Krodri231 Posted March 21, 2012 Share Posted March 21, 2012 So I'm 24 almost 25. I graduated with a BA in journalism and ended up taking a job with Americorps after graduation. I worked with highschool students with disabilities as well as adults. During 2011 I was introduced to a wide range of therapy jobs that really got me interested. I explored the world of Occupational Therapy and shadowed an OT throughout the year but have ultimately decided that therapy is not the route I want to take. My dad is an Md so I've had a lot of exposure to what it is nurses and PA's do but was never interested until now. I have a long road ahead of me to get into PA school with no science background. I've just recently moved and am signing up for Bio and Chem this summer. I am also going to sign up for a CNA program so that I can get my feet wet as well as get experience. I know a PA down here and have been talking to her about it and will do some shadowing with her so I can see what it's all about. There are a few PA schools in my area and Touro is just up north so I have scheduled some appointments to talk with them to help advise me on the pre-req rout to take as well as HCE. I am a tad discouraged that I have to start all of this so late and wish I had taken the time to explore the health care world earlier on but that's life I guess. Anyone have some good words of wisdom or advice? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cinntsp Posted March 21, 2012 Share Posted March 21, 2012 You're on the right track. This should probably be moved to the pre-PA forum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krodri231 Posted March 21, 2012 Author Share Posted March 21, 2012 Oh woops I thought I did post it there. Guess not. Yeah I should be moved there then. Does the moderator do it or can i do it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krodri231 Posted March 21, 2012 Author Share Posted March 21, 2012 Oh woops I thought I did post it there. Guess not. Yeah I should be moved there then. Does the moderator do it or can i do it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cthompson1782 Posted March 22, 2012 Share Posted March 22, 2012 24 is still young! Sure, you'll probably have two years give or take of pre-reqs, but consider that many students are in their late 20s - early 30s while in school. As for myself, I was in a somewhat similar situation. I earned my BS in biology. My GPA was average, and I had no health care experience. I had no idea what I wanted to do, but when I decided that I wanted to become a PA, I knew that my stats weren't competitive. I ended up going back to school; I took some post-bach classes and eventually got my MS in anatomy. During that time I shadowed and volunteered for three years while back in school. I started PA school when I was 28. While I didn't have to start from scratch, I did have to work hard and focus all of my attention on getting into PA school. No regrets - it can be done. Best of luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cthompson1782 Posted March 22, 2012 Share Posted March 22, 2012 24 is still young! Sure, you'll probably have two years give or take of pre-reqs, but consider that many students are in their late 20s - early 30s while in school. As for myself, I was in a somewhat similar situation. I earned my BS in biology. My GPA was average, and I had no health care experience. I had no idea what I wanted to do, but when I decided that I wanted to become a PA, I knew that my stats weren't competitive. I ended up going back to school; I took some post-bach classes and eventually got my MS in anatomy. During that time I shadowed and volunteered for three years while back in school. I started PA school when I was 28. While I didn't have to start from scratch, I did have to work hard and focus all of my attention on getting into PA school. No regrets - it can be done. Best of luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krodri231 Posted March 23, 2012 Author Share Posted March 23, 2012 thanks for sharing. Def brightened my spirits :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krodri231 Posted March 23, 2012 Author Share Posted March 23, 2012 thanks for sharing. Def brightened my spirits :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vladristich Posted March 23, 2012 Share Posted March 23, 2012 I'm 35 with a human resources degree and I am starting PA this July (complete career change for me) at Touro University Nevada . Your young; don't let your age stop you from achieving your goals it's just a number. It took me about a year and a half to finish the pre-reqs. On top of that I continue to do volunteer work at a local free clinic counseling patients as well as some paramedic courses to get more hands on experience. Good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vladristich Posted March 23, 2012 Share Posted March 23, 2012 I'm 35 with a human resources degree and I am starting PA this July (complete career change for me) at Touro University Nevada . Your young; don't let your age stop you from achieving your goals it's just a number. It took me about a year and a half to finish the pre-reqs. On top of that I continue to do volunteer work at a local free clinic counseling patients as well as some paramedic courses to get more hands on experience. Good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
winterallsummer Posted March 24, 2012 Share Posted March 24, 2012 Not that bad man. You'll probably be about 28 when you start PA school so around 30 when you graduate. That leaves you 35+ years of work as a PA! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
