Should I apply to PA school this cycle?

[futureVAPA]

Hello,

 

I am currently a junior and if I want to start PA school next fall, I need to apply this summer, but I'm unsure if my stats would allow me to be competitive enough to actually get accepted to any schools.  I was hoping to gather some opinions on whether I would be a competitive enough applicant to apply now or if I should wait until next cycle.\

 

STATS:

GPA: 3.9

HCE: I will have about 600 hours as a CNA in a nursing home and as a volunteer at a health clinic doing intakes and vitals

Shadowing: I have about 20 hours but plan on aquiring at least 20 more before applying

 

If I should apply this cycle, any suggestions as to which schools I would be a competitive applicant for on the east coast?

 

Thanks

[fflores98]

What's your Science GPA? GRE? I would say wait out a year and acquire more HCE. Many schools consider a candidate competitive over 1000 hrs with 2000+ being ideal.

[futureVAPA]

Haven't taken my GRE yet and my science GPA is about a 3.8, I believe.  I was thinking about applying to some schools with lower HCE requirements, like 200-500 hours.  Would I be competitive for those schools?

[fflores98]

You have to keep in mind that what the schools post are the minimum requirements. If they require 200-500 hours then you passed the screening process. That doesn't mean that there aren't candidates who may be more competitive HCE wise.

 

if you're set on applying this cycle make sure you have great GRE scores to offset the HCE hours.

[PAGuy55]

Depends on your schools of choice. Apply to those with low hce reqs

[LDQ]

Hi, I'm new to this forum. I also have been going back and forth on whether or not to apply to this application cycle. My stats are as follows:

Age: 26

Overall GPA: 3.5

Science GPA: 3.8, however, I still need to take Bio2 and Orgo.

GRE: planned to take this summer

Patient care hours: 100 but I will start working every weekend at a nursing home and 3 days a week at a hospital as a CNA over the summer. 

Volunteer: 2 years volunteering at a homeless shelter, 40 hours in New Orleans for Hurricane Katrina clean-up. 

 

I had originally planned on applying for June 2018 in order for me to finish more classes and accumulate more patient care hours, but when I realized that I had enough prereqs to apply to schools as well as knowing it's ok to have some in progress for others I thought maybe I should try to apply for June 2017 considering once you apply you still have to wait a year for the program to even start. I know my pateint care hours are low but I think if I work hard I can accumulate a lot over the summer and Fall. Can someone please give me input as to whether it's a good idea to push for this cycle (June 2017) or wait for the next (June 2018)? Thank you so much! 

[DiggySRNA]

I had originally planned on applying for June 2018 in order for me to finish more classes...

 

Are you still an undergrad?

[LDQ]

No, I have 2 bachelors degrees from FSU, Communication and Chinese Language and Culture. It took me working for a year and a half to realize I should have stuck with medicine from the beginning. 

[DiggySRNA]

A lack of HCE will be the only thing holding you back.

[LDQ]

so in your opinion I should wait for next cycle to accumulate more hours? 

[DiggySRNA]

so in your opinion I should wait for next cycle to accumulate more hours? 

Yes, if you want to equip a competitive profile, meaning; high GPA *you got that*, lots of HCE *in progress*, community service *you got that*, volunteerism *you got that*, etc.

[LDQ]

Thank you!

[DHummel16]

Hello everyone, I am wondering the same... Should I apply this coming cycle (as I have planned on)

 

I am a senior and I will graduate with my Bachelors in Biology at Southeast Missouri State University in May. Here are my stats:

 

21 Years Old

 

GPA (overall): 3.882

GPA (major): 3.909

 

GRE (1st attempt): 4.0 (writing), 145 (Verbal), 150 (Quan)  --295 overall

**Will be taking again at the end of May

 

Patient Care Hours: ~600 Surgical Retractor holder, Start ER tech position at the end of May (Continuing)

 

Volunteer Hours: 10 (blood drives), 50 (Emergency Department), 26 (Other community service)

 

Shadowing Hours: 80 (Oncology/Radiation PA)

**Plan to shadow another at least 20 hours

 

Certifications: EMT-basic, CPR

 

LOR: 1 MD, 1 PA, 1 Professor

 

Other things include Vice President of Alpha Epsilon Delta Medical honor society, and secretary of Campus Student Medical Society.

 

Any feedback is appreciated!

[xNeferpitou]

Hello,

 

I am currently a junior and if I want to start PA school next fall, I need to apply this summer, but I'm unsure if my stats would allow me to be competitive enough to actually get accepted to any schools.  I was hoping to gather some opinions on whether I would be a competitive enough applicant to apply now or if I should wait until next cycle.\

 

STATS:

GPA: 3.9

HCE: I will have about 600 hours as a CNA in a nursing home and as a volunteer at a health clinic doing intakes and vitals

Shadowing: I have about 20 hours but plan on aquiring at least 20 more before applying

 

If I should apply this cycle, any suggestions as to which schools I would be a competitive applicant for on the east coast?

 

Thanks

no if I were you I would apply this cycle! your stats are really great. There are many schools that don't require HCE, and emphasize on volunteering and community service to the underserved. Especially the schools in my state (Oklahoma). I have shadowed many PAs and doctors and they got accepted with out much clinical experience, but they had volunteering, shadowing, and high gpa/gre scores. AS long as you have really great LORS and a personal statement, I would say submit your application this cycle. the worse that can happen is that you won't get offered anything, but I guarentee you will atleast get an interview with your stats. And even if you don't get in, you will learn a lot about applying. You will be very competitive in states like Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, and other central/southern states. as long as you have a passion for helping the underserved community and are willing to work in these states after you graduate, then I say you have a high chance of getting interviewed. I don't really know anything about the schools on the east coast, but if they don't have a requirement for HCE, then I say go ahead and apply for that school. 

[lanime]

DHummel16

 

Surgical Retractor Holder is a job?

[MT2PA]

DHummel16

 

Surgical Retractor Holder is a job?

 

Lol.  To the poster with the retractor holder 'PCE' - you'll have a hard time finding schools that count that as direct patient experience....I think the goal is usually providing care to patients that are actively engaging in their care vs asleep on a table.  It could maybe count as HCE.

[Petunia]

Hello everyone, I am wondering the same... Should I apply this coming cycle (as I have planned on)

 

I am a senior and I will graduate with my Bachelors in Biology at Southeast Missouri State University in May. Here are my stats:

 

21 Years Old

 

GPA (overall): 3.882

GPA (major): 3.909

 

GRE (1st attempt): 4.0 (writing), 145 (Verbal), 150 (Quan)  --295 overall

**Will be taking again at the end of May

 

Patient Care Hours: ~600 Surgical Retractor holder, Start ER tech position at the end of May (Continuing)

 

Volunteer Hours: 10 (blood drives), 50 (Emergency Department), 26 (Other community service)

 

Shadowing Hours: 80 (Oncology/Radiation PA)

**Plan to shadow another at least 20 hours

 

Certifications: EMT-basic, CPR

 

LOR: 1 MD, 1 PA, 1 Professor

 

Other things include Vice President of Alpha Epsilon Delta Medical honor society, and secretary of Campus Student Medical Society.

 

Any feedback is appreciated!

If I were in your shoes, I would only apply if I did really well on the second GRE... like a minimum of 65% in all three parts.  You have a good GPA, but you are very low on GRE and 0 PCE hours as of today.  I think it's ok to apply if only one part of your application is lacking.  But to have two parts very below average, I think you would be wasting your time.  Just my two cents.  Good luck on the GRE!!