Philadelphia COM - Philadelphia (PCOM) Discussion Thread 2012 - 2013

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Tianar said:
I just went and checked and it is definitely an Open Group. Does the link not work for you? It should be listed as PCOM Class of 2017.
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Yay! I clicked to join, but you need to approve it or something...sends a request! Does say "open group," though...
 
drneurodork said:
Yay! I clicked to join, but you need to approve it or something...sends a request! Does say "open group," though...
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Lemme see if I can change the approval thing... I maaay not be able to. You're in though!
 
Tianar said:
Lemme see if I can change the approval thing... I maaay not be able to. You're in though!
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I'm pretty sure the approval thing is something that has to stay for all groups anymore. At least that's the way it was last year when I made the group for my postbacc program. BUT if it's open anybody in the group can approve or add anybody. I think that's the way it works.
 
Mar3 said:
Can some one please comment on my situation! do any of you know of any Canadians EVER being admitted into PCOM main campus??
Please and thank you!
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hey....i am not 100% sure but i would imagine that they have in the past before....i know for sure that there was a girl who interviewed last year who was canadian but was accepted into the biomed program (IMO why would they accept someone into the biomed and not intend on looking at them as a high candidate for the following year)....either way, keep you head up....

for all other ppl.....i am a current M1 so if you have any questions please feel free to ask me....but i only get on here bout once a week so be patient with me (I'm obviously pretty busy lol)....specifically a PM (just so i see it) but if it can help others either you/I can post it for all to see after
 
Last edited:
Got my acceptance letter last week too WOOO!!

Just curious though... Aside from sending in the deposit and new student form, should I write an e-mail saying, "Thank you! AND YES!"

It just seems so impersonal...they say yes and all I do to accept is write them a check?
 
What's with the black girl that answers the phone in admissions?
She sounds utterly annoyed to be bothered to do her job.

Asked if they'd received my fee. She said yes, and hung up.
Seriously, just like that. Just cut me off mid-sentence...bam.
Is the rest of the school like this?
 
PA resident here: anyone know if they will still be sending out ii? 28mcat/3.4/3.5 here. No love from them 🙁
 
GunnerBGone said:
What's with the black girl that answers the phone in admissions?
She sounds utterly annoyed to be bothered to do her job.

Asked if they'd received my fee. She said yes, and hung up.
Seriously, just like that. Just cut me off mid-sentence...bam.
Is the rest of the school like this?
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Their email responses to sincere questions are about the same format... concise, harsh.. I bet she's the same person who hung up to your face also responds to emails... I hope she's unique and odd in the admissions office. :xf:
 
GunnerBGone said:
What's with the black girl that answers the phone in admissions?
She sounds utterly annoyed to be bothered to do her job.

Asked if they'd received my fee. She said yes, and hung up.
Seriously, just like that. Just cut me off mid-sentence...bam.
Is the rest of the school like this?
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I hope you don't mean Melanie who, in my experience, has gone far and beyond her call of duty to help me out when it came to answering my questions and ensuring my file was complete. She was incredibly kind, I was really impressed.
 
GunnerBGone said:
What's with the black girl that answers the phone in admissions?
She sounds utterly annoyed to be bothered to do her job.

Asked if they'd received my fee. She said yes, and hung up.
Seriously, just like that. Just cut me off mid-sentence...bam.
Is the rest of the school like this?
Click to expand...
When you go to your interview, you'll meet her. I had the same experience with her where she hung up on me (twice actually, but not before she answered my questions), but once you talk to her in person she is very nice. She answers ALL, and I mean ALL, of our neurotic phone calls so I give her lots of latitude.
 
FermiParadox42 said:
Got my acceptance letter last week too WOOO!!

Just curious though... Aside from sending in the deposit and new student form, should I write an e-mail saying, "Thank you! AND YES!"

It just seems so impersonal...they say yes and all I do to accept is write them a check?
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has anyone who interviewed so far been rejected? just curious.
 
