Everybody's journey to becoming a PA is a bit different.
We all have different lives, different upbringings, different barriers to overcome to reach our goals. We have different paths that have led us to want to become a physician assistant.
No single formula will assure you a golden ticket to PA school (I am sorry to say). But I can tell you this: Like many things in life there are ways to increase your odds.
Most of them you already know, but you may have forgotten.
'A successful person does what a failure does not like to do.' - My DadClick To TweetStep 1: Start Working Hard, Most Likely for Free!
One of the single most important things you can do is start working hard, and yes that will most likely be for free.
The single most important thing I did was to work and volunteer in hospitals and clinics throughout my Pre-PA life.
When I was in college, I walked into the campus health center and asked if they needed help. I began volunteering, which led to a job in medical records which led to a position working in the campus lab which resulted in me being trained as a phlebotomist.
I was making a whopping $4.25 an hour, and this was in 1997. But the takeaway is this: I met every single Doctor, PA, Nurse, MA, NP, Midwife in the entire clinic and many throughout the hospital.
It was never about the money. It was about making meaningful connections. These connections served me well and became the single most important reason I did get into PA school. The letters of recommendation from my closest mentors were the reason I landed my first PA school interview and is the main reason I get to do what I do today.
Get out there and find something good to do.
"Make your application shine. We want to see all of the great things you have done in your life as a student and individual. We like to see people dedicated to learning, hardworking and with a strong sense of empathy." - Professor Petersson PA-C, Case Western Reserve University
Start for free if you need to. It could be volunteering, candy striping, visiting the cancer wards, transferring patients within the hospital, helping out at blood drives, etc., etc., etc.
Volunteer Match is a great resource to find volunteer opportunities in your area.
Look what Charlie Hoehn says about the value of free work and how to be a recession proof graduate in this Ted Talk. It's good advice for life and for the path to PA school.
Step 2: Be Passionate and CARE!
This goes back to step one.
If you are going to volunteer, don't just show up and wait for somebody to tell you what to do. Make volunteering your work and do it with pride. Show up every day on time, with a smile and be fully present. Make it your job to bring more passion to this than anyone else.
You don't follow your passion you always bring it with youClick To TweetI had my first "real" job at the age of 16 at Burger King.
I was trained by a gentleman who, despite low pay and reduced benefits, was passionate about his job. After six weeks I could make a darn fine Whopper. The management took notice, and I was quickly promoted. Unlike many of my colleagues I cared about the customer experience, and when I showed up, I made it a point to be fully present and always cheerful.
Always care about your client's experience, even in the seemingly simple things. You will leave a trail of good deeds, hard work, and positive emotions. This will pay many future dividends.
Step 3: Go Beyond the Minimum Requirements
There is a minimum of prerequisites you need to get into PA school. Make it your goal to exceed these minimums.
Like many PAs, before I learned about the profession I was actually on a pre-med track. I wasn't doing all that well mind you, but I was working my behind off. Luckily, a benefit of this was that I had already met many of the prerequisites I needed for PA school.
When I knew my junior year that I wanted to be a PA I was so happy I had put in all that hard work. Yes, I could have simply stopped the process and taken easier classes that would have met my prerequisites, but I didn't. I continued to take challenging classes that pushed me to my limits.
Years later, my wife is also very happy!
This accomplished two things
- It set me apart from many of the other applicants (although many had done the same).
- It prepared me for the rigors of PA school.
Make it a point to go beyond the minimum
The Adcoms want to see your application match what you have actually done. Nothing bothers me more than someone who talks for pages about how much they want to work with underserved individuals, but has not volunteered a day in their life, or who wants to be a great leader but has never led anything. The best CASPA applicants are those whose applications align with a school’s goals and have the experience to back it up. That will top GPA any day. - PA School Administrator
Don't focus so much on grades and getting a 4.0.
I am proud to say I had a 2.9 by the time I applied to PA school. I had a trail of extremely challenging coursework that I still carry with me today. Am I an epic failure because I didn't have a 3.9 or a 4.0? No! And when I sat in front of my future instructors in PA school and told them about why I wanted to be a physician assistant, I did it with pride. Because I knew that I had challenged myself and that I was prepared for anything they could throw at me.
And you know what? That holds true to this day.
