r/PAstudent

I seriously feel like I forget everything. Pulmonology Block was two months ago and I honestly forget things like small cell versus non-small cell I forget things like bronchiectasis. ENT was 2 1/2 months ago and I forgot the treatments and exam findings for a lot of high-yield things. Derm from a month ago? Forget it.

Is it normal to forget things that you’re not actively studying?

Anyone else feel like they hit a mental block/ get so tired so easily while studying for the pance. I just want to take it atp. I finished uworld and reviewed deficits. Took Katy Connor half pance (predicted 450), averaged uworld at 60% finished it last week and spent the week reviewing. I’m tired of this grandpa

My surgery rotation has been hell. It’s only been my first week and I know this is a very common experience but my preceptors are so rude. I’ve cried both days of my OR, not because they’re mean but because of how rude they are to me. It’s giving me so much anxiety that I haven’t been able to sleep or eat well this week. I just keep thinking about how the rotation will go and how horrible it’s been so far.

Anyone have any advice or tips on how to deal with a shitty surgery rotation? I’m already on an ssri

Hello guys! I know this is a fairly common post for students nearly going into didactic year but i’m looking for some encouragement or reality check as needed. I am starting school in August and vacillating between anxiety about the start of didactic year (fear of failing) and acceptance that I will figure it out.

Secondly, with the loss of grad plus loans (which I know is untread territory) I am worried about private student loans.

If any one can shed light on adapting to didactic year and swallowing the student debt pill it would be greatly appreciated from a class of 28’ student

Hello, I was wondering if anyone had tips for the surgery EOR. I heard it's very different from what people expected. Is it true that there aren't many questions on procedures and that pre/post op complications are barely asked and that they also asked a lot of 'what med should this patient stop before surgery'. Thanks in advance to anyone that responds

Has anyone’s PA program said anything yet about the whole professional designation situation? I’m starting PA school this fall, and my school hasn’t really given us any updates on anything. I’m curious if anyone else’s financial aid office has explained what’s going on or how it’s going to affect our loans. Have they told you how much you’ll be able to borrow in federal loans this year? And if it doesn’t cover your cost of attendance, did they say what students are supposed to do for the rest? Are they recommending private lenders or just waiting to see what happens?

Just trying to get an idea of what other programs are telling their students because everything seems so up in the air right now.

Hello! I know there are so many posts like this one but I can never hear it enough! Please tell me clinical year is better than didactic year… 😭I am in constant survival mode! I try my best to workout when I can, make time for family and friends, and of course study every other second. I just feel like I am constantly behind and just exhausted with stress. We have multiple exams every week for the next foreseeable future and it’s just so crazy how stressful it all is! I am almost done with term 3 so clinicals are closer than ever. It’s just nice to hear people relate to the struggles of didactic! I feel like I am the most anxious I’ve ever been, irritable, stressed, tired, physically tired, etc. I had to get on anxiety medication which I never have and already have had to up the dose. 😅 Trying to stay positive cause I hopeeee this is all worth it but it’s so much!

I’m taking my PANCE soon and freaking out. I feel like I haven’t studied enough but at the same time I’m so mentally exhausted. It also doesn’t help that the faculty at my program told me that my chances of passing the first time are low due to not meeting the EOC benchmark that they set. I’m trying to not let it get to my head but as my test date comes closer it is starting to.

I’ve been using UWORLD to study and listening to cram the PANCE any chance I get (driving, eating, even showering). I recently took the Katy Connor Half PANCE and scored a 417. I’m debating doing the 2nd half PANCE that she has or doing one of the NCCPA practice exams.

im also just stressing more because I have a job offer lined up.

any advice would be greatly appreciated!

has anyone ever successfully appealed dismissal from a program? if so can you please explain any loop holes you found that made your case successful? TIA

Hi everyone, I just finished up my last clinical rotation. I have not had any bad reviews previously, and I’ve done pretty well on my DOR’s, as well as all my second packrat.

Admittedly, I was pretty tired for my last rotation, and it was very difficult as it was anesthesia. Expectations were not clear, the environment was very hostile, and I was not given many opportunities to showcase my abilities (I was literally on eggshells the whole time, not to speak unless spoken to, excused from the OR because I mixed up LV walls on TEE, that sort of vibe).

My review was that I was a nice “kid”, but he expected much more from an end of the year PA student etc etc. i am just feeling very angry and evn having trouble accepting the criticism and i need to be studying for the pance but its just bothering me. Anyone have anything similar?

