Philadelphia COM - Philadelphia (PCOM) Discussion Thread 2016-2017

Med School Insiders
This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
sdhere1234 said:
Came here to ask this too. No idea what my professors wrote in their letters.
Click to expand...

Secondary here too. PCOM seems to be really strict on their LORs. I had emailed them to see if they would let me submit grad school science and work letters in place of the undergrad science letters since I am a nontrad out of undergrad about 10 years and they said no way. Now I'm debating if I should just submit anyway and hope that they like the rest of my app enough to let it slide. I can't say for sure about the course number requirement for the letters, my guess would be no, but you should contact them just in case. Let us know if you hear anything.
 
KoolKeith said:
Secondary here too. PCOM seems to be really strict on their LORs. I had emailed them to see if they would let me submit grad school science and work letters in place of the undergrad science letters since I am a nontrad out of undergrad about 10 years and they said no way. Now I'm debating if I should just submit anyway and hope that they like the rest of my app enough to let it slide. I can't say for sure about the course number requirement for the letters, my guess would be no, but you should contact them just in case. Let us know if you hear anything.
Click to expand...

What do you mean? It clearly states you can use graduate letters
"Three faculty letters of recommendation: Two of those three letters must be from BASIC SCIENCE professors (undergraduate, post-baccalaureate or graduate programs)"
 
Also anyone know what constitutes a "basic science"?

I just sent them an email asking because my sciences letters from my grad program are from a neuroscience and pharmacology professor.
 
sdhere1234 said:
What do you mean? It clearly states you can use graduate letters
"Three faculty letters of recommendation: Two of those three letters must be from BASIC SCIENCE professors (undergraduate, post-baccalaureate or graduate programs)"
Click to expand...

I thought basic science classes are like gen chem, orgo, intro bio etc? I figured that applied to people that took those in a post bacc grad program. When I contacted them they just quoted what you did but wouldn't clarify.
 
KoolKeith said:
I thought basic science classes are like gen chem, orgo, intro bio etc? I figured that applied to people that took those in a post bacc grad program. When I contacted them they just quoted what you did but wouldn't clarify.
Click to expand...

Damn really? What exactly did they send you?
 
How strict are they on their letter requirement? I have two science letters and a D.O. letter. Will they just toss my app out without the 3rd faculty letter?
 
wooohooo 2nd received. is anyone else's LOR status appearing as not received?
 
sdhere1234 said:
Damn really? What exactly did they send you?
Click to expand...

Just quoted that passage and said that if I had read their requirements I would know that they clearly state that they want letters from basic science profs. I told them it's pretty much impossible for me to track down my basic science profs from 10 years ago and they replied again saying "Our requirements clearly state...". It was actually really frustrating and surprising because other schools had been really helpful and easy to work with. I would definitely reach out to them to get your own answer. I may have just been dealing with someone who was having a bad day.
 
KoolKeith said:
Just quoted that passage and said that if I had read their requirements I would know that they clearly state that they want letters from basic science profs. I told them it's pretty much impossible for me to track down my basic science profs from 10 years ago and they replied again saying "Our requirements clearly state...". It was actually really frustrating and surprising because other schools had been really helpful and easy to work with. I would definitely reach out to them to get your own answer. I may have just been dealing with someone who was having a bad day.
Click to expand...

That's rough. Thanks.
 
MakeLifeHappen13 said:
How strict are they on their letter requirement? I have two science letters and a D.O. letter. Will they just toss my app out without the 3rd faculty letter?
Click to expand...
Strict enough.

Do yourself and favor and send everything in that they ask for, and early. PCOM gets slammed with applications, and the number grows each cycle.
 
+1 Secondary Received for both campuses. I thought it was a receipt to show they received our primary apps first.
 
Well, I am screwed from two sides:

1) I have only 2 faculty letters (not 3).
2) My MCAT date is January 2014 (outside of "within 3 years of matriculation").

Should I still submit and hope for the best?
 
can anyone who has taken a second MCAT comment on if their portal is showing the received MCAT as the first one or the most recent retake?

mine is showing up as the prior date and I can't figure out if that's just automatic and they'll review both scores anyway or if there was a glitch and they didn't receive the newest one from AACOMAS..
 
gamieg said:
can anyone who has taken a second MCAT comment on if their portal is showing the received MCAT as the first one or the most recent retake?

mine is showing up as the prior date and I can't figure out if that's just automatic and they'll review both scores anyway or if there was a glitch and they didn't receive the newest one from A..
Click to expand...
Did you release your scores from the AAMC to AACOMAS? I had that same issue but once I released my second score, they received it within 5 business days
 
Do the basic science faculty letters HAVE to have the course number in their recommendation? Has anyone contacted PCOM to ask about this?
 
notevenmyfinalform said:
Are neuroscience and genetics considered basic science courses? If not I'm screwed.
Click to expand...
I am almost sure the basic science letters must be from the professors who instructed your prereq courses..but I would email them to ask
 
Dream_big said:
I am almost sure the basic science letters must be from the professors who instructed your prereq courses..but I would email them to ask
Click to expand...

