PCOM (Philadelphia) Discussion Thread 2009-2010

Started by slamindesi
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I'm so sorry you had to sit in on a SPOM lecture. 😛

I missed the bacterial vaginosis (or something along those lines) lecture, unfortunately:laugh:, but the remainder of the classes at least were not dull. The professors seemed really nice and had a good sense of humor, so after an early morning I didn't even catch myself yawning!😳

Since you are, without question, an entirely helpful person on this thread, I was wondering if you had any opinions/advice to offer. I see a lot of info on apartments and whatnot, but do you have insight on housing/areas for those who might want to buy a home/townhouse? I will be married and we have several pets, so that is probably the best option for us- but we didn't know what places to even begin looking. Any help would be much appreciated 😳 Thanks in advance!
 
for the deposit that is due on Dec 15, does that mean it needs to be postmarked by Dec 15 (I was planning on sending a check) or needs to be processed by the 15th? I will probably call tomorrow to confirm, but if anybody knew off the top of their head.. the less bothering I will have to do to their office 🙂
 
for the deposit that is due on Dec 15, does that mean it needs to be postmarked by Dec 15 (I was planning on sending a check) or needs to be processed by the 15th? I will probably call tomorrow to confirm, but if anybody knew off the top of their head.. the less bothering I will have to do to their office 🙂

For something that important, I'd go to the source. Call the office and make a note of who you speak to.
 
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I missed the bacterial vaginosis (or something along those lines) lecture, unfortunately:laugh:, but the remainder of the classes at least were not dull. The professors seemed really nice and had a good sense of humor, so after an early morning I didn't even catch myself yawning!😳

Since you are, without question, an entirely helpful person on this thread, I was wondering if you had any opinions/advice to offer. I see a lot of info on apartments and whatnot, but do you have insight on housing/areas for those who might want to buy a home/townhouse? I will be married and we have several pets, so that is probably the best option for us- but we didn't know what places to even begin looking. Any help would be much appreciated 😳 Thanks in advance!

What area do you want to live in and what's your price range? My husband and I decided that we wanted to live in the city, so that's where we live, but we're renting for now. It's a little more expensive then right by school, but I think it's completely worth it to be near so many ammenities.

Anyway, we've somewhat looked at prices and depending on the area, the home prices aren't too bad. We would like to stay in the city and the commute isn't too bad on most days (15-20 minuntes). In some good neighborhoods in the city you can buy a house for under 200k, which I think is a really good price.

So hopefully that helps. I think it comes down to what type of location you want to live in and the size of the home you need/want. You can look on craigslist or realtor.com to get any idea. Good luck!
 
What area do you want to live in and what's your price range? My husband and I decided that we wanted to live in the city, so that's where we live, but we're renting for now. It's a little more expensive then right by school, but I think it's completely worth it to be near so many ammenities.

Anyway, we've somewhat looked at prices and depending on the area, the home prices aren't too bad. We would like to stay in the city and the commute isn't too bad on most days (15-20 minuntes). In some good neighborhoods in the city you can buy a house for under 200k, which I think is a really good price.

So hopefully that helps. I think it comes down to what type of location you want to live in and the size of the home you need/want. You can look on craigslist or realtor.com to get any idea. Good luck!

We'd probably prefer not to live right in the city- anywhere within 20-30 minutes out towards the suburbs. I think we are going to just have to meet with a realtor in the area and really get a feel for all of our options. Thank you so much for the insight! 😀
 
For those who interveiwed......once you accept your interview slot is there anything you need to do closer to the actaul date? I know they were supposed to send an e-mail when they received my confirmation, but they never did. I called to make sure I was on their interview list, which I was, but the never resent that e-mail I never rec'd, so I don't know if it has any further instructions on it or not....... Thanks for any light you can shed.
 
I may have missed this, but how much of the class is filled to this point, does anyone know? I'm hoping that because my secondary was a little higher in the pile (stupid forgetting to mail the check!!!) I'll hear back soon. It seems as though it's only been taking a week or two but how many seats are left and how far out are they interviewing?
 
Can anyone post PCOM's residency match list? and if anyone of you all withdraws their interview slot can you let us know so we can interview earlier than later?! 🙂 Thanks
 
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Look up the CIB on Google. I believe our cost of attendance was around 63000 this year. I received two small scholarships but still took out up to the cost of attendance.

I wasn't able to find the info out on the financial aid PDF on PCOM's website, but I was wondering if you knew approximately the max amount of money a student could be awarded in terms of grants? (assuming that you do not receive any merit based scholarship).
 
