<p>I'm curious about what would be a better track to take to become a PA, would it be better to go to a school where you can get you PA masters degree in 5 years or go to a 4 year then a 2 year to get your masters. I obviously would like to get out as early as I can but Im concerned if the 5 year program would be too difficult and too rigorous to complete. The 5 year program I am thinking about is at Marquette, so if anyone has any information on their program or any others around the Wisconsin area that would be great as well, thanks.</p>
<p>I had briefly looked into PA programs awhile back so I can’t attest to how accurate my experiences are with respect to current requirements. I remember being put off by what appeared to me to be an onerous clinical experience requirement in order to even apply to the program. I seem to remember that it was the equivalent of 12 or 18 months of full time clinical experience to even apply, more to be competitive. I remember thinking that this was meant for mid career nurses and EMTs, not the casual college graduate hoping to put his talents in biomedical sciences to good use in patient care.</p>
<p>My daughter went through a 4 year program at RIT in Rochesster, NY. The third year was quite stressful and tons of work, as this is when you get all of your clinical knowledge. The 4th year consisted of 10 five week rotations. This program is now going to a 5 year program, so I am not sure how that will change it. She graduated last June, passed her boards in July, and actually had 2 job offers before taking the boards. She took a job in Arlington, Va, but many of her graduating class found local jobs right away.
She did interview to get into the program, and had to show some “experience” which for her consisted of lots of shadowing and observation hours and volunteering in the local ER of our little hospital - she did a lot of paperwork and copying, but the doctors let her come in and watch some things like stitches.</p>
<p>Oh that Marquette! We looked into their program 3 1/2 years ago and the head of their program actually told me that it was harder to get into their P.A. program than it was to get into med school because more people want to become P.A.s now, rather than spend all their time going through medical school. Is Marquette still a pre-P.A. program? You would be miserable during your first two years, as you’d be competing against your classmates for a spot in the program. If I remember right, they cut about 40% of the class after sophomore year. My son chose a 5 year program that guaranteed him entrance to the masters’ program if he maintained a 3.0 GPA. He is now a third year student in that program at Gannon Univ. and is loving it. It’s not a “big name” university, but I’m confident he’ll have tons of job offers when he’s finished. He’s even had time to do some fun things and doesn’t have to study constantly. There were at least 20 schools offering 5 year programs when we were looking. I suggest you check out a few more.</p>
<p>Yes, their program works like this, you go in as a biomedical science degree for 2 years and after those 2 years you apply for their “Professional” phase. I did not realize how hard it was to get in, they only accept 50 students into the professional phase, 25 or so from marquette, but I did see that any where from 150-450 apply. So maybe its not for me. Where else should I look at?</p>
<p>As far as I know, most of the 5 year programs are out east. Here’s a discussion with a lot of useful information:</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/381401-physicians-assistant.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/381401-physicians-assistant.html</a></p>
<p>Butler has a PA program as well. The school has an excelent reputation, and it also has a good pharmacy program.</p>