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How to get into Physician Assistant School

How to get into Physician Assistant School

The Pre-Physician Assistant Club Presents:

Updated 11/3/2011

Concentration/ Majors

What majors are most helpful for getting in?

Doesn’t matter, pick a major you enjoy

Something in the sciences is probably good (then a lot of your classes will overlap with your PA school prerequisites – for example, kinesiology)

Make sure you get your PA school prerequisites done!!!

Extracurricular Activities

What clubs should I join?

The Pre-PA Club is obviously the best Being an Active Member and becoming involved is a

great way to stand out on your application!

Do what you’re interested in, have fun!

Many programs are interested in your community service/volunteering activities

Research is great too (ex: UROP)

Testing

Do I need to take the GRE or the MCAT?

Most programs require the GRE

Some programs will accept either the GRE or the MCAT (as far as we know, there isn’t a preference for one or the other)

A few programs don’t require any test

Take practice tests! Try not to take the actual exam more than once or twice

shadowingWhy should I observe PA-Cs in their work environment?You should shadow PA-Cs so that you can better

understand the profession and have a real idea of what they do (Admissions people want to see that you know what you’re getting yourself into)

SHADOWING DOES NOT COUNT TOWARDS YOUR PATIENT CARE EXPERIENCE HOURS (but it is, nonetheless, very important)

It is not appropriate to ever assume that someone you’re shadowing will give you a job/allow you to shadow for more than part of a day/one day

Ways to find shadowing opportunities: If your primary care provider is a PA-C, or there is a PA-C in the office you

go to, talk to them! Call local doctor’s offices or hospitals University of Michigan Alumni Association Mentors -

http://alumni.umich.edu/career/FindAMentor.php, 08-05-2008)

volunteering

How will it help me?

Volunteering in a hospital is great because it puts you in the health care setting and allows you to observe and become comfortable (and it’s fun!); it is also a great stepping stone and a great way to make connections

University of Michigan Health System Volunteer Services - tp://www.med.umich.edu/volunteer/

Trail’s Edge Camp for Ventilator Dependent Children - AWESOME opportunity!! First week of June every year 

*Some programs WILL NOT accept volunteering as part of your patient care experience, but many programs ARE interested in your community service/volunteering activities (for example, Wayne State REQUIRES you to submit an official record of all your volunteering for 2 years)

Patient Care Experience

What are programs looking for?

VARIES BY PROGRAM – CHECK FOR SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS!!

Most programs require anywhere from 500-2,000 hours of “direct patient care experience” – what they accept varies

Most programs prefer paid positions, but some unpaid positions work. The more responsibility you hold in your position and the more time you have worked, the more competitive you will be as an applicant

Positions include (but are not limited to) Certified Nurses Aid, Phlebotomist, Patient Care Tech/Attendant, EMT, RN, Physical Therapy or Occupational Therapy Aid, Medical Technologist, etc

Patient care experience cont.

Washtenaw Community College Certified Nurses Aid Training http://www.wccnet.edu/academicinfo/creditofferings/courses/course.php?course=HSC%20100(4 Credit course – approx 5 weeks) (*Fills up REALLY fast)

The American Red Cross offers a CNA course also, but it is more expensive

University of Michigan Job Site - www.umich.edu/~jobs

Sunrise Assisted Living - http://www.sunriseseniorliving.com

St. Joseph Mercy Hospital Job Site - http://www.sjmercyhealth.org/bodygen.cfm?id=6

The Caring Space (Home Health Aid jobs) - http://www.thecaringspace.com/

Glacier Hills Care and Rehabilitation Center - http://www.glacierhills.org/index.htm

caspa

What is it?

The Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants

Most (but not all) programs use CASPA, so you can more easily apply to multiple programs

*Many programs ALSO require a supplemental application for their specific program/school which may include additional essays that should be different from your initial personal statement!

Application not complete without transcripts, payment, recommendations

*It can take up to 6 weeks for CASPA to process your application and send it to the specific programs, so don’t wait until their deadline to submit!!!

recommendations

Who should I ask?CAPSA requires three Almost all programs require that one be from a PA-C (or a

health care professional who works with/is knowledgeable about them) This should be someone you have had multiple, meaningful

interactions with, NOT someone you just shadowed once or twice. Advanced prerequisite professors (i.e. Anatomy,

Physiology, Microbiology, etc) Supervisors from patient care positions Basically, people who will be able to attest to your ability

to succeed academically and professionally

interviewHow do I prepare?*If you are granted an interview, this IS your opportunity,

you may not get another chance with this program; that being said, it is your chance to interview them as well

Be confidentBe prepared (know how to “speak PA”)Be professionalKnow history of professionBe able to articulate why you want to be a PA (and not a

doctor or a NP)The Career Center has MANY interviewing tips & ways to

prepare. Visit http://www.careercenter.umich.edu/students/interviewing/index.html

Come to mini/mentoring meetings!

Academic requirements

Things to keep in mind… VARIES BY PROGRAM – CHECK FOR SPECIFIC

REQUIREMENTS!!

THIS IS WHY THE CLUB WAS STARTED THE CLUB!! Trying to figuring out classes is very frustrating

YOU MAY HAVE TO TAKE SOME COURSES AT OTHER UNIVERSITIES/COLLEGES (i.e. Eastern University, Washtenaw Community College)

MOST PROGRAMS WANT A GPA OF 3.0 or higher

Now for the fun stuff…

COURSES!What fulfills my requirements?

