PAaspirant Posted May 23, 2016 Share Posted May 23, 2016 Hello PA forum experts, I am Medical technologist and thinking about PA school at the age of 33. I really need your suggestions please. I will not be able to start before 2018. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cop to pa Posted May 23, 2016 Share Posted May 23, 2016 Not enough info. GPA? Years of experience? Background? Plan of action? Research this site and read the almost 20 years of info. Your hand isn't going to be held, and that's the way your post reads. If age is your issue, forget it. I'm 39 and start PA school in a week and a half. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ONE40pt6 Posted May 23, 2016 Share Posted May 23, 2016 33 is the right time to be thinking of PA school. My class is very young with a mean age of 26. I'm 41, at least 5 others are in their 30s. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UGoLong Posted May 23, 2016 Share Posted May 23, 2016 I'm sorry but I have to chuckle a bit. Got my first HCE at 38, EMT at 40, first prereq at 51, paramedic at 57, entered PA program at 58, graduated at 60. If you want to do this, it is definitely doable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoundsfieldHero Posted May 23, 2016 Share Posted May 23, 2016 32 here. It's never too late Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anewconvert Posted May 23, 2016 Share Posted May 23, 2016 35 now. Was 31 when I started back to finish my pre-reqs and get my bachelor's. What suggestions are you looking for? Pick your schools, finish your pre-reqs, keep earning HCE and apply early..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MT2PA Posted May 23, 2016 Share Posted May 23, 2016 Clearly age is not a determining factor. You probably need to retake pre-reqs (I imagine they are too old) and find schools that like MT as HCE (not all love it), shadow PAs, etc. You'll be lucky to be able to apply next cycle to start in 2018 but if that's your plan, get moving. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laurac Posted May 27, 2016 Share Posted May 27, 2016 48 years old and just graduated PA school in December. DO IT. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
db_pavnp Posted May 27, 2016 Share Posted May 27, 2016 Find a school that appreciates your background. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator EMEDPA Posted May 27, 2016 Moderator Share Posted May 27, 2016 AVG age in my class was 35... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kp_ms_rd_ldn Posted May 27, 2016 Share Posted May 27, 2016 I start my program in 2 weeks (and will be 41 that same week). Go for it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DejaBlu Posted May 27, 2016 Share Posted May 27, 2016 I start my program on August 29, which happens to be my 48th birthday. Age is not a factor. If you want it....go for it!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SHU-CH Posted May 30, 2016 Share Posted May 30, 2016 There is some line from Cato about why he decided to begin studying Greek at the age of 80. His response was something along the lines of, "It is the earliest age I have left." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NC30 Posted May 31, 2016 Share Posted May 31, 2016 I agree w everyone else, if this is the career for you, go for it! 2018 may sound like a long time away, just keep focused, make a plan (HCE, pre reqs, shadowing, LORs, etc) and stick to it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrator rev ronin Posted May 31, 2016 Administrator Share Posted May 31, 2016 I dunno, 33 is still a bit young. You may want to wait a while more before starting. I'm mostly joking, but I hear horror stories about disrespect from patients and other providers, but entering practice at age 41 with *just* the right amount of temple greying, I've never seen any of that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlumsden Posted May 31, 2016 Share Posted May 31, 2016 Why is this even a question? I see the PA profession as something for people with health care experience who want to build on their experience. It is not some sort of doctor-light career for twenty somethings who just don't have the patience to complete medical school. If you have the necessary HCE, 33 is a great age to transition to PA school. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lauren R Posted June 2, 2016 Share Posted June 2, 2016 You can do it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lindz12 Posted June 3, 2016 Share Posted June 3, 2016 According to the NCCPA, the majority of PA-C's in 2015 was between the 30-39 at 37%! Only 17.6% is under 30...so yeah, definitely not too late for you! I was concerned of the same thing for myself, I'll be 29 when I graduate, then I realized how spread out the ages are different programs Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kendrabell Posted June 3, 2016 Share Posted June 3, 2016 I'm glad to see this! I'm 36 and was wondering the same thing. After researching my schools and the profession I was aware that many students were older but didn't know how old. I have my application complete and verified. Now I just have to wait...the hard part. I have 13 years experience as a dietitian and have a good GPA (3.98) combined from grad and undergrad. I just wonder about the time frame of my last degree which was completed 7 years ago. My schools do not have time limits but I still worry. My letters of rec are from the medical director who I also work with another physician I work with and a former dietitan. Any tips on how to make myself more marketable if I get an interview? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoffeeMug Posted June 3, 2016 Share Posted June 3, 2016 I started in my program at 41. Its never too late but I would say, do your best to know yourself as a student and set yourself up for success beforehand. Make sure you are current with the utilization of technology to assist in your learning, sort out all your personal life and make sure you have ample coverage for all your adult life responsibilities. Its really hard to live the student life for 2.5 years but its worth it if you really want it. And you will have to earn every second of it as PA school seems to redefine the concept of "intense." Go all in and you'll be great! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PAaspirant Posted July 10, 2016 Author Share Posted July 10, 2016 I am very excited to see all the responses from you all. I apologize for incomplete info on the previous post. I think I have decided to be a PA now. Now the question is what are the chances to be accepted with my stats ? I am Medical Technologist by profession practicing for almost 10 years. I have done some phlebotomy work (not in USA). I have master’s degree in Clinical Laboratory Science. I really want to be a PA . I do not have direct patient care experience since I am a bench tech laboratorian except some phlebotomy work. I graduated with 3.9 GPA on my undergraduate and have maintained 3.9 in graduate level too. I am not a good writer so I really need to struggle with my statement. My GRE is 295. Some of the PA schools do not need GRE if you have master’s degree. Do you all still recommend me taking GRE again? I will be doing some shadowing and volunteering soon but for the direct patient care, I don’t know since I am a lab technologist. What are my chances with these stats? Summary of the stats; Age 33 cGPA 3.9 Undergraduate ( graduated 2013) cGPA 3.9 Graduate (Will graduate next month) GRE 295 No direct patient care. Will do shadowing and volunteering soon (have some volunteering from undergraduate college? (How many hours each do I need?) Please respond Thank you so much Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Petunia Posted July 10, 2016 Share Posted July 10, 2016 I'd say to either focus your applications on schools that don't require the GRE. A handful don't require it, no matter what degrees you have earned. If you are going to apply to schools that require the GRE, then you really should retake it and get a minimum of 300 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrator rev ronin Posted July 10, 2016 Administrator Share Posted July 10, 2016 The combination of low GRE, high GPA, and no HCE doesn't particularly bode well. I'd prefer to see 2 of 3 high. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MT2PA Posted July 10, 2016 Share Posted July 10, 2016 I'd worry more about getting some HCE vs worrying about volunteering at this point. And shadow for sure - schools will want to know that you understand what PAs do and that you didn't just decide on a whim or without information why this career change is right for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PAtoB Posted July 10, 2016 Share Posted July 10, 2016 Started my healthcare career journey at age 35, one month after losing my job and 5 weeks after birth of my 2nd kid, first HCE experience as a CNA and return to college about 5 months after that, with a fulltime working wife and 2 young kids. Just graduated PA school at age 41.5.Keep researching/Googling/comparing/considering/questioning/envisioning/realizing until that light bulb is 100% lit, then keep it lit and just do it. Try to get HCE somehow, and shadow and volunteer where possible inbetween. I look back and wonder how I did all 3 and jumped through all the hoops to get into PA school and smdh. Personally, it felt like a bigger accomplishment getting those PA school invites then it did graduating with the white coat, tbh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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