Philadelphia COM - Georgia (GA-PCOM) Discussion Thread 2015 - 2016

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KO_TV said:
Sorry you had such a bad experience :/ I did hear that there were some interviewers who deliberately contested answers saying things such as "no you studied for the mcat wrong" and other things similar to that. I'm surprised you didn't have the names. Everyone was assigned seats in groups during my interview day and it clearly shows (it was typed up) who is interviewing you. This was useful when I wrote my thank you emails to my interviewers. Maybe he was trying to gauge how to handle uncomfortable situations? I don't know I'm surprised because my interview experience was the opposite. Everything was organized and the students were extremely happy to be there. The few that I talked to turned down some pretty good places (Rowan SOM and NYIT) to go there.
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I've heard from some students that its a very collaborative atomsphere and they seemed happy to me.
 
Ready on 10/22. Still waiting. Called today and they said my application was still under review.
I can't believe they haven't gotten to late October applications. So not sure what to do here lol.


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^ solid question. Because if not that would explain a lot lol


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i would've been done early september but my ONE stupid ass hat professor didn't put it official letterhead and wouldn't write a new one so i had to find another random prof that took 3x as long as he promised. so i was officially complete mid-december. this was my top choice too.
 
For the accepted, have any of you guys done the medical history questionaire yet?
 
KO_TV said:
For the accepted, have any of you guys done the medical history questionaire yet?
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Yeah man. As much as I could. I have to get a few vaccines and titers before I submit it. I got one of the docs I work with to fill out the physical portion of it.
 
SmilingTooth said:
Yes. But they have good movement in the waitlist starting June, so keeping my fingers crossed!
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I interview there on the 12th. Hopefully not for a WL spot! Good luck to you.

What were your impressions of the program?
 
J Senpai said:
I interview there on the 12th. Hopefully not for a WL spot! Good luck to you.

What were your impressions of the program?
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ACOM is a great school. I personally loved the program. Just be yourself and practice for the interview. I hope to see you as my classmate!
 
J Senpai said:
So we're still in Oct :/
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Not necessarily. Completion date matters once you've been reviewed the first time, but subsequent reviews and IIs are done continuously (regardless of complete date) until all IIs are given out. I've seen some within this thread get PCOM IIs with completion dates of Dec-early Jan.
 
I was complete on September 16, 2015. Interviewed December 11. Accepted December 18th. This is the third place I have placed my deposit and is currently at the top of my list!
 
bogle8 said:
Got the WL letter today. Interviewed Jan 8. Don't want to go here anyway. Horrible interview experience.
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If you don't mind me asking, what happened at your interview? I thought this interview was the best one I had thus far. The faculty was great and so were the students
 
That's what I get for ASSuming.

I'm sure we'll hear something soon
 
KO_TV said:
For the accepted, have any of you guys done the medical history questionaire yet?
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The medial questionnaire will be accessible online once you are given your PCOM nucleus login information.
 
Candii0305 said:
The medial questionnaire will be accessible online once you are given your PCOM nucleus login information.
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Then you have access to it. Are you unable to find it? Also It should be completed 8 weeks from your acceptance date. I spoke to the student wellness today and she said no later than June 1st for sure.
 
Candii0305 said:
Then you have access to it. Are you unable to find it? Also It should be completed 8 weeks from your acceptance date. I spoke to the student wellness today and she said no later than June 1st for sure.
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Was just curious as to know if anyone competed it was all.
 
KO_TV said:
Was just curious as to know if anyone competed it was all.
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I'm working on mine now. Hoping to have it finished in a week or two after I receive all the vaccinations.
 
Can anybody give me some insight on a few questions I had post interview regarding curriculum/ teaching style/ clinical education? Trying my best to evaluate acceptances based on program.

How "board focused" is the curriculum here?? Any comments to the effectiveness of the curriculum?

I understand there have been some changes made to clinical education/clerkships this year.
How are clinical clerkships/rotations be changing? In the past I understand training came from anchor sites and J track ATL to regional sites but this will be different going forward, how? What was the reasoning for the change? Will there be more opportunity for audition rotations due to these changes?

Also, what if any clinical education related research and international opportunities are available to students?
And lastly, is there any further information I should know that sets GA-PCOM's program apart from other school's programs?

Thanks in advanced.
 
Last edited:
Will be giving up my acceptance here. Hopefully it'll give someone else an opportunity to attend this great school!
 
mj1988 said:
Can anybody give me some insight on a few questions I had post interview regarding curriculum/ teaching style/ clinical education? Trying my best to evaluate acceptances based on program.

How "board focused" is the curriculum here?? Any comments to the effectiveness of the curriculum?

I understand there have been some changes made to clinical education/clerkships this year.
How are clinical clerkships/rotations be changing? In the past I understand training came from anchor sites and J track ATL to regional sites but this will be different going forward, how? What was the reasoning for the change? Will there be more opportunity for audition rotations due to these changes?

Also, what if any clinical education related research and international opportunities are available to students?
And lastly, is there any further information I should know that sets GA-PCOM's program apart from other school's programs?

Thanks in advanced.
Click to expand...

I'll answer the question about clinicals, first.

You're correct, prior to this year we had J track, 70 spots for students to rotate in different hospitals and clinics in around Atlanta metro. The rest were placed at anchor sites throughout GA, FL, and AL. This year they revamped the system, removing J track and anchor sites. Each student is now placed in regions; NE GA, Central GA, SE GA, which includes Jacksonville, SW GA, NW GA, and South Central GA. Additionally there are spots in Cahaba, AL., Atlantic City NJ, Scranton PA, and Johnstown, PA. This change has no effect on audition rotations during your 4th year. The changes are simply to improve the overall quality of rotations based on prior student feedback. There are some really solid hospitals PCOMGA students rotate at plus a few that were added this year.