No idea, but what I received was minimal. One of my classmates, whom I only heard the story through SDN a while ago, I believe got a 1/2 tuition scholarship or it might have been 1/3. He was awarded this with his acceptance.

Thanks for the help!
 
Anyone sent in their LORs thru Interfolio? I did send them on November 15 and I called PCOM and they still haven't received them. But, they have received my secondary. Did this happen to anyone?
 
Heyyy !

Does anyone know the percentage of people that are accepted post-interview? Like 400 interviewed, 200 accepted, 100 matriculated kind of thing? Is there anywhere that I can find this info?
 
Heyyy !

Does anyone know the percentage of people that are accepted post-interview? Like 400 interviewed, 200 accepted, 100 matriculated kind of thing? Is there anywhere that I can find this info?

Someone posted this info earlier from open house stats...and I'm pretty sure it was close to:

~800 invited for interview
~600/650 interviewed
~400 accepted
~270 matriculated
 
I wonder when the next batch of decisions will be sent out? I interviewed 11/19 and still no word. I might have just missed the admissions committee meeting tho, so maybe next week...
 
I wonder when the next batch of decisions will be sent out? I interviewed 11/19 and still no word. I might have just missed the admissions committee meeting tho, so maybe next week...


I interviewed Dec 7 and my acceptance letter was dated Dec 10th. I would call to check
 
I interviewed Dec 7 and my acceptance letter was dated Dec 10th. I would call to check

Cardio - my letter was dated 11/18 (interviewed 11/12), and according to other posts, the last time before that letters were dated 10/29, so it would seem you will get your letter early this week. Maybe Penndo lives in PA so the letter got there faster. I'm from upstate NY and I received it three days after it was dated.

Good luck! :luck:
 
I interviewed Dec 7 and my acceptance letter was dated Dec 10th. I would call to check

i interviewed 12/7 and still no word...but they said they would let us know by dec 15th...do you think this could mean i didnt get accepted?

do they send "no" letters right after too?
 
i interviewed 12/7 and still no word...but they said they would let us know by dec 15th...do you think this could mean i didnt get accepted?

do they send "no" letters right after too?


I would wait until Monday or Tuesday--mine came on Saturday and to a PA address so yours very well may be on the way still
 
Lewist02- Thanks for the heads up, I'm also from upstate NY and if the last set of letters went out the 10th, then hopefully I'll see a letter in the next day or two.

Thanks for the input everyone.
 
for those who have received your letter of acceptance, did they send the letter to your current address or permanent (or legal) address? I'm wondering if I need to call my folks. hmmm.
 
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for those who have received your letter of acceptance, did they send the letter to your current address or permanent (or legal) address? I'm wondering if I need to call my folks. hmmm.

nevermind. Accepted!! 😀 They mail the letter to your current address.
 
hey, just wanted some feedback on what the turnaround time for interview invites has been for everyone...

I got an email stating that my application was received on December 10th and that it is now under review, my letters were submitted via Virtual Evals in November

If I am rejected pre-interview will I be informed by snail mail or email?
any feedback is appreciated, thanks 🙂
 
OK. I am in the City Ave Crowne Plaza. I see the Target next door. And the Presidential Apt building. There is a nice pedestrian bridge over City Ave in front of the apts.......so I went out walking around this afternoon, thinking I would see the school and I don't. Of course there are no address numbers anywhere. So where is it hidden away???? Am I going to have to drive to the interview?
Also, how long do you think it will take those of us who are interviewing this week to hear back? Any chance we could hear before Christmas? That would be a nice present!....well, as long as it is good news.
 
OK. I am in the City Ave Crowne Plaza. I see the Target next door. And the Presidential Apt building. There is a nice pedestrian bridge over City Ave in front of the apts.......so I went out walking around this afternoon, thinking I would see the school and I don't. Of course there are no address numbers anywhere. So where is it hidden away???? Am I going to have to drive to the interview?
Also, how long do you think it will take those of us who are interviewing this week to hear back? Any chance we could hear before Christmas? That would be a nice present!....well, as long as it is good news.

i interviewed yesterday and we were told we would hear back the first week of january the latest, but possibly sooner.
 
OK. I am in the City Ave Crowne Plaza. I see the Target next door. And the Presidential Apt building. There is a nice pedestrian bridge over City Ave in front of the apts.......so I went out walking around this afternoon, thinking I would see the school and I don't. Of course there are no address numbers anywhere. So where is it hidden away???? Am I going to have to drive to the interview?
Also, how long do you think it will take those of us who are interviewing this week to hear back? Any chance we could hear before Christmas? That would be a nice present!....well, as long as it is good news.

you are extremely close to the school at the crowne plaza

head out of the hotel and turn left at the light on city ave (the road you will be on before you turn left will be situated so the presidential apt are on your right, the houlihans is across the street) the school is on city ave and on the left hand side (or you can turn left at the next light on city ave at monument road and the school will be on your right then) it is an easy walk as well (1/2 mile?)
 