Got my EM EOR tomorrow and I’m not feeling great about it.
Bombed my first EOR (women’s health), passed the retake, but this is my second one overall and I really don’t want to repeat that again as we can only re take one EOR before we meet with the academic committee to see if we get kicked out of the program.
Been having 12 hour shifts so Ive been reading the reddit guide/ doing UWORLD. Just took ROSH and got a 59%…feeling low as I need a 390 to pass tom :(

Any super high yield stuff I should lock in tonight? Also please drop any good quizlets I can look through. Any advice helps!!!!

It is time to schedule my PANCE and I currently get accommodations through school but the letter my provider wrote got rejected. Can anyone who has gotten accommodations approved for the PANCE who feels comfortable send me what their provider wrote ( with no identifying info) please. I am just at a loss and dont want to keep going back and forth with my provider and the NCCPA. Thanks!

Had anyone enjoyed their time in PA school? Or is it just suffer 24/7

so um to preface im sorry if this comes off as trauma dumping- but I feel like no one really understands the PA student experience unless they've actually been through it and I don't know what to do. before PA school, I was terrified of being rejected. after starting PA school, that fear has quickly shifted to being terrified of failing out.

I thought I was finally getting the hang of school, but I failed an exam for the second time. Before the exam, I lost a day of studying because I traveled to attend my sister's college grad. I wanted to be there for her, but at the same time I honestly don't think I would have failed if I had that extra day to drill pharm meds into my head. The failure taught me that I can't lose even one day of studying or else I'm screwed.

I've come to learn that if I don't spend every waking moment of the day making notes or studying, I fail. But on the other hand, when I do spend all my time studying my relationships suffer. I ghosted my closest friends for 3 months because I've been overwhelmed and I haven't had energy or time to do anything but study. I fucked up and I think I've lost them forever because of what I did.

When I'm in school, I can't eat because I'm so stressed out and I don't have time to cook. I've lost 15 pounds since starting. My apartment is a constant mess because I don't have time to clean. I get maybe 3-5 hours of sleep per night. I study until 11-12 pm every night, and even later before exam days. I know this is unhealthy and most people don't need to go to these lengths. But I'm aware I'm a slow learner and I need all the time I can get to study, or else I've proven that I can and will fail.

This is my dream and I will do anything I need to in order to pass the finish line. But at the same time, I'm ruining friendships and my own health. I don't feel human when I'm in school, I just feel like a machine. If anyone has any advice I would really appreciate it

my program allows you to fail 2 courses and have to make them up, delaying graduation by 2 months. i have reached my max, if you fail a third you have to restart next cohort. my question is, i still have a while until didactic ends. is it worth staying? i’m already in debt from paying for two semesters, not sure if it's worth going into more debt to have to restart in case i fail another course. at the same time, if i dropped out, i still have the part of school i have to pay for, and i also have 0 idea what i would do. i feel like going into a different career would be so hard, and i would want to make money so i can start paying off my debt.

also i go to a private school so it's a lot more expensive

edit: i'm not asking if i should drop out since i failed. i’m asking if financially it would be worth to leave or stay

What was your interpretation? I wasn’t able to attend it all

Long time lurker in here but it’s my time!

Took the PANCE 6/16 found out I passed 6/22.
Pack rat 1: 152
EM: 488
Women’s Health: 445
FM: 432
IM: 475
Peds: 465
Behavioral: 419
Surgery: 422
Pack rat 2: 182
EOC: 1577

PANCE: 545

Also have a uworld Qbank that expires august 2nd!

Best of luck all!!

I’m starting my rotations next week and first eor is INTERNAL medicine in four weeks. I was on summer break so I finished the IM anki deck from endeavor and now I’m freaking out cause topic lists have changed for the eor compared to last year so I don’t know if doing endeavor is really going to help. Planning on starting on rosh questions and finishing all plus boost later. Really don’t know if this is going to help for the eor. I got a 113 on my first packrat last month and I have always studied so much compared to all classmates for didactic exams(would pass with mostly Bs and couple of C)

Do you guys think this is all I need to be able to pass the eors?

How do you use blueprint to study (I’m a anki learner and not really study by doing practice questions)

Should I get smartypance?

Any additional advice?

Thank you for reading till this far lol 🥲

Do people actually pass the pance and graduate PA school with 3.0 - 3.2 gpas?

Classic Passed the PANCE post.

Usually I’m a solid test taker but I’d be lying if I said that exam didn’t rattle me. It’s been a long 6 days waiting for that exam and battling a heat wave in Europe didn’t help 😅

Some stats for the numbers guys and gals:
PackRat pre clinical-139
Post clinical-167
EOC-1515
PANCE-470

We did in house exams for our rotations so no joy for you there!

Best of luck to everyone still on the trail!