As to the curriculum, you start with Anatomy, Anatomy lab and classes associated; physio, radiology, etc during first term. Second term is devoted to biochem, micro, and pharm. From 3rd term of 1st year to the end of second year, classes are systems based; Neuro, Cardio/Pulm/Renal, Endocrinology, etc etc. After first term, most of what you'd be learning is high yield board material.
Fwiw, faculty is tweaking the schedule for 2nd years in order to provide them more time to study boards. Basically, moving their schedule up so that all classes except for OMM and primary care skills end 6 weeks prior to June (or around June, not clear on the date) , which allows more time for dedicated boards study.

As to research, if you're interested, it's fairly easy to find opportunities in basic sciences research by just communicating with the faculty here. As to clinical research, several classmates were able to set that up on their own through alum networking or other means.

Teaching style: Lecture based. Classes are recorded through a program called tegrity. Labs and guest lecturers are mandatory attendance. We also have small group discussions and vignettes, but those are few and far in between.

Hope that helps.
 
Rammy said:
If you don't mind me asking, what happened at your interview? I thought this interview was the best one I had thus far. The faculty was great and so were the students
Click to expand...

I posted this a few pages back, but here's why:

Very rarely will I post negative things about a school, but I had a terrible interview experience here. First of all, the school interviews like 50 applicants in one day, which is way too many. Things are disorganized and it is hard to fit all of the interviewees into the rooms they show you during the tour. The interviews are 2 on 1. One of my interviewers, a PhD (asian guy, can't remember his name because they didn't give us the names of our interviewers in writing - also strange), was a total a**hole and disagreed with/contested everything I said. I'm sorry, but what is the purpose of being intentionally antagonistic toward an interviewee? It got to the point where I just started addressing the other interviewer in the room exclusively with my responses. There was no reason to be this way. I am an older non-trad applicant with tons of clinical and real world life experience, and I have never been treated this way in an interview, either for a med school or a job. The school felt like a giant warehouse and the student body did not seem extremely happy. No family/collaborative atmosphere at this school, as is present at other places I've interviewed. GA-PCOM left a bad taste in my mouth.
 
bogle8 said:
I posted this a few pages back, but here's why:

Very rarely will I post negative things about a school, but I had a terrible interview experience here. First of all, the school interviews like 50 applicants in one day, which is way too many. Things are disorganized and it is hard to fit all of the interviewees into the rooms they show you during the tour. The interviews are 2 on 1. One of my interviewers, a PhD (asian guy, can't remember his name because they didn't give us the names of our interviewers in writing - also strange), was a total a**hole and disagreed with/contested everything I said. I'm sorry, but what is the purpose of being intentionally antagonistic toward an interviewee? It got to the point where I just started addressing the other interviewer in the room exclusively with my responses. There was no reason to be this way. I am an older non-trad applicant with tons of clinical and real world life experience, and I have never been treated this way in an interview, either for a med school or a job. The school felt like a giant warehouse and the student body did not seem extremely happy. No family/collaborative atmosphere at this school, as is present at other places I've interviewed. GA-PCOM left a bad taste in my mouth.
Click to expand...

I just wanted to add a little positive to this, I am sure your experience was not what you had hoped for, I also thought there were too many people on the interview day but the one thing I LOVED about it was how happy the students seemed! All of them were close friends and really excited to meet us and talking to them was by far the highlight of my experience there. You may have honestly just not met the right students cause if anything that was my biggest positive on interview day. The students talked alot about how they all work together and how everyone is looking to help everyone succeed and that they all are truly close and enjoy that aspect of it.
 
WaterIsGood said:
I'll answer the question about clinicals, first.

You're correct, prior to this year we had J track, 70 spots for students to rotate in different hospitals and clinics in around Atlanta metro. The rest were placed at anchor sites throughout GA, FL, and AL. This year they revamped the system, removing J track and anchor sites. Each student is now placed in regions; NE GA, Central GA, SE GA, which includes Jacksonville, SW GA, NW GA, and South Central GA. Additionally there are spots in Cahaba, AL., Atlantic City NJ, Scranton PA, and Johnstown, PA. This change has no effect on audition rotations during your 4th year. The changes are simply to improve the overall quality of rotations based on prior student feedback. There are some really solid hospitals PCOMGA students rotate at plus a few that were added this year.

As to the curriculum, you start with Anatomy, Anatomy lab and classes associated; physio, radiology, etc during first term. Second term is devoted to biochem, micro, and pharm. From 3rd term of 1st year to the end of second year, classes are systems based; Neuro, Cardio/Pulm/Renal, Endocrinology, etc etc. After first term, most of what you'd be learning is high yield board material.
Fwiw, faculty is tweaking the schedule for 2nd years in order to provide them more time to study boards. Basically, moving their schedule up so that all classes except for OMM and primary care skills end 6 weeks prior to June (or around June, not clear on the date) , which allows more time for dedicated boards study.

As to research, if you're interested, it's fairly easy to find opportunities in basic sciences research by just communicating with the faculty here. As to clinical research, several classmates were able to set that up on their own through alum networking or other means.

Teaching style: Lecture based. Classes are recorded through a program called tegrity. Labs and guest lecturers are mandatory attendance. We also have small group discussions and vignettes, but those are few and far in between.

Hope that helps.
Click to expand...
omg. thanks so much!!!
I've called and emailed several times and was having a hard time getting any feedback on clerkships from the admissions office or clinical education dept. I was going to give it another go before giving up finding out about this completely... was only told rotations had changed and that there wasn't much time given for board study
 
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