PCOM (Philadelphia) Discussion Thread 2010-2011

[jeffro1080]

---

Members do not see this ad.

I have an interview this Thursday... 9/23

I'm pretty grateful considering that I was only complete as of 8/28

anyone else interviewing on this date??

 

[Studentk123]

Hello everyone
I'm new here and needed ur help. Last month I got interested in DO schools for many reasons and applied to 4 DO schools. I was wondering if someone can help answer my questions please
I sent in my primary application beginning is sept and haven't received any secondariesfor those who already received them do u know how long it takes
2. Also after completing the secondaries how Lon so they take to respond
3. Before applying to Pcom I had applied to md schools do u know if the admission knows if we applied to md
Thank you all
Really hope to go to pcom
Also congrads to those that got an interview I'm so nervous

 

[TallScrubs]

I have an interview this Thursday... 9/23

I'm pretty grateful considering that I was only complete as of 8/28

anyone else interviewing on this date??

i'll see you there. I got at 11

 

[jeffro1080]

i'll see you there. I got at 11

oh word.

 

[sa22]

does anyone know how full the class is so far? it seems that so many people have been accepted and my interview isn't until the beginning of november!

SORRY. accidently posted this on the wrong thread!!

 

[ND10]

does anyone know how full the class is so far? it seems that so many people have been accepted and my interview isn't until the beginning of november!

I'm pretty sure that they just started giving interview invites at PCOM, so I don't think anyone got accepted yet. I wouldn't worry. My interview is on November 3rd... maybe I'll see you there!

 

[jeffro1080]

does anyone know how full the class is so far? it seems that so many people have been accepted and my interview isn't until the beginning of november!

yeah, I wouldn't worry about it. I think this is the first week of interviews.

 

[sa22]

sorry! I meant to put that on the Lecom erie thread!!

 

[Dr2B4Ever]

nevermind

 

[TallScrubs]

anyone know how long it usually takes for pcom to make an acceptance decision after interview?

 

[ND10]

Would anyone know how many applicants they interview and accept?

 

[sa22]

has anyone gotten an interview invite from both?

 

[Helen Wheels]

Before applying to Pcom I had applied to md schools do u know if the admission knows if we applied to md

I didn't apply to PCOM so I can't comment on how long secondaries take, etc. I can tell you that AACOMAS and AMCAS are totally separate services and they do not share information between them. So, MD programs will no know about the DO schools you applied to and DO schools will not know if you applied to MD programs.

Most secondary applications will not ask about this but a lot of people are asked if they also applied to MD programs when they go to a DO interview. That doesn't seem to happen the other way around. I have never heard of someone saying an MD program asked them if they applied DO. So, just be prepared if it comes up at an interview.

 

[ND10]

has anyone gotten an interview invite from both?

I have not - Just PCOM. Do you know if GA-PCOM has increased their class size this year or is it the roughly 80-90 person class size?

 

[jeffro1080]

anyone know how long it usually takes for pcom to make an acceptance decision after interview?

I read somewhere that they let you know the day after the interview. This was from a comment in the 'interviews' section and it could have easily been from someone really late in the cycle.

 

[nikster1217]

Hey all,
I just thought I'd let you know how the structure for the interview day was...

You eat breakfast with a faculty member at 8am. Then, depending on your interview time, you can hang out in the admissions office and wait, or you can go to the first or second-year lectures. In your interview, you will meet with multiple people--one group met with two people, the other met with four, and the admissions director told us that it was luck of the draw which person got which situation. The interview lasted about half an hour, and then you could either wait around for the tour or you could leave. It was very flexible, and you didn't have to listen to a presentation or anything.

In terms of getting back to us, I interviewed today and they said they would be getting back to us mid-october. There was a student who said that she heard the next day, but she applied later in the admissions cycle. As of now, they're on about a three-week delay.

Best of luck to those who will be interviewing soon!

 

[cuhubris]

I interviewed in early December last year, and they said we'd hear back first week of January. Interviewed on a Wednesday and had the acceptance letter the next Monday. So I think the three week thing is an "up to" but you generally hear earlier.

Good luck to everyone interviewing this year. Great school, I love it here.

 

[ND10]

I have a good friend who is a second year at PCOM, and he said the same thing. He heard back in 4 or 5 days.

 

[TallScrubs]

Anyone who was at the interview with me yesterday, or anyone who has ever had an interview at pcom, did the admissions lady say we should hope for a thick or thin letter?

