Completely Torn

[pastudentinpa 1]

So here is my dilemma,

 

Last cycle I got interviews at 3 schools, 1 in Pittsburgh- where I currently live and have my friends and boyfriend, and 2 in Philly, 

I got wait listed in Pittsburgh, and recently (about a week and a half ago) got word that I got accepted to one of the schools outside of Philly!

 

So this is a fantastic school, great program, 100% PANCE pass rates, great student to teacher ration, etc. 

 

This means I would have to move about 4-4.5 hours away in August. 

 

I am so TORN because I was planning to re-apply for 2 schools in Pittsburgh and keep working here for another year until I was able to start school. 

 

The time lines are cutting it extremely close; so if I reapply in to Pitt the first interview is July 31, I probably wouldn't hear until mid-August. 

The school outside Philly starts Aug 25. 

 

The reason I am so torn is because I don't want to leave my life I have built here in Pittsburgh, including my friends, my work at Children's, and my boyfriend. 

 

I have been dating my boyfriend for about 5 months now, it'll be almost a year when (if) I have to move.. he has said he wants to support me either way, that he wants to make the distance work. But I am anxious about that but also anxious that if I do give up my spot at this school I have been accepted to, I may be giving up my only opportunity should I not get into a school here in Pittsburgh. 

 

I guess I just am looking for some advice- any thoughts are welcome!

Thanks to all, and good luck to everyone trying to get accepted also!

[ilovelost 53]

If you've been accepted this cycle... I'd say go to the PA school near Philly and don't look back. Your friends and family will understand. As for the boyfriend... you can make long distance work. My boyfriend and I have lived about 1,800 miles apart for the past two years while he got his graduate degree.... and now we're about to do another two years of long distance with my graduate degree (PA school). And we still plan to get married....at some point :-). It's a great opportunity to really "find" yourself, meet new people, and pursue your dreams - think carefully before giving that up for someone you've been dating for five months. 

 

But if you do decide to apply again for Pittsburgh programs... that's totally understandable!!! 

[PA2016! 40]

If you got an acceptance...TAKE IT! Every year the number of applicants continues to grow and there is no guarantee that just because you got in this year, that you will get in next year (In any state). Dont miss out on your opportunity. Even thought PA school is hard, it is a balance and you will balance what is important to you with your school life. 

[LoRezSkyline 97]

Move.  This is more important.  You have an acceptance in hand at a good school.  You're not going to be able to continue working while you're in school anyway.  Your friends will understand and your boyfriend will as well if the relationship truly has the weight you assume it does.  If you haven't yet achieved your goals, those need to come before the relationship anyway.  

 

You'll be finished in two years.  Another year waiting means passing on that lost acceptance and missing out on a year or so's new grad PA salary at $80K or so a year as you'll be delaying your bump up in salary.  Don't even think twice about it.  

[whoRyou 257]

“It is so hard to leave—until you leave. And then it is the easiest g-d damned thing in the world.”
― John Green, Paper Towns

 

“You get use to someone—start to like them, even—and they leave. In the end, everyone leaves.”
― Rachel Wards, Numbers

 

“We all take different paths in life, but no matter where we go, we take a little of each other everywhere.”
― Tim McGraw

 

“Everybody has to leave, everybody has to leave their home and come back so they can love it again for all new reasons.”
― Donald Miller, Through Painted Deserts: Light, G-D, and Beauty on the Open Road

 

On his first solo album in 1985 the musician Sting released a song called:

If You Love Somebody Set Them Free

 

A more elaborate quotation that's included in the above statement:

If you love something, let it go. If it returns, it’s yours; if it doesn’t, it wasn’t.
If you love someone, set them free. If they come back they’re yours; if they don’t they never were.

[pastudentinpa 1]

thank you all for your replies!

 

ilovelost: thanks this helps me feel a little more confident!

 

and

 

whoRyou: great quotes! I appreciate that thanks, i love life quotes.

 

I know I would never know what it's like until I try it, the easier thing would be to stay and hope for the best, the way I'd probably grow the most from challenging myself would be to go.

And I know PA is what I for sure want to do and would hate to lose an opportunity.

 

Thanks again for the responses!

[SoCalPA 167]

Think of your future. Time to be selfish. The friends and BF will understand. It's to hard to get into PA school to pass up an acceptance at a great school. Congrats!!

[EMEDPA 7,547]

you wouldn't have spent the time and energy to apply to all those programs if you weren't considering attending them if accepted....

[rasputina.natali2277 1]

http://votz.asfet.ru/433306502/4921413/

[DreamsRPossible 1]

Don't click on that link from Rasputina unless you speak Russian.