Palurker Posted July 13, 2017 Share Posted July 13, 2017 Hi all, I graduated last year with my bachelor's in psychology from UC Berkeley. I spent this year doing some soul searching while finishing some more science courses since I knew I wanted to work somewhere in the medical field. When I came across PA as an option, I knew it was a good fit for me. So I've been trying very hard to make myself a competitive applicant. I'm done with pre reqs other than physio this fall and I recently took the GRE. I scored 162 V and 158 Q with 4.5 writing. 91%tile, 69%tile, and 82%tile respectively. Anyway, the one thing I'm lacking is patient care hours. After I made my decision, I did my best to tackle the hours. I volunteered at Kaiser for the last 4 months and have accrued ~200 hours as of now. I know it's not the best quality of experience, it was basically being a transporter, but I did what I could. I'm just starting my CNA class this week and will finish and look for employment starting in August. My big question is, do you guys think it's a little late for me to apply this cycle. I'm targeting low PCE hour schools or ones with late deadlines so I can get my hours up before I apply. I project I can get up near 600-700 hours before I submit my application. Not great I know :/. Any advice/thoughts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmchick Posted July 13, 2017 Share Posted July 13, 2017 I'm not going to be the one to tell you not to apply, as I believe there's always a chance, even if it's slight, if you have the stellar grades to outdo the way lack in PCE hours. With that disclaimer aside, honestly, most schools don't count "patient transport" as hours as this typically involves non-emergency interactions with patients vs for instance being at an actual EMS station where you're medically treating patients. That being said, another downer is that it isn't that advantageous in any regard to factor in the hours "you're going to get" after your applications are submitted because adcoms will basically view it as a hurry to "meet minimums" way after the fact (the point of PCE is to give you experience with patients and show them that you've already dipped your feet in the healthcare pond). My personal advice is to wait until you've accrued hours and then apply next round. With your candidacy portfolio just starting out so late in the game, it might be a waste of your time and money to worry about this cycle. That also being said, that is just my personal opinion and again, there's always a slight chance, so it is entirely up to your discretion. Hope that helps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MT2PA Posted July 13, 2017 Share Posted July 13, 2017 I'll tell you not to apply. I'll be the bad guy. Your 200 hrs of volunteering are...volunteering. They aren't HCE or PCE. If you could apply right now today, I wouldn't say it's too late. It's late. Not too late. Waiting to accrue a few hundred hours AFTER you finish your CNA program is too late especially without a particularly strong application. Do yourself a favor and wait until next year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Palurker Posted July 13, 2017 Author Share Posted July 13, 2017 7 minutes ago, MT2PA said: I'll tell you not to apply. I'll be the bad guy. Your 200 hrs of volunteering are...volunteering. They aren't HCE or PCE. If you could apply right now today, I wouldn't say it's too late. It's late. Not too late. Waiting to accrue a few hundred hours AFTER you finish your CNA program is too late especially without a particularly strong application. Do yourself a favor and wait until next year. Thanks for your response. I have seen on a number of schools' websites that the required hours can be fulfilled through paid or volunteer work, as long as there is hands on patient experience of some kind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LadyNichiavelli Posted July 13, 2017 Share Posted July 13, 2017 2 minutes ago, Palurker said: Thanks for your response. I have seen on a number of schools' websites that the required hours can be fulfilled through paid or volunteer work, as long as there is hands on patient experience of some kind. But even so, the more competitive applicants have applied earlier, will have paid experience, and will have a stronger GPA (I think I saw your GPA stats on your Reddit post). I agree with MT2PA. Maybe apply to a few schools for a test run and you might get lucky? But honestly, I'd highly recommend saving your money and building your application for next year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MT2PA Posted July 13, 2017 Share Posted July 13, 2017 41 minutes ago, Palurker said: Thanks for your response. I have seen on a number of schools' websites that the required hours can be fulfilled through paid or volunteer work, as long as there is hands on patient experience of some kind. I'm sorry to report patient transporter will not count as HCE or PCE, even if it were paid. You're better off calling it what it is, volunteering, and getting real, good, HCE/PCE. