<p>This is my first post, and I was wondering if anyone here knew anything about getting into a Physician Assistant grad program. My first choice is Wayne State in Detroit, mainly because it is close to my parents in Michigan. It also happens to be one of the more selective programs.</p>
<p>Mainly, I am wondering how competitive it is to make it into a PA program and if there is anything I should know about the process.</p>
<p>A little about myself:</p>
<p>Graduated in 2005 from a small liberal arts school in Minnesota with a degree in History (Yes, History) GPA = 3.4. </p>
<p>I won best paper written by a Junior, best paper written by a Senior, best paper in the History department, and a leadership award for organizing a service learning trip to Chicago to assist HIV+ children.</p>
<p>I studied abroad in Greece (Greek History) and Spain (Art History).</p>
<p>I am strong in the sciences, but I am currently taking some post-bacc sciences to fill in the gaps. Hopefully, these classes should raise my GPA to at least a 3.5. </p>
<p>I also earned my Nursing Assistant certificate, which I am using to work at a nursing home.</p>
<p>I am a ceramic artist, and after college I worked independently in a co-op ceramics studio. I was in a show called "Scientific Aesthetics."</p>
<p>I am an A+ certified PC technician, and I have worked as a tech support agent at a telecom startup.</p>
<p>I also worked for a year as a social worker for Minneapolis Public Housing Authority assisting families in public housing projects.</p>
<p>Where did you get this ranking, because I have been looking for that info.</p>
<p>Wayne requires at least 500 direct patient contact hours. The average is 2000 hours. Other schools will accept my hours as a patient transporter - Wayne will not. Also, they require more prerequisite undergrad classes than any school I've looked at. For instance, Wayne is the only school that requires 2 Human Physiology courses, and one must be a 3000 level.</p>
[quote]
**The following types of experience are NOT accepted toward the 1,000 hours of patient care experience: PA or physician observer or shadow, non-clinical research assistant positions, student clinical experience (student nurse, student EMT, student athletic trainer, or other health care student), student "intern" experiences, candy striper or junior volunteer positions, CPR or ACLS instructor, wilderness medicine instructor, patient transporter, pharmaceutical representative, ski patroller, life guard, aerobics instructor, unit clerk, insurance clerk, medical secretary or other clerical positions.
<p>You seem too concerned with rankings, hazmat. The OP expressed a desire to be near parents in MI. While one would certainly want a quality program....and I would submit that the # 34 ranked program is high quality...there may be more to the story. I work with PA grads from both schools I mentioned and they are tops.</p>
<p>Actually, I am also interested in U of D Mercy. I went to University of Detroit Jesuit High School, and U of D Mercy loves graduates from UDJ.</p>
<p>The only problem I see with Mercy is that it seems geared toward health professionals that already have LOTS of experience in the medical field before they apply . . . more like a program for nurses who wish to "upgrade."</p>
<p>I, on the other hand, am still very green in the medical field and I'm looking for more opportunities for exposure.</p>
<p>And yes, I agree. Rankings are only part of the picture. After all, if you pass the certification and get your degree, you are a physician assistant no matter what school you go to. Am I right?</p>
<p>Yes, Matty, you're right. I am reminded of an old saying I heard as a new RN: What do you call the person who graduated last in his class at medical school?......... Doctor.
You could be also be right about UD-M being for those with medical experience. The two PA's I know did have some experience although not in nursing. One was a Biology major and one I believe was some kind of sports medicine. CMU has a fine PA program and in fact is considering starting a Medical School. It does, however, still strike me as quite a party school. Perhaps not so much as a grad school.
If you wanted to, I would think there would opportunities for you to shadow a PA or physician at a local hospital. Talk to your school.<br>
Good luck!</p>
<p>Thanks for the input, guys.
I guess I'm still wondering, from a cursory look at my academic profile, if you think I have the chops to make it into PA school at all. I suppose Hazmat must think I have some potential, otherwise he wouldn't mention higher ranking schools in the first place.</p>
<p>So what do you think? Am I crazy for even trying this? Just how competitive is this field?</p>
<p>I’m a PA student in a program at a medical school that ranks pretty well. I encourage you to think more about the long term. Aiming for your top choice is great. But if it takes you one or more years extra, how well has the selectivity served you? What I mean is, once you become a PA, you will rarely (if ever) be asked where you went to school. Go and get it done so you can start your new career.</p>
<p>Hi to everybody!
I didn’t know much about physician assistant till today but i know few facts of nursing assistant that during this certification we will be aware of basic skills of nursing and an experience nurse will also be there to help us.
good to know about physician assistant.
thanks!</p>