Can you work a PT (=contact hours) job and use all semesters at less credits instead of actually stopping for a year? What are the MA reqs in your state? What is your undergrad?
@Sybylla The drawbacks with that is I receive less financial aid if I am not a full time student. And I feel like that would prolong getting my degree even more by taking less classes each semester, instead of being a full time student. I think taking a year off and using that extra year to work and gain health care hours would be a better option.
@Jamrock411 Yes, because I haven’t been doing so well in my science classes, I have thought about other options, but I am still set on becoming a PA. I just believe I need to develop better study habits and realize that my major classes are going to be harder than my general education classes and thus need to spend more time and effort for my major classes. I have looked at Eastern Michigan’s PA information, and it’s definitely an option, but not every school is that lenient. Many schools do require health care experience, it’s not a preference and some schools don’t even accept half of what Eastern Michigan accepts as health care hours. I want to apply to more than one school, I don’t just want to be fixated on one school because it’s not a guarantee that I’m going to be accepted at that school.
My SIL’s niece became an EMT and did that for a year or so before PA school. I suggest you actually visit/talk to PA programs and see what specific ones require. For my kids friends in med school, volunteer hours at things like the Free Clinic seemed to count.