Step 4: Just Apply! And Cut Out the BS
I attended the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. I applied to four PA Schools and the last was UMDNJ. I wasn't going to apply because I failed to meet the minimum requirement of a 3.0 GPA (as noted above). I was going to throw the application in the garbage when my Mom of all people stopped me and said: "It never hurts to apply". And boy was she right.
And why was it this application that got accepted? Because I cut out the BS!
In my previous applications, I feared failure so much that I let it guide my writing on the application. My essays were routine and uninteresting. But for UMDNJ, because I figured I had no chance whatsoever, I threw caution to the wind. I wrote from my heart and used my authentic voice which was rooted deeply in:
- Hard Work
- Passion
- Caring
- A willingness to go beyond the minimum
I will write more about this in the future. But the point is: Don't over-analyze, start thinking outside the box, work extremely hard for what you want and don't follow the herd!
P.S I actually did read this book prior to applying for PA School.
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Hello!
I’m really happy at all this information, that you have decided to share with us, this really helped me a lot. I am an undergrad student in my third year ,who is on the path of becoming a PA. I’m not a pre med major instead, I am doing my BA in economics. But I’m still doing my prerequisites for PA school. I’m kind of in a dilemma because, I wanted to major in Sociology, only because it will be easier for my overall GPA to look good. Also i have zero health care experience, and i don’t know where to start.
Take classes that interest you and challenge you.. doing things in life to look good won’t get you very far so if that is the only reason for choosing sociology I would suggest to take a different path… And by all means get out there and start getting some experience there is nothing stopping you. Find opportunities and grab them by the… well you know.. and do all that you can to separate yourself from the pack. Shadowing, volunteering… helping out anywhere you can. Get your hands dirty!!!
Stephen
Hello!
Thank you so much for taking the time to post all this helpful information about becoming a PA! I am someone who is in the middle of a career shift – I have a B.S. in Chemistry (GPA 3.0) and a M.S. in Microbiology (GPA 3.7). I have a very heavy research background (few publications) and even worked as an adjunct lecturer in the UC system for a year after getting my Masters. However, I am not passionate about research, and after some shadowing experiences I am set on the path as a PA. With all that being said….I am actually missing one prerequisite class for getting into PA programs (I took anatomy but do not have a course in physiology). Do you think schools would immediately write me off for not having this prereq? Or do you think my experiences elsewhere could help balance this?
Also – I really don’t have much health care experience. I volunteered for 6months at a health clinic in the behavioral health department (~6hours a week) essentially just set up a room for a shared medical appointment, and checked patients in and brought them to the room to get their vitals checked. With this and few shadowing hours, I feel like I am lacking in the hands on experience area. Do you think a scribe position would be enough to give me the hands on experience required by many medical schools? Or do you think getting certified as a phlebotomist would be a much safer route? I know many schools really require that direct hands on patient care, so I am leaning towards phlebotomy, but also know that costs money and takes time…any thoughts?
Thank you so much for your time!
*I said hands on experience for medical schools….definitely meant PA schools!
Hi Anna,
As far as prerequisite coursework is concerned this is something you should definitely pursue. You could complete this quickly at your local community college or possibly as a distance learning program. You don’t want to let one class stand in your way.
As far as hands on patient care experience – I think medical scribe is better than phlebotomy (and I say that after having gotten my start as a phlebotomist). As a scribe you can be a part of the medical decision making process. It is great preparation for PA school and PA schools look highly upon this type of experience. You can continue to volunteer in the meantime.
You could be ready to apply in 9-12 months if you put your mind to it!
This doesn’t mean you have to wait but your chances will likely be much better.
I wish you the best!
Stephen
Thank you so much for your response and your advice!
Hi Stephen,
I am a senior in a clinical laboratory science program. I am starting clinical portion next summer. My prerequisite and science GPAs are 3.6.
I have shadowed a Dr last summer, shadowing a couple PAs now and plan to do a work study / internship next semester to get HCE hours in. I currently work in the student health care center as a lab tech, however trained on phlebatonomy, which I hope to leverage into more work experience.
Two questions. one, will the clinical hours be counted as HCE hours? CLS clinical portion is 1250 hours in a working hospital lab. two, will lab hours combined with phleb be competitive hours? Usually Lab hours are given credit based on the medical knowledge but are not hands on. Phleb is hands on, however is lower due to not involved with patient care. How does the combination stack up?
