Residency Timing

[GreatChecko]

Pay cut aside, is is better to do a residency straight our of PA school or to do one with a year or so of experience under your belt? Obviously, each program is different, but do programs view PA-S and PA-C applicants differently or are there preferences?

 

I want to do a residency, but may have to postpone for a year or so. The definite up side is that this opens up a number of residencies that I could not apply to due to the graduation date of my program, however, there seems something less "natural" about this path. 

 

 

[ventana]

as soon after school as possible

 

many reasons why

[akdEM]

I think as a new grad you will get way more out of it... Like you said, it would be pretty hard to go back and take a 50k paycut. Look at it this way...

 

Option A: Graduate and take whatever decent job you can get as a new grad. Quit after 1 year to do a residency. Take a $50k paycut and increased work hours as well.

 

Option B: Go straight into a residency, continue those long PA school hours, but at least you're getting paid a modest salary. Graduate residency and likely have 5+ job offers waiting for you. Take your pick and stay at that job as long as you want.

 

To me, it's a no-brainer.

[GreatChecko]

Obviously, my preference would be to do one immediately after school. I'm wondering how the programs view the difference as some fodder to add to the pot when weighing my options. Hopefully, I won't even have to worry about putting it off, but there is a possibility that it would a beneficial move in the long term for reasons that aren't appropriate for an online forum.

 

[akdEM]

Ok, gotcha. I guess it's hard to say how programs view it. I doubt that being one year removed from school really changes a whole lot. From what I've seen and heard, they are more interested in your intangibles (desire to learn, motivation, etc...) than your level of experience. That being said, I can't see how having an extra year of experience could hurt anything.

[EMEDPA]

you can apply at any time, it's just harder the longer out of school you are because your responsibilities have increased; car payment, mortgage, kids, etc.

I am thinking (ok, just a little bit) about doing an em or critical care residency after the kids go to college. at that point I would be 25 yrs out of school...but debt free, so similar to a new grad in that regard.

[GreatChecko]

Thanks all... hopefully, everything works out and I'll be in a residency this time next year. 

[cinntsp]

 at that point I would be 25 yrs out of school...but debt free, so similar to a new grad in that regard.

 

Us new grads are anything but debt-free, lol.