Guest rebecca2009 Posted August 16, 2009 Share Posted August 16, 2009 I am living in Philly area. I want to apply PA program in Pennsylvania state, but I am not sure which school is good. I hope to choose 4-5 schools in the state. Can anyone provide some info? Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gallac30 Posted August 16, 2009 Share Posted August 16, 2009 PCOM and Arcadia are very good bets. DeSales and Kings are also good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator EMEDPA Posted August 16, 2009 Moderator Share Posted August 16, 2009 drexel/hahnemann is the oldest and best established program in pennsylvania. they have rotations everywhere with lots of specialty options and sites all over the country. they were established in 71 and have long since worked all the bugs out of their program. some of the newer programs are still struggling with curriculum and rotation sites. pcom is a good #2 choice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skittles1866 Posted August 18, 2009 Share Posted August 18, 2009 i visited kings college once. Awful location in the middle of no where. not where you want to be if you are a city person Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skittles1866 Posted August 18, 2009 Share Posted August 18, 2009 Also lockhaven is half the tuition of every other PA program. esp if you are in state Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest lanzera6 Posted August 18, 2009 Share Posted August 18, 2009 First, look at each institutions pass rate and board scores. I'm a first year student at Arcadia and absolutely love it. Of course it's difficult, but I also looked at and was accepted to Drexel. After reviewing both programs, Arcadia was definitely a better fit. A big indication of a successful program is looking at the board pass rate, graduation rate, and take a close look into the rotations. Another positive thing about AU is that we have 3 elective rotations. Again, weigh your options but in the end, you're going to be a PA. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aner Posted September 1, 2009 Share Posted September 1, 2009 Don't forget Philadelphia University...I love it, but I'm biased =D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mika Posted September 7, 2009 Share Posted September 7, 2009 If you are interested in working in a subspecialty then def make sure the program has electives, I have heard that some schools in Philly don't. Electives are the way to get your foot in the door, I am working in a NICU and I got this position based on my rotation. I just graduated from Arcadia, yes it was very difficult but on rotations and with the PANCE exam I was def prepared. Good luck!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JLaur122 Posted June 8, 2012 Share Posted June 8, 2012 Hello everyone, Just curious to see if anyone has attended or researched Lockhaven's satellite program. They have 4 satellite programs. I'm particularly interested in the one in Harrisburg, which is fairly new. I'm concerned about the "streaming" class approach. I asked one of the counselors at LU and he said PANCE pass rates were about the same ( from main campus vs. satellite). If anyone has any experience with this, PLEASE share!!! Thank you!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JLaur122 Posted June 8, 2012 Share Posted June 8, 2012 Hello everyone, Just curious to see if anyone has attended or researched Lockhaven's satellite program. They have 4 satellite programs. I'm particularly interested in the one in Harrisburg, which is fairly new. I'm concerned about the "streaming" class approach. I asked one of the counselors at LU and he said PANCE pass rates were about the same ( from main campus vs. satellite). If anyone has any experience with this, PLEASE share!!! Thank you!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JLaur122 Posted June 8, 2012 Share Posted June 8, 2012 Hello everyone, Just curious to see if anyone has attended or researched Lockhaven's satellite program. They have 4 satellite programs. I'm particularly interested in the one in Harrisburg, which is fairly new. I'm concerned about the "streaming" class approach. I asked one of the counselors at LU and he said PANCE pass rates were about the same ( from main campus vs. satellite). If anyone has any experience with this, PLEASE share!!! Thank you!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gtrev07 Posted June 27, 2012 Share Posted June 27, 2012 Arcadia is the best program! They are a private institution, devoted to delivering top notch PA's after 24 months. Unlike other Philly schools, they look at academics and the quality of the person first.. other schools are just trying to fill quotas! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCHMITTIE120 Posted June 27, 2012 Share Posted June 27, 2012 Arcadia is the best program! They are a private institution, devoted to delivering top notch PA's after 24 months. Unlike other Philly schools, they look at academics and the quality of the person first.. other schools are just trying to fill quotas! This seems a little out of line. If you have not attended other programs I think it is unfair to make this judgement. I personally go to Drexel and I can assure you that here they are not trying to fill quotas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator EMEDPA Posted June 27, 2012 Moderator Share Posted June 27, 2012 This seems a little out of line. If you have not attended other programs I think it is unfair to make this judgement. I personally go to Drexel and I can assure you that here they are not trying to fill quotas. agree....see my prior post above regarding local programs.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
