CaliPAHopeful

I had a draft posted here, but it was pretty terrible, so I got rid of it. In its place, I'm leaving a question. Is it better to have the story center around myself, and my journey to higher education and how that lead me to the PA profession, or from a specific event with a patient?

Oh sorry, I misunderstood. I can take more undergrad science classes, just not upperdivision. I was planning on taking ecology and stuff like that. Did you mention that in your personal statement at all? My reason for doing bad has more to do with mental health. I had undiagnosed general anxiety and depression, and I wasn't getting help. I was also sexually assaulted, but I'm not sure I want to mention that in an interview...

So, my freshman year I got 2 Cs, both in chemistry. I was 18 years old at the time, and I feel like that's easily explained. However, my sophomore year I got my first C- (which I actually asked the professor for, because at my school you can only retake a class with a C- or lower), then I got a 3.6 (first time on dean's list!), and last quarter I got another C in biochem. I have no idea how I'm supposed to explain this to adcoms. I would get it if I did terrible, then started doing better, but I'm all over the place. I have a personal reason for doing terrible that last quarter, but it's not something I think I should discuss with an interviewer :( I'm not sure what to do.

I can't afford a graduate program/I don't have the pre reqs for them. According to my calculations (I followed CASPA's rules for grading), if I can get an A in physics and microbiology, then retake chem 1 and 2 and O chem with A's, I'll be at a 3.3. May I ask what your explanation was?

I unfortunately can't take anymore upperdivision science classes :(

So I have a small issue. I'm not bad at science, I just work 40 hours a week in order to be able to afford school. I study as much as I can, but obviously I don't have very much free time. For this reason, my science classes range from mediocre grades, to just passing. I'm retaking the ones I got Cs in, but is it worth it to retake the ones I got a B- in? Or should I just take new ones? For example: I got a B- in bio 1, but I haven't taken bio 2. This time around, I won't be working, so I have much more time to study, and I know I can do better. So should I retake my B- classes, or just go ahead and take new ones? Also, I got a C in biochem. Not all schools require it, but I hate that I have a stupid C. I can't find anywhere to retake it, so I don't really have a choice. But if that is the only C I have on my transcript (after I retake classes), how bad will it look? OR Should I forgo retaking my B- classes in favor of working full time to gain HCE?

Especially when you first started, how was your relationship with them? Do you mostly do your own thing, and only go to them when you need a second opinion? Or do they have more of a hand in your decision making? I'm curious as to what it's like.

Not worth it. If you already have taken an EMT class, why don't you look into becoming an EMT or ER tech?

I've shadowed in several areas, and I'm really drawn to emergency medicine. I would love to become an EMT after I graduate undergrad. However, I'm from Northern California, and there really aren't very many EMT jobs. But there is a HUGE need for caregivers/CNAs. I mean like a crazy amount. So I could either spend 2 semesters training for an EMT-B and have low job prospects, OR just work as a CNA with a company that trains. I would prefer to be an EMT, but that's going to take longer, and I have to pay for another year of school. I don't know that I would like being a CNA (my grandma has Alzheimer's and I spent a lot of time in nursing homes, not really my scene) BUT it means I could start accruing hours wayyyy sooner and I would be making money right away.

I actually called this PA's office and left a message. The PA called ME and said I could shadow, and after the first day told me I could come back as often as I wanted. So no, their SP didn't force them into it. I think this person just hated having a shadow, I don't think they really thought it through. I felt like a burden the whole time I was there.

The phone thing was only an issue the very first day. The rest of the time I was there I kept it in my bag. The ONLY reason I was even on my phone the first day, was because the PA literally would not talk to me. I would ask them questions, they'd give a short response, and it would go back to silence. I was there for 4 hours, and they probably said a total of 10 words to me the whole time. It was strange because they were very friendly with their patients and with their MAs. It was awkward. Every day after that was the same except I was staring at the wall instead of my phone. This PA barely got any patients, and she basically just did paperwork the whole time I was there. It wasn't much, but at least it was close by. I don't have a car and it was 5 minute bus ride, so that was nice. Oh well.

So I finally found a PA to let me shadow them that was fairly close by. It was perfect- or so I thought. First day- the PA barely talked to me in between patients. I didn't mind, I just figured they didn't want to talk and complete paperwork at the same time. So I answered emails on my phone during the down time. I asked questions when I could, but they seemed kind of annoyed when I did. At the end of day 1, the PA told me to stop using my phone. Day 2- I kept my phone in my bag the whole time. The PA got 4 patients the whole time I was there, and the PA wouldn't even let me sit next to them at their desk. I was sitting behind them at a different desk. They told me to read a book from the bookshelf since nothing was happening. Day 3- 2 patients and then they told me to just go ahead an leave, 2 hours early. Today- I get there, I check in to the front desk and wait about 5 minutes. Then, I get an email saying they didn't have patients scheduled today, so I should just go home. They sent me the email 10 minutes after I would have gotten to the office, so I was definitely already there. Because it takes me a while to get there, I emailed them back asking, politely, if there was anyway they could let me know ahead of time if they don't have patients, so this doesn't happen again. They said sure. Cut to 10 minutes ago- they just sent me an email saying they don't think I should shadow them anymore. Did I do something wrong? I was quiet, I didn't say a word when we were with patients except to ask them if they wanted me to leave during certain procedures. I wasn't rude. I just don't really understand what happened.

It says I need 12 units of biological sciences with lab. I took 2 quarters of general bio, and 1 quarter of genetics. But my genetics class didn't have a lab. I also took nutrient metabolism 1 and 2, and the 2nd one had a lab. Do I have enough units of biological sciences or should I take more?

I'm an RA, and lately I've been spending a lot of time educating my residents about STD and drug trends. It made me realize something: I really love public health. I've shadowed 2 PAs, both primary care, and I truly do think that's where I belong. For this reason, I am seriously considering a joint MPH/PA program. What are everyone's thoughts on these kinds of programs/does anyone have any experience in one?

Does anyone have any personal experience with this?