Thanks
Hi Alex,
It is nearly impossible to say with certainty whether certain activities will count towards HCE hours because schools have vastly different requirements and contradictory definitions of what does and does not constitute HCE. So it is best to check directly with the schools or reference their website for more details. 86 schools in the country don’t even require HCE (although most do encourage it). Sounds to me, like you are on the right track and taking the necessary steps. So keep up the hard work, do your research, and you should do just fine!!!
Stephen
Hello Stephen Pasquini,
I’m currently a 3rd year student at UCSB with a GPA of 3.53. I have obtained my EMT state license and have struggled to find work around my school (Not a lot of jobs in santa barbara, ca) but I was able to work for a private ambulance company near my home town during the summer. My biggest struggle right now is to find a PA I can shadow. I’ve asked PAs working near my school if I can shadow them and they’ve stated that they couldn’t help me. What would be your advice as to how I can find these shadowing opportunities?
Thank you,
PS. I’ve been checking your blog since I started college and really appreciate all the hard work you put into advising aspiring PAs!
Hi Jeffrey,
I am going to send you to a video by Kelly from PA Student Help which I posted in my shadowing section of PAFLIX. I think she does an excellent job summarizing the steps you should take. I found PAs to shadow while working at the campus health center as an undergraduate at the University of Washington. You may simply have to get creative. Start by bringing a box of Starbucks coffee to the PA and staff at a local clinic. Do this every day for a week – and I bet you get your shadowing opportunity 🙂
Here is the link: http://www.paflix.com/videos/how-to-find-a-physician-assistant-to-shadow/
Warmly,
Stephen Pasquini PA-C
Dear Stephen,
I really don’t want to give up on applying to PA school when I won’t even apply until next spring, but I can’t help but feel defeated after calculating my science GPA and finding it to be a 3.14. I’m confident that I can come up with a strong personal statement, as well as good letters of rec (I’m a scribe for two physicians right now) which is also how I’m obtaining my healthcare experience hours. Although my science GPA is low, my prereq GPA is around a 3.5. Will this be considered? Will I not be looked at with such a low GPA?
Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up – Thomas Edison….
Hello,
You have Really inspired me. I currently have a GPA of a 2.9. I’m getting my Bachelors in health sciences at UCF and will be graduating by the end of 2017. Where I will be applying to Nova southeastern University. My question is would you recommend me getting a CNA license as well as doing volunteering ?
Hi Tiana,
You don’t have to get a CNA license but I would certainly recommend you find some type of paid hands on health care experience. CNA can be very good as can many other professions… Consider working as a medical scribe. This can be wonderful hands on experience that will also allow you to be part of the medical decision making process.
Stephen
Dear Stephen,
I’m an office manager of sport medicine clinic in Seoul, South Korea. I’m not a US citizen and graduate all my schools here in Seoul-studied completely different major(English literature and global management).
Now, I’m striving to change my career as a PA and looking for programs. However, they says I need to take prerequisites first and get into nursing program. It takes about 2.5 years to obtain a second bachelor.
Would it be possible to get in PA program with a nursing degree? I heard that there is minimum 3 years of healthcare experiences. However some people say I can do 2 years during my school and another year after nursing program.
I’m not living in USA and familiar with US education system. I know there are many different ways to get into a PA program but nursling school with extra 1 year experience work in the states?
Hi Claire,
Are you familiar with the nurse practitioner profession? In the United States it is very similar to the PA profession and often makes for a smoother transition from nursing into a more advanced practice position. You can work as a nurse and apply to PA school as well, but it can be a bit more difficult and possibly more timely/costly. Give NP a look and let me know if you have any more questions.
Stephen
Hi Stephen!
I am 24 years old and will be graduating in August with my Master’s in biomedical science (thesis track: concentration in neuroscience). My undergrad GPA (bio major) was a 3.5 and my graduate GPA is a 3.9. I originally went into my masters thinking I wanted to have a career in research but I realized that this isn’t the path for me. I am extremely interested in becoming a PA. My main problem is that I have no HCE. I currently have a full time job at my church and for financial reasons I really need to keep my salary at this point in my life. I am worried about when/where/how to accumulate HCE and shadow, volunteer, etc while working at my current job. From what I’ve heard most HCE-type jobs such as CNA and scribing are scheduled in 10-12 hour shifts and I can’t do that with my 9-5 job. What do you think is the best way for me to go about gaining experience? Also, do you think having a masters will help supplement my application if my HCE is weak?
