Lemon Bars Posted March 20, 2013 Share Posted March 20, 2013 I'm doing everything I can do prepare for PA school admission, but I'm concerned that I may not get in due to my 3.0 overall gpa (upward trend). This is my last semester of prereqs. I plan on applying for the next two years but after that I'll need to consider other options because being a nurse aide and such just isn't cutting it. I'm thinking of respiratory therapist as a second choice (a distant second choice). Does anyone else have backup plans if they can't get in? Perhaps there is some other career path I hadn't considered besides nurse, paramedic, x-ray/MRI tech, ER tech, medical assistant, dental hygienist, or physical therapy assistant. Thoughts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dreatx Posted March 20, 2013 Share Posted March 20, 2013 I'm a paramedic. I have great benefits, decent pay and a pension. If I don't get into PA school, I'll keep doing this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dreatx Posted March 20, 2013 Share Posted March 20, 2013 I'd say nursing would give you the most options, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joelseff Posted March 20, 2013 Share Posted March 20, 2013 I applied and got into RT school the year I got into PA school. I chose it as a back up. I immediately notified them when I got into PA school and some lucky guy or gal from their wait list got my seat. I would have been ok with being a RT. Good money (75k in my area), good hours (3 12s a week) and great PA school app fodder (to add to my 22k HCE hours). I still would have kept pursuing PA though. Sent from my myTouch_4G_Slide using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SopranoKris Posted March 21, 2013 Share Posted March 21, 2013 I'm waiting to find out if I've been accepted into the nursing program. If I get in, I'll finish my BSN and then apply to PA school. If I don't get in, I'll finish my BS in Biomedical Laboratory Science. Either way, if I don't get in to PA school, I can work as a nurse or MLT, depending on which route I go. Always good to have Plan A and Plan B! :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MedicinePower Posted March 21, 2013 Share Posted March 21, 2013 Paramedic, RT, or RN are the best options, IMO. Paramedic can be done in 1 year (assuming you are already an EMT-Basic or higher) while RT is generally 2 years so you might be faced with a PA school acceptance a year later but not done with RT school. You'll learn a TON in paramedic school and it'll be a good intro for the emergency medicine component of PA school. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lemon Bars Posted March 21, 2013 Author Share Posted March 21, 2013 I should clarify: I'm not looking for a stepping stone career towards PA. If I don't get into PA school and I have to do two years of RT school or whatever, I'm probably going to stick with that career. I'm already 42 years old and I've already spent 7 years in college. So this is it. And paramedic is out because I have very weak vision in one eye that prevents me from getting an ambulance driver's license. (Around here Respiratory pays more than Paramedic anyway.) Thanks for the feedback so far folks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MedicinePower Posted March 21, 2013 Share Posted March 21, 2013 To the best of my knowledge there's no such thing as an ambulance driver's license. When I became an EMT in 2002 they only required I be 21 years old and a valid DL. I did the CEVO training but there wasn't a special test or special license. I've heard rumor that California might have a special license but I'm unsure. As far as a fallback plan it all depends on what you want to do. Do you wish to stay in the medical field or pursue something else? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timon Posted March 21, 2013 Share Posted March 21, 2013 To be honest... I was planning on going to a pacemaker tech program. 5 month training, cost $22k plus living expense. Come out with starting salary of just below $100k a year. I know of three programs. One at Loma Linda University in CA, One in Michigan, and ATI in South Carolina. Figured it still counted for HCE, pays really good, short education, and it's a growing field that people who are jumping on the healthcare bandwagon don't know about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cinntsp Posted March 21, 2013 Share Posted March 21, 2013 Perfusionist or AA. Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCHMITTIE120 Posted March 21, 2013 Share Posted March 21, 2013 Micro PhD or DrPH were my two options school wise. Lifestyle wise I wanted to move out west and work at a ski resort in the winters raft guide in the summers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcburger Posted March 22, 2013 Share Posted March 22, 2013 I'm getting my bachelors is Medical Lab Sciences. Easy way to get pre reqs and its a nice paying job if I don't get into PA school. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lemon Bars Posted March 22, 2013 Author Share Posted March 22, 2013 I'm in California and yeah it's required. :( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ktcan10 Posted March 23, 2013 Share Posted March 23, 2013 I've heard rumor that California might have a special license but I'm unsure. Yes, this is true. I'm an EMT in California, and we are required to have an Ambulance Driver's Certificate or endorsement on our license. A written test and application through the DMV. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D.C. Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 I'm getting my bachelors is Medical Lab Sciences. Easy way to get pre reqs and its a nice paying job if I don't get into PA school. I was considering this too. The requirements for the major include pretty much any prereq you can think of, except maybe psychology. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D.C. Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 I'm getting my bachelors is Medical Lab Sciences. Easy way to get pre reqs and its a nice paying job if I don't get into PA school. I was considering this too. The requirements for the major include pretty much any prereq you can think of, except maybe psychology. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bjl12 Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 If I don't get into PA school I will consider nursing, talk therapy, or a graduate program in biology (one that is directly applicable to industry - if they exist). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bjl12 Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 If I don't get into PA school I will consider nursing, talk therapy, or a graduate program in biology (one that is directly applicable to industry - if they exist). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
balsam88 Posted April 3, 2013 Share Posted April 3, 2013 I'm already a medical lab technologist. That's a good option to consider. The job is nice and pay isn't bad. My back up plan was to do an MPH in epidemiology/International health (something I was interested in). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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