MT2PA

^^ Programs know this - that's why often they limit the number of 'self-ID' sites you can do during your clinical year (for example my program limits it to 2 and only for rotations where the school has fewer sites available such as peds and women's health, not for in patient, emed, surgery, etc). They also have a process in place to address the timing - the deadline to suggest a site is during didactic year so that all the proper paperwork and vetting can be completed. Faculty isn't going to bend over backwards working last minute and they shouldn't have to when they have perfectly good sites already set up. If a program does it right, it can lead to new, regular sites - that's how my program views it. But yes, as a student, I wouldn't bother. I'm already paying a ridiculous amount of tuition - I shouldn't have to do the leg work and don't want to pay for travel or temporary lodging. But I have plenty of classmates who considered it worth it to make connections and network in an area they wanted to practice in the future.

Obviously you should know what a PA does, but I would bet money NO one will ask you PA week dates or first class graduation....zoom out. Go bigger picture. Wasting brain space with that.

Also bennies aren't that great - 200/mo if you're only paying for yourself is high IMO (I think I'm looking at less than half of that), no tail coverage (which could end up being expensive for you), is there any retirement plan/match? Only you know how desperate you are considering your less than recent graduation. If you feel like you HAVE to take this offer, at least it's in a field you like, but make sure you know the details of your contract so you can get out once something better comes along (and you should keep looking for something better if you take this).

The best PCE you have is the ICU tech. Patient transport doesn't count as PCE and is some very weak HCE (so probably negligible overall). In home care is hit or miss because without direct supervision, there's no one to corroborate your skills and tasks completed. I wouldn't consider your app a shoe-in from what you've told us here. There are a lot of factors to applying (GPA, GRE, shadowing etc etc) so strong vs weak vs average can't be ascertained. But a 'strong' app would have like 10,000 hrs of EMT or nursing PCE just for reference.

Not necessarily in a race way, but in a SES/background/life way, this came up often in my ER rotation. I would present the 'textbook' treatment plan and my attending would say 'Yes. That's what SHOULD happen. But this patient won't come back or follow up with a PCP so we treat it in the here and now or it won't get done'. Have faith, people are doing the best they can. I'm a big believer in leading by example; you can't control how someone else practices but you can control what you do, so do it well.

If you aren't able/willing to pursue further education at this time, you're kind of stuck. Anything I can remotely think of requires some level of educational training or certificates (RT, Rad tech, MLS, etc etc). You are essentially sitting exactly where a general biology major is (albeit with a nutrition major). What careers do nutrition majors have? The ones I know all pursued RD or MD. If you aren't too removed from undergrad (and maybe even if you are) see if they have a career counseling office or assistance. You might qualify for some kind of research positions, but without further training or an advanced degree, career advancement is not a long road. You could also consider something completely non-medical and just start working your way up.

^Agreed. Something just feels off about it. They are really banking on you staying 5 years to transition to the occurrence but don't tell you how much that will cost. If you stop after a year or two or anything less than 5, what kind of tail policy will you have to buy? I can't imagine it will be cost effective. I also found it interesting how much cheaper the NP rates are through the same company (you can see what the new grad rates are on the website).

If you already have a B.S it seems unnecessary. If you need to complete an undergraduate degree first, then sure, that will give you a nice background compared to a general bio degree. But I wouldn't get an extra degree.

Get into PA school. Graduate. Apply for jobs in sports med/ortho.

Browse the forum, plenty of threads on low GPA applicants. I certainly wouldn't expect you'd be able to apply next cycle. Like UGoLong said, if you really want this, take it one step at a time and do it right. Be willing to put the time into it.

Only for the first year then it's not so great.

Sometimes if you want to do a rotation in a specific location (i.e "back home") you do have to find your own. Schools may provide sites but if you want a specific location or specialty, you're on your own - and I can't imagine that violates any standards. OP - because the onus is on the school to provide sites (although I have heard of newer programs passing the burden on to students) there is no 'source' for this. You either use contacts you have or you cold call. Keep in mind any place you want to go that already has PA programs nearby might already be stretched thin with preceptors. If they are committed to taking from local PA/MD/NP programs they may not have the ability or willingness to take on more.

Any of those will get you PCE. Stil not clear if you need to get actual pre-reqs for PA school, but most nursing courses don't qualify (i.e biology for nursing is not the same as biology for pre-PA/MD). Something to keep in mind. Depends on how much time and money you have available to you. Might be better off taking courses required for PA school to raise your GPA and getting PCE on the side vs a degree seeking program like RN. But that's a very individual thing and depends on a lot of personal factors.

Are you trying to get PCE or raise your GPA or both? MHA isn't going to get you PCE and could be expensive. It also likely won't get you the pre-reqs you need for PA school. I'd cross that off the list.

Current and continually accumulating is always better. Unfortunately, research/publications doesn't play a huge factor in PA school applications. GRE of <300 may be automatically filtering you out from the programs that DO require it (it may, it may not) meaning those are wasted applications. With average/low GPA, you need more hands on PCE to override that. 2200 hours is not helping compensate for your GPA and the fact that it's more than 2 yrs removed is definitely not helping. You have ways of improving your application, but it means hands on PCE and retaking the GRE.