winterallsummer Posted March 24, 2012 Share Posted March 24, 2012 Not that bad man. You'll probably be about 28 when you start PA school so around 30 when you graduate. That leaves you 35+ years of work as a PA! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caide Posted March 25, 2012 Share Posted March 25, 2012 You are so young! The majority of my PA class are non-traditional students with most being around 25-30 y.o. Don't be discouraged! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caide Posted March 25, 2012 Share Posted March 25, 2012 You are so young! The majority of my PA class are non-traditional students with most being around 25-30 y.o. Don't be discouraged! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PYRITE Posted March 25, 2012 Share Posted March 25, 2012 I was 33 when I changed careers from finance to health care. After working in hospitals for five years in IONM I decided I wanted to become a PA (at 38). I'm beginning my PA program this fall (at 41). You are on the right track and absolutely have plenty of time. After going back to school I realize that I wasn't mature enough to get into and through a PA program at 21 or probably 25 (maybe 30!). Once you have some life experience and really know what you want and what it takes to get there, it is much easier to focus and achieve your goals. Good Luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PYRITE Posted March 25, 2012 Share Posted March 25, 2012 I was 33 when I changed careers from finance to health care. After working in hospitals for five years in IONM I decided I wanted to become a PA (at 38). I'm beginning my PA program this fall (at 41). You are on the right track and absolutely have plenty of time. After going back to school I realize that I wasn't mature enough to get into and through a PA program at 21 or probably 25 (maybe 30!). Once you have some life experience and really know what you want and what it takes to get there, it is much easier to focus and achieve your goals. Good Luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krodri231 Posted March 25, 2012 Author Share Posted March 25, 2012 PYRITE that makes total sense. Maturing and my life experience from the past couple years has gotten me to focus on what I want to do. I realize that hard work and dedication are what it's going to take to get there. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krodri231 Posted March 25, 2012 Author Share Posted March 25, 2012 PYRITE that makes total sense. Maturing and my life experience from the past couple years has gotten me to focus on what I want to do. I realize that hard work and dedication are what it's going to take to get there. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CDHart Posted March 28, 2012 Share Posted March 28, 2012 You seem to be absolutely on the right track. I started college at 21 after 3 years in the army. Life and family happened, so I was 27 when I became an LPN, 32 when I became and RN, and PA graduation was 5 weeks before my 40th birthday. I don't suggest doing it on my timeline if you have a choice, but there is no age that is too old to start, imo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CDHart Posted March 28, 2012 Share Posted March 28, 2012 You seem to be absolutely on the right track. I started college at 21 after 3 years in the army. Life and family happened, so I was 27 when I became an LPN, 32 when I became and RN, and PA graduation was 5 weeks before my 40th birthday. I don't suggest doing it on my timeline if you have a choice, but there is no age that is too old to start, imo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pennpac Posted March 29, 2012 Share Posted March 29, 2012 Hi, to go along with what everyone else said, you are pretty young in the grand scheme of things, you have your whole life to work and when you start school you will have more life experience than the younger ones..that is worth something. I'm 27 and in my 1st year and I'm glad I took my time to figure out what I wanted to do..it will be worth it in the end. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pennpac Posted March 29, 2012 Share Posted March 29, 2012 Hi, to go along with what everyone else said, you are pretty young in the grand scheme of things, you have your whole life to work and when you start school you will have more life experience than the younger ones..that is worth something. I'm 27 and in my 1st year and I'm glad I took my time to figure out what I wanted to do..it will be worth it in the end. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sealer04tx Posted March 29, 2012 Share Posted March 29, 2012 Like others have said, you're not too old at all. Sounds like a good plan so far: shadowing, CNA for HCE, starting prereqs. Make sure you have good grades, try to learn as much as you can on the job, and don't be afraid to ask everyone you meet in health care questions about their role. I've spent two years getting ready and this next cycle I'll apply. Do some searches in the forums here, esp. the sticky noted posts in the PrePA section. Check out some blogs (mine is here, there are others linked from mine), look at some of PA schools you are interested in, and keep track of the things you do to prepare (volunteering, training, etc). Good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sealer04tx Posted March 29, 2012 Share Posted March 29, 2012 Like others have said, you're not too old at all. Sounds like a good plan so far: shadowing, CNA for HCE, starting prereqs. Make sure you have good grades, try to learn as much as you can on the job, and don't be afraid to ask everyone you meet in health care questions about their role. I've spent two years getting ready and this next cycle I'll apply. Do some searches in the forums here, esp. the sticky noted posts in the PrePA section. Check out some blogs (mine is here, there are others linked from mine), look at some of PA schools you are interested in, and keep track of the things you do to prepare (volunteering, training, etc). Good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LMFlores2012 Posted March 29, 2012 Share Posted March 29, 2012 I am 22 years old. I do not even have an associates degree. I dropped out of college in 2009 because I got what I thought was the job offer of my life in business administration (restaurant business to be precise.) Now I realize that I cannot do this for the rest of my life. I sometimes love the business world, most of the time I despise it. Now I found medicine. I started school this year again. I am also currently volunteering at a private MD clinic. Very hard stuff, considering I work over 60 hours a week. I hope I can be strong. I hope I do not give up. You are not alone in your rough journey. I hope to be 26 or 27 but the time I apply to a PA school. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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