problems with PCOM

[Bevo]

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well I called PCOM to ask about my application and was told it was incomplete because they required a LOR from my degree granting undergraduate institution, Brandeis. I tried telling the lady that I didn't do the pre med track there and dont have any LORs coming from that institution. Additionaly, the pre med dean was my undergrad dean and told me to drop out of brandeis. (she was a lot of help when I really needed it).

but the lady at PCOM didn't care. So I called up Brandeis, and apparently the dean I had left or got fired. SO there is a new pre med dean at the school, one who came in after I graduated.

I called and left a message but I dont think this guy really cares to write anything for me considering we've never met.

I did all my pre med req stuff at my current school.

 

[tkim]

Originally posted by lmbebo
well I called PCOM to ask about my application and was told it was incomplete because they required a LOR from my degree granting undergraduate institution, Brandeis. I tried telling the lady that I didn't do the pre med track there and dont have any LORs coming from that institution. Additionaly, the pre med dean was my undergrad dean and told me to drop out of brandeis. (she was a lot of help when I really needed it).

but the lady at PCOM didn't care. So I called up Brandeis, and apparently the dean I had left or got fired. SO there is a new pre med dean at the school, one who came in after I graduated.

I called and left a message but I dont think this guy really cares to write anything for me considering we've never met.

I did all my pre med req stuff at my current school.

I had the same problem with PCOM. Did half my prereqs somewhere else, didn't qualify for a committee letter from either place. Called PCOM and was told that I *absolutely* had to have a committee letter or a letter from my dean explaining why I didn't qualify for a letter, and also that I was a student 'in good standing'.

So, I spent three weeks chasing down a dean from the school that I graduated from, whom I've never met before, to explain these puzzling circumstances.

She agreed to write me a letter, sent it off after much prompting, and that's the last I heard from PCOM several motnhs ago.

I am quite puzzled as to why they wouldn't accept three individual letters from professors like the other schools.

- Tae

 

[Bevo]

we went to the same undergrad tkim, if I remember correctly.

I dont know what this new dean can write for me considering we've never met and all he or she will see is my horrible grades from there.

they got my pre medical letters from my current school.

doesn't make sense 🙁

 

[docslytherin]

i called PCOM when i was filling out the secondary and explained that the dean of the college i graduated from had moved since i'd graduated (i'm a postbacc student) and that i wasn't premed while i was there. the woman that i spoke with told me that i could submit a letter from my major academic advisor and that it would suffice. my advisor sent the letter and i have been notified that my packet is complete...

so... you might consider offering a letter from your major advisor in lieu of the dean's letter... as far as i was concerned, my advisor is just as good as (if not better) a premed committee.

good luck!!

john

 

[Bevo]

I think I could try that, except that I am not sure who was my major advisor anymore. I went through 3 of them I think.
there was a lot of turnover of the professors when I was there.
there was only 3 professors there my senior year there who were there my sophmore year

 

[Elysium]

Excuse my confusion, but are you guys saying that PCOM won't accept a pre-med committee letter from the school you did your post-bacc work from? I too went to undergrad (Boston U) with a non-science major, did none of my pre-reqs there, then finished them at another school which has written my committee letter. Am I going to have to send them something from a BU major advisor? Would it help if one of my additional recommendation letters was from a BU (in my major) professor? This is all very annoying and confusing.

 

[Bevo]

yeah. they insist on a letter from my the school that I did none of my pre med course work at. and have very few remaining relationships with anyone still there.

 

[docslytherin]

the letter comes from "the premedical committee, premedical advisor, or Dean of the college granting the undergraduate degree."

from that i infer that a premed committee, even if postbacc, is fine.

speaking for myself, i did my postbacc work at a school without a premed committee... as a result i was forced to go back to my advisor.

lmbebo- i would suggest getting anyone who is willing to him/herself your advisor (premed or major) to write you a letter... ask one of your premed professors to take on the title because the letter seems like a relative formality anyway after speaking with pcom. the woman i spoke with said that all they are really requesting is a letter stating that you're a solid student in good standing and that they would recommend you for medical school...

john

 

[Bevo]

well, I had the pre medical committee here where I did my post bacc work already send them my LORs. 3 of them I believe including 1 from my pre medical advisor.

they insist on having it come from my degree granting institution.

 

[Bevo]

alright. thats what my father was telling me as well.

 

[tkim]

Originally posted by lmbebo
we went to the same undergrad tkim, if I remember correctly.

I dont know what this new dean can write for me considering we've never met and all he or she will see is my horrible grades from there.

they got my pre medical letters from my current school.

doesn't make sense 🙁

Yes, we both went to the Louis Dembitz School of Premeds.😉

If it's the same dean I met, he seems nice enough. He was the same guy who told me they'd have a hard time having the committee write a letter for me, since I didn't graduate from there and completed my prereqs somewhere else.

As for writing a simple 'good conduct' letter, your guess is as good as mine. It's worth a try.

- Tae

 

[tkim]

Originally posted by docslytherin
the letter comes from "the premedical committee, premedical advisor, or Dean of the college granting the undergraduate degree."

