The physician assistant profession is growing very rapidly, and it is understandable if you are looking to get into it. Being related to healthcare, it is in demand and pays very well too. However, getting into the field isn’t sunshine and rainbows as you have to be very resilient and give your 100%. Starting out your journey as a PA can be very daunting, which is why I am going to help you now with everything you need to know before you begin. Just as I wish there was someone who guided me when I started out, I have made it my life’s work to guide people throughout this stressful process so that they can make a positive change in their lives.
Find a Program and Prepare Early
First of all, you need to find and program and fit it into your schedule. There are a lot of PA programs out there, and you need to begin your research as early as possible so that you can strategically find a program that fits your requirements and culture. For example, if you are looking for a good program that can help you with preparing for PA exams, you can look into www.myparesource.com/sample. Once you have found what you are looking for, you should put maximum effort into it and study hard.
Get Clinical Experience
If you think that you will get into a PA school by just passing out from a program, you need to think again. You are also going to need some required clinical experience so that you can prove your worth. If you want to get into a top PA school, you might need practical experience of about 1000-4000 hours inside a clinic or a hospital. The best way to do that is to begin your training in community college so that you can get emergency room training side by side.
Keep Your GPA High
Now, I know that your GPA doesn’t tell the whole story about your skills, but the world doesn’t work like that. It doesn’t matter how much of a rebel you are; if you have a dream of getting into a top-class PA school, you are going to need a high GPA. Many top schools require at least 3 GPA, and it might also be the minimum requirement for application. So, make sure that you set that as you benchmark. Moreover, you can also get involved in extracurricular activities if you want to make your application stronger.
Work In the Summer
After all, you have done to make sure that you get into a PA school, if you are still not satisfied with your efforts, you can use the summer to your advantage. There are a lot of medical schools that offer research programs to undergrads so you could join one of them to improve your application. You could also embark on a medical trip and give back to some of the underserved communities around the world, which will not only help you get into a good college but also help needy people.