I feel like PCOM interviews have been going on for a while now. I submitted my secondary on 9/10, do you guys think that it will be possible to get an interview here with competitive stats?
 
neropsy said:
When you go to your interview, you'll meet her. I had the same experience with her where she hung up on me (twice actually, but not before she answered my questions), but once you talk to her in person she is very nice. She answers ALL, and I mean ALL, of our neurotic phone calls so I give her lots of latitude.
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every time I call admissions I start with "I'm sorry to bother you...", It always calms them down.
 
gmcguitar4 said:
I feel like PCOM interviews have been going on for a while now. I submitted my secondary on 9/10, do you guys think that it will be possible to get an interview here with competitive stats?
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PCOM seems weird, my buddy had a 3.8/31 and was not given an interview. He even wrote letters to them.

With that said I hope I can get one.
 
gmcguitar4 said:
I feel like PCOM interviews have been going on for a while now. I submitted my secondary on 9/10, do you guys think that it will be possible to get an interview here with competitive stats?
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I was complete in the beginning of August and haven't heard back from them (4.0, 28P). It's kind of a crap shoot.

Oh, and I'm a Pennsylvania resident. Harsh PCOM, harsh.
 
GunnerBGone said:
What's with the black girl that answers the phone in admissions?
She sounds utterly annoyed to be bothered to do her job.

Asked if they'd received my fee. She said yes, and hung up.
Seriously, just like that. Just cut me off mid-sentence...bam.
Is the rest of the school like this?
Click to expand...

As a Philadelphia-area resident I can say that, unfortunately, you might get a lot of this; just be extra nice and they change their tune quickly. haha
 
I sent this school all my stuff back in September. They cashed my check quickly enough, but I still haven't been given any kind of "complete" e-mail. This the usual?
 
Procyon said:
I sent this school all my stuff back in September. They cashed my check quickly enough, but I still haven't been given any kind of "complete" e-mail. This the usual?
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I never got a complete email, but still got a II. Just call and ask if your file is complete.
 
batndz said:
I never got a complete email, but still got a II. Just call and ask if your file is complete.
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Same. I didn't get a complete e-mail either, but all of my items in the portal had dates by them and showed that they had arrived.
 
would anyone be able to give a recap of the kinds of questions that were asked during the interview?
 
limus said:
would anyone be able to give a recap of the kinds of questions that were asked during the interview?
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Wow. Let me tell all of you about my horrible PCOM interview experience I just had last week. Let me first premise this by saying that I'm an older student. This school is a joke, and PCOM has not changed at all since the early 2000's when I first interviewed with them and was placed on the wait list. With all of the other schools promoting primary care and the osteopathic professions, PCOM has done nothing in that time.
First of all, in the interview room, there was no one from the admissions committee in there with me. There was a clueless, older DO, and a super, and I mean SUPER arrogant surgeon-to-be fourth year medical student running the interview. He was new at it, and it showed. I have had extensive volunteer experience specifically within the osteopathic medical profession and he (I say he because the DO barely spoke) didn't ask any of that. The jerk 4th year didn't even ask me why I wanted to become a DO—he didn't even ask me why I wanted to be any kind of doctor—DO or MD! He was using this technique of asking the same question over and over even after I already gave him an answer.
He asked me about my age and family situation—would he ask that of a college senior? Super unprofessional. They asked me what I do to relax, and if I ever got mad, bla, bla, bla. The same standardized questions someone applying for a job would get. Again, nothing about my professional experience outside of the classroom. So at the end of the interview I tried to do damage control and tell them about my experience and the history behind my DO's letter of rec etc., but by that time I saw their eyes glaze over. The DO actually asked the 4th year a question while I was talking! I also asked them questions about the school, and they just looked at each other and said, "we don't know but thanks for bringing it to our attention so we can find out."
Then came the tour. It was given by students. They were dressed in ripped t-shirts and yoga pants—granted they had OMM lab later that day, but they were representing PCOM so don't you think they should have changed AFTER the tour? They were joking around, pushing each other, and cursing. I saw college freshman that were more mature than these kids. Then the last insult came when we went to the OMM lab. They all said that OMM is a joke, and they just go along with it to get an "A" in the class.
Avoid PCOM! It was a lousy school in 2000 when I first interviewed there, and it is the same school now. I'm not even opening the letter when I get it. I have had three DO interviews (which went very well), and one more next week so PCOM can go fly a kite!
 
Night Hawk said:
You said yourself that you're a non-trad so family comes into play if you're going to uproot and move. I don't think that is an unprofessional question.

As far as them not asking you the generic "why D.O.?" & "why medicine?" questions, not every interviewer feels it's relevant and it isn't always asked. The stuff you want to focus on isn't always what they want to focus on.

