Navigating Admissions: Understanding PCOM Average MCAT and GPA Requirements
For aspiring healthcare professionals, gaining admission to a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program or an osteopathic medical college requires careful planning and a strong academic record. This article focuses on the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) and its Georgia campus (PCOM Georgia), providing insights into the average MCAT and GPA scores considered for admission, along with other crucial admission factors.
PCOM and PCOM Georgia: An Overview
The Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) is dedicated to educating osteopathic medical students. PCOM Georgia, located in Suwanee, GA, extends this mission by focusing on recruiting and educating students from Georgia and surrounding states, encouraging them to serve underserved populations in the South.
PCOM Georgia offers the same programs as the main campus, with a primary focus on recruiting and educating students from Georgia and the surrounding states. The campus spans 25 acres in Gwinnett County, approximately 35 miles from downtown Atlanta.
Application Process and Timeline
The application cycle for PCOM's DPT program and PCOM Georgia's Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) program utilizes centralized application services. The Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service (PTCAS) is used for the DPT program, with the 2025-2026 application cycle opening on June 16, 2025, for Summer 2026 enrollment. For the DO program, the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Application Service (AACOMAS) is used. Early applications are strongly encouraged as PCOM utilizes a rolling admissions basis, reviewing applications in the order they are received. For the DO program, the AACOMAS application must be e-submitted, completed, and verified by February 1, 2026, to be considered for admission.
Academic Requirements: GPA
A strong GPA is a critical component of a successful application. While PCOM does not have minimum GPA requirements for the DO program, a competitive GPA is generally expected. For medical schools in Georgia, applicants typically have an average GPA between 3.5 and 4.0. PCOM's DPT program requires a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. The admissions committee also considers pre-requisite GPAs and GPA trends.
Read also: Affording PCOM: A Guide
Standardized Testing: MCAT and GRE
Standardized tests play a significant role in the admissions process.
MCAT
For the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) program, a competitive MCAT score is generally at or above 500, with a score of 125 or higher in each subsection. PCOM considers the highest score from multiple attempts.
GRE
The Graduate Record Examination (GRE - General Test) is required for the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program. The institution code for the GRE is 2849. The oldest GRE score considered is from January 1, 2021. A minimum MCAT score of 490 or higher will be considered.
Prerequisite Coursework
Fulfillment of undergraduate course requirements is crucial for admission. For the DPT program, all prerequisite courses must be completed prior to matriculation. Grades of D or F are not accepted, and PCOM considers the highest grade, not an average of all attempts. If prerequisite requirements are to be met, applicants must supply information on when the courses will be completed.
Specific prerequisite coursework for PCOM Georgia's DO program includes:
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- Sixteen semester hours of Chemistry, including four semester hours of laboratory; at least four of the sixteen required semester hours must be organic chemistry (with lab) and at least three semester hours must be biochemistry.
PCOM will not accept prerequisite coursework completed as an audit or graded pass/fail with the exception of coursework completed during the spring, summer and fall 2020 terms which may be listed as Pass in a pass/fail grading scale.
Letters of Recommendation
A minimum of three letters of recommendation are required for the DO program. These letters are crucial in providing insights into the applicant's qualities, skills, and potential as a physician.
Holistic Review: Beyond GPA and MCAT
While GPA and MCAT scores are important, PCOM employs a holistic review process, considering a range of factors. Academic ability, demonstrated leadership, compassion, and service to the field of osteopathic medicine are all valued. Exposure to physical therapy or healthcare settings, gained through volunteering or work experience, is also considered. PCOM seeks applicants who bring passion, leadership, compassion and service to the field of osteopathic medicine and have demonstrated these qualities in their academic history and resume.
Interview Process
Competitive applicants are invited for an interview. The granting of an interview does not guarantee acceptance into the program. The interview provides an opportunity for the admissions committee to assess the applicant's personal qualities, communication skills, and fit for the program.
Additional Factors
PCOM Georgia actively recruits under-represented minority students and non-traditional students, seeking diversity within its student body. PCOM policy prohibits discrimination on the basis of age, race, color, gender, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, religion, creed, disability or marital status.
Read also: Decoding Princeton Admissions
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