2012 applicants?

[paprospect24]

At the information sessions they swear that the applications are not "weighted" and so long as you meet the requirements then you go into a pool of applicants based on your proximity to the school and everyone in each pool has the same chance as others in the given pool.

[paprospect24]

At the information sessions they swear that the applications are not "weighted" and so long as you meet the requirements then you go into a pool of applicants based on your proximity to the school and everyone in each pool has the same chance as others in the given pool.

[bms1015]

Paprospect,

So are you dating all qualified applicants.have the same odds our that ask qualified applicants in each "tier" have the same odds in. that tier as being selected?

[bms1015]

Paprospect,

So are you dating all qualified applicants.have the same odds our that ask qualified applicants in each "tier" have the same odds in. that tier as being selected?

[erptacmtkrazyso]

Yes. They said they want to give opportunity to everybody no matter their prior history. As long as they meet the minimum requirement.

[erptacmtkrazyso]

Yes. They said they want to give opportunity to everybody no matter their prior history. As long as they meet the minimum requirement.

[laocgirl]

Hello,

 

For those that atteneded information sessions in 2012, is preference given to Moreno Valley residents over those in Riverside or is it the same within the RCC district?

 

Thank you!

[laocgirl]

Hello,

 

For those that atteneded information sessions in 2012, is preference given to Moreno Valley residents over those in Riverside or is it the same within the RCC district?

 

Thank you!

[Kristin Batla PA-C]

I believe it is the same for all within the RCC District.

[Kristin Batla PA-C]

I believe it is the same for all within the RCC District.

[hamiltjn]

I believe it is the same for all within the RCC District.

 

Yes, tier 1 = RCC district, tier 2 = riverside county, tier 3 = rest of california, tier 4 = outside california.

 

Generally from what I've been told on the phone, they go as far as a handful of folks in tier 3 just about every cohort. I was also assured it is entirely based on location, 2.5 overall gpa vs 4.0 overall gpa matters little, its cut and dry -- you make the minimum and you get in. There are no interviews or anything like that I believe. I'm a bit bummed its going to be April now! I got into a program that is on the east coast and it starts in May. Because of this I am going to have to have a foot out the door. If I get accepted, I can relax, if I get denied its going to be a wild ride :-)

[hamiltjn]

I believe it is the same for all within the RCC District.

 

Yes, tier 1 = RCC district, tier 2 = riverside county, tier 3 = rest of california, tier 4 = outside california.

 

Generally from what I've been told on the phone, they go as far as a handful of folks in tier 3 just about every cohort. I was also assured it is entirely based on location, 2.5 overall gpa vs 4.0 overall gpa matters little, its cut and dry -- you make the minimum and you get in. There are no interviews or anything like that I believe. I'm a bit bummed its going to be April now! I got into a program that is on the east coast and it starts in May. Because of this I am going to have to have a foot out the door. If I get accepted, I can relax, if I get denied its going to be a wild ride :-)

[hamiltjn]

 

I felt much more confident about getting into the program until I thoroughly read this forum and saw that students that fell in the first tier were rejected because of something as simple as the Doctor's form read "see attached document,"

 

Yeah, my old job had an official hospital policy of not filling out work history paperwork by hand. It was suggested by RCC that I attach a memo explaining the situation with contact numbers of the HR director and my old boss, but it didn't work. Still got rejected for "work history not filled out by hand" :-( (this was last year)

[hamiltjn]

 

I felt much more confident about getting into the program until I thoroughly read this forum and saw that students that fell in the first tier were rejected because of something as simple as the Doctor's form read "see attached document,"

 

Yeah, my old job had an official hospital policy of not filling out work history paperwork by hand. It was suggested by RCC that I attach a memo explaining the situation with contact numbers of the HR director and my old boss, but it didn't work. Still got rejected for "work history not filled out by hand" :-( (this was last year)

[bms1015]

Well I'm glad to hear tier one gets "priority" in the selection process. I just hope the gpa is not taken into account too heavily. While I have a 4.0 in science & 3.6 prerequisite, I am lacking in overall with just a 2.93. I do live in rcc district and even took classes at rcc before I got my bachelors. So I really hope that these statements are true. Good luck yup everyone.

[bms1015]

Well I'm glad to hear tier one gets "priority" in the selection process. I just hope the gpa is not taken into account too heavily. While I have a 4.0 in science & 3.6 prerequisite, I am lacking in overall with just a 2.93. I do live in rcc district and even took classes at rcc before I got my bachelors. So I really hope that these statements are true. Good luck yup everyone.

[hamiltjn]

Well I'm glad to hear tier one gets "priority" in the selection process. I just hope the gpa is not taken into account too heavily. While I have a 4.0 in science & 3.6 prerequisite, I am lacking in overall with just a 2.93. I do live in rcc district and even took classes at rcc before I got my bachelors. So I really hope that these statements are true. Good luck yup everyone.

