Going to PA school because its easier than med

[Pravy123]

So after A LOT of thinking I have decided to apply to PA school primarily to avoid the first 2 years of med school + Step 1. Im a 23 y/o college grad with a 3.65ish GPA and a 30 MCAT. Im confident I could get into a DO school but I really dont feel confident in my ability to get through the first two years of med school. I majored in bio and in undergrad I literally studied everyday with breaks just for ECs. I got A's in most my bio classes but I deff put in a lot more time than my peers and I feel like med school would simply be too much of a jump for me to handle. In college I would literally study 7days/wk for months while most of my peers were able to maintain good grades while maintaining time with friends, working out, etc.

 

I know PA school is going to be hard as hell but I feel that it will be more bearable than med school. I've shadowed both docs and PAs and tbh I would rather be a doc but if I failed med school I deff could not get into a PA program. Id much rather be a PA than not be in medicine all together. And tbh I've genuinely enjoyed shadowing PAs but I find the idea of the inevitable glass ceiling to be frustrating.

 

I know its possible that PA school ends up being too hard for me, but I feel like if I study my butt off I should be able to pass.

 

What do yall think? Good idea for me to go to PA school? I know I'll prob feel some regret in the future but many docs also regret their career decisions as well.

 

 

[rev ronin]

Med school is longer, but only by 50% (10 semesters vs. 7), and thus we joke that PA school is 2/3rds of medical school crammed into half the time.

 

If you doubt you can hack med school, I'm not sure I would be so confident you can handle PA school, because it is more intense, even if shorter in duration.

[Teacher2PAC]

Why do you want to be a PA over an MD? Besides the reasons you have stated. You would be considered a young applicant for all options. 

 

What type of HCE do you have? 

 

Speak to a PA about their experience in PA school. I think it is a bit more difficult than "hard as hell". What I have gathered from my interviews is it is very hard, and you have to have a good base from prior experiences. 

 

You actually will find "hand holding" in medical school. I work with medical students, and throughout those 6 years they get a lot of support and a lot of time to work through the content. Medical schools tend to have candidates your age who have entered, and with more limited health care experiences. 

 

Do not do anything you will regret. Make sure you know what you really want first. 

[Pravy123]

Med school is longer, but only by 50% (10 semesters vs. 7), and thus we joke that PA school is 2/3rds of medical school crammed into half the time.

 

If you doubt you can hack med school, I'm not sure I would be so confident you can handle PA school, because it is more intense, even if shorter in duration.

 

Idc about the length. The hardest part about med school is getting good grades in the first two years and doing well on Step 1. Im not sure why you think PA school is more intense. I have friends from undergrad that are extremely intelligent and were able to pull 3.9 GPAs and 35 MCATs with no problem. Many of them are struggling to pull 75% in their classes where a 70 is passing. I have other friends that are smart but still not nearly as intelligent (3.5ish GPAs) in PA school. They are certainly studying more than they did in college but they seem to have no problem being in the top 30% in their class.

 

I realize these are anecdotes but they are the only stats I have. I know PA school will be difficult but I've seen countless people from my college, with grades lower than mine, go onto become PAs.

[patobe123]

Do you have direct, hands-on healthcare experience? That'll probably be your biggest hurdle if not. Also, while a few schools accept MCAT scores, the overwhelming majority solely accept GRE scores.

[Pravy123]

Do you have direct, hands-on healthcare experience? That'll probably be your biggest hurdle if not. Also, while a few schools accept MCAT scores, the overwhelming majority solely accept GRE scores.

 

Yes I've been working as a CNA

[Febrifuge]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA

 

Ha ha haha haha ha

 

Ha

 

Ohhh, man. If you only knew how many times I looked at the MD students at my school, and wished I could trade places with them.

 

As others have said, PA school is more intense, day by day and week by week, than 4-year med school. Maybe that's not universally true, and you're somehow comparing a really tough MD program with a really easy PA school, but these things tend to be pretty well standardized, so I doubt it.

 

MD school: probably more embryology, more cell biology, more organic chemistry actually getting used for something.

 

PA school: similar curriculum design, really, just less drill-down depth in a few areas, and a lot more focus on clinical application. And everything is crammed into a shorter period of time, thus becoming more intense.

 

MD school gross anatomy at my school: First (Fall) semester, about 12 weeks.

 

PA school gross anatomy at my school: First (Summer) semester, about 9 weeks. Exact same instructors, exact same material, exact same tests. MS-1s from the previous year who had been unable to complete their course for whatever reason showed up to our test days so they could re-take them.

 

MD school typical class day: lecture, lecture,  study time, lunch, lecture or maybe just stay in the library because the test isn't for a week and the instructor doesn't grade on attendance, leave at 4

 

PA school typical class day: lecture, lecture, lecture, lunch, lab, lecture, lecture, at least one test every Friday, instructors call your house if you aren't there in the morning to make sure you're not going to miss too much.

