To become a physician assistant, you must complete an ARC-PA accredited masterâs program involving classroom instruction and clinical training. If money is an issue, you need to apply to more schools, not fewer. Didn't even get an interview at a "safety" school I applied to. I would look through the "Accepted Stats" page and find people who have similar stats to yours, see how many schools they applied to, how many interviews they got, and their acceptances. It certaintly can't hurt.That is just my opinion. You don't have time to really enjoy/hate the location you're at anyways. Who knows what those kooks will do. Accepted at one, turned down one interview, and two more interviews to go. He applied to Cornell as "why the hell not" and assumed they wouldn't give him an invite. I applied to schools that I felt competitive at all over the country because being a PA is more important than where I live while in school. Macy’s Journey Through Yale’s Online PA Program, The Ultimate Guide to Becoming a Physician Assistant, How to Write About Your Research Interests, 4 Ways to Show How You’ll Contribute in the Future, 7 Simple Steps to Writing an Excellent Diversity Essay, Your Guide to Getting off the Waitlist in 2021, Writing Your Physician Assistant (PA) Personal Statement [Plus Sample Essay], How to Write a Goal Statement for Graduate School. The only thing I would say for considering location - is consider where your clinicals will be and if you'd want to stay in the area after graduation. Not a requirement but you'll make local connections for jobs and if you have no intention of staying after you graduate you're missing an opportunity to network. How Should I Choose Which Essay Questions to Answer When I Have Choices? I was so excited to graduate from PA school at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center in ⦠Keep in mind that these numbers relate only to those who were accepted to PA school, and does not include the applications of those who were not accepted. About 80% of applicants that get accepted have worked in healthcare prior to applying to PA school, and most will have about 3 years of experience. As for the "there's places I'd prefer to live" , I didn't subscribe to that thought process. Did 2 interviews and got accepted to both, so turned down my other interview invites. If they need to work on their program, they can be accredited for a shorter period to ⦠Two acceptances from the three interviews. I'm convinced there's really no way to "work the system.". - I've said it before, but your personal statement is what gets you ⦠I applied to 10 schools, and I'm finding now that I did not need to apply to that many. Did three interviews, turned down one more and withdrew before I heard from several. if you have a weak gpa, minimal experience, avg gre, etc you better apply to a bunch as you might not get into any. Application to PA school is highly competitive. Find what you want in a PA program, rather than taking what you can get. Yes. Don't just blindly apply to 7 because you think that's best, instead, really spend time researching the schools you're applying to and make sure you're spending your time and money wisely. 7 is a good number. Every school looks for something different and sometimes it's a matter of your app being seen on a day when the reviewer is in a good mood. Wharton Executive MBA Essay Tips & Deadlines [2021-2022], 5 Tips for Writing About Extracurricular Activities You Started at the Last Minute, 4 Sure-Fire Ways to Ace Essays Showing Resilience in the Face of Failure. How many medical schools should I apply to? I applied to 30 schools! Get involved in extracurricular activities. Like others here, I've also found that adcoms are unpredictable. Location, provided no family conflicts, should be a lesser motivation. Paste as plain text instead, × The cost isn't just CASPA applications, but the cost to travel for interviews and the cost to move. ... assistant director in the office of admissions at Bucknell University in Pennsylvania. If I have a C in one of my prerequisites, but ⦠Not everyone who applies to PA school is accepted. You might choose not to complete certain prereqs or to eliminate PA schools from your list, but starting your search by focusing on what you want (rather than what you can get) is key to being in control of the process. I believe you should apply to anywhere from one to 15 colleges. Sometimes there is no rhyme or reason. © 2018 PhysicianAssistantForum.Com. I have received 15+ interviews thus far. They are better able to maintain a healthy work-life balance. Clear editor. © 2018 PhysicianAssistantForum.Com. There are important ⦠All Rights Reserved. × With that being said getting this experience is not always easy. Most of the academic prereqs from premed and PA school were similar, but I did take 3-4 classes after college to meet the prereqs for the PA programs I was applying to, including a medical terminology class because most of the PA programs I was applying to required it. Itâs Not Going to Be Easy. I applied to 10. Pasted as rich text. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. It would definitely pertain to how strong your stats are. You cannot paste images directly. Physician assistant!â Soon after my shadowing experience in 2012, I made the decision to go pre-PA! , May 4, 2016 in CASPA. The first step to deciding if youâre ready to apply is understanding the application cycle for PA school. × I also didn't want to go to an overly expensive school, so that limited my options a bit too. Bradâs path to a medical school acceptance: Applying early decision and getting nothing; Applying to DO schools I had eagerly started prepping for the process over summer, with applications to 16 physician assistant schools. Finally, the last tip I have for those of you considering PA school is to ⦠I say that not to frighten you about the competitiveness of PA school, but to show you that if you don't get in on your first try, you are in the majority. 