Alright so I emailed PCOM last night regarding "basic sciences"

My letters are neuroscience and pharmacology.

Their response was "the committee will decide if your letters meet our requirements"

So pretty much pay the secondary fee without knowing if your app will get thrown in the trash. lol.
 
Last edited:
sdhere1234 said:
Alright so I emailed PCOM last night regarding "basic sciences"

My letters are neuroscience and pharmacology.

Their response was "the committee will decide of your letters meet our requirements"

So pretty much pay the secondary fee without knowing if your app will get thrown in the trash. lol.
Click to expand...

I can't imagine a committee throwing out your app for being "too un-basic" lol.


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile app
 
NecrotizingFascitis said:
I can't imagine a committee throwing out your app for being "too un-basic" lol.


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile app
Click to expand...

I just don't understand some of these requirements...like why would they rather have a letter from a chem professor who barely knows me from a class I took 6 years ago? As opposed to a professor I took a (grad) class with last semester and am doing research with...man some of these requirements make no sense.
 
gamieg said:
can anyone who has taken a second MCAT comment on if their portal is showing the received MCAT as the first one or the most recent retake?

mine is showing up as the prior date and I can't figure out if that's just automatic and they'll review both scores anyway or if there was a glitch and they didn't receive the newest one from AACOMAS..
Click to expand...
Mine is also showing the oldest test I took and not the most recent. I hope they have both and it's just simply not showing!
 
Well that sucks about LORs. My anatomy and Biochem professor wrote 2 of my letters. Definitely not basic sciences. I'm wondering if it's even worth it to send in the secondary and pay the fee.


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile
 
cjcarter said:
Well that sucks about LORs. My anatomy and Biochem professor wrote 2 of my letters. Definitely not basic sciences. I'm wondering if it's even worth it to send in the secondary and pay the fee.


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile
Click to expand...
I would send it in anyway. Plus if they actually throw your app out because of something like that would you really want to go to a school that judged you based on something so small anyway? My guess is that they will overlook it and not to worry.
 
Secondary received!

For those worrying about LoR requirements, I would highly suggest getting a committee letter if possible. I have zero letters from basic science professors and still got marked complete.
 
So, I submitted my letters and AAMC MCAT scores through AACOMAS, which was verified 7/21, but PCOM's application summary says they have not received my letters or MCAT scores. Is there a place to input information about these items on the secondary application or should I call PCOM? :help:
 
doctah2be said:
So, I submitted my letters and AAMC MCAT scores through AACOMAS, which was verified 7/21, but PCOM's application summary says they have not received my letters or MCAT scores. Is there a place to input information about these items on the secondary application or should I call PCOM? :help:
Click to expand...
I submitted in June and mine still are not marked as complete. They say it can take up to 15 days for everything to be processed so I would wait a bit before getting worried!
 
I have a biochem letter and a physci letter...anyone know if those are basic sciences?
 
I submitted my secondary but I did not receive any email confirmation of my submission; i'm worried something went wrong with my submission. Should I re-submit the secondary?
 
Dam still no secondary for me : 3.42 cgpa, 3.3 sgpa, 25....am I below any of their cutoffs?
 
Dream_big said:
Did you release your scores from the AAMC to AACOMAS? I had that same issue but once I released my second score, they received it within 5 business days
Click to expand...

I did, and AACOMAS shows having received both scores. I emailed PCOM and they responded that the portal only shows one date, but the admissions committee will review all official scores received by AACOMAS.
 
Facetime94 said:
I submitted my secondary but I did not receive any email confirmation of my submission; i'm worried something went wrong with my submission. Should I re-submit the secondary?
Click to expand...

I didn't receive a confirmation email either. they specifically state that they don't give status updates over the phone or email and to just check the portal though, so I'm just going to keep an eye on the portal.
 
Secondary received 7/26/16 1946PST and submitted/paid for 07/27/16 0900PST. Good luck all!
 
Helomedic1171 said:
Can someone please post the prompts for the secondary?

thanks in advance.
Click to expand...

* Noting the missions 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 max)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

PapaGuava
2024-2025 Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM-PA)
10 11 12 13 14
Replies
653
Views
142K
themostgulliable
T
PapaGuava
2024-2025 Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (Georgia Campus)
2 3 4
Replies
178
Views
41K
phantomarcher00
P
PapaGuava
2024-2025 Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (South Georgia Campus)
2 3
Replies
129
Views
26K
VNutrition
V
PapaGuava
2023-2024 Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM-PA)
17 18 19 20 21
Replies
1K
Views
217K
kncsr98
K
wysdoc
  • Locked
  • Sticky
2024-2025 Alphabetic Index of Osteopathic School-Specific Discussion Threads
Replies
0
Views
17K
wysdoc
wysdoc
Top