r/pre_PathAssist

I am about to enter my senior year of college and am set to graduate with a degree in Economics. I have a 3.96 GPA. I recently discovered this career path and am certain that this is what I want to do. I’m considering several different options:

1. Change my major this upcoming semester to a BA in biology and finishing my bachelors in 5 years instead of 4. I’m a bit worried about this option just because I would be taking a full course load (18+ credit hours) of hard science and labs each semester. Also, an additional year at my currently undergraduate institution would be expensive. My parents have paid for my undergrad up until this point, but would not pay for the additional semester so I would have to take out around 35k in student loans. Since I’m already going to have to take out loans for path assistant school, I’m worried about racking up more. I would shadow and work throughout these two years.

2. Graduate undergrad in December with a degree in Economics. Spend the next couple of years getting in my pre requisites at community college and work to save money while getting shadowing hours, working, etc.

The second option is far more financially feasible but I’m worried that not having a science degree and having all my pre-reqs from community college is going to hurt me significantly in the admissions process. Would love any advice.

I am currently doing a marketing major with STEM classes on the side, but I hope to apply to to PA school sometime after graduation and completing the prereqs. I want to start looking for shadowing opportunities to 1: get experience and 2: confirm that I want to pursue this field. However, because of my major and so-far limited STEM classes, I'm not sure if I should be asking about shadowing at this point? That is, it feels almost disrespectful to ask for a professionals' time just to see if I'm really interested in pathology. What do you think?

So, I'm trying to become a Pathologist Assistant (really hope that is the preferred phrasing), it has all the parts of lab work that I love but with less schooling. Anyway, I'm about to be a senior in high school and have been researching colleges and majors to go into that would help but have been struggling and wanted to see if I can get any advice?

Whenever I find a college its either too expensive, too far, or its religious (which I have nothing against but I look up reviews and find that they are hostile or rude to people that aren't in their religion and as a comfortably agnostic person I do not want to go through that). And as for majors I originally wanted to go into general biology but I keep finding these other bio course that are super interesting or others that seem they'd help more but I'm not interested in and I'm just generally struggling.

Anyway, if anyone has any advice I'd greatly appreciate it!

Hi! So happy to see a huge growth of people who are looking into the Pathologists' Assistant route! There's a PA here in Calgary who created a website that basically answers all of your general questions below. He also has a YouTube channel that gives insights for the job (should be on the website). Truly a wonderful person, he's helped us a lot during our practicum and just an overall treasure.

https://canadianpathassistant.com/

Good luck with your applications and congratulations to the incoming class!

Hi guys, I am planning to apply for #PA program and I need to retake some courses, where do you suggest to take them? Biology, Microbiology, Anatomy and physiology with lab and Genetics.

Hello! One of the struggles I keep running into is how to actually get the surgical pathology hours some programs require. Yes, some universities can guarantee several hours but after that you're on your own. How would you suggest finding a pathologist to shadow?

P.S. I'm from Washington

Hi everyone,
I’m planning to apply to Tulane’s Pathologists’ Assistant program this cycle and wanted some honest feedback on whether I seem competitive.
Background:
B.S. in Biological Sciences
Overall GPA: 3.24
Recent post-baccalaureate science coursework (Biochemistry, Immunology, Medical Microbiology, Analytical Chemistry, Clinical Hematology) with all A’s
Full-time clinical laboratory experience in a cancer diagnostics setting
Previous laboratory experience in a biomarker/molecular testing laboratory
Undergraduate research experience involving molecular biology techniques
California phlebotomy license
Pathology exposure:
Shadowed PAs in surgical pathology
Shadowed autopsy services at multiple academic medical centers
Assisted with various autopsy-related activities
Continuing to gain pathology exposure and document hours
Letters of recommendation:
Planning to obtain a letter from a PA/pathologist and science faculty recommendations
My concerns:
GPA is above the minimum but not exceptional
Tulane would likely be the only PathA program I apply to this cycle
I come from more of a laboratory diagnostics background rather than a traditional pre-med or anatomy-heavy background
For those familiar with Tulane or PathA admissions in general:
Does this sound competitive for an interview?
What would you view as the strongest and weakest parts of my application?
Is there anything I should focus on improving before the August deadline?
I appreciate any honest feedback. Thanks!