PCOM (Philadelphia) Discussion Thread 2011-2012

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meghaneuron said:
Has anyone that has been accepted to PCOM been waitlisted by them in the past? I was waitlisted by them last year (interviewed in mid-Feb) and just interviewed again last week -- I am extremely anxious about it, and was looking for some hope. 😳 I have been taking two courses at nearby college (biochemistry and microbiology), got a full-time job in a hospital as a nurses aide, and re-took my MCAT (raised my score by 3 points).
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I had a friend that was waitlisted and then accepted a year later, but she completed one year of the PCOM biomed course, so not sure how helpful that is.
 
Lewist02 said:
I had a friend that was waitlisted and then accepted a year later, but she completed one year of the PCOM biomed course, so not sure how helpful that is.
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Thank you so much, Lewist02. You've provided useful feedback throughout this entire thread. 🙂
 
meghaneuron said:
Has anyone that has been accepted to PCOM been waitlisted by them in the past? I was waitlisted by them last year (interviewed in mid-Feb) and just interviewed again last week -- I am extremely anxious about it, and was looking for some hope. 😳 I have been taking two courses at nearby college (biochemistry and microbiology), got a full-time job in a hospital as a nurses aide, and re-took my MCAT (raised my score by 3 points).
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Yes I know people in my class that were waitlisted and then obviously got accepted.
 
Just received my interview invite for next Wednesday. Super excited!!
 
I submitted back when they sent out secondaries but I think they were waiting for my new MCAT score. I have a grad gpa of 3.75 and a 24 MCAT. So far I have had 1 interview and was accepted this will be my second and I was just invited for a 3rd. I don't know how I am doing it with such a low mcat. I never thought I would get even an interview this cycle!
 
Yiipie!!!!!!!!!!! Just got my secondary received email!!!!
submitted secondary: 10/22
 
A lady from the admissions office told me that the committee met this past Tuesday --- anyone get any letters today?!
 
Is PCOM PA sending interview/rejection notifications within the 12-16 days they indicate in their "supplemental finalized" email?
 
Where did you see the 12-16 days, or the "supplemental finalized email"? I havent seen either of those... I have a receipt/complete email but nothing where I saw a 12-16 day timeframe.
 
Hi guys
I have an interview invite for Nov, i'm super excited but not too much because i already have two acceptances. UNECOM and WVSOM. I know Pcom is a very good school. I don't know what to do. How would u guys rank these 3 schools. PCOM vs UNECOM vs WVSOM
 
INVITE November 16th! Just got it this morning... odd, because I have yet to receive my complete email (sent out my app Thursday last week and my letters Friday).

I'll take it!
 
luppop said:
Hi guys
I have an interview invite for Nov, i'm super excited but not too much because i already have two acceptances. UNECOM and WVSOM. I know Pcom is a very good school. I don't know what to do. How would u guys rank these 3 schools. PCOM vs UNECOM vs WVSOM
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haha...PCOM > UNECOM > WVSOM (PCOM #1 because I love it here...WVSOM number 3 because of the awful price tag.....and I didn't apply to UNECOM bc of the biochem requirement...so can't help much in terms of their school, but if you had a choice between those two and WVSOM.....not WVSOM)

And for the other poster - PCOM continually reviews applications throughout the year, so you can receive an interview invite through the end of March/beginning of April, or a rejection letter at the end of April.
 
Noting the mission and objectives of the Osteopathic profession and PCOM, please describe your personal characteristics that demonstrate your interest in this field. Include an example of an event in which your actions directly influenced the life of another person and relate this to your goal of becoming a DO. (250 words)

Does anyone have any hints about what to possibly write for the secondary essay? This is the only secondary that I haven't completed because I really have no examples of an "event in which my actions influenced another person to relate to my goal of becoming a DO". It's so frustrating because I feel like I have to absolutely lie to write this essay.
 