briepm Posted June 27, 2012 Share Posted June 27, 2012 Personally, I couldn't be more excited to be starting DeSales in the Fall. I did some of my pre-reqs there, so I am fairly familiar with the program. The other programs mentioned are excellent as well, but DeSales was and is my first choice by far (location did come into play for me, I should add). The area around DeSales is..small town.. so you won't have city distraction or traffic. Our class is 40-44, and they are just finishing a new health center building for us and the advanced NP students, so everything will be brand new for the class of 2015 (Sidenote: NP and PA students do not have classes together or interact very much at all as far as I know). Having done a shadowing program at St. Luke's hospital (DeSales' 'sister hospital'), I can tell you personally I have seen how well PA's are respected and treated. DeSales grads are PA's all over this area, so there is a ton of opportunity for mentorship and clinical rotations. Another plus - St. Luke's has PA residencies in Trauma Surgery ICU and ER. You would absolutely be working with the PA's who choose those residents as a DeSales student, and we start clinical experiences during the didactic year with a Friday morning "rotation" every week. Here is info about DeSales' stats for the PANCE - continuously excellent. http://www.desales.edu/home/academics/graduate-studies/programs-of-study/mspas---physician-assistant/program-information/pance---national-certifying-exam Just wanted to add my two cents - clearly, I am very proud of my school. Arcadia was my second choice because they gave me the impression of being very open-minded and interested in their students being service oriented, global citizens..a cheesy way to put it but I couldn't think of another way and I mean it positively and sincerely. The have a cadaver lab at Thomas Jefferson (?) over the summer months, and that would have been a problem for me because of the commute. The program director also told my interview group that they occasionally have class from 8-7pm, and sometimes on Saturday. That combined with the extra 10 hours of driving a week I would have had caused me to turn down their offer. We're very lucky to have so many quality programs in a small area - any that you feel is a good fit for you is a good choice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sastacey7 Posted July 8, 2012 Share Posted July 8, 2012 I'm also a first year at Arcadia, though I am at the Christian, DE campus. I find the program to be very challenging (I am sure that most are) but very fair. I interviewed at many locations, public and private, from here to FL to AZ. This, after interviews, became my top choice (the others were strong programs as well, or I wouldn't have applied to them). Here are the things that stood out to me about Arcadia, things that set the program apart. 1.Pass rates are excellent- and they give First time pass rates, not just overall, and also the overall scores on it high, so people are not 'just making it.' 2. The attrition rate is very low, which shows me that they choose well and that they are very supportive of students over the course of the program, both when the students are doing well, and when they are having difficulties (I think the national avg is about 7% and AU is about 2%, but I'd have to double check that.) 3. They bring in lecturers, professionals who are working in the various fields and don't only use their own staff. I think this is great as the specialists are going to be VERY up to date with currents practice, etc and this can possibly give you insight into where to go for electives. 4. There is a full cadaver lab through a partnership with Jefferson Medical College in Philly- we do the dissection, the cadavers are not 'passed down.' Arcadia is very active internationally and has the opportunity for rotations abroad in many places. 5. Many of the staff work abroad to help promote the PA profession in other countries (South Africa and the UK are two examples). 6. When I interviewed, I very much felt welcome here and that the program recognized that they were not the only one that was choosing. They made sure to go over what set them apart, why I should choose them over another program, but they did it in a way that wasn't derogatory about the many other programs out there. That meant a lot by the end of interviews as at some places, I felt as if the process was rushed and that I should go to the program simply because they offered a seat to me (assuming that they did of course) but that they never really told me why... Almost like an air of arrogance in a way. 6. And lastly, I felt that Arcadia demonstrated an effort to accomplish their program mission statement more than other programs. In At some programs it almost felt as if the mission statement was just a nice set of words that they are expected to have hanging on a wall, but not like anyone actually stove to meet those goals. At one interview, I asked a question about a part of the mission statement, and the interviewer didn't know what I was referencing! 