thisismyaliassn Posted February 2, 2012 Author Share Posted February 2, 2012 Hi all, First off, thank you so much for reading this. This means a lot to me. I'm strongly considering steering my course to getting into PA school. Please - take some shots at me and tell me what I can do to prepare myself/get experience. I'm 25 and would really like to move into a field where I can make a positive impact. I have a strong passion for helping others, and have expressed that in a lot of the jobs that I've worked in (unfortunately few are medically related). I currently work in advertising/marketing (not something I've ever been interested in, something I just landed in after college) and I'd like to make a career switch.. Here are some facts about me. Undergrad Ed School: University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. Major: Psychology, Minor: Mandarin Chinese Cumulative Undergrad. GPA: ~3.5 Science Undergrad. GPA: I didn't take many science classes at UM. I took some at community college. My CC gpa was ~4.0. I was unfortunately incredibly busy studying Chinese, and thought it would be suicide to take a lot of the hard science classes there (biology) as they're mostly weeder classes designed to fail those that don't work the hardest. Age at application time : Probably will be 27 RELEVANT EXPERIENCE (?) ---------- Direct Patient Care : 500-600 Hours Immediate Care Receptionist 1000+ Hospital bedside food service (If that counts?). I have a lot of other job experience throughout college, (Ticketmaster manager, Russian Tutor, cook, cherry farmer to list a few).. EXTRACURRICULAR: Unfortunately, not much medically related. --------------- Volunteer English tutor Volunteer Tutor/Special Education youth counselor at a local high school. Volunteer youth counselor at a summer camp in Sheffield, England. Volunteered to clean up after hurricane Katrina in Louisiana/Mississippi. Instructor of English as a Second Language - China THE PLAN ----------- Currently enrolled in a Phlebotomy certification program. When I get cert'ed, I'll drop my good paying marketing job to take whatever phleb job I can find. Seek out a CNA afterwards (and whatever other training I can get). Bust my *** and get 4.0's at community college. I did it once, I'll do it again. Volunteer and shadow anybody that I can. Any PA's willing to allow me to shadow. Does any of my previous volunteering/experience help me at all? Or will I be starting from scratch? How does this plan sound to get into PA school? Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thisismyaliassn Posted February 2, 2012 Share Posted February 2, 2012 Hi all, First off, thank you so much for reading this. This means a lot to me. I'm strongly considering steering my course to getting into PA school. Please - take some shots at me and tell me what I can do to prepare myself/get experience. I'm 25 and would really like to move into a field where I can make a positive impact. I have a strong passion for helping others, and have expressed that in a lot of the jobs that I've worked in (unfortunately few are medically related). I currently work in advertising/marketing (not something I've ever been interested in, something I just landed in after college) and I'd like to make a career switch.. Here are some facts about me. Undergrad Ed School: University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. Major: Psychology, Minor: Mandarin Chinese Cumulative Undergrad. GPA: ~3.5 Science Undergrad. GPA: I didn't take many science classes at UM. I took some at community college. My CC gpa was ~4.0. I was unfortunately incredibly busy studying Chinese, and thought it would be suicide to take a lot of the hard science classes there (biology) as they're mostly weeder classes designed to fail those that don't work the hardest. Age at application time : Probably will be 27 RELEVANT EXPERIENCE (?) ---------- Direct Patient Care : 500-600 Hours Immediate Care Receptionist 1000+ Hospital bedside food service (If that counts?). I have a lot of other job experience throughout college, (Ticketmaster manager, Russian Tutor, cook, cherry farmer to list a few).. EXTRACURRICULAR: Unfortunately, not much medically related. --------------- Volunteer English tutor Volunteer Tutor/Special Education youth counselor at a local high school. Volunteer youth counselor at a summer camp in Sheffield, England. Volunteered to clean up after hurricane Katrina in Louisiana/Mississippi. Instructor of English as a Second Language - China THE PLAN ----------- Currently enrolled in a Phlebotomy certification program. When I get cert'ed, I'll drop my good paying marketing job to take whatever phleb job I can find. Seek out a CNA afterwards (and whatever other training I can get). Bust my *** and get 4.0's at community college. I did it once, I'll do it again. Volunteer and shadow anybody that I can. Any PA's willing to allow me to shadow. Does any of my previous volunteering/experience help me at all? Or will I be starting from scratch? How does this plan sound to get into PA school? Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IdahoPA Posted February 2, 2012 Share Posted February 2, 2012 Okie.... 1.) Your GPA is good. You can check out the applicant stickies to see how you compare. 2.) I was 27 when I started the app process and I was accepted, so your age isn't an issue. 3.) I wouldn't count being a receptionist as direct patient care. Please see CASPA definitions to be sure. 4.) You speak Russian and Chinese? That's pretty neat. 5.) You should be able to thoroughly articulate why you are making such a switch and why you think this career is the one you plan on sticking with. 6.) Phlebotomy counts as HCE. Why be a CNA? I know a lot of people go that route, but to me, it just doesn't make sense unless you want to be a nurse. 