Smiths11 said:
Noting the mission and objectives of the Osteopathic profession and PCOM, please describe your personal characteristics that demonstrate your interest in this field. Include an example of an event in which your actions directly influenced the life of another person and relate this to your goal of becoming a DO. (250 words)

Does anyone have any hints about what to possibly write for the secondary essay? This is the only secondary that I haven't completed because I really have no examples of an "event in which my actions influenced another person to relate to my goal of becoming a DO". It's so frustrating because I feel like I have to absolutely lie to write this essay.
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I detailed a volunteer experience when I worked with kids with cancer and their families - does that help?
 
meghaneuron said:
I detailed a volunteer experience when I worked with kids with cancer and their families - does that help?
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Thanks for your reply. Yea thats a good example, except the only volunteer experience I have is in the Emergency Room, which as we all know is mainly about restocking rooms and delivering water to patients. I can't relate any of that to specifically DO work. Unless, if I write about how I conversed with patients. Maybe I can relate that to how the DO philosophy of treating the patient as a whole applies, since I held conversations and therefore showed that I cared about them on a personal level? It seems a bit of a stretch though.

Thanks again for your help.
 
Smiths11 said:
Thanks for your reply. Yea thats a good example, except the only volunteer experience I have is in the Emergency Room, which as we all know is mainly about restocking rooms and delivering water to patients. I can't relate any of that to specifically DO work. Unless, if I write about how I conversed with patients. Maybe I can relate that to how the DO philosophy of treating the patient as a whole applies, since I held conversations and therefore showed that I cared about them on a personal level? It seems a bit of a stretch though.

Thanks again for your help.
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What about any teaching experience? But really, as long as you can emphasize a strong personal quality, back it up with an experience, and then relate this quality to why you'd like to be a D.O, I feel as though this would absolutely be a sufficient answer.
 
Smiths11 said:
Noting the mission and objectives of the Osteopathic profession and PCOM, please describe your personal characteristics that demonstrate your interest in this field. Include an example of an event in which your actions directly influenced the life of another person and relate this to your goal of becoming a DO. (250 words)

Does anyone have any hints about what to possibly write for the secondary essay? This is the only secondary that I haven't completed because I really have no examples of an "event in which my actions influenced another person to relate to my goal of becoming a DO". It's so frustrating because I feel like I have to absolutely lie to write this essay.
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I wrote about a counseling-type experience and related to the importance of well-being (mind & body)
 
Interview Invite: Nov. 17th
Today is: Oct. 27th
Secondary Submitted (Acknowledgement: Receipt of PCOM Supplemental Email): Oct. 17th
Secondary Rec'd (when PCOM sent me their 2ndary): Sept. 22nd
AACOMAS Submitted: Aug. 15th.

Stats: 3.52 sGPA, 3.55cGPA, 3.60non-sGPA,
2nd MCAT: 28O: 9,8,9 (PS,V,BS)
1st MCAT: 22M: 9,5,8 (PS,V,BS)
 
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kalman921 said:
Congrats on the II! Mind sharing your stats? I sent mine in last week too 🙂
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Cgpa: 3.71
sgpa: 3.61
MCAT #1: 32O (11v, 11b, 10p) taken in 2007... So it expired
MCAT #2: 31O (10v, 12b, 9p) taken may 2011

OOS resident (AZ)... Graduated in 2008.

Looking forward to visiting PCOM! I hear great things!
 
any canadians out there? ie accepted/interviewed?
 
Haha strong brah good to see 10/10 love.

Stats: 3.6 s/cgpa, 30n, is, non trad, complete late August
 
so i got the acknowledgement receipt of the supplemental email on 10/19.. i haven't heard anything as yet.. should i be worried? what is the timeline to hear back for an interview invitation? i would really love to go to pcom!
 
Interviewed 10/12
Accepted Letter date 10/26!!

Could not be more excited!!!! PCOM is awesome!!
 
qpqp123 said:
so i got the acknowledgement receipt of the supplemental email on 10/19.. i haven't heard anything as yet.. should i be worried? what is the timeline to hear back for an interview invitation? i would really love to go to pcom!
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I'm starting to get concerned as well. My application was complete on 9/23 and I received the acknowledgment of receipt email on 10/6. I just called the admissions department and they were absolutely no use. I asked persistently and she wouldn't even tell me when the admissions committee is meeting next. She just said "sometime in the next month". This is ridiculous. My secondary has been complete for over a month, they should at least give me a ballpark time frame of when I can hear back!! 😡
 
Still waiting here too. Grr. Have there been any pre-interview rejections yet?
 