Human Anatomy

Almost always required. Take: MEDADM 403 - offered Fall and Winter, has a lab that meets 4 times during the semester, offers a lab component that meets 4 times during the semester (works with plastinated bodies, not cadaver dissection, but some schools still count it) Reviews:

“One of the most exciting courses I’ve taken so far…there are weekly quizzes which help you stay on track and not fall behind in the course. The professors are great and really help you a lot – I really enjoy the lectures.”

“This is my absolute favorite class taken at U of M! The lab portion is really helpful in pulling all of the concepts together!”

Also offered at Oakland University (and others)

Human Anatomy lab

Not often required, but sometimes recommended.

FYI- Central Michigan DOES require this!

UM does not offerOffered at Oakland University

Human physiology

At least one is almost always required, sometimes upper level also. Take one or two:

PHYSIOL 201 – Lower levelPHYSIOL 502 – Upper levelAT 375- Pathophysiology through the Athletic Training department Email the professor for an override, he is very receptive to

admitting Pre-PA students Does NOT count toward your 120 credits to graduate.

MOVESCI 340 – Exercise Physiology (lab included) (**NOT all schools will accept Exercise Phys to fulfill Physiology requirement.)(Wayne State University Accepts Exercise Phys & AT 375 to fulfill their upper level requirement.)

Human physiology lab

Not often required, but sometimes recommended.

MOVESCI 340 – Exercise Physiology (lab automatic component of lecture course)

UM does not offer

*** Regarding Human Anatomy and Physiology Courses – Some schools will accept two semesters of joined courses, some will not (check with your specific programs of interest). ***

Introductory biology

Almost always required with lab. Take all three:

BIO 171 – Ecology and Evolution, offered Fall and Winter

BIO 172 – Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental, offered Fall and Winter

BIO 173 (Lab) – Offered Fall and Winter

General chemistry

Almost always required with lab. Take both: (Note: If you passed out of Chem 130, check with your school to see they’ll accept that test score in substitution of the course – Not all schools will.)

Some schools also require 2 semesters of general chemistry….

CHEM 130 – Offered Fall and Winter CHEM 125 (Lab) – Offered Fall and Winter

Organic chemistry

Often either Orgo 1 OR Biochem is accepted

Orgo 2 rarely required

CHEM 210 and CHEM 211 (Lab) – Orgo I, offered Fall and Winter

CHEM 215 and CHEM 216 (Lab) – Orgo II, offered Fall and Winter

biochemistry

BIO 310 – lower level, not offered every semester (Need prior or concurrent enrollment in Chem 215) Reviews: “Horribly difficult class.” “Pretty good so far [in

progress].” BIOCHEM 415 – upper level, offered Fall and Winter

(Need both semesters of Organic Chemistry first; some advisors recommend Physics first but students say it is not necessary) Reviews: “A lot of memorizing and lots of work…lectures

weren’t very engaging.”

What’s the difference? Essentially same material, 415 exams are all multiple

choice while 310 also utilizes short answer questions BIOCHEM 212 – through the nursing school. Some schools

accept it, be sure to check with them first! Very easy if you’ve already taken your chemistry and biology classes.

microbiology

Take either:BIO 207 – Lab included, offered Fall and Winter

Reviews: “Didn’t really like it much.” “A lot of studying – the lab is exciting and relaxed, helps to boost your grade.”

MICROBIOL 301 and 350 (Lab) – Offered Winter only (Biochem is an advisory prerequisite but not required according to advisors) Reviews: “If you do well on the first 3 exams, you don’t have to go to

class for the last few weeks since your lowest exam score can be dropped (provided you take all 4 exams)”

physics

Not generally required (can get away without taking labs)

PHYSICS 125 and PHYSICS 127 (Lab)PHYSICS 126 and PHYSICS 128 (Lab)

Calc based physics is not necessary, even if you decide to take the MCAT

math

College algebra or higherMath 105 is Pre-CalcMath 115 is Calc 1

nutrition

Not always required, but usually recommended. Choose one:

BIO 105 – Offered Fall and Winter (sometimes… sporadic based on the professor teaching it)

MOVESCI 241 – For Kinesiology majors

statistics

Almost always required

Choose one:STATS 100 – Lower levelSTATS 250 – Offered Fall and Winter

Reviews: Great class! Get Brenda Gunderson if possible

MOVESCI 250 – For Kinesiology majors

Medical ethics

Finally offered @ UM again!

Often recommended, gaining popularity as required in some programs

PHIL 356Offered at Washtenaw Community College (or others)

Medical terminology

Gaining popularity as a requirement (Wayne State just started requiring it)

Classic Civ 217: 1 credit Offered at Washtenaw Community College, online at

Schoolcraft Community College (or others)

psychology

Generally only a general or developmental course is required, occasionally abnormal is recommended.(If you have Psych AP credit from high school, make sure to check if your school will accept it – Not all schools will.)

Psych 111 – IntroductoryPsych 250 – Developmental, GREAT class! (need Psych 111 first)

Psych 270 – Abnormal (need Psych 111 first)

genetics

Required by some, Recommended by others- check individual programs

Bio 305- Really HARD!

english

Generally one or two composition courses are required (For LSA, English 125 and ULWR should fulfill).

WHAT NOW?

Take a deep breath!