awwme Posted August 2, 2013 Share Posted August 2, 2013 Hello, I'm new to this forum and am desperately seeking advice. I've been debating between MD/DO or PA for practically my entire undergraduate career. (Will be an incoming 4th year next year). This summer, I decided to enroll in a prep course to take the MCAT in September, planning to go to medical school. But now, I realize that I have been questioning this "final" decision since the beginning of my MCAT studies. My question is that I don't know if I should still take my MCAT in September. I know I'm not studying as much as I can, and I feel like its partially due to being unmotivated. Maybe also due to the fact that I don't know if I want to go to med school anymore. I know PA schools don't really take the MCAT and take the GRE instead. Should I continue trying to motivate myself to study? (heavily due to the fact that I paid for the course and already registered for the test in Sept) Or.. Should I just give it all up and immediately begin studying for the GRE...? I guess personally, I'm leaning more towards PA than MD/DO. Any advice/input would be greatly appreciated! Sorry if my post was long. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uscbigdawg Posted August 2, 2013 Share Posted August 2, 2013 What is your motivation for PA more than MD/DO? Is it the shorter grad school? Cost of attending school? If the answer to either is yes, then don't be a PA. It shouldn't be about being a provider in less time. It should SOLELY be that you want to specifically be a PA. Being a PA is NOT a short-cut from or a stepping stone to medical school. So, first decide if you really understand what it means to be a PA or are you doing it for reasons that you WILL regret later. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 2, 2013 Share Posted August 2, 2013 I agree with the above poster. PA school is not breeze in the park and if your decision is based on the time it takes to become a PA, it is a bad way to go! As a student I wish PA schools were longer because you just do not have time to learn things as well as you know you can. Maybe you should take some time off and work with the two professions before you make a decision. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super Duper Posted August 2, 2013 Share Posted August 2, 2013 Take the MCAT. It's fun. By far, the best standardized test I've ever taken. If it weren't so expensive I would have taken it again just for entertainment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
awwme Posted August 2, 2013 Author Share Posted August 2, 2013 What is your motivation for PA more than MD/DO? Is it the shorter grad school? Cost of attending school? If the answer to either is yes, then don't be a PA. It shouldn't be about being a provider in less time. It should SOLELY be that you want to specifically be a PA. Being a PA is NOT a short-cut from or a stepping stone to medical school. So, first decide if you really understand what it means to be a PA or are you doing it for reasons that you WILL regret later. hi! Thank you for your advice :smile:. Actually, its not because of the cost or shorter grad school (though those are also benefits). Originally, I wrote the post with some details on why I was leaning towards PA more but I wasn't sure if that would make the post too long/people wouldn't care to read it, (I'm new!) haha. The main reason I'm having second thoughts on med school is because I just don't know if its what I really want. Having second thoughts on giving up all of my 20s for it, having second thoughts on if its my true calling and if I want to make being a doctor my entire life. To be honest, I feel like I would know by now after debating it for the past 3 years of my undergraduate career. Some basic reasons becoming a PA seems more appealing is generally because of the lifestyle later on. I've shadowed a PA in the cardio-thoracic unit for a couple months from time to time now and I like that she has a 8 or 9-5 job. I like the fact that being a PA means I can take the weekends off, and that I don't think I would be as stressed once I enter the work force. For the most part, I believe that I'll be happier as PA. Personally, I wouldn't mind having someone sign off on me, or just having someone I can also verify things with. I don't see myself as always needing the final say in every patient's case. As I'm studying for the MCAT, I know my interest in medicine is more about caring for patients rather than actual hard science. After several opportunities helping out at health fairs and shadowing providers, the aspect of just communicating/counseling a patient is what I love most about the job. I know PA school is definitely not a joke. I don't think any graduate school is a joke. I know it'll take hard work, probably as hard as I would work if I did decide on medical school. I just really torn on whether or not I should even take the MCAT now.. Any thoughts on that after reading more about me? :/ Thanks so much though, I really appreciate your time!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator EMEDPA Posted August 2, 2013 Moderator Share Posted August 2, 2013 Some basic reasons becoming a PA seems more appealing is generally because of the lifestyle later on. I've shadowed a PA in the cardio-thoracic unit for a couple months from time to time now and I like that she has a 8 or 9-5 job. I like the fact that being a PA means I can take the weekends off ..... lifestyle varies job to job. there are 9-5 doc jobs too. one of my attendings works day shift only 2 days/week for example. there are also LOTS of jobs where PAs work nights and weekends. I work mostly nights and every weekend for example. remember docs hire PAs to do the work they don't want to do at the times and places they don't want to do it so they can have a cushier life and be off early am's/nights/weekends/holidays. the great myth of the pa profession is that it is a lifestyle field. maybe for some, but most PAs I know work MORE HRS than the docs they work with. in my em group for example most PAs work 180+ hrs/mo while most docs work < 130. for example this week I work 65 hrs while most of my attendings work 24-32. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IndianaU-PA Posted August 2, 2013 Share Posted August 2, 2013 @awwme: Indiana University accepts either the MCAT or GRE and we use the verbal score only. This is in effect for the 2014 admission cycle and may change in the future. However, there are several programs that accept either exam, and IU does not prefer either. It sounds like you are not convinced that PA education is right for you. I urge you to fully explore all the options you have to even greater extent. The decision to attend PA school is very serious and we want to enroll a full class and graduate a full class. If one of the students stops mid-stream, that's a practicing PA we can never get back. Best, Josh Morrison Director, Student Enrollment Services IU School of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences, IUPUI http://www.shrs.iupui.edu paadmit@iupui.edu Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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