Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) — Attraction in Philadelphia

Please read regarding the 46th ranked PCOM PA program! After attending PCOM PA program, I made it out by the skin of my teeth, literally!! I spoke with numerous PA colleagues from other programs and my experience was horrible compared to theirs. I applied to PCOM because I knew of the name PCOM hold but that really only applies to the DO program, the PA program is explained below.

The PA program is run by people who could careless about you as a student. I say this factually because I have heard them talking about how they only care about their PANCE 1st time pass rate. What this means is they wouldn’t care if they lost over 75% of the class as long as those that finished passed the PANCE 1st time. Professor say differently but they don’t mean it in their actions. The averages on tests are low 80's, they provide NO CURVE or grade BOOSTERS and you need to keep a 3.0 to progress through program! Even the employees in the learning center, who offer tutoring and study techniques say that the PA program is not well managed is over kill and loses many students. For example in 1 term we have a 10 credit class but sit in class for 16-18 hrs a week for it. Then we have a 10% exam that covers 16 different ppt that are minimum of 60 slides each all taught and tested on under 14 days. Finals were comprehensive - 100Q test that covered 90 ppt all about 60 slides each. That is 5,400 slides of information! Again that is just one class and all the 2 credit classes are very similar. They have a Pathology class for the PA students but its not directed to PA, its the EXACT same lectures and tests the DO students get but PA students get 1/3 the time to learn and digest info. Each of those PPT range from 100-150 slides each. The best class though in the program is the Pharmacology. That professor actually seems like she cares about you as a student and writes straight forward Qs to test your knowledge.

I get that PA school or any Masters program is challenging and should require a little more thinking and work. But at PCOM they teach you the same curriculum that the DO program gets but you have to do it in 1/3rd the time. They never test you on Keyword or Hallmark information that the PANCE tests you on. PCOM tests you on the pointless information that they find within the required reading of a 2000 pg textbook called Current medical diagnosis & treatment, which is a medical reference book not a textbook. To me I think they literally flip to a page and with eyes closed placed their finger on a spot and then write a Q based off the word their finger landed on.

When it comes to the clinical rotations they have the most strict guidelines ever and rarely if ever give students their suggestions they would like! Out of my whole class, I think only 1 person got a rotation they suggested and there were about 60 students who have ability to submit. PS this is Pre Covid, I doubt they let anyone now post covid. I submitted 3 and got 0 I wanted, including my elective!!!

Finally you have to do a RESEARCH PAPER in this program. The research professor is very belittling in how he talks to students. The research paper is a waste of time and pointless in teaching you how to be a PA. It solely is to make the PA program look good by them posting it on their webpages. They could make the class way more enjoyable and not full of busy work, but the rumor around the program is that the professors purposely want to take you to your breaking point not help you excel.

I’m glad I barely made it through and ever have to deal with PCOM again, I'll never donate or be a rotation site for them! I hope by sharing my view of the school this makes people question even applying to PCOM. We need PAs out in the world, go to another school as being a PA is not about jumping through a million hoops and doing countless busy work assignments that PCOM mandates all while being continually put down and belittled by various professors in the way they...

I called yesterday for an appointment and spoke with Fatima Daniels the office manager at PCOM Family Medicine. I stated I was not feeling well and she made me an appointment for the next day. First a student saw me asked questions and checked me. He stated what he think was wrong and went to get Dr. Veit. Dr. Veit came into the room in less than 1 minute. Dr.Veit came in asked a few questions checked me and was very thorough with communicating my issues. I never had a doctor that detailed it made my experience pleasant.

To top it off the office manager Fatima called to check on me to see how my appointment went. The service was over and beyond. Fatima also checked to make sure my prescription was sent to the correct pharmacy. I appreciate the...

The Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) is a prestigious institution with a rich history dating back to 1899. Located at 4170 City Ave, Philadelphia, it’s renowned for its commitment to teaching healthcare professionals to treat the whole person, not just the symptoms. PCOM emphasizes preventative health and holistic care, ensuring its graduates are well-prepared to provide high-quality patient care. With a strong focus on diversity and inclusion, PCOM offers a range of programs and degrees that foster a collaborative learning environment. The college’s strategic initiatives and community engagement further solidify its position as a leader in...