u/Cautious-Process-198

Disclaimers: I was a non-traditional applicant with about 7k PCE hours, military service, and bilingual. I also had a gap between undegrad degrees, one with an abysmal GPA, but I later finished a bachelor's with a 3.8 cGPA for the last 60-70 credits. My prerequisites GPA was around 3.4 and my sGPA ended up at 3.5.

Here are the top 3 things that I believe got me into PA school from a strategy standpoint:

1. Don't apply to programs in desirable locations, find desirable programs in locations you could at least tolerate living for 2-3 years.
   • Most applicants have a "number one choice" program they would prefer to attend and maximize efforts to get into that school. Programs don't care that they are your number one option.
   • As much as your circumstances allow, be willing to relocate for school.
2. So, what is a desirable program?
   • Location does matter, you don't want to move somewhere that will only make you depressed to be there. But, instead of finding schools in places you would want to live, find schools that you are a good candidate for and then consider if you could put up with living there. If it's a desirable location, then it's a win-win.
   • A desirable program is a program with preferred but not required items that you already have or can easily achieve. This will make your application stand out. Whether that is the GRE/PA-CAT, a certain PCE threshold, military service, certain science courses, undergradaute degree from the university/college, etc. Look beyond the requirements, and then rank your schools from there.
3. Apply to as many schools as possible
   • This is like drinking water, you can always drink more. You can always apply to more schools. Find programs that you are a good fit for + are in locations you could live in for school, and apply, apply, apply (as much as your finances permit).
   • Applying is expensive, but so is reapplying. Many applicants go for 6-8 schools their first cycle only to find themselves applying to way more schools as re-applicants.

For covering his mouth to trash talk a player 🥴😭

Apps, sports, shorts, movies, games, etc. I feel this constant urge to be doing something all the time. It robs me from praying and putting my mind on things above and intimacy to the Lord.

I am aware of the problem, I just find myself caught up in it so often. Part of me has thought about doing without a smartphone but that’s impractical for many reasons and I’m sure I would simply find myself spending more time doing the same things on my laptop.

So, from a spiritual discipline standpoint, how have you/are you fighting against this?

For a while I have been growing in my understanding and desire of Communion. Not here to debate real presence vs memorialist vs insert other theological variation. I remain a memorialist after much prayer and consideration (can we at least do a better job than labeling it as “just a symbol” for those of us who see it as a sacrament of remembrance? Think about the depth of wonder to expound in what we remember and it becomes much more than just a symbol, even while still in the symbolic sense… sorry not here to debate it but I guess just explaining where I come from).

Anyways…I have become convinced that we should partake in Communion as often as we gather, most certainly at least for corporate worship (typically Sundays for me). But I belong to a church that does Communion quarterly. It’s not the type of church where I can just have a discussion with the pastor(s) and elders to consider increasing the frequency (not a mega church by any means).

So, I have long been contemplating on the qualifications of those who are to administer it.

Could I as a husband and head of my household administer Communion for my family even when our church doesn’t? Never heard of this done so it makes me pause and consider carefully.

I don’t see this as an issue for us to leave the church for another one with weekly Communion.

If you’re graduating soon, make sure you have a very clear conversation about how you’ll actually be trained at your first job, not just “supported.”

“Supportive environment” can mean literally anything from coworkers answering questions when they have time, to a lighter patient load for a few months. That’s not the same thing as structured training.

PA school is not terminal training. Even med school isn’t, that’s why residencies exist. PA school gives you the foundation to keep learning on the job, which was kind of the whole original design of the profession in the first place.

Too many new grads get thrown to the wolves and somehow somewhere along the line that became the norm. It shouldn’t be. I actually have never met a PA who received proper OTJ training and I am friends with about 20 (all graduated within the past 10 years).

Ask specific questions:

- What does onboarding actually look like?
- Who is training me?
- How long is training?
- How quickly am I expected to ramp up?
- Will I have chart review/feedback?
- What happens when I’m struggling with something?

“Everyone is available if you need help” is not a training plan. Hospitals and clinics love pretending otherwise though.

If you’re graduating soon, make sure you have a very clear conversation about how you’ll actually be trained at your first job, not just “supported.”

“Supportive environment” can mean literally anything from coworkers answering questions when they have time, to a lighter patient load for a few months. That’s not the same thing as structured training.

PA school is not terminal training. Even med school isn’t, that’s why residencies exist. PA school gives you the foundation to keep learning on the job, which was kind of the whole original design of the profession in the first place.

Too many new grads get thrown to the wolves and somehow somewhere along the line that became the norm. It shouldn’t be. I actually have never met a PA who received proper OTJ training and I am friends with about 20 (all graduated within the past 10 years).

Ask specific questions:

- What does onboarding actually look like?
- Who is training me?
- How long is training?
- How quickly am I expected to ramp up?
- Will I have chart review/feedback?
- What happens when I’m struggling with something?

“Everyone is available if you need help” is not a training plan. Hospitals and clinics love pretending otherwise though.

edit: posting here because apparently it violated the “advertising” policy of the PA student sub