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- Dec 4, 2012
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Hello everyone:
I just turned 23 years old on December 1 and I am requesting advice on making the best decision. I am currently a Paramedic in a metropolitan city and have been functioning here for a little over a year. I have been working in EMS since I was 18 (4 years of clinical experience, 1.5 years as Paramedic). I am at a point in my life and career that I "want more." I have been knocking out school part time in the meantime. I currently have about 26 credit hours of prerequsites done, all pertaining to premed/B.S. degree.
I am stuck between going to nursing school or PA school, however, I'm leaning more toward PA school. Nursing school is tempting because of how convenient it would be for me. I'm basically done with all of the prerequisites to get into a RN program at my local CC and I would graduate with an ADN with minimal debt. The dilemma is that I simply don't want to be a nurse, but both the salary and the short-time frame to do that program are very tempting.
As previously mentioned, I really want to be a PA (I know it seems that I should choose this if it's what I really want to do), but I simply have some concerns. I am independent, live on my own, and have less than $3000 in credit card debt, which is my only debt. I really worry about student loan debt. I am considering becoming a full time student at an in-state institution and continuing on to finish a bachelors in biology. I have been informed by my current professors that resident advisor would be a good option for me and would minimize my overall debt that I would accrue over the next 2.5-3 years or so of school. Once I finish my bachelors, ofcourse that will unlock PA school. However, I will already have undergrad debt and now PA school debt. I have been taking a lot of classes while working full time as a Paramedic in a busy system and it's literally "killing" me. I've also noticed that the working full time is taking a toll on my GPA. I will be getting my first B upon completion of this semester, which is embarrassing, considering the previous 6 courses I have taken I have received an A. Being 23, I feel like I am getting quite old as well, but I know some people start MEDICAL SCHOOL in their upper 30s and low 40s, so I guess I have no room to complain.
I apologize for drawing this out so long. At this point, would it be recommended that I stop working, become a full time student, finish my bachelors, and apply to PA school? This working full time thing and taking 12 credit hours a semester is difficult and I don't want to ruin my GPA before applying to PA school.
Thanks to everyone for the advice and I hope that you're all doing well.
I just turned 23 years old on December 1 and I am requesting advice on making the best decision. I am currently a Paramedic in a metropolitan city and have been functioning here for a little over a year. I have been working in EMS since I was 18 (4 years of clinical experience, 1.5 years as Paramedic). I am at a point in my life and career that I "want more." I have been knocking out school part time in the meantime. I currently have about 26 credit hours of prerequsites done, all pertaining to premed/B.S. degree.
I am stuck between going to nursing school or PA school, however, I'm leaning more toward PA school. Nursing school is tempting because of how convenient it would be for me. I'm basically done with all of the prerequisites to get into a RN program at my local CC and I would graduate with an ADN with minimal debt. The dilemma is that I simply don't want to be a nurse, but both the salary and the short-time frame to do that program are very tempting.
As previously mentioned, I really want to be a PA (I know it seems that I should choose this if it's what I really want to do), but I simply have some concerns. I am independent, live on my own, and have less than $3000 in credit card debt, which is my only debt. I really worry about student loan debt. I am considering becoming a full time student at an in-state institution and continuing on to finish a bachelors in biology. I have been informed by my current professors that resident advisor would be a good option for me and would minimize my overall debt that I would accrue over the next 2.5-3 years or so of school. Once I finish my bachelors, ofcourse that will unlock PA school. However, I will already have undergrad debt and now PA school debt. I have been taking a lot of classes while working full time as a Paramedic in a busy system and it's literally "killing" me. I've also noticed that the working full time is taking a toll on my GPA. I will be getting my first B upon completion of this semester, which is embarrassing, considering the previous 6 courses I have taken I have received an A. Being 23, I feel like I am getting quite old as well, but I know some people start MEDICAL SCHOOL in their upper 30s and low 40s, so I guess I have no room to complain.
I apologize for drawing this out so long. At this point, would it be recommended that I stop working, become a full time student, finish my bachelors, and apply to PA school? This working full time thing and taking 12 credit hours a semester is difficult and I don't want to ruin my GPA before applying to PA school.
Thanks to everyone for the advice and I hope that you're all doing well.