Crusading Angel Posted October 28, 2015 Share Posted October 28, 2015 So I know that some PA programs has a section where they say you should take these classes, but you don't have to. Obviously not taking it won't hurt you (much, if any at all). However, how much does it help you if you do take the recommended courses? I think it's pretty obvious that getting a good grade (A) will be good and place you on the very far end of the positive spectrum. However how would your application compare to another person's application. Let's say person X had good grades (3.5 gpa etc.) but did not take a recommended course(s) (Nutrition, Ochem 2, Genetics etc.). Let's say another person has the same GPA as well (3.5). However, person Y took the recommended course(s) but still had the same GPA as X. Would admissions find person Y to be a little bit of a better applicant because they took the courses? Or are these recommended courses just there for your own good? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cop to pa Posted October 28, 2015 Share Posted October 28, 2015 Y would be looked upon as being better academically prepared for the program's coursework, which is why those courses are recommended. All other things being equal (HCE, LOR, GRE, GPA)? Y is more probably likely to be invited to an interview. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mandrew1 Posted October 28, 2015 Share Posted October 28, 2015 I think those classes are "recommended" for a reason. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrator rev ronin Posted October 28, 2015 Administrator Share Posted October 28, 2015 Given the fierce competition for seats at every program, I would discourage applicants from applying to any program which had a list of recommended classes unless they had a fair number of those classes covered, either completed or in progress. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UGoLong Posted October 28, 2015 Share Posted October 28, 2015 They obviously recommended the coursework for something. If you want to maximize your chances, follow their directions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cop to pa Posted October 28, 2015 Share Posted October 28, 2015 Remember, the goal of the application is to look as best as possible in order to get an interview. The goal of the interview is to look as best as possible for a seat. Make your application as strong as possible correlated to what they want, including recommended courses. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
optimistic3 Posted October 29, 2015 Share Posted October 29, 2015 Just to add - which of the commonly recommended classes do you think would help the most to take before PA school? Let's say if you only had room for 1 or 2 of them. I'm trying to decide which of them to take next semester since I'll be done with the required prereqs after this fall. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cop to pa Posted October 29, 2015 Share Posted October 29, 2015 When reading the course descriptions, which one do you feel weakest in? That way it can be a course to better prepare you/ make you more well rounded. That is also something that can be brought up in interviews (why you chose that particular course- to better prepare yourself for PA school/ make you more well rounded) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UGoLong Posted October 30, 2015 Share Posted October 30, 2015 Of the one you mentioned at the top of this post, I'd pick genetics. (Also patho, if it wasn't already required by your program). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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