7.) Your volunteering would go on the CASPA app. I think yours demonstrates a clear effort to want to work with and help others. My other advice? Apply early. Have all your ducks in a row so you can submit your app asap. I was accepted into school before others had even submitted their CASPA. Crazy, no? Good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IdahoPA Posted February 2, 2012 Share Posted February 2, 2012 Okie.... 1.) Your GPA is good. You can check out the applicant stickies to see how you compare. 2.) I was 27 when I started the app process and I was accepted, so your age isn't an issue. 3.) I wouldn't count being a receptionist as direct patient care. Please see CASPA definitions to be sure. 4.) You speak Russian and Chinese? That's pretty neat. 5.) You should be able to thoroughly articulate why you are making such a switch and why you think this career is the one you plan on sticking with. 6.) Phlebotomy counts as HCE. Why be a CNA? I know a lot of people go that route, but to me, it just doesn't make sense unless you want to be a nurse. 7.) Your volunteering would go on the CASPA app. I think yours demonstrates a clear effort to want to work with and help others. My other advice? Apply early. Have all your ducks in a row so you can submit your app asap. I was accepted into school before others had even submitted their CASPA. Crazy, no? Good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cinntsp Posted February 2, 2012 Share Posted February 2, 2012 Check out the stickied stats threads and see how you measure up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cinntsp Posted February 2, 2012 Share Posted February 2, 2012 Check out the stickied stats threads and see how you measure up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Steve Posted February 2, 2012 Share Posted February 2, 2012 Your short blurb intrigues me about your life experiences. It leaves me curious to find out more. I think these are solid qualities to landing an interview. I have a positive prejudice for folks with medical experience AND an interesting life story. If I was an adcom and saw your application slide across my desk, I would definitely pick it up to read more. Get that medical experience and be sure to write solid essays. I think the rest will take care of itself. Good luck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Steve Posted February 2, 2012 Share Posted February 2, 2012 Your short blurb intrigues me about your life experiences. It leaves me curious to find out more. I think these are solid qualities to landing an interview. I have a positive prejudice for folks with medical experience AND an interesting life story. If I was an adcom and saw your application slide across my desk, I would definitely pick it up to read more. Get that medical experience and be sure to write solid essays. I think the rest will take care of itself. Good luck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yellow24 Posted February 2, 2012 Share Posted February 2, 2012 1. I think your diverse background and experiences are going to help you a ton! Lots of programs are seeking people that are far from average, so I would list all your prior work experiences even if they are not health care related. Just make sure not to come off as someone who wants to jump around professions (your narrative should address this). 2. Try to take as many classes as you can at the community college during the same semester. (A 4.0 is not going to mean much if you were only taking 6 credits at a time). 3. Make sure there are jobs available requiring a phlebotomy certification in your area. Also, some programs offer phlebotomy & CNA together, that might be a better time investment if you can get them both out of the way. (In my area, you need a CNA cert. to get hired as a PCA - patient care assistant, which is more hands on care than phlebotomy). 4. I agree with Lewis that working as a receptionist (although in a medical facility) and as a bedside food server is not going to be considered Direct Patient Care Hours. But you will be able to include it under "Health Care Related Experience" on CASPA, so that's good. 5. Make sure to list your other known languages and be prepared if you are asked to speak them. (This has been my experience during interviews). 6. If you have your heart set on one school, build a connection to it. Set up visits, tours, find previous PA graduates and shadow them, or even physicians who have graduated from there. 7. Build strong bonds with the PAs you shadow so they will write you good letters of recommendation. 8. Accumulate as many HCE hours as possible and definitely APPLY EARLY! 9. If you haven't taken the GRE already, take it ASAP. I thought I wouldn't have an issue getting a good score and I was sadly mistaken. I had to retake it and cramming won't do so make sure you have enough time to study (approx. 2 or 3 months, at least). 10. Buy "The Ultimate Guide to Getting into Physician Assistant School" by Rodican. Lots of good info there. 11. I think your overall undergrad GPA is good, but wow them with your pre-req GPA and you'll be even better off! 12. GOOD LUCK!! :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yellow24 Posted February 2, 2012 Share Posted February 2, 2012 1. I think your diverse background and experiences are going to help you a ton! Lots of programs are seeking people that are far from average, so I would list all your prior work experiences even if they are not health care related. Just make sure not to come off as someone who wants to jump around professions (your narrative should address this). 