 

Overall is over 2.5, you are good man :-)

[hamiltjn]

Well I'm glad to hear tier one gets "priority" in the selection process. I just hope the gpa is not taken into account too heavily. While I have a 4.0 in science & 3.6 prerequisite, I am lacking in overall with just a 2.93. I do live in rcc district and even took classes at rcc before I got my bachelors. So I really hope that these statements are true. Good luck yup everyone.

 

Overall is over 2.5, you are good man :-)

[bms1015]

Well I sure hope so. Does anyone know how the selection process works for each tier? Once they have everyone placed into their proper "pool" how do they select the applicants? Is it random--like drawing names from a hat? Or do they evaluate each applicant based on qualifications and performance and make a decision based on the top qualified persons from each tier? In other words, is it completely random selection or is their method to the madness?

[afarmboy]

Did everyone here that applied this cycle receive a postcard? I never did, yet I assume my packet arrived at the appropriate address b/c of the positive USPS delivery confirmation (doesn't need to be signed for).

[bms1015]

Did everyone here that applied this cycle receive a postcard? I never did, yet I assume my packet arrived at the appropriate address b/c of the positive USPS delivery confirmation (doesn't need to be signed for).

 

Yes as far as I know everyone on here had confirmed that they did receive a postcard at one point or another. There is maybe one or two people I know of on here that have said they did not receive a postcard either. But for the most part everyone on here has said they have received one

[rave]

Thank you everyone for your support and info. I greatly appreciate it. Questions to the student-PA's:

1. Specialty: Surgery- is there a two yr internship or upon graduation could you work for a hosp. in a surgery unit?

2. The current trend is more people are seeing PA's for routine office visits. What are the pros/cons of PCP versus specialty.

3. I like the bustle of the OR but the controlled setting of an established practice. Is there a niche with these two factors?

4. Does PA school require brain busting studying/cram exams like undergraduate upper division courses like neurobio, molec cell and virology? Or overnighters?

5. What fuel do you run on? Water coffee rockstar monster 5 hr energy?

6. Is it possible to get married after graduating from school in the same year or is job placement a big factor?

7. Summer and winter breaks?

8. Do acceptance letters come in big envelopes?

9. Could I work at a local clinic during downtime(?) to supplement my income?

10. Is there anything insightful you've come across in school?

11. Does this school have senior/junior partnerships? 2nd yr mentoring 1st yr?

 

Thanks again.

Laura.

[sal4kim]

Thank you everyone for your support and info. I greatly appreciate it. Questions to the student-PA's:

1. Specialty: Surgery- is there a two yr internship or upon graduation could you work for a hosp. in a surgery unit?

2. The current trend is more people are seeing PA's for routine office visits. What are the pros/cons of PCP versus specialty.

3. I like the bustle of the OR but the controlled setting of an established practice. Is there a niche with these two factors?

4. Does PA school require brain busting studying/cram exams like undergraduate upper division courses like neurobio, molec cell and virology? Or overnighters?

5. What fuel do you run on? Water coffee rockstar monster 5 hr energy?

6. Is it possible to get married after graduating from school in the same year or is job placement a big factor?

7. Summer and winter breaks?

8. Do acceptance letters come in big envelopes?

9. Could I work at a local clinic during downtime(?) to supplement my income?

10. Is there anything insightful you've come across in school?

11. Does this school have senior/junior partnerships? 2nd yr mentoring 1st yr?

 

Thanks again.

Laura.

 

Laura,

 

I can answer a couple of your questions. However, I would strongly suggest that you visit Rcc's website so that you can refer to it as needed: http://www.rccd.edu/academicprograms/pa/Pages/index.aspx

 

Question 4: Yes, this particular PA program is extremely trying and requires 95 % of your being (give or take a little). You are basically cramming all week long for each exam for a full year straight. From what current and past students say this program or explanation of it thereof cannot be fully expressed in words. One will not know what the program is like until they are actually in it -- and it is not easy! Despite the difficulty of getting into the program some find themselves having to drop out because of personal reasons or are forced out for failure to maintain the required overall "B" average to pass.

 

Question 7: I have attended 2 orientations and this question was answered one of the times. Dr. Middleton said there is hardly time off because of all the curriculum that they are required to cover. And, that there is only one week off in December and one week off for Spring Break. I'm not sure if the program continues while the rest of the staff and RCC students are off but that is what I assume.

 

Question 8: No, they do not. The acceptance letters come in a regular legal sized envelope.

 

Question 9: No, as there is no downtime. You are in school Mon-Fri approximately 8am-5pm and in study groups for hours after that. Your weekends are spent preparing for the next weeks topics.