Hi Rachel,
At some point in time you will have to commit yourself fully to the process, that means either going part time and splitting your hours or leaving your current position in order to get the required HCE. I know it is difficult, especially if you love what you do at the church, but if you are able to define a path to HCE you can speak with your supervisor and possibly work something out that will give you flexibility. Personally, I think the best way is to “go all in”, 1,000 hours of HCE will require 40 hours of full time work and that would be a minimum. Leaving a good thing for an uncertain better thing will take faith, faith in yourself as an applicant and faith that you can indeed make this happen, which you certainly can. A job is a way to pay the bills, a career is a path toward increasingly better work, and a calling is work that’s an important part of your life and a vital part of your identity.” Is this current work your career? You will have to make some difficult decisions to get there, everyone does, it is just par of the journey.
– Stephen
I’ve been checking your blog periodically and this response reminded me why I love your blog so much. You take the time to individually respond to everyone and your nuggets of wisdom are amazing. Thank you for taking the time to create meaningful content that has been helpful for each stage on my journey to a meaningful career. I look forward to your posts to help inspire, educate, and motivate me as I gear up to start school next month. Cheers!
Thank you so much Tara… I am trying to think of a nugget of wisdom for you as you start PA school… let me think…. here are two that I am thinking of as I respond to your comment:
1. Always raise your hand – in other words be the first to volunteer to do anything and everything and don’t be afraid of failure.
2. Grades are not as important as your love of the material. Yes, you have to pass, but you don’t need to get an “A”. Focus on loving what you are learning and less on “the grade.” The learning and the love of it (and those you are treating) will make you a much better clinician.
Best of luck!!!
Stephen
Hello,
I am a prospective student with a degree in Biology. I have a 3.0 according to CASPA and 2.9 science GPA a GRE score of 302. I work as a CNA PRN and full time for the medically underserved. I also have shadowed a PA and have a letter of rec from her for this coming application cycle. I’m very nervous about this and would love to hear your thoughts on how my application may sound from this brief bit of information. Would applying to 4-6 schools be good or 10-15 be smarter?
Hi, I am active duty military and looking for a PA program when I graduate in August. I have over 2000 hours of shadowing and volunteer work, but my overall GPA is a 2.6 and my Sciences GPA is 3.2 Am I totally screwed at getting accepted somewhere or will my life and work experience save me with the lower GPA which I obtained due to many deployments and an incredibly non-traditional collegiate experience while raising a family of 4. Please let me know what you think. Thanks.
Hi Tim,
I won’t lie, PA school has become increasingly more competitive in recent years. Having spoken with several students recently the sentiment is that many schools will no longer even look at students with GPAs less than 3.5. Is this true? I don’t know, I would like to think no.
In my opinion EQ (emotional quotient) is equally important as IQ – and life experience like yours builds high EQ along with IQ – a very positive trait when it comes to success in life and PA school and eventually your patients. The best thing you can do is pick up the phone and contact some of the PA schools you would like to apply to. If you don’t already have a list – make one based on your qualifications and prerequisites. Then find out what you need to do to be competitive (if you are not already). As you know there is a big difference between a single 20 something with a 3.5 GPA and a father of four active duty military man with a ton of life and medical experience. Some schools I am sure prefer the latter – you just need to find them, and fill the gaps. I like to believe there is a path to this profession for everyone willing to put forth the effort who has a kind heart and a passion to serve!
