are not PCOM's strong suit. Pcom is good because of their clinical rotations and residency program, both of which are mostly located in PA. I'm sure Pcom-ga is fine.

I've heard nothing but good things from current students regarding the teaching faculty. From my own experience with GA-PCOM, I'd say that the administration is the biggest "drawback". Communication from administration to students and applicants is not really that clear or efficient. I've had numerous emails to admissions and financial aid go unanswered for months. I can finally get an answer when I call and talk to someone, but they say to email your questions. Don't get me wrong, everything else seems great about the school, and in fact, I'm a student there. It just seems that they need to streamline some of their administrative processes.

Another thing the school--and every other school--needs is a director of social media.

 

[futurexray]

This was straight from the mouth of admissions. They just said you cannot have a section less than an 8. It sounds like a requirement to me but I'm willing to bet if there is an applicant that really shines on everything else except has a section <8, they're willing to let it slide.

So, it's probably a "strict recommendation" rather than a requirement.

I think if you check with them again they said the "average" MCAT is nothing less than an 8 - meaning some have higher and some have lower

 

[iWillOneDay]

I think if you check with them again they said the "average" MCAT is nothing less than an 8 - meaning some have higher and some have lower

or everyone had 8 (maybe a few over). But your scenario is more likely....

 

[AkGrown84]

I can guarantee you that the "8" (or even a 7 for that matter) cutoff for each subsection is completely incorrect. I was accepted this cycle with a 25 (6P/10V/9B), and will be matriculating there this fall.

 

[orangeman25]

I think if you check with them again they said the "average" MCAT is nothing less than an 8 - meaning some have higher and some have lower

You're right. That's more reasonable sounding. Don't really know why they had to say "nothing less than".

 

[TXKnight]

The philadelphia campus is signficantly better than the georgia campus.

I should clarify that I have no personal knowledge of the GA campus. With that said, they are basically 2 separate schools. The PA and GA campus share some of the same faculty members, but faculty members are not PCOM's strong suit. Pcom is good because of their clinical rotations and residency program, both of which are mostly located in PA. I'm sure Pcom-ga is fine.

So, I want to break this down. Basically what you are saying is that on the first post I quoted, you pulled that "assertion" out of thin air; just because you went to the PA campus I assume. I would not make such quick assessments of your sister institution without evidence, or any basis at all (or you know something you are not sharing?). We tend to believe what residents have to say.

 

[Path hall]

So, I want to break this down. Basically what you are saying is that on the first post I quoted, you pulled that "assertion" out of thin air; just because you went to the PA campus I assume. I would not make such quick assessments of your sister institution without evidence, or any basis at all (or you know something you are not sharing?). We tend to believe what residents have to say.

I did not attend PCOM-GA, so there is no way I would know what the school is really like. I based my comment off of hearsay from facility members, the single PCOM-GA student I have met, and comparing the two schools' match lists. No one really bashed or said anything grossly negative about the GA-campus. The consensus from these limited interactions is that the PA campus is better than the GA campus mainly because of the clinical and residency opportunities in PA; not that the GA campus is necessarily bad. I am just sharing what I have heard. Feel free to ignore me.

Dr. Spaceman really seems to enjoy it.

 

[TXKnight]

I did not attend PCOM-GA, so there is no way I would know what the school is really like. I based my comment off of hearsay from facility members, the single PCOM-GA student I have met, and comparing the two schools' match lists. No one really bashed or said anything grossly negative about the GA-campus. The consensus from these limited interactions is that the PA campus is better than the GA campus mainly because of the clinical and residency opportunities in PA; not that the GA campus is necessarily bad. I am just sharing what I have heard. Feel free to ignore me.

Dr. Spaceman really seems to enjoy it.

PCOM does have great rotations. I think the GA campus truly selects primary practice types and that may skew the match results, though there are great matches to several specialties.

 

[Escape_Goat]

With any criterion by which PA could be considered better than GA, keep in mind that PA also has 107 years of operational experience more than GA.

Match lists aren't really a reliable indicator of school quality. I don't know anyone who can look at a match list and tell which programs are exceptional and which ones are malignant. I'd recognize some big name programs and some notable regional ones. But even, program quality within an institution can vary wildly between departments.

Percentage of matches into competitive specialties may not be reliable since specialty and regional preference maybe skewed within a cohort.

Just my opinion, but I think the best way to choose a school is by finding one with a name you like, a location you like, and low attrition rates.

 

[7nut12]

I know their website says they only accept MCAT scores 3 yrs from matriculation. Have any of you heard of them accepting anything older? I know some schools will consider it on an individual basis. I'm interested in the Ga campus with a 27 (9,9,9) but took it in the fall of 2011.

 

[TXKnight]

I know their website says they only accept MCAT scores 3 yrs from matriculation. Have any of you heard of them accepting anything older? I know some schools will consider it on an individual basis. I'm interested in the Ga campus with a 27 (9,9,9) but took it in the fall of 2011.

I have never heard of any school that takes an MCAT older than 3 yrs, DO or MD.

 

[Escape_Goat]

I think that Emory accepts 4 year old scores, but they are the exception.

 

[7nut12]

I know for certain a few DO schools that will accept it. ACOM accepts 4 yr old MCAT scores and says they will consider older on an individual basis. While most say 3 yrs from matriculation, some other schools have posted on their website 3 yrs from application.