Also, generally when an interviewer (for anything) asks the same question over and over again, they're trying to give you hints that you didn't adequitely answer the question the first time.

Of the two interviews I've gone on, neither one had members of the admissions committee interviewing me. They both said that they were ambassators who make recomendations to the committee....only they know whether they say that to make applicants calmer or if it's true.

Anywho, I'm not doubting you had a bad experience and not trying to play devil's advocate but the only thing that you've written that sounds concerning is the attire of the student tour guides. I agree that they should probably be in professional attire and they might be worth mentioning to the admissions department. Sorry, you felt like it went bad and I hope you have a better experience else where!
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Listen, I don't need to be told how interviews work. I know a bad interview when I see one. I've been conducting interviews at a local lab since you were a probably a fetus, and I was being political when I said "unprofessional." What I really meant to say was "illegal."
 
DOsRCool said:
Listen, I don't need to be told how interviews work. I know a bad interview when I see one. I've been conducting interviews at a local lab since you were a probably a fetus, and I was being political when I said "unprofessional." What I really meant to say was "illegal."
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I think he was just trying to offer a different perspective, no need to get hostile. Sorry you had such a terrible interview. Clearly its not the school for you. I hope you get some positive results from the other schools you interviewed at.
 
DOsRCool said:
Wow. Let me tell all of you about my horrible PCOM interview experience I just had last week. Let me first premise this by saying that I'm an older student. This school is a joke, and PCOM has not changed at all since the early 2000's when I first interviewed with them and was placed on the wait list. With all of the other schools promoting primary care and the osteopathic professions, PCOM has done nothing in that time.
First of all, in the interview room, there was no one from the admissions committee in there with me. There was a clueless, older DO, and a super, and I mean SUPER arrogant surgeon-to-be fourth year medical student running the interview. He was new at it, and it showed. I have had extensive volunteer experience specifically within the osteopathic medical profession and he (I say he because the DO barely spoke) didn't ask any of that. The jerk 4th year didn't even ask me why I wanted to become a DO—he didn't even ask me why I wanted to be any kind of doctor—DO or MD! He was using this technique of asking the same question over and over even after I already gave him an answer.
He asked me about my age and family situation—would he ask that of a college senior? Super unprofessional. They asked me what I do to relax, and if I ever got mad, bla, bla, bla. The same standardized questions someone applying for a job would get. Again, nothing about my professional experience outside of the classroom. So at the end of the interview I tried to do damage control and tell them about my experience and the history behind my DO's letter of rec etc., but by that time I saw their eyes glaze over. The DO actually asked the 4th year a question while I was talking! I also asked them questions about the school, and they just looked at each other and said, "we don't know but thanks for bringing it to our attention so we can find out."
Then came the tour. It was given by students. They were dressed in ripped t-shirts and yoga pants—granted they had OMM lab later that day, but they were representing PCOM so don't you think they should have changed AFTER the tour? They were joking around, pushing each other, and cursing. I saw college freshman that were more mature than these kids. Then the last insult came when we went to the OMM lab. They all said that OMM is a joke, and they just go along with it to get an "A" in the class.
Avoid PCOM! It was a lousy school in 2000 when I first interviewed there, and it is the same school now. I'm not even opening the letter when I get it. I have had three DO interviews (which went very well), and one more next week so PCOM can go fly a kite!
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I would send the head of admissions a letter (sooner rather than later). The age and family situation questions are a definite no-no and can be construed as discriminatory.
 
batndz said:
I would send the head of admissions a letter (sooner rather than later). The age and family situation questions are a definite no-no and can be construed as discriminatory.
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Agreed...what a joke...the school does not bother even send a complete email, this tour thing, where's is the maturity, OMM is a joke, woot this is alarming, really...I don't know if I wanna be a part of it...
 
neropsy said:
When you go to your interview, you'll meet her. I had the same experience with her where she hung up on me (twice actually, but not before she answered my questions), but once you talk to her in person she is very nice. She answers ALL, and I mean ALL, of our neurotic phone calls so I give her lots of latitude.
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Ok. Great to know I'm not the only one.

Hope I DO get a chance to talk to her in person. Still waiting on the ii.
:xf:
 
ochos said:
Agreed...what a joke...the school does not bother even send a complete email, this tour thing, where's is the maturity, OMM is a joke, woot this is alarming, really...I don't know if I wanna be a part of it...
Click to expand...