 

Question 10: Insightful? You may find attending the PA orientation that is held once a month one day every third week helpful and insightful. I would highly recommend doing that. Also, read through this website. There is quite a bit of useful information on here.

 

 

I hope this helped you. :)

 

Kimberly Angeles

[fyrelight74]

Thank you everyone for your support and info. I greatly appreciate it. Questions to the student-PA's:

1. Specialty: Surgery- is there a two yr internship or upon graduation could you work for a hosp. in a surgery unit?

2. The current trend is more people are seeing PA's for routine office visits. What are the pros/cons of PCP versus specialty.

3. I like the bustle of the OR but the controlled setting of an established practice. Is there a niche with these two factors?

4. Does PA school require brain busting studying/cram exams like undergraduate upper division courses like neurobio, molec cell and virology? Or overnighters?

5. What fuel do you run on? Water coffee rockstar monster 5 hr energy?

6. Is it possible to get married after graduating from school in the same year or is job placement a big factor?

7. Summer and winter breaks?

8. Do acceptance letters come in big envelopes?

9. Could I work at a local clinic during downtime(?) to supplement my income?

10. Is there anything insightful you've come across in school?

11. Does this school have senior/junior partnerships? 2nd yr mentoring 1st yr?

 

Thanks again.

Laura.

 

Wow, lots of questions!

1. I am not sure about this one. Our focus is on primary care, so we are not technically a "surgery PA" program, but you can work in surgery if you can get the job. I know there are some fellowships in orthopedics (which has some surgery), mental health, and others, but I don't know about a specific surgery one.

2. Pros of primary care- you see a little of everything, use many of your talents. Cons - you don't get paid what specialists do.

3. Maybe OB/GYN? Plenty of time in both office and surgery that way.

4. You can't cram. You have to actually store it in long term memory so that you can later pass your boards, answer any "pimp" questions from the doctors during clinicals, etc. How ever you accomplish that is your method. You go to class 8-5 on weekdays, then study in the evenings and weekends.

5. I'm a water drinker. To each his own. I have been known to drink some caffeine before exams to clear my mind... a little coffee usually.

6. Not sure how school interferes with marriage. Get married when you want; just realize you belong to the program until you are done... so you time will be limited for bonding.

7. Winter we had about 2 weeks off... from finals till winter semester. We also have a spring break coming up. That is first year. Second year, you are in rotations and get NONE... some people will even have to work holidays during second year such as Christmas and Thanksgiving.

8. Mine was just an envelope with an acceptance letter and a form you fill out to return to the school to accept your spot.

9. Maybe 3 people out of our class worked an occasional weekend shift during 1st year. Don't know anyone who did during second year. We are all living on school loans, etc.

10. Yeah... I used to be an "A" personality who had to get As and occasional Bs. Now I only care about passing and learning the material. There is just so much stuff you can't possibly excel in every area. PA school is a whole different world from regular undergrad work. Some of our classes have a grading system of 95-100 A, 90-94 B, 85-89 C and below 85 fail. That's pretty tough!

11. Yes, the senior class mentors the junior class... some mentor-mentees are very active with communicating with each other, some not as much. I think I spoke to my mentor maybe once the whole time but friends of mine had mentors they spoke with every week.

 

Good luck to you all! I know some of us last year received our letters on April Fools Day or thereabout, so not too much longer now.

[bms1015]

Laura,

 

I can answer one question (3) and concur with the previous poster on question 9

 

3. I have experience working in orthopedics -- particularly in the field of workers compensation. I work as a medical assistant with 2 doctors (board certified orthopedic surgeon - specializing in the spine & an MD who specializes in occupational medicine & general surgery as he is also the first assistant in the spine & other surgeries) and a physician assistant for the ortho who works in the office & in the OR as a first assistant. We generally work 3 to 4 days a week seeing patients in the office and every other wednesday we work in the OR performing spine surgeries. Saturdays we do smaller surgeries such as carpal tunel releases, arthroscopic knee surgeries, and arthroscopic shoulder surgeries as our routine but we have also done achilles tendon repairs, smaller total joint repairs such as finger joints, and other "less time consuming" surgeries as we pack them in on saturdays. So to answer your question I would say yes, there are niches that work in both of these components. I have just provided one example as I am familiar with it being that it is what I do as my current job, but I am sure there are other examples.

 

9. As far as question 9 goes, I would agree & say absolutely not. I have been advised by 2 PAs that I work with as well as my sister ank is a first year PA student at Touro Nevada NOT to work during school as it is very challenging and all of your time goes to studying, eating, sleeping, studying, and studying some more. During your first year of school you will have no life other than studying & school work. Any "down time" you have is used for more studying. I wondered the same question but I definitely will not be working once I begin school.

Hope that helps.