 

[jeffro1080]

Anyone who was at the interview with me yesterday, or anyone who has ever had an interview at pcom, did the admissions lady say we should hope for a thick or thin letter?

She said that the letter will be thin either way.

Were you the guy sitting in the corner? There were a couple of "Tall Scrubs"

 

[TallScrubs]

She said that the letter will be thin either way.

Were you the guy sitting in the corner? There were a couple of "Tall Scrubs"

I was the one sitting near you most of the time--with the burgundy shirt.

 

[Lewist02]

Would anyone know how many applicants they interview and accept?

Last year they sent out large batches of acceptances once a month, or so it seemed, so if you interviewed right after the batches were sent, it will take a few weeks to hear. If you interview right before the batches, it will take a few days. Took mine about a week. The way admissions works at PCOM, is you will be graded by the staff you meet with during an interview, but then a larger group of staff will revisit your application and interview and decide whether or not to sent an acceptance letter.

I think I posted stats of how many were interviewed vs. accepted for the c/o 2013 on last years thread. I think I remembered 400 were accepted out of 600 interviews. Definitely more in-staters than out-of-staters.

As for getting invites to both campuses, i'm not really sure. I have only heard of biomed students getting invites from both campuses, but that doesn't mean other students haven't. Both PCOM campuses are very big on you wanting to be and serving in the area the school is in. Since it's hard to have a preference for both, it may be hard getting an interview at both.

 

[same21]

It took me about a month and a half to complete this secondary after receiving it because I was waiting for my MCAT scores. Does anyone know if they give their applicants a certain amount of time to complete their secondaries? For instance, some schools say...you must send this back within three weeks.

 

[ND10]

It took me about a month and a half to complete this secondary after receiving it because I was waiting for my MCAT scores. Does anyone know if they give their applicants a certain amount of time to complete their secondaries? For instance, some schools say...you must send this back within three weeks.

I was told that they record the date they send a secondary invite to you and the date you sent it back. By sending it back asap, you show high interest in their school. Ideally, you want to get it in within days to 2 weeks, but no later than 4 weeks. Take that for what it's worth. Others can chime in too.

 

[jeffro1080]

I was the one sitting near you most of the time--with the burgundy shirt.

oh worddd

 

[1adam12]

I met the dean of PCOM and some of the faculty on Saturday at a Penn State tailgate. They were really cool and easy going. The dean said that PCOM has a regional bias for applicants. One of the faculty said that they tend not to look at just the numbers. You all probably know that already, but just some verification from the horse's mouth.

 

[ND10]

I met the dean of PCOM and some of the faculty on Saturday at a Penn State tailgate. They were really cool and easy going. The dean said that PCOM has a regional bias for applicants. One of the faculty said that they tend not to look at just the numbers. You all probably know that already, but just some verification from the horse's mouth.

That is awesome! How did you come about meeting him at a PSU tailgate?

 

[1adam12]

That is awesome! How did you come about meeting him at a PSU tailgate?

PCOM has an annual tailgate for their alumni at Penn State and they invited all the premeds at PSU to stop by. I think the dean is a PSU alumni, not 100% sure. I know Carol Fox (VP for enrollment) and Dr. David Kuo (family med director) are alumni.

 

[ND10]

PCOM has an annual tailgate for their alumni at Penn State and they invited all the premeds at PSU to stop by. I think the dean is a PSU alumni, not 100% sure. I know Carol Fox (VP for enrollment) and Dr. David Kuo (family med director) are alumni.

Oh I see, that's cool of them to hold the annual tailgate at PSU. By regionally, do you mean not only PA residents, but also applicants who live very close to PCOM?

 

[Cyclist4Ever]

First interview on 10/28. very excited.

 

[1adam12]

Oh I see, that's cool of them to hold the annual tailgate at PSU. By regionally, do you mean not only PA residents, but also applicants who live very close to PCOM?

He told me that 65% of those who are accept from PA. It sounded like a good part of the remaining where from the surrounding area.

 

[mauve]

hi guys,
is PCOM strict about their requirement of a dean's letter? I have the normal science letters and a DO. anyone know? thanks

 

[FutureDoc1988]

hi guys,
is PCOM strict about their requirement of a dean's letter? I have the normal science letters and a DO. anyone know? thanks

From what I have heard they are very strict about having a dean's letter.

Try to get in touch with your dean and see if they can write a letter, the school knows that it wont be a personal letter.

 

[deleted248403]

I will be withdrawing my application - Good luck to everyone!

 

[TallScrubs]

From reading the last year's PCOM thread, the general consensus is that those of us who have interviewed already will hear a response by the end of next week.