First, I'm glad i'm a part of the PCOM community. They have been amazing to me and given me a lot of opportunities.

Second, It is disheartening to hear of a negative experience and the comments made by some of our colleagues, but I hope you all keep in mind that two students do not represent the entire student body. I'm sure the issue will be addressed and I hope the rest of you that have the opportunity to interview have as good of an experience as I had in 2009. Perhaps PCOM is not for everyone, but I do at least hope you all have respectful and enthusiastic experiences.
 
I'd be interested to know the 4th year. Overall my class is benign and nice to everyone but there are always a few people. I'd like if you would PM me my classmate's name. Sorry you had such a poor experience. If you feel you won't be adversely affected, I would contact Deborah Benvenger to let her know of your interview troubles.
 
Lewist02 said:
First, I'm glad i'm a part of the PCOM community. They have been amazing to me and given me a lot of opportunities.

Second, It is disheartening to hear of a negative experience and the comments made by some of our colleagues, but I hope you all keep in mind that two students do not represent the entire student body. I'm sure the issue will be addressed and I hope the rest of you that have the opportunity to interview have as good of an experience as I had in 2009. Perhaps PCOM is not for everyone, but I do at least hope you all have respectful and enthusiastic experiences.
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I know I PM'd you but unfortunately yes, students do represent PCOM when they're giving a guided tour. I know that they wanted to be cool and casual but saying (in a hushed tone) that they didn't take OMM seriously was super crazy.
 
Hmm...Georgia has my DO letter but Philly doesn't. That's weird. Maybe they just haven't updated my portal yet.
 
Hmm...the two students that gave the tour at my interview were in their white coats and seemed very professional to me.... I had a great experience at PCOM! Glad I was accepted here!
 
Arg.... My brain melted right before the interview..... It went terrible... I have a feeling im going to get rejected now 🙁
 
This is not a job interview, it's an interview for one of the most difficult, if not the most difficult schooling one can put themselves through. My only word of advice would be to go into the interview expecting nothing but to answer the questions honestly and with an open mind. There are other schools that ask questions specifically to strike a nerve and see how you respond (not necessarily PCOM). You can learn more about a person when they feel cornered in 5 minutes then you could in a 5 hour interview.

With that being said, the interviewer could have been a huge jerk and it very well might of been his first time but regardless his questions were asked for a reason. Whatever that point may be is besides the point. Once again it is your job to answer them truthfully and assertively. This is not a job interview, it's an interview for admissions to a private medical school.

It is a shame that you had such a bad experience with the tour guides. Generally speaking PCOM is a laid back school and they have a successful record to back that up that philosophy. Over a century educating DO's, consistently impressive matches, huge alumni base etc. I understand you are upset with your interview but to call them a joke is unfounded. PCOM may not be the school for you but that does not mean you should drag it through the mud. Remember, the DO community is pretty small and we need to have each others back.

Finally, OMM is taken very seriously at PCOM. The department head is a leader in the field of OMM education. He wrote one of the more popular books used at DO schools. The OMM workload will pale in comparison to your science classes but that does not diminish it's importance. Not everyone is cut out for primary care, OMM, Surgery, etc. etc., so just because one or two people think a specific field is a joke does not represent the school as a whole. Good luck at your other interviews, I hope you find a home that suites your desires.
 
How long on average are they taking to respond with interview invites? Are they e-mail or telephoned? I was complete around Oct. 11 (the last date on my application square filled in) 🙂
 
museic said:
This is not a job interview, it's an interview for one of the most difficult, if not the most difficult schooling one can put themselves through. My only word of advice would be to go into the interview expecting nothing but to answer the questions honestly and with an open mind. There are other schools that ask questions specifically to strike a nerve and see how you respond (not necessarily PCOM). You can learn more about a person when they feel cornered in 5 minutes then you could in a 5 hour interview.

With that being said, the interviewer could have been a huge jerk and it very well might of been his first time but regardless his questions were asked for a reason. Whatever that point may be is besides the point. Once again it is your job to answer them truthfully and assertively. This is not a job interview, it's an interview for admissions to a private medical school.