2. Try to take as many classes as you can at the community college during the same semester. (A 4.0 is not going to mean much if you were only taking 6 credits at a time). 3. Make sure there are jobs available requiring a phlebotomy certification in your area. Also, some programs offer phlebotomy & CNA together, that might be a better time investment if you can get them both out of the way. (In my area, you need a CNA cert. to get hired as a PCA - patient care assistant, which is more hands on care than phlebotomy). 4. I agree with Lewis that working as a receptionist (although in a medical facility) and as a bedside food server is not going to be considered Direct Patient Care Hours. But you will be able to include it under "Health Care Related Experience" on CASPA, so that's good. 5. Make sure to list your other known languages and be prepared if you are asked to speak them. (This has been my experience during interviews). 6. If you have your heart set on one school, build a connection to it. Set up visits, tours, find previous PA graduates and shadow them, or even physicians who have graduated from there. 7. Build strong bonds with the PAs you shadow so they will write you good letters of recommendation. 8. Accumulate as many HCE hours as possible and definitely APPLY EARLY! 9. If you haven't taken the GRE already, take it ASAP. I thought I wouldn't have an issue getting a good score and I was sadly mistaken. I had to retake it and cramming won't do so make sure you have enough time to study (approx. 2 or 3 months, at least). 10. Buy "The Ultimate Guide to Getting into Physician Assistant School" by Rodican. Lots of good info there. 11. I think your overall undergrad GPA is good, but wow them with your pre-req GPA and you'll be even better off! 12. GOOD LUCK!! :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thisismyaliassn Posted February 2, 2012 Author Share Posted February 2, 2012 5.) You should be able to thoroughly articulate why you are making such a switch and why you think this career is the one you plan on sticking with. Not hard. This one of the few jobs that I've had where I"m not making a direct impact on people's lives. Whether tutoring, teaching, delivering people food to make them smile, or trying to encourage kids to look on the bright side, I've always been working with people. Now? I work with code and projects that lead to revenue generation. It's just not me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thisismyaliassn Posted February 2, 2012 Author Share Posted February 2, 2012 5.) You should be able to thoroughly articulate why you are making such a switch and why you think this career is the one you plan on sticking with. Not hard. This one of the few jobs that I've had where I"m not making a direct impact on people's lives. Whether tutoring, teaching, delivering people food to make them smile, or trying to encourage kids to look on the bright side, I've always been working with people. Now? I work with code and projects that lead to revenue generation. It's just not me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thisismyaliassn Posted February 2, 2012 Author Share Posted February 2, 2012 Try to take as many classes as you can at the community college during the same semester. (A 4.0 is not going to mean much if you were only taking 6 credits at a time). So it would be advantageous to work part time and go to school part time? Does everyone else agree with this? I was going to take 6-9 credits and work as much as I could (pay off school, University of Michigan loans.. etc). I wasn't sure if it would make a difference. Make sure there are jobs available requiring a phlebotomy certification in your area. There seems to be a phlebotomy job open in just about every hospital in the Detroit metro area - including three openings at Detroit Medical Center. I'm hoping that because there are openings, that it won't be terribly difficult for me to find a job. They don't require any sort of experience... I'm a little concerned about my experience though. I'm a marketing specialist and I make like, 42k/yr.. are they going to hire someone that wants to work for $12/hr?? (or equivalent) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thisismyaliassn Posted February 2, 2012 Author Share Posted February 2, 2012 Try to take as many classes as you can at the community college during the same semester. (A 4.0 is not going to mean much if you were only taking 6 credits at a time). So it would be advantageous to work part time and go to school part time? Does everyone else agree with this? I was going to take 6-9 credits and work as much as I could (pay off school, University of Michigan loans.. etc). I wasn't sure if it would make a difference. Make sure there are jobs available requiring a phlebotomy certification in your area. There seems to be a phlebotomy job open in just about every hospital in the Detroit metro area - including three openings at Detroit Medical Center. I'm hoping that because there are openings, that it won't be terribly difficult for me to find a job. They don't require any sort of experience... I'm a little concerned about my experience though. I'm a marketing specialist and I make like, 42k/yr.. are they going to hire someone that wants to work for $12/hr?? (or equivalent) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taotaox1 Posted February 2, 2012 Share Posted February 2, 2012 I am going to disagree that only taking 2 science classes instead of three at a time is going to make much of a