In this blog, I am going to outline the general steps it takes to become a Physician Assistant. This is my planned career path so I am going to take you through what I have done so far to get there. Granted, I still have a while to go but I was able to make a plan, stick to it, and hopefully it will work out. I will update this post as I hear back from schools but I figured I’d give some insight as someone who has recently applied.
Undergrad- Freshman and Sophomore Year
During this time, it is important to understand that you are experiencing tons of change all at once. For most people, freshman year is the first time they are living away from home and have freedom to do what they please. That being said, I truly think it is important to enjoy every single second of your college years, because as the adults always say, it will be over before you know it. However, I beg you to take your science classes seriously. Your future self will thank you. If you can, try to space out your science courses so that you can give your best effort to each one. Try taking some over the summer or at community colleges if that is something you can afford to do! Also, if you have AP credit for any science course, I suggest just taking them over again at your university because it will eliminate several schools from your list. Most schools do not accept AP credits.
Next, I suggest finding one or two organizations on campus that you are truly passionate about. At first, I know it can be hard to find what you like because there are so many options. Once you find your “thing,” run with it. Hold leadership positions if you can. A long stint with a few organizations looks a lot better than jumping around to every club on campus to show that you’re super involved. Additionally, keep track of everything early on! This will help you so much in the future. I suggest using MyPABox, a website that organizes all of your experiences in one place so you can plug it into CASPA more efficiently. I will link it here so you guys can check it out! Some influencers on Instagram have discount codes so definitely check there.
Undergrad- Junior and Senior Year
In my opinion, this is the time where networking, volunteering, and clinical experience are key. If you are planning to apply during school, you can add that to your plate as well. But, I decided to take a gap year when I finished undergrad and allowed myself to focus on one thing at a time. So, in these years, I was taking high level science courses like biochemistry, anatomy, and physiology. Simultaneously, I went to every networking event possible to meet alumni or local Physician Assistants. This will be so important for asking questions specific to practicing as a PA and application information. You will want to develop a strong relationship with at least one PA so that you can have a letter of recommendation from them. The best way I have found to do this is to gain clinical experience in a facility where PA’s work! So, I would suggest Emergency Room Tech as the number one job. In the ER, you get to see so many things that the inpatient units don’t, and the medical staff is more diverse depending on the hours you work!
Also, volunteering is key. I chose to volunteer at my local hospital as well as with a completely unrelated organization that I loved. This gave me a mix of experiences to talk about in my application and I am very thankful for that. I think my volunteer experiences are a strong part of my application. Again, it is key to write any important notes as well as logging your hours in a way that you can keep organized.
This is the time to prepare for the GRE and PA-CAT as well. My best advice is to spend a summer studying for these exams so that you can knock them out of the park early on. I would not want to take these exams multiple times! There are so many resources available for the GRE and virtually none for the PA-CAT so I will be creating another post about these exams and how to succeed on them!
PA School Application Cycle
The PA school application is notably one of the most stressful things I have ever done. I placed so much pressure on myself to have it done quickly, but perfectly. And let me tell you, that DOES NOT make things better for you, nor does it make the time go by faster. Like I’ve said, keeping all of your information organized is really helpful when it comes time to apply to schools. Some things can be done before the application opens so that you are ready and prepared on day 1! The application on CASPA opens around the end of April every year. So, in the months leading up to April, I suggest working on your personal statement and getting letters of recommendation secured. You cannot formally ask for them until the application opens but I strongly suggest asking the people you choose in advance so they can go ahead and write the letter. This is not something you want to be waiting on, as it can stall your application and it is beyond your control.
When the end of April rolls around, the key thing to remember is to stay calm! You are certainly not the only applicant that is nervous for this season! Take your time when filling out the information so that you don’t miss minor details. But, do not spend so much time reviewing your application that it starts to look like gibberish. You want to submit as soon as you can because most schools operate on a rolling admissions practice. Meaning that they look at the first applications received first, and they could fill the class with applicants from the first day you can submit. All this being said, becoming a Physician Assistant is not easy, but the process will teach you more about yourself than you realize. Keep pushing and you will get there! If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to me! I will update y’all once I get further in the application process!
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