Hi! Since you started PA School pretty much right after undergrad, I was wondering how many direct patient-care hours you racked up while you were still taking class and how much were volunteer vs paid? I'm currently considering taking 2 years off after I graduate this spring to increase my hours before I apply.
Btw; I look forward to every update. PA school sounds incredible.
Hi! Thanks for starting off the questions thread (plus, it gives me an excuse to take a break form studying:)). My program in undergrad was different in that after my junior year we graduated with our certificates in radiography so we have the option to work during our senior year if we choose to. I was very fortunate to have been offered a position at one of my clinical rotation sites and jumped at the chance. I ended up racking up at total of about 1,200 hours in the year and some odd months that I worked there. Also, when you are filling out the CASPA you will notice that they not only want hands on patient care experience, but any experience you have working in a medical/hospital environment. In high school I worked in a hospital cafe and delivered trays to patients (something that they said to include on my application) and I worked there for 4 years. I did not do any volunteering of note, just these two were included on my appliation. Taking time off is something I would suggest just to boost your application if you have no prior health care hands on experience. Most schools are definitely looking for some and all of my fellow classmates do have at least some HCE. I am so glad that you are enjoying the blog, it is nice to know that some people out there are reading this and hopefully getting as excited as I was reading blogs as a pre-PA. PA school really is incredible and stressful and fun and amazing all bundled into one (and I am only in my second week!!) :)
If you didn't mind, could you share with me your credentials like I have on my blog? I'm sure my weakness seems to be GPA. More B's than A's obviously, but I was just wondering what type of ammo your packing! :)
Haha, "ammo your packing" :) Thank you for brightening my day of studying!
My degree is a bachelors of health science with a concentration in radiography.
Undergrad GPA - 3.72 Science GPA - 3.66
I did not take the GREs (as I applied to schools that did not require them). My plan was give it a shot given my rather competative GPA and if I did not get in to any that I applied, I would take them and apply to more schools next CASPA cycle. Side note! DO NOT think that a B or B- means you will not get into a program! We all have our strengths and weaknesses! It is how you balance them out! With that, here are some of my grades for pre req classes: Bio I - A- A&P I - B- A&P II - B- Chem I - B+ Chem II - A Medical Terminology - A Physiologic Chemistry - A Organic Chem I - A- Statistics - A- Immunology - A Biochem - B+
As you can see, not all about As. I think something that helped me out was that I received As in all of my radiography courses (which are considered science courses in CASPA) and that I had an upward trend of grades (from freshman year A&P to senior year immunology and organic).
Very nice, your stats are love actually. I see you have also taken a few classes that I have not been able to get my hands on. Hence, your acceptance, but I see what I should consider enrolling in though. Thanks for your input. Educational no doubt, also it's obvious you have more ammo than I....grin. Particularly in the diversity of your undergrad. I think its becuase of your degree compared to mine. Healthcare Management isn't full of a spectrum of diverse hard sciences. Again, thanks. :)
Hi! I just discovered your blog/vlog today and enjoyed reading/watching them. I am a Pre-PA Student, presently finishing my last pre-requisite for this particular school. I actually have an interview coming up in May. Do you have any advice at all? I know that I should not be nervous but can't really help it.
Hi! Since you started PA School pretty much right after undergrad, I was wondering how many direct patient-care hours you racked up while you were still taking class and how much were volunteer vs paid? I'm currently considering taking 2 years off after I graduate this spring to increase my hours before I apply.
ReplyDeleteBtw; I look forward to every update. PA school sounds incredible.
Hi! Thanks for starting off the questions thread (plus, it gives me an excuse to take a break form studying:)). My program in undergrad was different in that after my junior year we graduated with our certificates in radiography so we have the option to work during our senior year if we choose to. I was very fortunate to have been offered a position at one of my clinical rotation sites and jumped at the chance. I ended up racking up at total of about 1,200 hours in the year and some odd months that I worked there.
DeleteAlso, when you are filling out the CASPA you will notice that they not only want hands on patient care experience, but any experience you have working in a medical/hospital environment. In high school I worked in a hospital cafe and delivered trays to patients (something that they said to include on my application) and I worked there for 4 years. I did not do any volunteering of note, just these two were included on my appliation.
Taking time off is something I would suggest just to boost your application if you have no prior health care hands on experience. Most schools are definitely looking for some and all of my fellow classmates do have at least some HCE.
I am so glad that you are enjoying the blog, it is nice to know that some people out there are reading this and hopefully getting as excited as I was reading blogs as a pre-PA. PA school really is incredible and stressful and fun and amazing all bundled into one (and I am only in my second week!!) :)
If you didn't mind, could you share with me your credentials like I have on my blog? I'm sure my weakness seems to be GPA. More B's than A's obviously, but I was just wondering what type of ammo your packing! :)
ReplyDeleteHaha, "ammo your packing" :) Thank you for brightening my day of studying!
DeleteMy degree is a bachelors of health science with a concentration in radiography.
Undergrad GPA - 3.72
Science GPA - 3.66
I did not take the GREs (as I applied to schools that did not require them). My plan was give it a shot given my rather competative GPA and if I did not get in to any that I applied, I would take them and apply to more schools next CASPA cycle.
Side note! DO NOT think that a B or B- means you will not get into a program! We all have our strengths and weaknesses! It is how you balance them out! With that, here are some of my grades for pre req classes:
Bio I - A-
A&P I - B-
A&P II - B-
Chem I - B+
Chem II - A
Medical Terminology - A
Physiologic Chemistry - A
Organic Chem I - A-
Statistics - A-
Immunology - A
Biochem - B+
As you can see, not all about As. I think something that helped me out was that I received As in all of my radiography courses (which are considered science courses in CASPA) and that I had an upward trend of grades (from freshman year A&P to senior year immunology and organic).
I hope this helps!
Very nice, your stats are love actually. I see you have also taken a few classes that I have not been able to get my hands on. Hence, your acceptance, but I see what I should consider enrolling in though. Thanks for your input. Educational no doubt, also it's obvious you have more ammo than I....grin. Particularly in the diversity of your undergrad. I think its becuase of your degree compared to mine. Healthcare Management isn't full of a spectrum of diverse hard sciences. Again, thanks. :)
ReplyDeleteHi! I just discovered your blog/vlog today and enjoyed reading/watching them. I am a Pre-PA Student, presently finishing my last pre-requisite for this particular school. I actually have an interview coming up in May. Do you have any advice at all? I know that I should not be nervous but can't really help it.
ReplyDeleteAnd by the way, thanks a lot for taking the time to do this. I find your blog very interesting and helpful :)
ReplyDelete