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to start… here are some free resources for you:
where do I begin?!
As you begin to think about the PA application process, it is crucial to have a stepwise approach to which programs you will apply to. Unfortunately, the PA application process is not intuitive. Every program has different requirements, timelines, and supplements. This is actually why I started consulting in the first place; there are so many little mistakes pre-PAs can make along the way that are detrimental to their applications and can cost them a seat at their dream school.
what should I consider, program-wise?
Location
Where do you want to live for 2-3 years?
What hospitals would you like to have your clinical at?
Length
How long do you want to be in PA school?
Class Size
How big is their class size?
What is your ideal student-faculty ratio?
Estimated Cost
How much is the program total cost?
Do they provide scholarship or private funding?
PANCE pass rate
What is their PANCE pass rate for first time takers vs overall?
Accreditation Status
What is their current accreditation status?
Have they ever been put on probation?
what should I consider, application-wise?
Pre-Requisites
What pre-reqs do you have outstanding? Make a list of all of the pre-reqs you have completed and match them with each of your programs required courses.
Healthcare (HCE) Hours
How many HCE hours have you completed?
PRO TIP: Compare this with the AVERAGE hours of applicants accepted to each program, NOT the requirement. The requirement is often much lower than most accepted students' actual average hours. Example: Program X requires 500 HCE hours to apply, but the average student accepted had 2,000 HCE hours.
Science and Overall GPA
What is your science GPA?
What is your overall GPA?
Compare these to the requirements of the programs you are applying to.
PRO TIP: Many programs will not consider you if you have a C or C+ in a pre-requisite course. If this is the case and you do have a C in one of those classes, you could email the program and ask them if they will still consider you. You could even retake the course if you have the time and see if the program would accept that.
my biggest piece of advice…
If you do not have the program's requirements, DO NOT APPLY. It is not worth wasting your money on an application to apply to a program you do not have the minimum requirements for. As we have seen repeatedly, programs accept students who have well ABOVE and BEYOND the program's requirements. I recommend saving money and ‘beefing up’ your application before applying. Even if that means waiting for another cycle to hit submit!
what can I do in the meantime?
Use my free organization spreadsheet and fill it out for each program you plan. to apply to as of now. This will help you get organized WELL before the cycle begins so you can find out if you have outstanding items! Once you figure out what is outstanding, list the items you need to do between now and April when the CASPA opens. This could include:
Taking additional pre-requisites
Increasing HCE hours
Shadowing PAs
Retaking a course you have a C in
Work on your personal statement
if you are looking for more…
Reach out to me via my website
Follow me on IG for daily pre-PA content
Check out my stan store for free resources