- Joined
- May 4, 2017
- Messages
- 6
- Reaction score
- 2
Hello all, as my name implies, I'm currently a college student in Southern NV and also an (advanced) EMT with a private ambulance co. I'm doing Athletic Training as a major to get diverse experience for PA school, realizing fully that I'll still need microbiology and chemistry post-grad. to meet pre-req's. Recently, an old professor of mine got me thinking about applying for med school instead. I'm a long time lurker, so believe me, I know most of you are probably going "oh God, another one".
However, consider that I'm now 22 and would effectively have to "restart" my degree track to meet pre-med requirements. That's the biggest kicker for me, because the 2 semesters of A&P, and even the general biology class wouldn't count toward our university's biology program requirements. I love biology, and am interested in chemistry, but am generally pretty bad at math or physics, while liking more healthcare application type classes (hence the softer major, AT)
If you were in my shoes, would you continue the AT program, then just apply for PA once I've got the few remaining pre reqs met post grad? Or, would you choose to switch into the Biology program, and subsequently sacrifice a few more semesters to catch up? Keep in mind, I'm now 22 and am getting somewhat burnt out as I see nearly all of my classmates from high school will be graduating this Summer. Working through college has been humbling and my job gives me pride like nothing else I've ever done, but I also think the love of working makes it hard to stay focused on school, thus burning me out quicker.
In my mind: I'm thinking PA is my best bet because I'll be able to support a family on their salary, learn more and get to be more involved with long term patient care (and again support a family better) than if I just settled and got my Paramedic, and I could get out into the field sooner. I guess I'm just worried one day I may wish I'd have sucked it up and gone to Med school instead. Any thoughts on this?
However, consider that I'm now 22 and would effectively have to "restart" my degree track to meet pre-med requirements. That's the biggest kicker for me, because the 2 semesters of A&P, and even the general biology class wouldn't count toward our university's biology program requirements. I love biology, and am interested in chemistry, but am generally pretty bad at math or physics, while liking more healthcare application type classes (hence the softer major, AT)
If you were in my shoes, would you continue the AT program, then just apply for PA once I've got the few remaining pre reqs met post grad? Or, would you choose to switch into the Biology program, and subsequently sacrifice a few more semesters to catch up? Keep in mind, I'm now 22 and am getting somewhat burnt out as I see nearly all of my classmates from high school will be graduating this Summer. Working through college has been humbling and my job gives me pride like nothing else I've ever done, but I also think the love of working makes it hard to stay focused on school, thus burning me out quicker.
In my mind: I'm thinking PA is my best bet because I'll be able to support a family on their salary, learn more and get to be more involved with long term patient care (and again support a family better) than if I just settled and got my Paramedic, and I could get out into the field sooner. I guess I'm just worried one day I may wish I'd have sucked it up and gone to Med school instead. Any thoughts on this?