I want to apply to DeSales University’s 5 year Physician Assistant Program. It is both a bachelors and a masters with guaranteed admission into PA school as long as all classes taken within the first 3 years have a final grade of at least an 80%, I believe. In addition, since it is accelerated, semesters are usually 17-18 credits, which is above average of course.
Here are my schedules and my grades in the classes (so far, I am in tenth grade now). 1 credit is a full year class, 0.5 is half:
Freshman:
Honors Biology (A-) 1 credit
Honors Algebra II (A) 1 credit
Honors Geometry (A) 1 credit
Spanish II (A) 1 credit
English (A) 1 credit
United States History (A) 1 credit
Health/PE I (A) 1 credit
Foundations of FCS (A) 0.5 credits
*The only AP class offered was APUSH.
Sophomore Year:
- AP Biology (A’s so far) 1.33 credits (double period lab 2 days per 6 day cycle)
- Honors Precalculus (A’s so far) 1 credit
- Honors Chemistry (A’s so far) 1 credit
- Honors English (A’s so far) 1 credit
- Spanish III (A’s so far) 1 credit
- Modern World History (A’s so far) 1 credit
- Health/PE II (A’s so far) 1 credit
Junior Year (planned):
- DE Calculus 1 credit
- AP Physics 1 1.33 credits
- AP Language and Composition 1 credit
- Honors Government and Economics 1 credit
- Honors Sociology 1 credit
- Outdoor Education (Physical Education course, required) 0.5 credit
- Intro. to Drawing + Intermediate Drawing 0.5 credit each
Senior year (planned):
- AP Chemistry 1.33 credit
- AP Statistics 1 credit
- AP Psychology 1 credit
- DE Anatomy and Physiology 2 credits (double period everyday)
- DE English Composition I/II 1 credit
I have a few extracurriculars but none of them are too strong. I have not been able to do much because of covid, but during my junior year I am going to start volunteering, shadowing medical professions, and hopefully working at a doctor’s office, pharmacy, or hospital later on.
My current extracurriculars consist of SADD club, volleyball in the fall, and I am going to begin working this summer. I will continue working throughout the school year for most likely 8-12 hours per week. I also plan to volunteer at hospitals and senior centers, shadow physicians, physician assistants, nurses, etc…
If anyone can give me ideas for extracurriculars or ways to complete research I would appreciate it. There are no labs or research facilities near me and until next summer I do not think I can consistently work/volunteer at one. I plan on taking a summer course of a medical summer camp next summer as well, but I do not know exactly which one. If anyone knows of a good medical/biology summer camp in Pennsylvania or online that lasts 1-3 weeks please tell me.
Lastly, I plan on taking the SAT in August of 2021. I am taking it soon because I am already in precalculus and I do not want to have to worry about it my junior year. I am aiming for a minimum of a 1300 but ideally a 1400/1450. A SAT score of 1250 is required for the 5 year PA program.
P.S. Most of my teachers like me as a student and I believe my guidance counselor does as well. I should get a few decent letters of recommendations.