New Grad in West Michigan Still Struggling to Find a Job >6 Months After Graduation
By
StrugglingNewGrad20
,
in
Michigan
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By vkbrba
Please help me make a complete list of Pros and Cons of being a PA vs Physician.
Pros___________________________________
Physician Assistant:
Shorter School Less expensive Work Life Balance Lateral movement in career Doctor:
Greater Pay More Autonomy Cons__________________________________
Physician Assistant:
Lower Pay Less Autonomy Doctor:
Longer Training (residency) Limited to one medical specialty
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By vkbrba
Hello Everybody,
I am in a very unique situation, and would love everyone's input!
I have been wanting to be a doctor my whole life, but after meeting my stepmother 10 years ago (who has been a Physician Assistant for over 20 years) I have grown to have a great admiration for the profession and countless hours of shadowing has given me a deeper understanding of the PA role. When I applied last cycle to PA schools I did not get a single interview invite. I began to internalize the idea that perhaps the Physician Assistant profession was not in the books for me. I decided to apply again this cycle and retake a couple classes to help my science GPA. One of my professors this summer recommended I apply to Podiatry School which will allow me to become a doctor/surgeon with 2 years of didactic, 2 years of rotations and 3 years of residency. I was very desperate to be in medicine and felt like this was my golden ticket, I applied (literally on the last week of the cycle being open for Podiatry) and to my surprise I was accepted! I started podiatry school a few weeks after being notified this August 2020. I had applied again to PA school but given that I did not get a single interview invite, I felt that my odds were low and didn't want to miss out on what might be my only opportunity to be in healthcare. Then to an even bigger surprise I got accepted Into PA School just last month. My dilemma is that, if one year ago I had gotten into PA school that is where I would be, but I am now in medical school and have been struggling internally ever since I received notice of my acceptance into PA school.
Now this is me being very very honest. Due to life circumstances, I am almost 30 and just now starting medical school. Although this has been a dream of mine, I can't help but feel that in 7 years when I am done with my residency, I will have career fulfillment but at the expense of personal sacrifice. I am currently engaged and we would like to have kids in the future, but with the way school is going I can't image doing either of those while I'm still in school (although I know it is possible). PA has always been high on my list because of the flexibility it provides. I witnessed my stepmother have the opportunity to easily adjust her work schedule as my brothers were growing up so that she could prioritize her personal life and even switch specialists based on her new interest and schedule desires.
I guess I am hoping to get feedback on weather or not I should quite medical school to start PA school next Fall. I know that this is a decision that I alone can make, so I'm hoping that someone can give me the pros and cons to being a Doctor over a PA and a PA over a Doctor.
Thanks in advance! 🙂
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By AnonnM
Hey everyone! Just looking for some advice/ input/ personal experience with applying to PA school.
I graduated in May 2019 with a Bachelors of Science in Kinesiology with stats that were subpar at best. I’ve always known I wanted to be in medicine but struggled a lot with my science courses in undergrad. Since graduating I’ve retaken every single pre req (plus additional science classes) averaging about a 3.8 in my last 40 credits (still taking classes in Fall 2020 and Spring 2021.) I’m planning to apply in June 2021 and at that time I will have 60 PostBac credits.
Im hopeful to continue with an upwards trend for the remainder of my classes which should give me the following stats by June 2021:
cgpa: 3.2
sgpa:3.2
In terms of PCE/HCE/Shadowing hours:
I’m an ER scribe with about 1000 hours, planning to take my NREMT this month (delayed due to COVID) and I will begin working as an EMT as soon as I get my certification. I have about 200 HCE as a PT Aide and about 250 PCE through a trip to Nicaragua with Global Medical Brigades. I’m hoping to have over 2000 hours by the time I apply.
I work with many ED PA’s whom I have and plan to continue to shadow and I’ve shadowed and Oncology PA for about 20 hours.
I have not taken my GRE yet but plan to take it in October.
I’m mostly applying to schools who do more of a holistic admissions and consider a last 60 credit gpa along with some pre req grade replacement policy with hopes to emphasize my upwards trend in grades.
What do you guys think about my stats?? Do any of you have experience applying as a low gpa non traditional student?? Do you guys have any tips for what I can improve? Tips for CASPA?
Any advice/ input in general would be extremely helpful!! Thank you in advance!!
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By WakadanPA
Title pretty much explains it all. I just recently took the GRE at home test and for some reason I just completely ran out of time on the first quant section. I got a verbal score of 161 but because I missed about 8-10 questions on the quant section I got a freaking 140! I haven't received my analytical writing score but I hopefully will have at least a 4.
My question is I have a 301, should I retake the GRE or should I just go with the score that I have? The last time I took the GRE was in 2013 and that score was a 150 something for the verbal and a 154 for the quant section so I am pretty confident that if I retake the test I will get a better score in the quant section, but again is it even worth it?
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By TallPA
Hello everyone,
I have been playing professional baseball since 2014. Due to covid, there is a chance my career could be cut short due to contracts (long un-needed story). I was a student athlete in college until I was drafted after my junior year in 2014. There are definitely more difficult situations out there, but being a student athlete at my school meant I had 2-3 hours to study per day starting at 8-9pm and we lifted at 5am every day. Finishing my degree in minor league baseball was just as tough. 12 hour bus rides twice a week, hotels, 10 hour days at the field, and playing for 6 months with only 2 days off a month. Not trying to make excuses, it was just tough for me.
I still need to take organic chemistry, but my cGPA is 3.3 and my sGPA is 3.2. I have not taken the GRE and I have about 80 documented hours of shadowing, with over 300 undocumented hours.
Until it is certain my career has ended, what can I do to stay fresh on all my sciences? Have I missed anything to apply for PA school? Do I have a chance of getting in to school? A friend of mine is a physician and said medical/PA schools love unique stories and backgrounds. Even with my story, I want everything else to show I have a passion for medicine and I’m willing to bust my butt in school when I can strictly focus on school.
Thank y’all in advance for any honest feedback!
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