difference. Working and taking classes while keeping a 4.0 looks just as good (if not better), than taking a few more classes. Really, either way it shows ablity to manage time well and be responsible. I personally would go the route that lowers your debt and increases your HCE. The weakest part of your application is currently your HCE, not your grades (btw, neither of your healthcare experinces count as HCE at any school i know of, and you would have to put them in the non patient care healthcare experince section of caspa). You will get a greater return on doing things to increase your HCE. Overall I think if you get a bit of healthcare experience and ace your pre-reqs you will have a great chance of getting in, especially being multi-lingual. Also, if work is available in your area I would go the EMT-B route.... working as an EMT is closer to what you will be doing (level of autonomy, pt assesment, Hx taking, treatments) as a PA than you will ever find as a CNA or Phleb. Also, if you are clever and lucky you can do CNA and Phelb work as an EMT. At the moment I work as an EKG tech/Phleb/Er Tech/PCT/Rehab tech (i float positions PRN) and my only cert is my emt-b. That said, you should work a box if you want hands on experince that isn't JUST checking the box. Not as an insult (seeing as it is what I currently do), but CNA work is "mostly" pretty worthless in terms of gaining real, applicable clinical skills. YMMV of course. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taotaox1 Posted February 2, 2012 Share Posted February 2, 2012 I am going to disagree that only taking 2 science classes instead of three at a time is going to make much of a difference. Working and taking classes while keeping a 4.0 looks just as good (if not better), than taking a few more classes. Really, either way it shows ablity to manage time well and be responsible. I personally would go the route that lowers your debt and increases your HCE. The weakest part of your application is currently your HCE, not your grades (btw, neither of your healthcare experinces count as HCE at any school i know of, and you would have to put them in the non patient care healthcare experince section of caspa). You will get a greater return on doing things to increase your HCE. Overall I think if you get a bit of healthcare experience and ace your pre-reqs you will have a great chance of getting in, especially being multi-lingual. Also, if work is available in your area I would go the EMT-B route.... working as an EMT is closer to what you will be doing (level of autonomy, pt assesment, Hx taking, treatments) as a PA than you will ever find as a CNA or Phleb. Also, if you are clever and lucky you can do CNA and Phelb work as an EMT. At the moment I work as an EKG tech/Phleb/Er Tech/PCT/Rehab tech (i float positions PRN) and my only cert is my emt-b. That said, you should work a box if you want hands on experince that isn't JUST checking the box. Not as an insult (seeing as it is what I currently do), but CNA work is "mostly" pretty worthless in terms of gaining real, applicable clinical skills. YMMV of course. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mktalon Posted February 2, 2012 Share Posted February 2, 2012 Don count on it being easy to get a phleb job at the hospital. There my be jobs posted but I have a friend who is in charge of the lab at a local hospital and she says she often gets 70+ applications for each phleb job that she posts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mktalon Posted February 2, 2012 Share Posted February 2, 2012 Don count on it being easy to get a phleb job at the hospital. There my be jobs posted but I have a friend who is in charge of the lab at a local hospital and she says she often gets 70+ applications for each phleb job that she posts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yellow24 Posted February 2, 2012 Share Posted February 2, 2012 I am going to disagree that only taking 2 science classes instead of three at a time is going to make much of a difference. Working and taking classes while keeping a 4.0 looks just as good (if not better), than taking a few more classes. Really, either way it shows ablity to manage time well and be responsible. I personally would go the route that lowers your debt and increases your HCE. The weakest part of your application is currently your HCE, not your grades (btw, neither of your healthcare experinces count as HCE at any school i know of, and you would have to put them in the non patient care healthcare experince section of caspa). You will get a greater return on doing things to increase your HCE. In my experience, I have been told by adcoms that they will look at your work & class load as an indication of how well you will be able to handle 20+ credits a semester. Personally, I went to school full-time and worked part time. It wasn't easy but I made it happen. I agree that being an EMT may expose you to more, but in my area becoming an EMT requires its own pre-reqs and 2 semesters of courses. So I decided to become a CNA and instead dedicate 4 saturdays and pass the exam. You'll just have to do your research and see what jobs will give you more experience. In reference to your previous salary, I wouldn't mention it unless you have to and just be honest with them and tell them that you want to change your career to something healthcare related and you realize the value of starting from the ground up. You may or may not want to mention your PA school timeline in case they are looking for a more permanent employee. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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