ianmodo said:
I'm starting to get concerned as well. My application was complete on 9/23 and I received the acknowledgment of receipt email on 10/6. I just called the admissions department and they were absolutely no use. I asked persistently and she wouldn't even tell me when the admissions committee is meeting next. She just said "sometime in the next month". This is ridiculous. My secondary has been complete for over a month, they should at least give me a ballpark time frame of when I can hear back!! 😡
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PCOM does not send out holds or rejections until the end of the season. They continuously review applications throughout the year, so you could hear anytime from today up until the end of March.
 
i called on friday and they said my secondary was 'under review' so hopefully thats good? i hope we all hear back soon
 
The following, in my opinion, is what you applicants should consider 'good' or 'bad' news.

'Good': Interview invite or acceptance
'Bad': rejection/hold

Everything in between is not anything. Don't get worked up because you haven't gotten an invite yet, don't set-up a party because they processed your application fee. Just relax and everything will work itself out.
 
Did anyone interview here today, and if so can someone remind me of the name of the student interview who was conducting the interviews with Marsha?? Her last name was a little difficult to pronounce. I need it for my thank you.
 
Phoebe87 said:
Did anyone interview here today, and if so can someone remind me of the name of the student interview who was conducting the interviews with Marsha?? Her last name was a little difficult to pronounce. I need it for my thank you.
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Don't bother with thank you notes. The decision was made as soon as you walked out the interview room.
 
Rollo said:
Don't bother with thank you notes. The decision was made as soon as you walked out the interview room.
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They won't affect the decision, but they are tasteful and classy, so if the interview went well and you had a great experience with the committee members, I say do it.
 
Lewist02 said:
They won't affect the decision, but they are tasteful and classy, so if the interview went well and you had a great experience with the committee members, I say do it.
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Agree that it is classy but I want to make sure that people don't do it with the wrong intentions in my mind, i.e. "If I send a thank you note, they might be more inclined to accept me."
 
Is this the same way admissions is done at PCOM-GA as well (for anyone who knows)? I hadn't heard that at PCOM-Philly it was done that way. So they they simply "recommend" (or not) you for acceptance right after you interview? Hmm...seems a little strange. I wonder what it would take for them not to recommend you.
 
Rollo said:
Agree that it is classy but I want to make sure that people don't do it with the wrong intentions in my mind, i.e. "If I send a thank you note, they might be more inclined to accept me."
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I was definitely in that boat after my interview so it is great advice. Just wanted to add the point that if it was a great experience, a note would be warranted, otherwise it would be a waste of time.
 
I realize it will not affect their decision, however it really was a wonderful experience, which is why I am sending one🙂
 
Anyone heard anything from PCOM recently? I sent in secondary Oct 18th (via their email system), haven't heard anything. Tried to contact them just to make sure they even got it, but got generic "Please wait 15-20 days for update info" response.
Or any suggestions?
 
jimsmith49i said:
Anyone heard anything from PCOM recently? I sent in secondary Oct 18th (via their email system), haven't heard anything. Tried to contact them just to make sure they even got it, but got generic "Please wait 15-20 days for update info" response.
Or any suggestions?
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I would call just to be sure. I submitted my secondary back in August via e-mail and found out a few days ago (after calling admissions) that it had accidentally gone to their spam folder. Awesome. Everything is straightened out now, and I'm complete as of November 1st. Moral of the story: I would have never known unless I contacted them. Always good to be pro-active.
 
Serenity17 said:
I would call just to be sure. I submitted my secondary back in August via e-mail and found out a few days ago (after calling admissions) that it had accidentally gone to their spam folder. Awesome. Everything is straightened out now, and I'm complete as of November 1st. Moral of the story: I would have never known unless I contacted them. Always good to be pro-active.
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Thanks for the advice Kalman and Serenity - you are the kind of folks who make this website so awesome!

Serenity, when I called, they just said to keep waiting. How did you ask that prompted them to actually look and see if they received your secondary?
 
No problem! I told them I had submitted back in August and never received a "Complete" e-mail. 3 months seemed to be the red flag. They did mention that it can take 15-20 days for them to update applications. You should hear soon. I'd give it another week or so, then call.
 
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I got an email acknowledging that they received all my materials and fees on Sept 29. I haven't heard anything since. i hate this waiting game 🙁
 
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