7. This was not initially a consideration, but when it came down to choosing between my top choices, the fact that this is a 24 month program played a small role. One less semester of loans, an income a few months earlier, and we 'beat the rush' of the other program's graduating when it comes to looking for a job. Of course, now there are times when the idea of stretching this out over an extra three months sounds heavenly! :) 8. The diversity simulation.... haven't done it yet, so I can't say a whole lot about it, but just the fact that they have an exercise designed to put you out of your comfort zone I think is awesome. Many of our patients will be out of theirs, and it gives us a chance to understand what they might be feeling. It also gives us some skills when it comes to expanding what we are comfortable being around- It is a difficult decision. I sent CASPA to more schools than I did supplementals for and in the end it is a highly personal choice. Most programs are strong programs I think. Also, you get out what you put in. Best of luck to you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sastacey7 Posted July 8, 2012 Share Posted July 8, 2012 OH- PS, the commute to Jefferson isn't bad- we take the train in and study or do flash cards on the train (or steal a few minute to nap). And it is only three day s a week, not 5, for only 8 weeks of the term. You can drive into Philly, but parking is more expensive, so most of us don't. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discogenic Posted July 8, 2012 Share Posted July 8, 2012 OH- PS, the commute to Jefferson isn't bad- we take the train in and study or do flash cards on the train (or steal a few minute to nap). And it is only three day s a week, not 5, for only 8 weeks of the term. You can drive into Philly, but parking is more expensive, so most of us don't. Good info! How many students are in each of the classes (DE and Philly)? And are the anatomy days all day, or a few hours? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
c0untingstars Posted July 10, 2012 Share Posted July 10, 2012 There are about 40 students at Christiana and 60 at Glenside. Anatomy days are all day MWF for about 7-8 weeks the first semester. Sastacey7 made A LOT of good points about Arcadia, I agree with all of them! Especially #6 - the main reason I decided to move 12 hours away from home instead of going to a school only an hour away. You will not have a better interview experience at another school. Also, people have mentioned the 3 elective rotations - this is rare and the options Arcadia has for these electives are numerous and diverse! I'm very excited for mine. Another thing Arcadia does that other schools may not is students get a huge say in their clinical year. You get to select your top 3 preferences in each rotation, and then your top 3 overall. And I would say 90% of us got everything we wanted. You also have the option to complete 50% of your rotations out of the area and set up 3 rotations of your own. So I get to do six months of rotations back in Michigan and the other six back in DE/PA. I'm also getting a lot of feedback already on my knowledge base :) So even though I'm just starting rotations and feel clueless sometimes, I'm actually very well prepared! One last thing - while most schools send a select few representatives from their class to the AAPA conference in May, Arcadia sends the entire class. It was an amazing experience! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gtrev07 Posted August 14, 2012 Share Posted August 14, 2012 Any state school is looking to fill quotas since they are given money by the government to do so............................... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCHMITTIE120 Posted August 14, 2012 Share Posted August 14, 2012 Any state school is looking to fill quotas since they are given money by the government to do so............................... Drexel, Philadelphia University, PCOM. All private. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCHMITTIE120 Posted August 14, 2012 Share Posted August 14, 2012 Double Post Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HersheyKisses Posted November 12, 2012 Share Posted November 12, 2012 I have been trying to get a hold of attrition rates in order to make some academic decisions (not just PANCE results) but I have not had much luck. I see Arcadia's 2% (congrats Arcadia) but have been unable to get a hold of Drexel's. I understand that their current class of 90 has lost almost 10 students so far all due to their gross anatomy. If this is true I would be concerned and try to research them a little more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCHMITTIE120 Posted November 12, 2012 Share Posted November 12, 2012 I have been trying to get a hold of attrition rates in order to make some academic decisions (not just PANCE results) but I have not had much luck. I see Arcadia's 2% (congrats Arcadia) but have been unable to get a hold of Drexel's. I understand that their current class of 90 has lost almost 10 students so far all due to their gross anatomy. If this is true I would be concerned and try to research them a little more. In my class (2012) we lost around 7 students to anatomy and then 2-3 more for various other reasons. All of these students (as for as I am aware) were allowed to decelerate into the part-time program. I think we lost one student (who was originally in my class) completely who failed out of the part time program. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HersheyKisses Posted November 14, 2012 Share Posted November 14, 2012 Unfortunately Drexel changed their policy and students are no longer allowed to decelerate. As of last year their new policy requires students to take a leave of absence for the year. This LOA bars students from taking any additional courses at the university. I understand that a few current students are now in a very tough position. They need to get out of leases and move back home since they will no longer be getting financial aid. It is because of this that I was trying to get a hold of their attrition rates but so far no luck. I was told that their anatomy course is the most intense in the area. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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