PCOM or WVSOM

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dlynnmin

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Ok, so I'm looking for some advice. Putting tuition aside, does anyone feel strongly that PCOM is a better school or would provide better opportunities for its graduates than WVSOM (which by the way has an amazing campus and is ranked nationally)?
 
Ok, so I'm looking for some advice. Putting tuition aside, does anyone feel strongly that PCOM is a better school or would provide better opportunities for its graduates than WVSOM (which by the way has an amazing campus and is ranked nationally)?

I dunno man. I am biased. Why not stay in Philly?

BTW what is this PCOM v. the world day?
 
Ppppppppppppppppccccccccccccccccccccccccccoooooooooooooooommmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
go to WVSOM so there's one more acceptnace available in january.
 
:laugh:

OP, do you want to live in a city or a rural area? That's a pretty big difference...
Both places entice me. I'm sick of the crime in Philly and am concerned about the fact that PCOM does not post pass rates for the COMLEX. But my family and friends are in Philly and would be a great support system. However, my fiance would move with me to WV if I chose to go there -- good support system. And I loved the people, the feel, the rural area, and the fact that WVSOM is open disclosure with their pass rates. So now what do you think?
 
Both places entice me. I'm sick of the crime in Philly and am concerned about the fact that PCOM does not post pass rates for the COMLEX. But my family and friends are in Philly and would be a great support system. However, my fiance would move with me to WV if I chose to go there -- good support system. And I loved the people, the feel, the rural area, and the fact that WVSOM is open disclosure with their pass rates. So now what do you think?

They also dont disclose their average MCAT/GPA IIRC. I think this is just them being a PITA and doesnt have anything to do with pass rates. I wouldnt read into that too much.

Like I said I am biased because I attend PCOM. And buy a house in the burbs like I did to get away from the crime. 🙂
 
PCOM's pass rate is lower than most DO schools. It is in the mid-upper 80%, whereas the average is around 92%. You can find that info in the JAOA. PCOM's average GPA/MCAT, at least in the past, has been lower than the national average. That info is (maybe they took it down) on their website.

I wouldn't worry about those things, though. Passing the boards is up to you. PCOM gives you plenty of time to study for the boards, and if you have higher stats than your classmates you will likely graduate at better rank, hah. Also, PCOM is in a safe area of philly.
 
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i've got three acceptances, i've paid a deposit, and i interview at pcom in philly in january. yes, it is my top choice because 1) i feel like it will put me in the best position to land a residency of my choice down the road and 2) i want to live in a large urban area, namely, philly.
 
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PCOM hands down. You said to disregard cost, but you have to look at it. And, well, PCOM is PCOM.



and you get a super elongated elaborate greeting everytime you enter the building...whats better than that!!
 
PCOM's pass rate is lower than most DO schools. It is in the mid-upper 80%, whereas the average is around 92%. You can find that info in the JAOA.

Can you tell us the exact title of the article or a link to it? I'm curious to read this article.
 
Last I've seen was this, "In 2008, the entering D.O. Class of 2012 consisted of 267 first-time students from different colleges and states. The average class GPA was 3.43, the science GPA was 3.32 and the mean MCAT score was 26."
http://www.pcom.edu/Admissions/adm_FAQs/DoFaqs.html



It's really all about what school will be best for you. If you feel like you want some more room to breathe, maybe WVSOM will be a better fit. That might give you too much room to breathe though. lol.

If it were me, I'd probably attend PCOM because of its well-established program and proximity to family. Personally, I turned down VCOM to stay closer to family and attend what in the end I felt was a better program (UMDNJ-SOM). My SO was willing to move with me, but I decided to stay close by, near her family and mine. Some people want to get away; I chose to stick around. It's all up to you.
Thank you for your thoughtful and heartfelt answer.
 
and you get a super elongated elaborate greeting everytime you enter the building...whats better than that!!
Haha, I think I know this greeting because I'm currently at PCOM for the Biomed program. Are you talking about Miss Diane who always says "Happy Friday eve!". I love her -- she's great!
 
Haha, I think I know this greeting because I'm currently at PCOM for the Biomed program. Are you talking about Miss Diane who always says "Happy Friday eve!". I love her -- she's great!