7-8 is average. Youâll typically need to complete at least two years of college coursework in basic and behavioral sciences before applying to a PA ⦠really depends on one's stats. It varies, but the national average is around 12-15 schools. Upload or insert images from URL. Students can apply to PA school as they finish their final year of undergraduate study, although many PA applicants earn a few years of work experience before applying (more on this later). Spent a lot of money but at least I know I have all my options open. CASPA and secondary app fees are really quite miniscule in the grand scheme of things. I know someone who applied to 35. depends how much you want it, where you are willing to move, how much money you have for apps and supplementals, travel,. I was willing to go anywhere. âIf the school youâre applying to has a minimum of 3.2 and you have a 3.19, your application wonât even be considered.â Regarding the GRE, Perry says to shoot for a minimum combined score of verbal and quantitative of 300 and work to make it into the top 50 th percentile in each section. Location, provided no family conflicts, should be a lesser motivation. Seriously. Your link has been automatically embedded. Your previous content has been restored. Human Anatomy and Physiology (2 classes or 1 year), Second Chemistry course, of your choosing, with lab, A healthcare professional who supervised you (shadowing letters will not be accepted). In the face of an incredibly variable application process, the more schools you apply to, the higher the chance of being accepted. I shadowed many doctors and nurse practitioners to get a feel for all three professions and I ultimately chose PA because it just fit! As for the "there's places I'd prefer to live" , I didn't subscribe to that thought process. The key is to apply where you are competitive, where you'd like to go, and how many you can afford to apply to. As a general guideline, you should probably be applying to at least four or five different programs that you are well-qualified for, and probably no more than ten. If you're weak in a few areas of your app, consider a few more of the safety schools. That should cover everything. By Get FREE Expert Help! How do your stats compare to the school's average? Wow, some of you applied to a whole lot of schools! Learn More. The total money spent to apply to PA school including the cost of interviews was less than $500 for 29.1% of applicants, $500-$1000 for 34.6%, and greater than $1000 for 34.7%. Ho-ly crap. They have the freedom to move across specialties, unlike physicians who commit so much time to their specialty education and training that they cannot easily change tracks. :) I applied to 2 and got accepted to my first choice. Just apply to schools you would be happy attending. I say âIâm going to PA school right nowâ and many people respond with âOh! When should you apply to physician assistant school? When searching for PA programs, it's crucial to remember where you apply is your choice. Is there any number most people recommend? Powered by Invision Community, Welcome to the Physician Assistant Forum! if you are a paramedic/nurse/resp therapist with a great gpa and gre score, lots of volunteer and community service, solid LORs, etc you can probably apply to 3 and get into all of them. Physician Assistant School - Timeline. I got accepted to Wake Forest but didn't get an interview invite to one of my really deep back up schools. I applied to 8 and got accepted to one, Duke. If you apply to one PA program - you have a 25% chance of getting in If you apply to 12 programs (or more) - you have a 49% chance of getting in The average number of PA programs applied to is 8 Interesting factoid: There is no additional benefit for applying to 12 programs or more! 7-8 is average. Sitting in an airport terminal, almost 1,000 miles away from home, I felt like a total failure⦠I had just completed my first physician assistant school interview, and to say it went poorly, is a massive understatement.. The key is to apply where you are competitive, where you'd like to go, and how many you can afford to apply to. I would say if you have the money, and are truly willing to go anywhere, then go ahead and apply to as many as possible. All Rights Reserved. 12 gives the greatest statistical acceptance rate, higher than that does nothing for your odds. New Grad Shares Her Experience. Applied to 6 schools, have received 4 interview invites. Worse still, you might not get in anywhere and lose 95K in future salary because you had to wait another year. The cost isn't just CASPA applications, but the cost to travel for interviews and the cost to move. Oh, to the OP, I applied to 12. Who knows???? As you can tell from the table, the acceptance rates at the best medical schools are extremely low. Find Physician Assistant schools that you are eligible to apply to based on completed classes, GPA, and healthcare experience hours. They are able to spend more time with patients and less time on paperwork. I also personally find that I do have time to love or hate where I am...living in the middle of an incredibly small town or huge bustling city would have left me feeling like all I had was school for 2 years. Applying within the New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut area and Pittsburgh; Applying to 25-30 medical schools [Related post: How Many Medical Schools Should I Apply To?] I applied to schools that I felt competitive at all over the country because being a PA is more important than where I live while in school. How many medical schools did he apply to? I was wondering what others' thought of a good number of schools to apply to. If you are applying to the more competitive professional-degree programs, then you might want to apply to a few more. Applying to PA School. 