pa school chances

Started by futurebamapt
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futurebamapt

Full Member
10+ Year Member
I am a biology major that was planning on applying to pt school. after researching online I think I might like to be a PA more. I am finishing my junior year and my gpa right now is a 3.1. Is this a competitve GPA for PA school. I wanted to apply to south.
thanks
 
You really need to incorporate the amount of HCE (health care experience) in hours and capacity - this is a indicator of application success. Your GPA looks good - not sure if its cGPA or pre-req PA GPA... either way get an EMT-B or CNA license and get some HCE as you finish up your junior and senior year.. if you can rack up some hours I'd say youy are well on your way!
v/r
 
that is my cumulative gpa right now. my pre-req gpa is 3.0 Also, i have been volunteering as a pt aide for 3 months and volunteered at a free medical clinic for 2 months. If i continue the pt aide can that count as the experience i need?
 
futurebamapt said:
that is my cumulative gpa right now. my pre-req gpa is 3.0 Also, i have been volunteering as a pt aide for 3 months and volunteered at a free medical clinic for 2 months. If i continue the pt aide can that count as the experience i need?
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Depends on the school. Some recommend, but do not require. Some specifically require paid experience. Typically, when you are a volunteer you don't get to do much patient contact due to liability reasons. It would greatly increase your chances to become an EMT-B or CNA and find yourself a paid position.
 
In my opinion, you can't select your career based on stuff you read online. Especially in the medical community, where job shadowing is relatively common, to the point where most people have done at least some of it before they apply.

So the answer is pretty simple: make some phone calls. Spend a couple of days shadowing a PT as they go about their work. Spend a couple of days shadowing a PA. Ask questions, be interested, learn as much as you can. Then decide where you want to direct your time, money, and energy.
 
I would agree with Febrifuge. Shadow both before deciding.

You would be amazed at the number of people who apply to PA school, actually get an interview and then when asked "What does a PA do?", cannot provide a coherent answer because they don't really know.

Reading about PAs is a good start, but it is not a substitute for shadowing.

It is also good to keep in mind that PAs can work in many different fields and even within the same field may have very different responsibilities based on their experience and what their supervising physicians and institutions let them do.
 
thanks for the feedback. I have shadowed a pa breifly. I just did not want to go through all the stress of applying if my gpa was too low.
 
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