Has to be. When we were waiting in the lobby interview day she was going nuts! Talked to every single person that walked through the doors, including us. She loves the "happy friday eve!"
 
Why would you ever put tuition aside?
 
Haha, I think I know this greeting because I'm currently at PCOM for the Biomed program. Are you talking about Miss Diane who always says "Happy Friday eve!". I love her -- she's great!

Miss Deb haha.

I dont go to class so I dont get it as much...but its a nice gesture when I come on campus haha.
 
Has to be. When we were waiting in the lobby interview day she was going nuts! Talked to every single person that walked through the doors, including us. She loves the "happy friday eve!"

We have class photobooks which have everyones class photo. She literally sits there sometimes and studies the pics so she can recognize everyone. That is someone who loves their job 🙂
 
PCOM's pass rate is lower than most DO schools. It is in the mid-upper 80%, whereas the average is around 92%. You can find that info in the JAOA. PCOM's average GPA/MCAT, at least in the past, has been lower than the national average. That info is (maybe they took it down) on their website.

I wouldn't worry about those things, though. Passing the boards is up to you. PCOM gives you plenty of time to study for the boards, and if you have higher stats than your classmates you will likely graduate at better rank, hah. Also, PCOM is in a safe area of philly.

Link please? I would like to see this also since I sort of have a difficult time believing it. Its the board scores I care about...not the GPA/MCAT. If they want to change that GPA/MCAT they could just become more selective.
 
Link please? I would like to see this also since I sort of have a difficult time believing it. Its the board scores I care about...not the GPA/MCAT. If they want to change that GPA/MCAT they could just become more selective.

Passing boards has everything to do with individual effort, and very little to do with what the school does. You'll figure this out during 2nd year.
 
Passing boards has everything to do with individual effort, and very little to do with what the school does. You'll figure this out during 2nd year.



👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
 
The only city worse than Chicago [where cbrons grew up] is prolly Philadelphia. You wanna live in that trashy city? C'mon now.
 
The only city worse than Chicago [where cbrons grew up] is prolly Philadelphia. You wanna live in that trashy city? C'mon now.

Check your sources brah. The city is fine. Just move to the burbs like I did. The burbs around here are pretty sick IMO.
 
Passing boards has everything to do with individual effort, and very little to do with what the school does. You'll figure this out during 2nd year.

I realize this...but I was referring to MCAT scores/GPA. Which is really worthless to me considering my GPA situation when they accepted me (horrible ugrad...great grad =still sub 3.0 GPA even with like 70+ grad credits of As
 
Yeah but what's commute from the burbs to PCOM campus + how much does it cost you to live there?

I own a home with my fiance so its only about 800 bucks for me a month. The commute isnt horrible either...about 20 mins. Which is fine because I dont really care to live right next to campus...I need some separation in my life.
 
Passing boards has everything to do with individual effort, and very little to do with what the school does. You'll figure this out during 2nd year.

Not completely true.

The school can make it easier or harder for you to prep and study for boards by several ways. The school can focus on either teaching high-yield board material or teaching clinically-relevant material which is not always high-yield for step 1 because there will be lot of disease management issues taught. Step 1 doesn't focus on disease management rather basic science and mechanisms of disease.

The school can also help or hurt the students for board prep by giving time off to study for boards. Some schools give plenty of time (6 weeks+) while others don't give as much.

And the schools can help the student with board prep by giving them access to board review material, question banks, review sessions, etc. Obviously, some schools are better at this task than others.

So yes, passing boards does depend on the student however the school can make it either easier or harder for the student to do so.
 
The only city worse than Chicago [where cbrons grew up] is prolly Philadelphia. You wanna live in that trashy city? C'mon now.
SAY WHAT! As a Chicago city resident -- Chicago is gorgeous! Don't trash my city. And the only city I would leave Chicago for in Philly. I've been to East Falls/Germantown a few times [sorta near PCOM]... and man, that area would be GREAT to live in. I would love to live off Kelly Drive. Seriously though, really no reason to even live in the burbs. Philly is the place to be.

While I don't know anything about WVSOM. I would much rather go to school in an urban area 👍
 
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