12 gives the greatest statistical acceptance rate, higher than that does nothing for your odds. Look into PA programs you want to apply to as early as your freshman year in college. How Do You Write an Accomplishment Essay? Have a killer personal statement. But yea, if you aren't going to be able to afford to fly (sometimes last minute) to an interview....save yourself the heartbreak and don't apply because you'll kick yourself later if you have to turn down interviews. During the last CASPA cycle, 26,953 people applied to PA school. If money isn't a huge problem, also apply to one or two dream schools (duke, Cornell for example) my friend got accepted into Cornell after receiving zero interviews at the 11 others he applied to. I had a similar experience - got interviews and acceptances at higher 'ranked' programs than my 'safety' programs. This post is part one of a two-part series focused on steps you can take to mediate a lower than desired GPA and the first in a multi-part series of posts exploring questions asked by PA school applicants and answers provided by the PA program admissions directors from seven PA programs. alyssapoland I would say 2 safety schools, 3 schools with a good chance of getting in, and 2 reach schools. --- Smile & B Positive! Physician Assistant (PA) School Application Timeline for 2021-2022 (for applicants planning to start PA school in fall 2022) 71 Comments / Application Timeline / By Dr. Eaton Since many Physician Assistant schools have rolling admissions, applying early is important. Because about 35% have less than a year of experience..like I did. I don't have that much money. I thought this was interesting, the PAEA did a survey in 2015 of students starting PA school and one question was, âWhat do you expect your total debt from PA school to be, not including personal debt just from school?â 21.9% said they expected $100k to $125k, 20.8% said $75k to $100k, 14.5% said $50k to $75k. What They Didnât Tell Me in PA School: Five Months to Start Working. Good luck! Course scheduling, extra-curricular activities, deadline changes, etc. Also, does their mission line up with your own personal and professional goals? The standard thinking from counselors has been that the average college-bound student should apply to about 6-8 colleges: 2-3 reach colleges, 2-3 target colleges, and 2 safety schools. How many PA schools would you recommend applying to? I applied to 30 programs. This is a very personal question that comes up very often. This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. If you just read that and freaked out..DONT!! Have not heard from two schools which I had considered "safety schools." This number can be limited by the amount of money and time that you have to complete the applications. Admissions Directors Tell All: Your PA School GPA Questions Answered. Schools will therefore be seeking to increase the diversity of the student body, and thus, if you are a student of color, it will be to your advantage to apply to PA programs because you will enhance the diversity of the applicant pool and your entering class. My best advice is to be honest with yourself when you apply. etc. The least selective school among the top 30 medical only has an acceptance rate of 11%. Join your collegeâs pre-PA organization or start oneâor ⦠September 9, 2019. When you decide to apply, you essentially will need to submit your application approximately a year before you start school. Applied to about 7. Don't apply to a school where you're not going to like the location, costs more than you can afford, has a low PANCE pass rate, and has a teaching style that doesn't fit you're learning style. all contribute to the need of having flexibility in your timeline. Paul at Log in to Reply Top tier applicants â people with 3.5 and above GPA, 3000+ hours of patient ⦠It is important to create a timeline for yourself when applying to PA programs; Be flexible. Match PA Schools by prerequisites! I got accepted to the program I will be attending after the second interview, so I turned down all the rest. If you don't go wide you might end up paying 30K more for your education than you needed to because your only option was an expensive school. Address your goals and mission in your personal statement and schools will see that you are the applicant for them. You don't have time to really enjoy/hate the location you're at anyways. CASPA says the average is 7, which is the number of schools I have picked out as of now. I applied to 10. Not a great or healthy mindset, for me personally. Less than one in three of those candidates was accepted. If you've suffered academically, but have thousands of hours of medical experience, I would apply broadly (10+) catering to schools that favor experience and upward trends in grades. By Hillary Bennett, PA-C. Hillary Bennett, PA-C. And I thought I applied to too many schools. Applying to too many schools can be challenging when it's time to write application essays. Link to article: http://www.thepalife.com/who-gets-in/ Feel free to ask me any questions you may have! I generally recommend folks apply to 6 programs: 2 reach programs 2 solid fits 2 you would be willing to attend, but which are not your top picks. PA schools are usually re-accredited every five years, which means that every five years they need to demonstrate to ARC-PA that they continue to meet its standards. If you're strong academically (3.6+) and have a decent amount of healthcare experience, I would apply sparingly to areas you can envision living in after graduation, around 4-6 schools. You can post now and register later. Display as a link instead, × I applied to 4, mostly because I wanted to live in certain areas and only applied to schools that would be a good fit for me and that I actually wanted to go to. Don’t Settle for a Lackluster Personal Statement. Is There a Minimum GPA for Prerequisite Coursework? There is ⦠How many schools should I apply to? Log in, expected growth rate of 31% between 2018 and, #2 on its list of the 100 Best Health Care Jobs in 2020. How Did This Successful PA Applicant Get Accepted? The number of colleges you should apply to depends on your specific situation.
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