 

And then there's the remediation stuff. I don't know about MD school (and I heard about a fair number of courses re-taken for a lot of people) but in our PA program, you fail one test, you're doing make-up work and new tests, and you're in danger of failing the class. You fail one class, you're on probation and you have meetings and make-up work and you're at risk of not advancing to the clinical phase. Good luck with that.

 

So, in short: MD school can (and seems to often be) more self-directed, more flexible. If your best way to study and learn isn't lectures and reading by yourself late into the night, MD school might be a whole lot better. MD school seems to be very much about giving people what they need to do well. PA school is too, but the spectre of remediation is always hanging over you, and there's so little time for the didactic phase, you can easily find yourself decelerated by a whole year, or starting clinicals months after your classmates, not graduating with them, if you're allowed to stay in the program in the first place.

 

MD school is difficult, and lengthy. PA school is intense, and a little shorter.

[primadonna22274]

Troll much?

[Teacher2PAC]

Just because PA school is shorter does not mean it is any less harder or intense. Well said Febrifuge. 

[Pravy123]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA

 

Ha ha haha haha ha

 

Ha

 

Ohhh, man. If you only knew how many times I looked at the MD students at my school, and wished I could trade places with them.

 

As others have said, PA school is more intense, day by day and week by week, than 4-year med school. Maybe that's not universally true, and you're somehow comparing a really tough MD program with a really easy PA school, but these things tend to be pretty well standardized, so I doubt it.

 

MD school: probably more embryology, more cell biology, more organic chemistry actually getting used for something.

 

PA school: similar curriculum design, really, just less drill-down depth in a few areas, and a lot more focus on clinical application. And everything is crammed into a shorter period of time, thus becoming more intense.

 

MD school gross anatomy at my school: First (Fall) semester, about 12 weeks.

 

PA school gross anatomy at my school: First (Summer) semester, about 9 weeks. Exact same instructors, exact same material, exact same tests. MS-1s from the previous year who had been unable to complete their course for whatever reason showed up to our test days so they could re-take them.

 

MD school typical class day: lecture, lecture,  study time, lunch, lecture or maybe just stay in the library because the test isn't for a week and the instructor doesn't grade on attendance, leave at 4

 

PA school typical class day: lecture, lecture, lecture, lunch, lab, lecture, lecture, at least one test every Friday, instructors call your house if you aren't there in the morning to make sure you're not going to miss too much.

 

And then there's the remediation stuff. I don't know about MD school (and I heard about a fair number of courses re-taken for a lot of people) but in our PA program, you fail one test, you're doing make-up work and new tests, and you're in danger of failing the class. You fail one class, you're on probation and you have meetings and make-up work and you're at risk of not advancing to the clinical phase. Good luck with that.

 

So, in short: MD school can (and seems to often be) more self-directed, more flexible. If your best way to study and learn isn't lectures and reading by yourself late into the night, MD school might be a whole lot better. MD school seems to be very much about giving people what they need to do well. PA school is too, but the spectre of remediation is always hanging over you, and there's so little time for the didactic phase, you can easily find yourself decelerated by a whole year, or starting clinicals months after your classmates, not graduating with them, if you're allowed to stay in the program in the first place.

 

MD school is difficult, and lengthy. PA school is intense, and a little shorter.

 

Im not saying PA school is easy by any means. Im sure it will be harder than undergrad and I'm deff. going to be studying a lot more than I did in undergrad. The thing is I've seen people remediate in med school that I knew to be extremely intelligent in undergrad. My friends in PA school have told me that its tough but my major (bio from a top university) is really good at preparing us to meet the demands.

 

Once again this is an anecdote but a girl I know going to Northwestern for PA school told me she studies 6 days a week and takes 1 day off. She had like a 3.5 gpa in college. My friend going to a med school in Texas is barely passing and he had a 3.85 in college and a 35 MCAT. He also went home every other wk in college which was an 9+ hr commute both ways.

 

Im just here to ask if its a good idea to make my decision based off of this reasoning?

[Pravy123]

Troll much?

Im honestly not a troll and I know you post on sdn as well so I would really appreciate your advice. With my grades Im likely competitve for DO schools and have a shot at MDs. Is there a flaw in my logic?

 

EDIT: I tried PMing you to prove it but it says you can get any more PMs?

[SCHW9076]

You sound like a very poor candidate for PA school. Good luck with your decision.

[Teacher2PAC]

It is not good to make your decision based off of that reasoning. 

[Pravy123]

You sound like a very poor candidate for PA school. Good luck with your decision.

 

You know nothing about my candidacy other than my grades which are competitve.

[Pravy123]

It is not good to make your decision based off of that reasoning. 