It is a shame that you had such a bad experience with the tour guides. Generally speaking PCOM is a laid back school and they have a successful record to back that up that philosophy. Over a century educating DO's, consistently impressive matches, huge alumni base etc. I understand you are upset with your interview but to call them a joke is unfounded. PCOM may not be the school for you but that does not mean you should drag it through the mud. Remember, the DO community is pretty small and we need to have each others back.

Finally, OMM is taken very seriously at PCOM. The department head is a leader in the field of OMM education. He wrote one of the more popular books used at DO schools. The OMM workload will pale in comparison to your science classes but that does not diminish it's importance. Not everyone is cut out for primary care, OMM, Surgery, etc. etc., so just because one or two people think a specific field is a joke does not represent the school as a whole. Good luck at your other interviews, I hope you find a home that suites your desires.
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Mike Kuchera, DO, was definitely more of a teacher than the current head of the department. There's a reason he was tapped to head the curricular committee of Marian.

The best teachers in the department are those with the least say and least clout around school. OMM may have been more enjoyable learning from McCauley and Noto-Bell if there weren't tangents in class and in lab by other faculty members.

Let's face it, by the time you're a 4th year you realize OMM could have been done differently. You'll learn "5 Minute office OMM." Its so much more practical than lab. The whole course's problem is taking a technical class and making it applicable to everyday practice.

Also, regardless of our school's age, reputation, etc., that was no way for a member of my class to act. I apologized already for my classmate's lapse in judgement. Unfortunately such an experience can make an applicant skip going to the school.

You'll learn quickly that we're like any other school. We may be PCOM, but that doesn't mean our **** smells like roses either.
 
Bacchus said:
Mike Kuchera, DO, was definitely more of a teacher than the current head of the department. There's a reason he was tapped to head the curricular committee of Marian.

The best teachers in the department are those with the least say and least clout around school. OMM may have been more enjoyable learning from McCauley and Noto-Bell if there weren't tangents in class and in lab by other faculty members.

Let's face it, by the time you're a 4th year you realize OMM could have been done differently. You'll learn "5 Minute office OMM." Its so much more practical than lab. The whole course's problem is taking a technical class and making it applicable to everyday practice.

Also, regardless of our school's age, reputation, etc., that was no way for a member of my class to act. I apologized already for my classmate's lapse in judgement. Unfortunately such an experience can make an applicant skip going to the school.

You'll learn quickly that we're like any other school. We may be PCOM, but that doesn't mean our **** smells like roses either.
Click to expand...

1) All I was saying about OMM was that it is taken seriously at PCOM. Your personal opinion about the department is irrelevant. The point is that PCOM has an established OMM department and the opportunity for someone interested in pursuing OMM in their practice or as a specialty is absolutely available. Just curious, you cite all these fourth year experiences but then claim that a member of your class gave a tour guide. Since the tour guides are second years either you are blowing smoke about knowing what fourth year OMM rotations are like or you need to retract your statement about them being in your class.

2) I was not making excuses for the unfortunate tour guides, I was simply stating that just because they were in yogo pants does not indicate a thing. Coincidently they clearly showed their lack of tour guiding maturity. I have faith that those individuals will be dealt with accordingly by the admissions office. However, just because PCOM has a laid back dress code for their students/tour guides should not indicate that the school is unprofessional or be an indication of the quality of the education. It should simply indicate that the school has a laid back dress code, nothing more. Personally I think a laid back dress code is marvelous and one way to allow us to remain comfortable even under a ton of stress.

3) Finally, in no way shape or form was I claiming PCOM to be infallible in their ways or that, as you so eloquently put it, "Our **** don't stank". The OP of the this conversation decided that based on their very limited experience and unpleasant tour that PCOM was a bad school. One bad experience does not wipe away a history of success, tradition, and leading. My simple point was that while they are upset, going onto an anonymous website and discrediting PCOM as an institution is unfounded and does the osteopathic community no favors. By all means be mad, but stay grounded to rational thinking and honest criticism.
 
images

("Argument" is defined as bickering and implies "Can't we all just get along?")
 
Hi All,
I really want an II here. I was complete 8/16 and haven't heard a peep since the complete email. I have a sGPA/GPA 3.5 and a 28, and I'm from Boston.

Does anyone have a suggestion? The complete emails says that status checks are not availble by email or over the phone, and I don't want to be annoying by calling but is anyone else in this same boat? Any outright rejections?
 
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