- Joined
- Oct 9, 2006
- Messages
- 99
- Reaction score
- 0
My name is Ed, a 25 year old student that lives in Bakersfield, Ca. I am currently a student at CSU Bakersfield double majoring in Psychology and Health Sciences. The reason i am writing to you is because I need some advice on what path to take in order to achieve my dream, which is of becoming a PA. I was born in Mexico and moved here to the United States when i was 17 years old. I didn't know a word in English and the transition was extremely hard, a big culture clash, but I managed to survive and here I am, happier than ever. I entered high school, finished and then went off to a community college to study general education; always having in mind I wanted to do something in the medical field, yet I didn't have any type of direction or advisors who could really guide me. I took some classes, but still felt a bit lost. During this time, I also had to work full time and sometimes more hours in a dairy milking cows or in the fields. This was the only way I could go to school and work to help my family, since my dad passed away when I was 12. Time passed and too much was going on with my life, it was too much stress with working more than full time, going to school, having family problems so I had a depression episode in which I dropped courses and didnt do that good in others. Within this time, 3-4 years had passed and i was already done with my general education courses, getting ready to transfer to CSU Bakersfield, but I had a gpa of 2.9 and close to 16 Ws. No one told me about the consequence the withdrawal would have, the counselor just told me, drop the class, get a W so your GPA doesnt get more damage, so I did. Those Ws are what my depression left me with. After a year and a half living here in bakersfield, I took an EMT-1 class and am certified. I have 6 months experience working as an EMT and I have also volunteered with many school clubs such as Mecha, Puente, and other ones. I am certified as a CNA and as a Phlebotomist. So my story is this. I currently have a 2.95 gpa and still have almost 2 years left to complete my double major. My question is this: You, as an admission person, what would you recommend me? Finish my double major and then apply to the PA program? Or just take the pre-reqs and apply to the program without finishing my Bachelor's? I have close to 2000 hours of patient contact, so if I only need to take the pre-reqs, i will have 3,000, if I have to complete my bachelors, I will have more, but I will have to cut a bit on my job, too. I have shadowed PAs and this is what I want to do, I really want to do it and I know I can do it. I just had a hard time with my life after high school, but everything is back to normal, I just want to make sure I do get in when I apply. I really hope to hear back from you and please advice me in everything you can. What do you guys suggest, advice me?
Sincerely,
Ed
Sincerely,
Ed