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Choosing the right program...


Choosing a program  

30 members have voted

  1. 1. What factors will most influence your decision to attend a school?

    • Cost
    • Length
      0
    • Curriculum
    • Location
    • Reputation of Program
    • Association with Medical School
    • Other


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Got to laugh a little when I think about this.

 

To me, the right school is the one that helps you get to and through the PANCE. The one that will expect you to do the work but will be there to help when you stumble a bit (and most of use do), rather than quickly fail you out to keep their PANCE pass record intact. The one you can afford. The one with good clinical sites. The one that is close to home, or close to where you want to work, etc.

 

I interviewed at schools with associated med schools and found them to be virtually independent. I thought it would be a good criteria but, alas, it wasn't.

 

Ask the students you meet what they like about their school and what they don't like. See how their answers feel to you.

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I haven't started PA school yet and am also struggling with this.... but here is a link to an old post about this topic: http://www.physicianassistantforum.com/index.php?/topic/3082-how-to-choose-the-right-pa-school-and-how-important-is-tuition/

 

and a blog post which is pretty exhaustive:  http://doseofpa.blogspot.com/2014/03/choosing-right-physician-assistant.html

 

 

Hope they help! At this stage I am thinking my programs will be chosen with: location, curriculum, then cost in mind.

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Thanks for the responses everyone!

Being completely honest here. I haven't even gotten accepted to the programs yet, but I live in Maryland and I am debating what to do if I get accepted into AACC/UMB, Towson/CCBC and/or GW.  

 

The tuition is super cheap for AACC and Towson, but I am still thrown by the community college part. They both offer certificates in PA studies with a Masters through the University (as I understand it) and almost everyone I have talked to has said positive things about all three programs' curricula, clinical rotations, etc. One person told me that they thought the GW students seemed better prepared at clinical rotations (they went to Towson or AACC).

 

I guess what I am asking is: "Do you think GW's program is worth 50,000 dollars more than Towson?" or "Would going to a community college based program impact my future as a PA (residencies/fellowships, first job, later jobs, clinical skills, etc)?" 

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I work with a AACC grad. She does quite well. I think in the end its a lot more about attitude and how you approach the program. You will get what you put in. I don't know if I would go to one of the most expensive programs in the country, in a high cost of living area, just on the name. We all graduate with the same title, PA-C.

 

Now, the program should fit you and set you up for success. So go where you think you can spend 2+ years of your life and where you see yourself being successful. Don't let the community college part get in the way. 

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Cost, location, curriculum, and admission office. Some programs are very helpful and quick to respond to questions, and others are not. When I first started looking I sent my transcripts to five schools to find out what I needed to retake. Two responded almost immediately. Two I never heard from. And one sent me a generic brochure.

 

Also, prerequisite requirements. I've been working for 7 years, I didn't want to have to retake 10 classes.

 

 

Tiffany

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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