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Palurker Posted July 14, 2017 Author Share Posted July 14, 2017 2 hours ago, MT2PA said: I'm sorry to report patient transporter will not count as HCE or PCE, even if it were paid. You're better off calling it what it is, volunteering, and getting real, good, HCE/PCE. Could you show me where you saw that volunteering is neither PCE or HCE? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MT2PA Posted July 14, 2017 Share Posted July 14, 2017 9 hours ago, Palurker said: Could you show me where you saw that volunteering is neither PCE or HCE? Patient transport is not considered HCE/PCE (many programs will specifically exclude it if they list what counts and what doesn't). A lot of programs want paid HCE/PCE - but even if your time at Kaiser was paid, patient transport isn't HCE/PCE. Just remember that meeting the minimums is not likely to result in favorable outcomes when applying. You are not up against minimums; getting into PA school isn't as easy as saying 'I meet your requirements so I should get in'. It's about being better than the other applications. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MyNameWasUsed Posted July 16, 2017 Share Posted July 16, 2017 I say apply and apply to schools that doesn't really emphasis HCE as much. Also target schools with later deadlines such as 10/01/2017 deadlines. Call and check out the schools website's for that kind of information. Edit: I think patient transport is HCE, but not PCE. I've been told that PCE is when you touch the patient. HCE is like ED scribe, patient transport, unit clerk (doesn't touch patient). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Palurker Posted July 19, 2017 Author Share Posted July 19, 2017 On 7/16/2017 at 10:56 AM, MyNameWasUsed said: I say apply and apply to schools that doesn't really emphasis HCE as much. Also target schools with later deadlines such as 10/01/2017 deadlines. Call and check out the schools website's for that kind of information. Edit: I think patient transport is HCE, but not PCE. I've been told that PCE is when you touch the patient. HCE is like ED scribe, patient transport, unit clerk (doesn't touch patient). Makes sense to me. It would be bizarre if somehow you can volunteer at a hospital but that's not considered health care experience. Yet there are lots of examples of HCE like scribing or clerical work that I know for sure has been accepted. You aren't providing care directly, but you are exposed to the world of medicine. I believe there's value in that and I think that other poster was trying to be blunt but was just rude. There's no need to put me down; "volunteering is just volunteering." C'mon, I'm trying to better my life here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PAmethyst Posted July 29, 2017 Share Posted July 29, 2017 There is a very different atmosphere in volunteering v. paid. That is a reality that he was likely emphasizing, just as the schools you apply to will be, even though they may not tell you. Differing pressures, expectations, duties, requirements, etc. from patients, coworkers, staff, providers, managers, other departments, other offices, etc. It's multifaceted and complicated. I enjoy volunteering much more than dealing with the pressures of my paid position. PA Schools will be just as blunt in their opinions, as well. Will they be considerate (or will it be perceived as so) when they have to turn down hundreds of sensitive, compassionate and experienced applicants? Grit is what it takes. Strong will and thick skin to better ourselves with reality and constructive criticism being thrown from all angles. I am grateful to people who 'tell me like it is' because I can then strengthen myself, and likely my app, accordingly. We are all trying to better our lives; that's why were on this forum to become PAs, and that's why most of us will be applying. Check with your programs. Some may not count transport, e.g. see below for ECU. Hope this helps. Good luck! Report an Accessibility BarrierThe Department for Disability Support Services Apply Give Jobs Maps Directory Skip to main content Admissions APPLICATION REQUIREMENT FOR THE 2017-2018 APPLICATION CYCLE: You will have to apply to the ECU Graduate School as well as CASPA in order to have your application processed through the PA Department. Apply for Graduate School at www.ecu.edu/gradschool/. Admission into East Carolina University's PA Program is very competitive. We select up to 36 applicants to become students in each class. Our process of submission, review and interview ensures a fair selection of students to join our program. ECU's PA program has several requirements necessary for applicants to meet, as listed below. In addition to our requirements, applicants must also meet the standards of the Graduate School. Accepted applicants for the Fall of 2017 averaged the following scores: Cumulative GPA: 3.70 Science GPA: 3.66 Prerequisite GPA: 3.76 GRE Score (New Scores): 308 GRE Analytical Writing: 