PA school or Medical School.

[AfroMedic]

I'm a junior student studying Biology, my community college GPA is high for medical school but my current GPA at a 4 year college is not as high but still good for both PA school and Medical school. I'm wondering If I should apply to PA school or Medical school. My dream since childhood is to be a Hospitalist , I see myself staying up all night in a Big Hospital going around caring for Patients till I retire and get old. Its also my dream to be a missionary doctor and I would also love to train other people in third world countries that don't have well trained medical specialists.  The reason why I'm thinking of PA school is because I'm form a  poor family and it cost less for me to go to PA school than Medical school.

[EMEDPA]

Shoot for medical school. Do a post bac if you need to to get your gpa up. Look for scholarships. Lots of folks from families without a lot of money become physicians. Follow your dream, not your backup plan. I still wish I did every day and I have a great(top 1%) job today.

[GetMeOuttaThisMess]

You're going in debt regardless of which route you take based on your statement.  Shoot for the stars.  I'm with E.  I wish I had at least tried for med school though I doubt I would've gotten in in the late 70's/early 80's.  Too many "academic gunners" out there without common sense back then that would've blocked my acceptance.

I also base my statement on the fact that I got in, and out, of the PA profession during what I believe will be shown to be the "golden era" of the profession.

Edited February 13, 2021 by GetMeOuttaThisMess

[ANESMCR]

Simply based on your goals to practice abroad screams you should pursue medical school. It would be extremely difficult, next to impossible to do that as a PA. Doctors Without Borders doesn’t even recognize PAs if that tells you anything.