 

Can you elaborate?

[EMEDPA]

if you got a 30 mcat I'm sure you would do fine in medschool. I have heard on many occasions and from many doctors" the hardest part of medical school is getting in".

[Pravy123]

if you got a 30 mcat I'm sure you would do fine in medschool. I have heard on many occasions and from many doctors" the hardest part of medical school is getting in".

 

I've heard that too but I've also heard the opposite. How can the hardest part be getting in though when the classes in med school are much tougher and the MCAT is nothing compared to Step 1?

 

Edit: Also a lot of ppl have told me the samething about doing fine since I got a 30, but arent there countless people with 30's that end up leaving? Also to make it clear Im not doing PA just becuse its easier. I genuinely see the value a good PA brings to a healthcare team and Im pretty sure that I would find the career fulfilling.

[EMEDPA]

I've heard that too but I've also heard the opposite. How can the hardest part be getting in though when the classes in med school are much tougher and the MCAT is nothing compared to Step 1?

yet what is the drop out rate? less than undergrad. They don't want you to fail. they will spoon feed you and get you tutors if you fall behind. what do they call the guy who graduates last in his medschool class? They call him "Doctor".

[Teacher2PAC]

Undergrad really cannot compare to graduate school in general. I just do not think you can make a statement PA school is easier than medical school when you really not have experienced any of them. Both are very rigorous. Just because you have a decent GPA does not qualify you for anything. There are other factors you need as well. Also, your logic is very flawed. Just because your friend has a lower GPA, is doing well, and is in PA school does not mean it is an easier path to take. And just because your other friend is having a more difficult time in med school and has a higher gpa means it is harder. It just depends on the person you are if you are going to succeed and the amount of grit that you have in the long run. 

 

And why do you even want to be a PA? What draws you to this career besides superficial things like shorter time in school? If you do not know that then reassess this decision. Otherwise you will have regrets. 

[Planteater]

Is your fear of failure a good enough reason to choose PA school? No.

[EMEDPA]

Is your fear of failure a good enough reason to choose PA school? No.

some of the best advice I have ever heard was "do the thing you are most afraid of".

I have been able to follow that advice in my personal life with regard to extreme sports, disaster medical missions, etc, but wish I had followed it and taken ochem back in the day and gone to medschool when I had a chance...fear of that one class kept me from becoming a physician..

[Pravy123]

some of the best advice I have ever heard was "do the thing you are most afraid of".

I have been able to follow that advice in my personal life with regard to extreme sports, disaster medical missions, etc, but wish I had followed it and taken ochem back in the day and gone to medschool when I had a chance...fear of that one class kept me from becoming a physician..

 

I agree with this and your last post. The thing is I know people, in real life and an sdn poster, that have left med school and wish they had gone to PA school. Others on sdn often wish they had gone to PA school so they could start their lives earlier. Don't you agree these people would have been happier as PAs?

[EMEDPA]

I agree with this and your last post. The thing is I know people, in real life and an sdn poster, that have left med school and wish they had gone to PA school. Others on sdn often wish they had gone to PA school so they could start their lives earlier. Don't you agree these people would have been happier as PAs?

nope, they would have become PAs, hit a glass ceiling with regards to scope of practice, autonomy, respect, and salary within 5 years and wished they had gone to med school instead. every time they took first call to the ER while the doc they worked for stayed home they would wish they were physicians. every time they realized they worked 180 hrs/mo and the doc they worked for worked 140 hrs/mo and made 4x their salary and never worked nights/weekends/holidays they would wish they were docs.

[Pravy123]

 

 

And why do you even want to be a PA? What draws you to this career besides superficial things like shorter time in school? If you do not know that then reassess this decision. Otherwise you will have regrets. 

 

Not sure if you have read my posts but I have explicitly said I dont care about shorter time in school. Im drawn to medicine in general because, as cliche as it sounds, I find it to be a fascinating way to apply science to help people.

[Pravy123]

nope, they would have become PAs, hit a glass ceiling with regards to scope of practice, autonomy, respect, and salary within 5 years and wished they had gone to med school instead. every time they took first call to the ER while the doc they worked for stayed home they would wish they were physicians. every time they realized they worked 180 hrs/mo and the doc they worked for worked 140 hrs/mo and made 4x their salary and never worked nights/weekends/holidays they would wish they were docs.

 

I really respect your opinion because I know you have a lot of experience being a PA but aren't you being a bit pessimistic? ER docs working 140 hrs/mo = 35 hrs a week. I dont know many docs that only work 35 hrs/wk. Also I was recently talking to an new EM phyisician that works both nights and holidays. Isn't it the norm in EM to work nights on a rotating shift?

 

EDIT: Also do PAs really hit the glass ceiling within 5 years? So after 5 years your scope of prac, salary, etc. are the same for the rest of your career?