georgia_boy1 Posted February 29, 2016 Share Posted February 29, 2016 I'm trying to narrow my list down for PA schools to apply to and was wondering if school rank matters for employment? Or is it more based on how well you do on your cert exam? Thanks for the help Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DiggySRNA Posted February 29, 2016 Share Posted February 29, 2016 Nope, it does not. Having the powerful -C is what makes you employable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
georgia_boy1 Posted February 29, 2016 Author Share Posted February 29, 2016 Nope, it does not. Having the powerful -C is what makes you employable. Sorry don't know what you mean by the powerful -C. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DiggySRNA Posted February 29, 2016 Share Posted February 29, 2016 PA-C (PA-Certified). It is the only thing that matters when looking for a job :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
georgia_boy1 Posted February 29, 2016 Author Share Posted February 29, 2016 PA-C (PA-Certified). It is the only thing that matters when looking for a job :) Ahhh gotcha! Thank you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UGoLong Posted February 29, 2016 Share Posted February 29, 2016 Rankings are quite artificial. Schools with good rotation choices and a strategy to help you succeed -- rather than fail you out -- are my top two factors. No school will spoon-feed you, but some are better than others in connecting you with help if and when you need it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PA2B2017 Posted March 1, 2016 Share Posted March 1, 2016 Rankings are quite artificial. Schools with good rotation choices and a strategy to help you succeed -- rather than fail you out -- are my top two factors. No school will spoon-feed you, but some are better than others in connecting you with help if and when you need it. ^^^ This is nicely stated. While the rankings are somewhat of a popularity contest, and are mostly irrelevant post graduation, what I've been learning (unfortunately the hard way) is that they do appear to have a great deal of relevance to the quality of education and support you receive as a student. Choose wisely if you have options! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
georgia_boy1 Posted March 1, 2016 Author Share Posted March 1, 2016 ^^^ This is nicely stated. While the rankings are somewhat of a popularity contest, and are mostly irrelevant post graduation, what I've been learning (unfortunately the hard way) is that they do appear to have a great deal of relevance to the quality of education and support you receive as a student. Choose wisely if you have options! So I assume the higher the rank, the more support you receive? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fakingpatience Posted March 1, 2016 Share Posted March 1, 2016 So I assume the higher the rank, the more support you receive? Not across the board. Some of the higher ranking schools do have really good support and rotations. But I wouldn't correlate that with the school ranking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UGoLong Posted March 2, 2016 Share Posted March 2, 2016 Rank does not correlate with support. They are often independent variables. When you interview at schools, spend time talking with the existing students during the day or during tours. Ask what they like and what they don't. My favorites" - "They treat us like children." -"They are always changing the schedule but, on the other hand, when the class is having trouble learning a concept, they adjust to try a different teaching approach." You can guess which one I picked. You can learn quite a bit just by asking the right questions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MT2PA Posted March 2, 2016 Share Posted March 2, 2016 Rank does not correlate with support. They are often independent variables. When you interview at schools, spend time talking with the existing students during the day or during tours. Ask what they like and what they don't. My favorites" - "They treat us like children." -"They are always changing the schedule but, on the other hand, when the class is having trouble learning a concept, they adjust to try a different teaching approach." You can guess which one I picked. You can learn quite a bit just by asking the right questions. This. Current students are the key. If a school doesn't give you a chance to talk to current students at all during an interview process, be concerned. That doesn't help you pick which ones to apply to, though. In that case - pick schools where you meet the requirements and are competitive with matriculating student stats, places where you are willing to relocate to (don't apply to schools in a place you won't be happy for 2-3 years), places where you may want to work after graduation, reported PANCE pass scores, etc. If you live close enough and a school offers an information session, go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
georgia_boy1 Posted March 2, 2016 Author Share Posted March 2, 2016 This is all great advice. Thank you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PA2B2017 Posted March 2, 2016 Share Posted March 2, 2016 So I assume the higher the rank, the more support you receive?My understanding is that the rankings are developed by the programs ranking each other (and on a limited set of somewhat vague attributes). Since I doubt there are many (if any!) who have actually attended multiple programs, it seems to make sense that the educators, who do move between programs and/or start new ones and/or collaborate in various ways, have the most insights into the educational philosophies of other programs. Likewise, they have more insight into the qualities of the administration and the educators ... and how they choose to teach, provide support, incorporate multiple teaching modes, accommodate varied learning styles, etc. I can only speak from my experience, but in a lower ranked program I am finding educators that may (or may not) be adequate clinicians ... but they are definitely lousy educators (and I can speak from experience having taught at a graduate school level!). Quality of rotations is important, but so is your didactic preparation for them. As others have indicated, if you can get input from current or recent students, do! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paproof Posted March 2, 2016 Share Posted March 2, 2016 Just be sure the school you go to has a strong first-time PANCE pass rate and a low attrition rate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UGoLong Posted March 3, 2016 Share Posted March 3, 2016 Attrition rate may be a fair guide to level of support available. It, unfortunately, is probably also influenced by how selective -- or not -- a school is in its admission process. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
georgia_boy1 Posted March 3, 2016 Author Share Posted March 3, 2016 Just be sure the school you go to has a strong first-time PANCE pass rate and a low attrition rate. Should "strong first time PANCE pass rate" be at or above the national average? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MT2PA Posted March 3, 2016 Share Posted March 3, 2016 Should "strong first time PANCE pass rate" be at or above the national average? Above. I can't speak for everyone, but I only applied to schools where PANCE scores were 95% or higher. One local school I looked at had rates of about 80% and based on the program, I understood why. The whole point of PA school is to pass the PANCE to become certified. If a school isn't preparing it's students to pass PANCE, it's not a great program. One program I looked at had mostly great scores and one really bad year in their 5 years reported history - but they addressed it head on during interviews and it wasn't a reflection on the program so much as the students from that year. They know what happened and didn't hide it and more recent years had been greatly improved. What I'm trying to say is, scores are important but if it seems like something is up, ask the school to explain. If they have consistent 80% pass rates, no amount of explaining can recover from that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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