Thanks! So it's literally at the intersection of City and Monument? Across the intersection from the Target Shopping Center then? If that is the case, I walked by it this afternoon and can certainly walk tomorrow.
 
Thanks Call Me X. How many more interviews are you going to go to? I know you already have a couple of acceptances. If I get into PCOM, I think I'm done. I will withdraw from the others and be done with this process! If I don't get in, I may go to a couple more. But I must admit, that having a place to go to makes me feel a lot like pulling the plug on more travelling about. PCOM is my first choice at moment, but just knowing that I am going to school next year, regardless, made me so very lazy about finishing up those last few secondaries!!!😳
 
hey, just wanted some feedback on what the turnaround time for interview invites has been for everyone...

I got an email stating that my application was received on December 10th and that it is now under review, my letters were submitted via Virtual Evals in November

If I am rejected pre-interview will I be informed by snail mail or email?
any feedback is appreciated, thanks 🙂

PCOM doesn't send out pre-interview rejection letters that I have heard of. They will hold onto your application until the very end (which is nice because it keeps you in the running the rest of the season). If you were to get rejected without an interview, you will probably not receive the letter until April. Because they keep your file under review until the end of the season, the turnaround time can vary depending on the individual. I was complete in Sept. and heard back 7 weeks later for an interview. Some people heard 2 weeks after. Some people still haven't.

Good luck!:luck:
 
Thanks! So it's literally at the intersection of City and Monument? Across the intersection from the Target Shopping Center then? If that is the case, I walked by it this afternoon and can certainly walk tomorrow.

no, not exactly at that intersection of city ave/monument. its a bit beyond that intersection on the left on city ave
 
Thanks Penndo. I looked at the campus map again and have re-oriented myself. I did walk right by it this afternoon and next time I will recognize it. Congrats on your acceptance BTW. Hopefully, I will join you on that list soon. :xf:
 
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Thanks Penndo. I looked at the campus map again and have re-oriented myself. I did walk right by it this afternoon and next time I will recognize it. Congrats on your acceptance BTW. Hopefully, I will join you on that list soon. :xf:

good luck! its a very laid back interview and i feel they do the best in asking follow up questions to make it a more interactive and free flowing interview.

i went into it with an acceptance already like you have and it takes the pressure to perform (it may be my only shot???????) completely away even though it may be my top choice as well and i think that helped a lot.
 
Thanks Call Me X. How many more interviews are you going to go to? I know you already have a couple of acceptances. If I get into PCOM, I think I'm done. I will withdraw from the others and be done with this process! If I don't get in, I may go to a couple more. But I must admit, that having a place to go to makes me feel a lot like pulling the plug on more travelling about. PCOM is my first choice at moment, but just knowing that I am going to school next year, regardless, made me so very lazy about finishing up those last few secondaries!!!😳

i have 1 more lined up now that i'm definitely going to go to, but unless additional interviews miraculously come up that are driving distance i might not go....it really is draining, and i totally understand you not wanting to finish those last apps! good luck on your interview and hopefully we both hear some good news from pcom in the near future!
 
OK. I am in the City Ave Crowne Plaza. I see the Target next door. And the Presidential Apt building. There is a nice pedestrian bridge over City Ave in front of the apts.......so I went out walking around this afternoon, thinking I would see the school and I don't. Of course there are no address numbers anywhere. So where is it hidden away???? Am I going to have to drive to the interview?


I stayed at the Crowne Plaza as well. FYI, they have a van that can drop you off at PCOM for free. I took advantage of that since I was in heels and definitely didn't want to walk 1/2 mile in those!
 
Thanks everybody! I just got back home from my interview......a long drive. And I didn't want to leave Phila right away, b/c of traffic I would hit farther South on 95, so I wasted a couple of hours buying some toys and stocking stuffers for my kids at the Target across the street. HaHa......nothing like Christmas shopping on your med-school interviews.
They told us we would hear the third week of January.....boo.........my big deposit is due on Jan 4th!!!
 
Hi GUYS!!

I just got accepted into PCOM and I am so excited!! i had my interview 11/19 and the letter was dated 12/10. I am like 95% sure i am going here... just got to do a little more research..Hope i get to meet you guys!!