[...]

the woman i spoke with said that all they are really requesting is a letter stating that you're a solid student in good standing and that they would recommend you for medical school...

I had to read the letter I got from PCOM back over the phone to the woman in the admissions office - she wouldn't believe that the letter mentioned a 'premed advisor' as acceptable for them.

Even *after* I read from the letter that a 'premed advisor' would be acceptable, the woman from the admissions office said "Nope - gotta be from a dean."

I remained puzzled by the whole thing.

- Tae

 

[Bevo]

well I got the new pre med advisor/Dean to write a letter for me. He worried me at first because he said all he could write about were my academic difficulties that I had there :|

 

[MyEyesMesmerize]

I had this same issue with PCOM. First, I am a post bacc removed from undergrad 3 years so I had no idea who to ask. I wasn't pre med there so had no committee letter, I only met the Dean when I shook his hand getting my diploma, and I set up my own schedule as opposed to seeing my advisor. So I tried the Dean's office....they were not helpful at all. They told me to get a letter from the registrar's office that said I graduated in good standing. So then I tried my old advisor. Thankfully, she agreed to write up a quick one even though I barely new her. Sucks you know. You would think they would want something with substance like the letters I have now from my post bacc that really speak well of me as a student. Oh well, screw it I guess it was enough for them cuz I'm interviewing soon! Good luck guys.

 

[eschauberger]

Ooops, a thread I started probably should have been here. I'm complete, but haven't heard from PCOM in months.
😡

 

[meg28]

I kinda had the same problem. I wasn't pre-med, so the pre-med advisor wasn't willing to try to put together a committee letter for me. The head of the department of my major (who was also my "official" advisor...but she only ever signed her name on my schedule during registration) has personal problems with me and refused to write me a letter also. So I called PCOM, and told them my situation...they said that whoever served as my advisor needs to write a letter saying so. One of my favorite profs oversaw my internship, taught me in a few classes, and had me as his T.A. my senior year. He served as my unofficial advisor all along (because he too, did not get along with the head of the department/my official advisor) and said he felt he could write that he was my advisor with a clear conscience in a recomendation letter if I needed it. PCOM accepted his letter explaining the situation. I don't know if this will come up in the interview or affect my acceptance...I'm still waiting to hear if I get an interview or not.🙁

 

[H0mersimps0n]

(slightly off-topic but needed to vent)
I think that if I haven't heard from PCOM by May (about an interview), I'm going to call and request a rejection letter.

Being on top doesn't give you permission to play by your own rules. Producing quality physicians will only build a school up so far before mis-administration takes over and undoes all that hard work. A lot of us have worked hard to met the deadlines and have a lot riding on these applications (families, jobs, bills). I feel that out of respect and professionalism PCOM admissions should deal with it's rejectee's in a timely fashion. I honestly don't feel like that is asking to much. I understand they may get the highest amount of apps, I understand that time, money (well...) and valuable resources are necessary to see that everyone has a fair shot(well...).

I mean has anyone even received a rejection from them (that wasn't LOR-mess up related)?

bring it JP 😱 😉

 

[bonjuju]

I have to post to this!
I've had the same info from PCOM....and I sent them a letter from a prof who agreed to act as my pre-med advisor.
They informed me that the letter was unacceptable, as the instructor was from a community college. I was then given the same info listed here: Dean, degree granting institution, yada yada yada. What amazes me is that they have four outstanding letters of rec for me, 2 from science profs (whose classes I aced), one from an MD who has known me for 10 years and was instrumental in getting me interested in DO in the first place, and one from a DO. Despite this, I've been informed that a letter from a stranger who's never met me or observed my work from an institution I graduated from 10 years ago is necessary
Guess I won't be seeing any of you there...

 

[abw]

h0mersimps0n - i'm right with you there. I guess it boils down to me being impatient, but I feel like I've waited long enough (since july!!). I feel like we should get update letters from schools, or at least more than a "we interview until may" when we call. JPhazelton - i'd really love to hear your insight into this all too!

 

[Dr JPH]

I was in the middle of a very long response and my computer decided to cut out on me. Here is an abbreviated version of what I began posting (it's 1:45am 🙂 or I would repost)

Be patient.

PCOM is a great place.

I am not sure of the individuals circumstances surrounding anyone's applications.

Stay confident.

Good luck to you all.

I hope to post more at another time. Please feel free to PM me with questions.

Happy Holidays

 

[DO4sure]

I had a similar problem with PCOM...my app was submitted in Sept and I hadn't heard anything from them so I emailed them only to get a response that said my file was incomplete! I called the admin office and was told that they need a pre-med committee letter even though I had gone on to complete a masters degree and had submitted a letter from my advisor there. I scrambled around for over a week trying to track down the pre-med advisor from my undergrad institution lucky for me she was very nice and spent her Thanksgiving break writing it and submitting it for me. I am now waiting patiently!!!🙄

 

[eschauberger]

hope you are patient.... (sorry for being synical)