2 answers
Sara
Student
Providence, Rhode Island
1
Question
Updated
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How do you balance both college and the 500 hours of shadowing or health care experience needed to get into a successful Physician Assistant program?
After getting my bachelors, I would like to apply to a PA school. PA schools require several hours of on-patient care. So all the while of trying to maintain a 3.5 or higher, I have to become an E.R. scribe or a CNA. #medicine #healthcare #physicians #assistant
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2 answers
Stephanie Lewis
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Stephanie’s Answer
When it comes to balancing gaining career experience while completing your studies, time management is going to be key.
Start by getting a full understanding of the hours you need, whether those hours need to be in specific "categories" of experience, and the types of experiences that will qualify. Then, start researching opportunities that meet all of these needs.
Once you have identified the opportunity(ies) you want to pursue, look for ways you can manage your time to make room for this new commitment. Start by taking an honest inventory of how you spend your time -- are there gaps in your day where you have capacity to fit in more? Then, look for opportunities to optimize your time in the future. For example, could you schedule your classes to fall on specific days, freeing up an entire day (or more) of your week to commit to volunteering/internship experience?
Finally, look for opportunities that meet the hours requirements and fit your schedule. Good luck -- you've got this!
Start by getting a full understanding of the hours you need, whether those hours need to be in specific "categories" of experience, and the types of experiences that will qualify. Then, start researching opportunities that meet all of these needs.
Once you have identified the opportunity(ies) you want to pursue, look for ways you can manage your time to make room for this new commitment. Start by taking an honest inventory of how you spend your time -- are there gaps in your day where you have capacity to fit in more? Then, look for opportunities to optimize your time in the future. For example, could you schedule your classes to fall on specific days, freeing up an entire day (or more) of your week to commit to volunteering/internship experience?
Finally, look for opportunities that meet the hours requirements and fit your schedule. Good luck -- you've got this!
Vicente Esparza , Jr. , MPAS , PA-C
Physician Assistant Certified
1
Answer
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Vicente’s Answer
how much longer till you graduate with your bachelors? and in what? It's impotant to make sure you have preq/'s prior to applying . It might have changed since from my time but what was required of 150 of observation shadowing,
As far as having a high GPA , schools are looking into the applicant as a whole and not focusing on just numbers.
I dont understand regarding working as er tech or cna? is this prior to applying , paying your way through under grad?
Good luck.