I'm getting ready to apply to programs now that the CASPA gates are open. I'm coming up on 2 years as a Medical Lab Scientist (the new name for med tech) at a 150 bed hospital with a very busy ER and lots of phleb experience (morning draws, codes, picking up the slack because our awesome phlebs are understaffed). We push a lot of blood transfusions, and have a lot of volume for our client clinics. I spend a good portion of my day interacting with nurses, doctors, clinics, administration, walk-in patients, and inpatients. When Im on evenings I work pretty close with ER staff and emergency OR staff, and often frequently am drafted to do chest compressions or deal with family members of coding patients in the immediate aftermath of an incident. Im pretty familiar with really stressful situations and do well. My boss and the pathologist I work for will give me an excellent LOR. My lab facility all has old timers who are fantastic teachers with a variety of backgrounds. Im the young pup that they are imparting all their knowlege on.
I have a bachelors in biology and a bachelors in Clinical Lab Science. Pulled a 3.3 overall and 3.1 science gpa from undergrad. I have some W's from a semester I was sick with a bug that kept me near a toilet for a month. After undergrad but before the CLS program I did vaccine research and took 9 credits at the grad level. Got a B+ in one class, B- in another, and a C in biochem. Recieved the CLS degree with a A-/B+ average, all of it will be science. Right now Im finishing up an A&P class and pulling an A- (already took it as an undergrad 6 years ago, wanted a better grade than the C+ I previously got). Will take the GRE this summer. I worked all through undergrad up until I did the CLS program. I got my CNA in high school but didnt use it afterwards. I have about 20 hours shadowing PAs, and can get tons more if I want. I do some work helping CLS students, and volunteer when the program does for community service.
So in my mind, I was a lazy undergrad that wasnt confident in my studies, and it showed. I wanted to get some grad credit under my belt, and started the transition to being a better student that had confidence. I came through OK in CLS, but I can see how an ADCOM might be hesitent to put me through the grueling pace of PA school based on the undergrad numbers. I have enough breadth in my education that I have all the prerecs for just about every program out there, so Im applying to every program west of the rockies, minus schools in california. Im going to hit the GRE pretty hard. Ill do well in vocab... suck at math, but my father in law is a math wiz that is going to work with me on that part. Give me some input.
I have a bachelors in biology and a bachelors in Clinical Lab Science. Pulled a 3.3 overall and 3.1 science gpa from undergrad. I have some W's from a semester I was sick with a bug that kept me near a toilet for a month. After undergrad but before the CLS program I did vaccine research and took 9 credits at the grad level. Got a B+ in one class, B- in another, and a C in biochem. Recieved the CLS degree with a A-/B+ average, all of it will be science. Right now Im finishing up an A&P class and pulling an A- (already took it as an undergrad 6 years ago, wanted a better grade than the C+ I previously got). Will take the GRE this summer. I worked all through undergrad up until I did the CLS program. I got my CNA in high school but didnt use it afterwards. I have about 20 hours shadowing PAs, and can get tons more if I want. I do some work helping CLS students, and volunteer when the program does for community service.
So in my mind, I was a lazy undergrad that wasnt confident in my studies, and it showed. I wanted to get some grad credit under my belt, and started the transition to being a better student that had confidence. I came through OK in CLS, but I can see how an ADCOM might be hesitent to put me through the grueling pace of PA school based on the undergrad numbers. I have enough breadth in my education that I have all the prerecs for just about every program out there, so Im applying to every program west of the rockies, minus schools in california. Im going to hit the GRE pretty hard. Ill do well in vocab... suck at math, but my father in law is a math wiz that is going to work with me on that part. Give me some input.
