The Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) is a private medical school, established in 1899. It operates with many healthcare centers, an osteopathic care clinic, and the Center for Chronic Disorders of Aging on the Philadelphia campus.
PCOM is one of the oldest medical schools in the United States. Does it still do a good job in preparing future generations of physicians in comparison with some of the most recent medical schools?
Is the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine a good Medical School?
Yes, the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine is a good medical school. It has trained medical professionals for over a century in a dynamic school environment. This school provides patient-centered programs that focus on preventative health and students have access to modern facilities and state-of-the-art technology.
In this article, we’ll be covering the different aspects that make the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine a good medical school. We’ll review its most popular courses, admission requirements, and tuition. We’ll also discuss the school’s match data, available scholarships, and a few student reviews.
The Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine Medical School Admission Requirements
The Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine offers a wide variety of medical programs. All of them aim to teach the students how to focus on each patient and to innovate to find the best solutions. Here are some of the school’s most popular programs:
- Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO)
- Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)
- Master of Science in Physician Assistant (PA) Studies
Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO)
The Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) has a contemporary curriculum that focuses on teaching basic and clinical topics, presenting major themes in biomedicine, and solving different issues in patient care. PCOM also offers the DO program as a variety of dual degree programs.
Admission requirements for this program include a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college, three letters of recommendation, and the completion of prerequisite courses. MCAT scores are necessary and should average 505.
Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)
The Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program can be completed in three years. It incorporates both traditional and systems-based curricula elements. Some of them include Basic/Foundational Sciences, Clinical/Physical Therapy Sciences, Evidence-Based Practice, and Clinical Experience.
Students enrolled in the DPT program at the Suwanee campus have access to the Physical Therapy Education Center. There, they can train using state-of-the-art equipment, labs, and classrooms.
To apply to this program students must have a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university, provide official transcripts of all college coursework, and submit three letters of recommendation.
Master of Science in Physician Assistant (PA) Studies
The Master of Science in Physician Assistant (PA) Studies provides both academic and clinical education to students who want to work as healthcare providers. This program provides a holistic view of healthcare and allows students to work among different medical disciplines.
Students acquire practical knowledge early on through patient actors. These assume the role of patients with specific conditions, allowing students to train for clinical rotations. The program takes two years to complete.
Applicants should have a Bachelor’s degree in a science or health-related field, complete all prerequisite coursework, and submit official transcripts of all college coursework. They must also submit three letters of recommendation.
The Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine Acceptance Rate
The Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine doesn’t provide its overall acceptance rate. It does however disclose this information regarding the different programs offered. Some programs are more selective than others but, overall, all of them are relatively hard to get into.
The Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine program has an acceptance rate of 6.6%, the Doctor of Physical Therapy program admits only 27% of applicants, and the Physician Assistant Studies program accepts 3.4% of students.
The Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine Match Data
Regarding the class of 2022, over 99% of DO students matched into 19 different specialty areas. 58% of students matched into primary care and core specialty areas like family medicine, pediatrics, and psychiatry.
Other students were able to match into some of the most competitive residency programs including orthopedic surgery, otolaryngology-head and neck surgery, and dermatology. 21% of all students will remain in Georgia to complete their residency programs while the rest will be scattered around the country.
The Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine Tuition
Tuition at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine depends on each program. First-year DO students have a total estimated cost of attendance of $82,518. This value can be broken down into tuition and fees, room and board, utilities, books, supplies, transportation, and other expenses.
Yearly tuition for DTP students is approximately $32,400. The total cost of attendance, however, is $66,490, which includes several academic and personal expenses. Room, board, and utilities are the most expensive fraction of the total cost, at $24,000 per year.
Students enrolled in the PA studies Master’s degree pay $54,574 in tuition, per year. The yearly total cost of attendance is $87,018 and the total value for attending and completing the program is $183,018.
Does the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine Accept AP Credits?
According to the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine’s policies, the acceptance of transfer credit varies by program and is subject to approval. For instance, the DO, DPT, and PA studies Master’s degree don’t accept AP credits.
However, the Master of Science in Biomedical Science and Master of Science in Forensic Medicine do accept AP credits.
Does the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine Offer Scholarships?
Yes, the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine offers multiple scholarships. Depending on merit, financial need, school performance, and other factors, both admitted and returning students can be eligible for different scholarships. Here are a few of them available at PCOM:
- Adele and Herbert Gorin Endowed Scholarship. This scholarship is awarded to DO students who’ve demonstrated financial need and an interest in helping the LGBT community. Preferred students live in the Philadelphia area and are members of the LGBT community themselves.
- Dhruva Family Endowed Scholarship. DO students from the Philadelphia campus can apply for this scholarship. They must demonstrate financial need and preferably identify as Asian-Indian.
- Physician Assistant Scholarship. Incoming students accepted into the Physician Assistant Studies program will be considered for this scholarship. They must have a strong academic record and do well in their interviews.
The Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine Accreditation
The Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. Some of its programs are also accredited by separate institutions.
The doctoral program in Physical Therapy is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) and the Physician Assistant Studies (MS) program is accredited by The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA).
Is the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine Good?
Yes, the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine is good, particularly for students who are interested in enrolling in the DO program, as it is highly regarded. This school does a great job at preparing students for the workforce while also providing a good campus atmosphere and a great sense of community.
According to the US News & World Report, PCOM placed #40 in a ranking for schools with most graduates practicing in primary care fields. It also ranked #46 in Best Physician Assistant Programs.
Pros of Studying at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
- Highly regarded DO program
- Good preparation for the workforce
- Good campus atmosphere
- Great sense of community
- Reliable staff and expert faculty
Cons of Studying at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
- DO program seems to be the main priority
- Big student-to-teacher ratio
Students and Graduate Reviews of the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Reviews left on GradReports by graduate students highly praise the school’s staff and faculty, the nurturing community, and how close the students are to each other. The biggest con regarding PCOM was the fact that the DO program seems to be prioritized. Classes also tend to be big, with a large number of students.
