Five years ago I was a junior in college and feeling extremely overwhelmed thinking about the path to PA school. Here are the steps I eventually followed – and that I wish someone had told me!
Step 1: Choose A Degree Track
Most PA students either:
- Follow their school’s Pre-medical or Pre-PA track
- Follow a health sciences track (exercise science, allied health, public health, etc.) and take additional pre-requisite classes
Pre-medical/Pre-PA track: Usually Biology based. Typically more rigorous but more efficient. You will be taking many difficult science classes at once. Likely more stressful but direct and easy to follow.
Health Sciences track: You will likely have somewhat easier classes and have some more interesting topics to choose from (sports and exercise science, etc.). However, you will have to take additional pre-requisite classes that are required for PA school admission. This can be difficult to add to your course load and may require taking some classes over the winter or summer which takes time and extra money.
My Experience: I personally received a Bachelor of Science in Biology with a pre-medical concentration. If I could go back I would do the Health sciences track with additional prerequisites. I feel this would have allowed me to improve my GPA (not so many difficult sciences at once) and decrease my stress level!
Pro Tip: Talking to a guidance counselor can help you come up with the best plan for YOU! Additionally, asking if there is a medical guidance counselor and setting up a meeting with them early on will help you create a relationship that can be helpful later on. Mine was able to set up mock interviews with me and review my application for PA school when the time came!
Step 2: Choose Your Classes
Do I really need to take Biochemistry? What about organic chemistry or genetics?
That depends! I personally did not take biochemistry and had plenty of options applying to schools. BUT if you are set on applying to a specific school or schools in a certain area, see what the schools require.
More is not always better. If you are going to be sacrificing your grades to try to take biochem, orgo and physics with associated labs all at the same time it may not be worth it. It’s not the end of the world if you drop biochem if you are struggling to manage a few weeks in!
You can search for specific schools and their requirements here: https://paeaonline.org/our-programs
Step 3: Start Building Your Resume
The best resume builders are ones that sound great on paper but don’t require a ton of extra time! Adding a few of these to your school applications will show you have been career focused for a while!
Some Options:
Top Pick: A Medical Honor Society or Other Honor Society
These require almost no time – usually a GPA requirement and simple application and a ceremony where you are inducted. I was part of Alpha Epsilon Delta, a pre-professional health honor society. We had a once a month meeting to attend with free food!
Pre-PA Club
Bonus points for a leadership position. Also allows you to hear some guest speakers and talk to older students who have gone through the process already.
Medical Volunteering Group
Many schools have a medical volunteering group of their own. Looks great if you have some medical care hours on your hand and double bonus for volunteering!
Other Clubs & Volunteering Opportunities
All extra-curriculars show you are more than just a GPA! Whether this is volunteering for Relay for Life, a local animal shelter or elementary school or just joining a club that interests you try to get involved!
Step 4: Collect Patient Care Hours
For most PA Schools, showing you have interacted one-on-one with patients through patient care hours shows that you are sure this is the field you want to go into. You may see a requirement for anywhere between 1000-5000 hours depending on their program. For most people, this typically requires a gap year (or more) between undergrad and PA school to obtain. Patient care is any one-on-one interaction with patients whether paid or unpaid experience.
How should you get these hours?
Some good options are: Medical Scribe, CNA, EMT, Medical Assistant, Phlebotomist
While some employers will train you on-the-job, this is not super common. I recommend taking a certification course over the summer so you can work part time to collect hours during or soon after you finish your undergrad. I chose to get my CNA certification the Summer going into senior year and worked part time.
If I were to go back I would probably choose a) EMT as it seems to be the best learning experience or b) medical assistant for the more laid back schedule. Being a CNA in a large hospital was mentally draining and very physically demanding!
Step 5: Prioritize Balance
These are 4 years of your life you won’t get back. You will get into school. Don’t sacrifice your mental health and remember you are playing a long game. You will need to practice balance through college and PA school, and don’t want to look back and realize you missed out on fun things because you forced yourself to study day and night. Many PA school students are “type A” and put a TON of pressure on themselves to succeed. Make your 8 hours of sleep a non-negotiable, get outside, and remember to breathe.
One thing I wish I did is take advantage of the counseling services offered by my campus health center to address my anxiety sooner. Most schools offer free counseling services to students. Take this as your sign to make an appointment!
Undergrad is a busy and stressful time! It often feels like your peers have it all figured out but the reality is most people are in the same boat. You’ve got this!