– Stephen
Hi Stephen. I have applied twice to pa school. I am realizing what it takes and feel like the first time I was naive to that. I am 24. My undergrad gpa is a 3.1 but my science gpa is a 3.5. I plan to retake the gre in hopes of significantly raising my score. I am currently working full-time as a Scribe. I am also signed up to get my emt certification – I am hoping this plus my family medicine experience as a Scribe will increase my chances of an acceptance. I must admit that I feel a little defeated – can you give me any suggestions or pointers on finally getting in. It’s so competitive- I hope I’m not going after an impossible dream. Should I retake classes to increase my overall gpa or should I take some graduate level classes or just concentrate on experience and volunteerism? Any advice would be so appreciated. Thank you. Diana
Hi Diana,
I work with a wonderful scribe who just got into PA school yesterda. I think this is perfect pre-PA school experience, especially working in family practice. You may simply need to modify your approach a bit. Since I don’t have your entire application it is hard for me to identify weak points. If your GRE needs some improvement retaking it is not a bad idea (or applying only to schools that don’t require it). You may simply need to present yourself better in your essay. I see this all the time, people have amazing experience but lack a strong personal statement. If you are unsure consider using our editing service – Sue and Duke are truly amazing and have worked with 100’s of applicants like yourself. You also may need to cast a wider net, I am not sure how many schools you have applied to, but if you apply to 12 you will increase your chances, from about 25%-40%. Applying to more schools will not increase your odds. Letters of recommendation also make a big difference. Don’t get down on yourself, but also make sure you are presenting yourself well in your application by focusing on those areas that allow you to differentiate yourself from the pack.
– Stephen
Hi
I’m currently a freshman biology major going into my second semester. I’m applying to PA schools within the next 3 years and I really want to get in a soon as I get my undergrad. Any tips on how I can get my hands on care experience, I’m already volunteering at a hospital but I’m thinking of getting a EMT certificate just to give me an edge. Any tips will help, I’ve been worried about it for a couple of weeks even though I know I have plenty of time to gain hours.
Hi Anissa,
I probably sound like a broken record but if your University has a campus health center this can be a great place to get hands on patient care experience. Student health centers can work around your class schedule and it can be a foot into a bigger university health system if you are lucky enough to be attending a University with a hospital system attached. if this isn’t the case then you are going to have to look outside the university, often at retirement homes or within local/regional hospitals you can attend a job fair or walk into HR and ask about opportunities for students. Make an appointment with your academic adviser, often they know of job boards or other resources. As an MA or CNA you may be able to pick up part time work, as a phlebotomist I could make my own hours that worked around my college schedule and allowed me to balance all the work with a healthy social life… Which is a must!!! Just lace up your shoes and start being proactive, their is a lot of opportunity once you start putting yourself out there.
Best of luck and keep up the great work!
Stephen
Hey Stephen,
I hope you’re well. I just finished up my junior year of college and I’ve been wanting to pursue a career as a PA for the past two years. My question is in regards to applying. Most programs list that an applicant must have a bachelor’s degree when applying but I obviously have one year left before I recieve mine. When do prospective ungraduate applicants apply if they still have a few prerequisite courses to finish? Waiting to apply until our senior year puts us at a new application cycle and means that we must wait an entire year to start PA school. Is there anyway to apply while an undergraduate so that one can begin PA school the year after graduation?
Hello, I’m hoping to apply to a PA program next year, however, I don’t have any HCE hours, I’ve been working as a Pharmacy Technician for about 5 years now, do you know if that counts?
The best thing you can do is contact your prospective PA programs and confirm that this does indeed count towards their required HCE requirements. There is quite a bit of variability from program to program so it is best to speak with the admissions office directly as often even their websites can be vague and misleading. This way you will eliminate any doubt.
– Stephen
Hello! I’m also hoping to apply to PA school in the next two years. I’m wondering if HCE hours need to be completed by the time I apply and if taking prerequisites at a tech school is okay? Thank you!
Hi Julianne, I always suggest that prospective applicants contact their programs of choice in these cases, I would suggest you do the same. Every program has their own policies and if you speak with the directors over the phone or in person this will eliminate any doubt. That way, you may be able to list hours that you will have completed by the time of a potential interview. And yes, it doesn’t matter where you take your prerequisites. In this case they are simply looking to see that they have been completed and if you meet the GPA requirements to apply.
Best of luck,
Stephen
Hello!
I’ll be applying to PA school in about two years and I’m trying to start getting my HCE hours now. My friend’s brother graduated from PA school and the only HCE hours he had were from volunteering at a Good Samaritan Clinic in our area. I was originally going to get my CNA certification and work as a CNA for my hours. Which hours will look better on the application? I’ve considered doing both as well, volunteering when I can, but also working as a CNA.
Thanks!
I would encourage you to do both. This doesn’t mean you can’t get into PA school with just volunteer hours, but having both will make you a much more competitive candidate. It will give you even more experience, more shadowing options, a larger pool of recommendation letters and content ideas for both your personal statement and interview. All big advantages!
– Stephen