My backup plan was going to PA school but then I learned it is more competitive to

[FreakyFreak]

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My backup plan was going to PA school but then I learned it is more competitive to get into UW-Madison's PA school than most medical schools. I talked to the premed advisor at my university on Friday and she mentioned that there were 10 in state apps for every spot at madison's PA school and the average accepted GPA was 3.7. Madison only gets 4 or 5 apps per spot from in state applicants for their med school and the avg accepted GPA is about 3.78. Damn......... who would have thought PA school could be that competitive ? I guess maybe the people want a little easier path.

 

[Fermata]

My backup plan was going to PA school but then I learned it is more competitive to get into UW-Madison's PA school than most medical schools. I talked to the premed advisor at my university on Friday and she mentioned that there were 10 in state apps for every spot at madison's PA school and the average accepted GPA was 3.7. Madison only gets 4 or 5 apps per spot from in state applicants for their med school and the avg accepted GPA is about 3.78. Damn......... who would have thought PA school could be that competitive ? I guess maybe the people want a little easier path.

Clinical requirements also tend to be greater for PA schools.

People want easy/quick money.

What do you expect?

 

[virilep]

honestely... i don't think there is a true "back-up" plan. PA schools are pretty tough to get into. there aren't very many med schools in the US that you "are a sure thing" at. I dunno. all this info is in the MSAR. it's really a helpful tool. use it!

 

[45408]

I also think that Madison has one of the top programs, IIRC. A guy in my organic lab last year is there now. Maybe some other programs are a little easier to get into?

 

[SanDiegoSOD]

honestely... i don't think there is a true "back-up" plan.

Haven't you ever heard of dentistry?


I kid, I kid...

 

[TripleDegree]

PA programs tougher to get into than med schools? Ha! thats a joke. I'm sure thats what the PA schools would like you to believe.

Since the requirements bar for PA school is so much lower (no MCATs, lesser number of course requirements etc.), obviously more folks are qualified to apply which they do, and hence it seems like it is tougher.

And yeah, its shorter path, but the destinations are quite different!

 

[Fermata]

PA programs tougher to get into than med schools? Ha! thats a joke. I'm sure thats what the PA schools would like you to believe.

Since the requirements bar for PA school is so much lower (no MCATs, lesser number of course requirements etc.), obviously more folks are qualified to apply which they do, and hence it seems like it is tougher.

And yeah, its shorter path, but the destinations are quite different!

You'd be surprised.

Some derm, FP, etc. PA's blur the lines.

 

[paintsites]

I think you also need to consider that the 3.7 GPAs are probably not coming from molecular biology and chemistry majors. I'd be more apt to believe they are elementary education or psychology majors.

Not every major is as tough to get a good GPA in.

 

[45408]

I think you also need to consider that the 3.7 GPAs are probably not coming from molecular biology and chemistry majors. I'd be more apt to believe they are elementary education or psychology majors.

Not every major is as tough to get a good GPA in.

🙄 Most PAs weren't going for el-ed when they were in undergrad. All the pre-PA students I know were right alongside me in all of my classes.

 

[doogyhowser]

PA is not an easy back up.

no mcat required is the big diff.

the pre-reqs are the same. the programs are similar to a compacted med school curriculum with basically the core sciences left out.

if you wanna be a doc, be a doc. don't work your ass off doin' the same **** just to be a PA.