Acquiring HCE using EMT... and B.S. in Exercise Science?

[chelle1122]

It wasn't until the final semester of my undergrad degree that I started considering PA as a career option. I graduated in May 2013 with my B.S. in Exercise Science, minimal HCE, and am currently about 4 upper level science courses short of having my required prereqs for many PA programs. I am currently a corporate health and wellness coordinator (this position requires my undergrad degree). I recently passed the National Registry EMT certification.

My plan is to use my EMT certification casually until I have enough experience to apply for a full time position using my EMT certification. Once I get a full time job using my EMT certification, I plan on finishing my pre-reqs and then applying to schools.

While I value the EMT career path and see the value in it for acquiring HCE, I am now concerned that this route abandons my 4 yr. degree and makes it nothing more than a slip of paper required to get into graduate school.

I do not know any PAs or PA students personally, so I reach out to any of you who may have followed a similar path for any sort of advice or insight... Is it reasonable to abandon my current career for a job in EMS to prep me for PA school? Are you aware of any way I can combine my B.S. in Exercise Science and NREMT to gain valuable HCE? Any insight is helpful!

Thank you!

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[pamac]

These days, you aren't up against as many folks with awesome hce, so at many schools you may even be ahead of the pack if you have any somewhat decent hce. A lot will depend on the school you apply to. Almost everyone I've ever met with an exercise science degree or pathway only wanted it to use as a stepping stone to a professional program, so you stand in contrast to what I'm used to hearing. I hear what you are saying about wanting to use your degree in some regard, as I wanted my lab science degree to work for me in the same way. Schools respected it, but they seem to be interested in evidence that you are capable of learning new material required to be a PA. I'd just suggest applying to the vast number of schools that don't care about HCE. There are lots of them. For most schools, what you have already acquired, plus some dabbling as an EMT, will be sufficient. I wouldn't quit your day job to be an EMT. If you have poor grades, you'll need more than EMT experience to appeal to the hce schools. If your grades are good, the low hce schools will like you regardless. If your grades are poor, they won't talk to you even with hce.

So I wouldn't fret. Keep working. Volunteer as an EMT. Apply to a school that recruits applicants like yourself.

 

[pamac]

Incidentally, most of the folks I know that got into dental, medical, and pa school were exercise science majors vs any others. I guesse biology would be the next most common that I saw, but I also know many more of those folks that didn't make the cut.

 

[chelle1122]

Thank you for your insight and encouragement. 🙂

 

[Jaqua]

Odd question, but would being an orthodontist assistant count as HCE?

 

[HenryH]

These days, you aren't up against as many folks with awesome hce, so at many schools you may even be ahead of the pack if you have any somewhat decent hce. A lot will depend on the school you apply to. Almost everyone I've ever met with an exercise science degree or pathway only wanted it to use as a stepping stone to a professional program, so you stand in contrast to what I'm used to hearing. I hear what you are saying about wanting to use your degree in some regard, as I wanted my lab science degree to work for me in the same way. Schools respected it, but they seem to be interested in evidence that you are capable of learning new material required to be a PA. I'd just suggest applying to the vast number of schools that don't care about HCE. There are lots of them. For most schools, what you have already acquired, plus some dabbling as an EMT, will be sufficient. I wouldn't quit your day job to be an EMT. If you have poor grades, you'll need more than EMT experience to appeal to the hce schools. If your grades are good, the low hce schools will like you regardless. If your grades are poor, they won't talk to you even with hce.

So I wouldn't fret. Keep working. Volunteer as an EMT. Apply to a school that recruits applicants like yourself.

I don't mean to hijack the thread, but do you know if there is a list of PA programs that don't really care about HCE? I've heard numerous people talk about these programs, but I've also wondered which ones they were. Thanks. 🙂

 

[d2305]

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/pa-school-with-little-hce.1050112/

 

[jtbracken0]

Hello Everyone,

I also have a BS in Exercise Sports Science. I am currently working on my MS in Health Science.
My overall GPA (including undergraduate and graduate school): 3.51
My science GPA: 3.32. I have taken Gen. Bio. (4 credits- A) , A+P I and II (4 credits-A, 4 credits- A), Chem I (4 credits-B), Chem II (Lecture 3 credits- C and Lab 2 credits- B), Micro (1st time-C and 2nd time-B)
GRE Verbal: 149 GRE Math: 147
I worked as a nutritional/health counselor for 2 years (full-time) and I currently work as a Dietetic Technician (full-time). While working as a counselor I also worked as a Research Assistant (part-time) at Johns Hopkins.

Can a few of your please chime in on my chances of getting into PA school?

 

[Dranger]

Funny how I always thought the PA profession was based off of second career students with extensive HC backgrounds transitioning to a provider role. Now I just see early 20s recent college grads trying to outsmart or skimp on HCE to get in to PA school. If you don't have any HCE and are young why don't you just keep gunning for med school and leave PA for those who have actually been around the block in HC....

 

[chelle1122]

Dranger,

To answer your question simply: I want to be a Physician Assistant, not a Physician. If there exists a path for me to accomplish my goals, I'm going to take it... and certainly won't be priding myself on how I beat the system. To each his own!

 

[deleted432032]

If becoming a PA is what you want to do I say go for it. You should familiarize yourself with the PA field as much as you can. Shadow as many as you can and read. As for your bachelors in exercise science, get it. From my understanding the knowledge you gain from that degree can be useful for you in the future as a PA. I am not aware of any way to combine exercise science and EMT, but depending on your location it can be hard to find full-time EMT work. You may be able to do both, get a job that is related to exercise science and do EMT work part-time to gain HCE, just a thought.

 

[jtbracken0]

I would suspect that my science GPA may be a little higher because according to CAPSA website exercise science, health science, and public health course work goes towards "total science GPA".

I work at a weight loss center and my direct supervisor is a Registered Dietitian. I explain different meal plans we offer, I make dietary suggestions based off of health condition (hypertension, kidney insufficiency, blood clotting), I informed patients of their recommended macro and micro nutrient intake based on their age, race, calorie needs, etc. and explain ways to get those nutrients. I also do blood pressure/pulse rate, body measurements, metabolic testing (patient breath into a machine for about 8 minutes...I proctor it and calculate their calorie needs), I performed and explain body analysis monthly (results outline the patients lean muscle mass, body fat mass, water weight, BMI, percent body fat, etc.). I hope this provides some color.