 

[EspIsMe]

hi guys,
is PCOM strict about their requirement of a dean's letter? I have the normal science letters and a DO. anyone know? thanks

I had the same question. I come from a large university where a deans letter isnt really possible. My advisor said that PCOM is familiar with my school and the fact that this isn't possible to get the letter so she wrote the adcom and said I would be contacting them. After I contacted them and asked, the two science profs worked fine for me. However, I haven't gotten an interview invite yet soooooo maybe it doesn't work so well. 😳 I'd just e-mail and ask. Make sure you explain your situation if it's not possible.

Still hoping for an interview

 

[TallScrubs]

I had the same question. I come from a large university where a deans letter isnt really possible. My advisor said that PCOM is familiar with my school and the fact that this isn't possible to get the letter so she wrote the adcom and said I would be contacting them. After I contacted them and asked, the two science profs worked fine for me. However, I haven't gotten an interview invite yet soooooo maybe it doesn't work so well. 😳 I'd just e-mail and ask. Make sure you explain your situation if it's not possible.

Still hoping for an interview

Trust me, it'll work just fine. Whether or not you get an interview depends entirely on your credentials, not if you have a committee letter or a deans letter or two science professors letters.

 

[jeffro1080]

From reading the last year's PCOM thread, the general consensus is that those of us who have interviewed already will hear a response by the end of next week.

what about the mid October thng?? was that a deadline?

 

[TallScrubs]

what about the mid October thng?? was that a deadline?

I remember her saying that we'd hear by them at the latest by mid October.

 

[MightyMoose]

Trust me, it'll work just fine. Whether or not you get an interview depends entirely on your credentials, not if you have a committee letter or a deans letter or two science professors letters.

And apparently if you reside in or around PA... Which I don't... 🙁

 

[EspIsMe]

And apparently if you reside in or around PA... Which I don't... 🙁

+1..... Hey, PCOM, No, I don't live in PA but I LOOOOOOOVEEE your school! INTERVIEW ME! Better yet, just accept me sans interview. Thanks. ~Esp

 

[bluefaeriedusts]

Hello everyone
I'm new here and needed ur help. Last month I got interested in DO schools for many reasons and applied to 4 DO schools. I was wondering if someone can help answer my questions please
I sent in my primary application beginning is sept and haven't received any secondariesfor those who already received them do u know how long it takes
2. Also after completing the secondaries how Lon so they take to respond
3. Before applying to Pcom I had applied to md schools do u know if the admission knows if we applied to md
Thank you all
Really hope to go to pcom
Also congrads to those that got an interview I'm so nervous

1. It usually takes about a month or so for the AACOMAS application to be processed and then sent to the school. However I know that PCOM gives everyone who applies a secondary so it doesn't hurt to get started on the secondary application essays. I think the secondaries are available online somewhere.
2. The response after the secondaries are sent in can vary, so that I can't give you a definite answer.
3. PCOM won't know if you applied to MD schools. However they might ask you at the interview (they asked me during my interview, and I did apply to Temple).

Don't stress out too much. I know it's a huge waiting process, but you'll get through it.

 

[bluefaeriedusts]

He told me that 65% of those who are accept from PA. It sounded like a good part of the remaining where from the surrounding area.

LOTS of my classmates are from PSU so it's not surprising that there is a tailgate...that's probably student runned. However those of you from outside of PA have a good chance still. There are people from Florida and Texas here, so it's not like PCOM won't look at you if you're not from PA.

 

[TallScrubs]

I am surprised this thread isn't more active...i thought this was one of the more popular schools. LECOM-E and B are killin' it.

 

[ND10]

I am surprised this thread isn't more active...i thought this was one of the more popular schools. LECOM-E and B are killin' it.

Haha true, but it's probably due to the fact that LECOMs started interviewing and whatnot really early, especially compared to PCOM.

 

[Brinkley]

I'm interviewing November 15th and leaving Sunday from the Richmond, VA area. If anyone between there and PCOM would like to carpool, send me a PM.

 

[cuhubris]

And apparently if you reside in or around PA... Which I don't... 🙁

I'm from New England and got in. Not impossible, so keep hoping.

 

[StarryNights]

I have an interview at Drexel in Nov. Would love to get to interview at PCOM on the same trip...more waiting, I guess

 

[Lukat]

still no love from PCOM for me 🙁

 

[Assmosis]

I called here today and they said I was complete. But I had never received the e-mail saying so or the link to check status, does it just take awhile to get the complete e-mail??