- Joined
- Dec 11, 2012
- Messages
- 59
- Reaction score
- 24
I'm in a bit of a pickle.
I'm 23, graduated college spring 2011, and have been applying to PA schools since May. I have gotten into three and have a deposit on one. Naturally, I have now decided to go into all out crisis mode about whether or not I will regret not at least attempting to get into medical school. SO, I am faced with the decision of either declining these PA schools and giving it a go with DO schools in the upcoming cycle OR going to PA school and hope that I will be content with my choice.
Here are my reservations about PA school:
1. frustration of not being in full control of my patient's care all of the time and not have their full faith or trust all of the time.
2. not having a large enough scope of practice or education to quench my thirst for the rest of my career.
3. making a half or a third of the money and having a capped salary.
Here are my reservations about Med school:
1. I will devolve into a miserable lifeless zombie for 8 years and wish I had time to enjoy my 20's as I would as a PA
2. that doctor salaries will go down and PA scope of practice will go way up thus further blurring the line btw doc and PA and further increasing my regret of bearing the long med school journey
***3. will not get into med school and will have completely wasted another year or two of my life......
Just to give you a feel for my relative competitiveness, or lack thereof.....
-Biology major
-3.26 GPA (3.58 in last 60 credits)
-3.19 sGPA
-A and B in Bio 1 and 2, A's in both physics, A's in both orgos, B's in both chems
-MCAT- plan to take it in the spring. what score would give me a decent chance at DO schools?
-650 hours as volunteer EMT-aid
-400 or 500 hours as Emergency room scribe by the spring
-Decent amount of random volunteering over the years
-Licensed USCG Captain Since age 18
-Captain of high school volleyball and college club basketball
So,
do I put off PA school to give DO a shot?
do I even have a shot at DO school?
What are your thoughts on the career outlook of PA vs Doc?
looking back, did you think med school was worth it while you were going through it?
can you have a life through med school and residency?
ANY thoughts on these matters are GREATLY appreciated!
I'm 23, graduated college spring 2011, and have been applying to PA schools since May. I have gotten into three and have a deposit on one. Naturally, I have now decided to go into all out crisis mode about whether or not I will regret not at least attempting to get into medical school. SO, I am faced with the decision of either declining these PA schools and giving it a go with DO schools in the upcoming cycle OR going to PA school and hope that I will be content with my choice.
Here are my reservations about PA school:
1. frustration of not being in full control of my patient's care all of the time and not have their full faith or trust all of the time.
2. not having a large enough scope of practice or education to quench my thirst for the rest of my career.
3. making a half or a third of the money and having a capped salary.
Here are my reservations about Med school:
1. I will devolve into a miserable lifeless zombie for 8 years and wish I had time to enjoy my 20's as I would as a PA
2. that doctor salaries will go down and PA scope of practice will go way up thus further blurring the line btw doc and PA and further increasing my regret of bearing the long med school journey
***3. will not get into med school and will have completely wasted another year or two of my life......
Just to give you a feel for my relative competitiveness, or lack thereof.....
-Biology major
-3.26 GPA (3.58 in last 60 credits)
-3.19 sGPA
-A and B in Bio 1 and 2, A's in both physics, A's in both orgos, B's in both chems
-MCAT- plan to take it in the spring. what score would give me a decent chance at DO schools?
-650 hours as volunteer EMT-aid
-400 or 500 hours as Emergency room scribe by the spring
-Decent amount of random volunteering over the years
-Licensed USCG Captain Since age 18
-Captain of high school volleyball and college club basketball
So,
do I put off PA school to give DO a shot?
do I even have a shot at DO school?
What are your thoughts on the career outlook of PA vs Doc?
looking back, did you think med school was worth it while you were going through it?
can you have a life through med school and residency?
ANY thoughts on these matters are GREATLY appreciated!