4.4 Admission Requirements Residency Status Applicants must be residents of one of the following states; with preference given to residents of North Carolina: North Carolina South Carolina Virginia Tennessee Georgia You must be a resident and have a permanent address in one of these states at the time of application and admission to the program. If you or your spouse is active military and stationed in NC during application and admission, then you can request a waiver from paadmissions@ecu.edu. Education Applicants must currently have a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university. The undergraduate degree must be completed by June 1st of the year of enrollment. Example: Applicants who submit application materials by September 1, 2017 must complete the undergraduate degree by June 1st of 2018 in order to enroll in the fall of 2018. Prerequisites Courses Prerequisite courses must be completed by September 1 in order to be considered for an early interview. However, applications may have one pending prerequisite course as long as it is completed and reported to CASPA and the program by December 31. We prefer that all prerequisite courses are taken within the last 5 years; however, this is not a requirement. If your courses are older than that, know that we recommend refreshing them. Applicants are required to have completed the prerequisite classes in the table below. We encourage students to have taken anatomy and physiology within 2 years of the program application date; however, this is not a requirement. We do not accept online lab courses. We do not accept Comparative, Animal or Mammalian Anatomy and Physiology courses Courses can be taken at any regionally accredited institution, including community colleges. We prefer that all prerequisite courses be taken at a 4-year institution. Students taking prerequisite courses at community colleges may be at a significant disadvantage during the didactic year. All courses must be assigned letter grade. Advanced Placement (AP) credit is accepted for Psychology and Statistics courses. If AP credit was granted, no letter grade is necessary. Statistics in social sciences are now accepted. Waivers will only be given if you have been a course instructor for the course requesting a waiver. For this waiver, e-mail paadmissions@ecu.edu Applicants must have at least a 3.0 GPA in their prerequisite coursework to be considered for the program. A grade of B or higher in each course is recommended. We do not accept more than 2 Cs in prerequisite courses. Prerequisite Course Minimum Semester Credit Hours Human Anatomy and Physiology - Lecture 6 Human Anatomy and Physiology - Lab 2 Genetics 3 General Chemistry or higher - Lecture 6 General Chemistry or higher - Lab 2 Microbiology 3 Introductory Psychology or higher 3 Statistics 3 Taking Courses at a North Carolina Community College? Colleges within the North Carolina community college system use the same course name and number designations regardless of which location you choose to attend. Use the chart below to plan and register for your prerequisite course of study. North Carolina Community College Equivalent Courses Course ECU Course Name & Number NC Community College Course Name & Number Human Anatomy and Physiology with Lab BIOL 2140, 2141 AND BIOL 2150/2151 BIO 168 AND BIO 169 Genetics BIOL 2300 BIO 250 General or Introduction to Chemistry with Lab CHEM 1150, 1151 AND CHEM 1160/1161 CHM 151 AND CHM 152 Microbiology BIOL 2110 or BIOL 3220 BIO 275 Introductory Psychology or Higher PSYC 1000 PSY 150 Statistics BIOS 1500, MATH 2228 or 2283 or PSYC 2101 MAT 150 or 152 Patient Contact Hours We require that applicants have at least 1000 documented healthcare exposure hours. All hours must be completed by September 1 in order to be considered for an early interview. However, if some hours are pending, they may be submitted by December 31. These hours can be obtained through paid, volunteer or shadowing experiences. Applications will not be reviewed unless the applicant has completed at least 750 hours at the time of application (Sept. 1, 2017). We recommend that you keep your own records. The program may require verification of your clinical hours. Acceptable forms of clinical experience include: Shadowing of PA, NP, MD/DO Emergency Medical Technician/Paramedic Military Medic/Clinical Specialist Corpsman Surgical Technician Radiological Technician Laboratory Technician with phlebotomy experience Phlebotomist Athletic Trainer Scribe Nursing (CNA, LPN, RN, CMA) Respiratory Therapist Certified Physical/Occupational Therapist PT/OT Assistant Home health with verification of job duties Dietician Ophthalmic Technician with verification of job duties Unacceptable forms of clinical experience include: Veterinarian Assistant Secretary for Physician's Office Massage Therapist Chiropractic Acupuncture Aesthetician Pharmacy Technician Dental Hygienist/Assisting Patient Transport Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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