Pre-PA | Step-by-Step Guide to Getting Into PA School

[@Therealdoctor_mdj]

Definitely interested in PA.

[@thegardenmedic]

I am an EMT who is currently pursuing an AAS in paramedicine. In my second semester of paramedic school I really started entertaining the thought of PA school and have been researching and planning towards continuing my education on the PA route once I graduate next May. As far as patient hours are concerned, does it matter how many years it’s been since I have worked as an EMT? For example: If I worked as an EMT 10 years ago, do you think they would still accept that? I know it’s up to the schools and you can’t speak for them all, I just figured I would ask here first 🙂.

[@Jolly-room]

Hi Aubrie, Thanks so much for sharing your knowledges and experiences. I have been looking for the PA schools that accept an international student who do not have any medical background. Would you have any advice on schools that are more open to accept international students with less prerequisites requirements?

[@above-averageaamyria9120]

Great advice! Thank you and God bless!

[@AubrieJones]

Thank you for watching! 💛

[@karenbulaong4576]

So I help my PA run a PA Shadowing Program for pre-PA at a hospital and this is entirely volunteer but I wasnt sure if I would categorize this as a leadership experience. I've never had leadership experience before and wanted to know if I could consider this as being one. Basic responsibilities include creating newsletters for my PA state association, schedule applicants for the shadowing program, and I'm looking to create some meetings with the applicants in the program to re-acquiant with one another and network so I guess like building a club? Let me know what you think and also thank you so much for your videos! Itll be my 2nd time applying so I'm nervous !!

[@AubrieJones]

Hello! That definitely sounds like a volunteer leadership role. That sounds like a really great position and like you are responsible for a lot, which leaders often are! Good luck with your application and I wish you the best. Also, thank you for checking out my videos :)

[@laurenv2394]

I’m a high school junior and really considering the PA profession. This is honestly really helpful so thank you! I just started volunteering at a hospice group home. Do PA schools count the hours you did in high school too? Or just undergrad?

[@AubrieJones]

Hi there! I'm so glad you found it helpful! As for counting hours from high school, I know some schools accept different things. I would certainly include it on your CASPA, but I would ask the schools you want to apply to if they accept it. I would guess though that it would be more questionable for patient care experiences, but volunteering you should be fine

[@laurenv2394]

Aubrie Jones, WhiteCoatChasing thank you so much !

[@fitchickvic]

Hi there! Loving this video! I had a question for you... for leadership, I was in my undergrad's Pre-PA club but I didn't have a role. However, I was a leader in my sorority as the "Panhel Delegate" where I was the advocate for events run by other sororities and fraternities that raised money for their philanthropies. I basically motivated girls from my sorority to give back to other members of Greek life and attend their events. Do you think this is valuable leadership? Ultimately, I learned how to communicate effectively to reach a large audience, I organized event data into spreadsheets, and communicated with other members of Greek life on a weekly basis by attending meetings.

[@AubrieJones]

Hello! YES, that is a great leadership role. It shows you have interests outside of medicine and if you include everything you just told me on your experience description, you're solid! I was also in a sorority for a little bit and I saw how much work goes into everything so that definitely counts :)

[@PiesForSittin]

Thanks so much for this video it’s so helpful :) I have a few questions if you don’t mind answering! For hours did you input your scheduled hours? For example, 7-3 being 8 hours of PCE, or did you deduct scheduled breaks into it as well? Also for pre-pa conferences what would you recommend bringing and doing to maximize the experience? Thanks so much!

[@AubrieJones]

For the hours, I made a spreadsheet and I tried to update my hours on it either daily or weekly. I took out my lunch breaks and added it all together. On CASPA you have to put how many weeks you worked and the hours per week so I put in the accurate number of weeks I worked and then adjusted the amount of hours per week until I got my true total! If that is confusing, I can explain it a bit more! It’s hard to explain over text.

[@AubrieJones]

For pre-PA conferences I just recommend dressing to impress, talking to as many people as possible and making genuine connections with people because you never know if they could be your future classmate or one of your faculty members or something! Some people bring a paper pad and pen and write down notes which is helpful because sometimes they give you info that is not on a school’s website. Overall, just show genuine interest and don’t be afraid to talk to people around you!

[@tiffanyt1993]

how do I go about shadowing especially with covid going on? :/

[@AubrieJones]

There are actually some virtual shadowing events! I’ve seen them posted on The Pre-PA Club on Facebook ☺️

[@AubrieJones]

There are actually some virtual shadowing events! I’ve seen them posted on The Pre-PA Club on Facebook ☺️

[@adrianavargas8340]

I recently got my BS in biology but my GPA isn’t that great. Do you recommend retaking courses?

[@AubrieJones]

It really depends! So CASPA does not replace your grade when you retake classes, however, if your GPA is somewhere you feel could really be strengthened then I typically recommend taking courses you received a C or lower in! But it really is dependent on your application as a whole and other factors. For example, I had one C in chem but because my GPA was competitive elsewhere, I focused my efforts on other things!

[@ameliashipley9751]

Do most pre-pa students do their PCE hours during their undergrad? or do they take a year or two off to build hours?

[@AubrieJones]

It seems a majority take time off after! I was able to get mine during undergrad so I didn’t have to.

[@AubrieJones]

It seems a majority take time off after! I was able to get mine during undergrad so I didn’t have to.

[@AubrieJones]

It seems a majority take time off after! I was able to get mine during undergrad so I didn’t have to.

[@abbyschiller2293]

@@AubrieJones what are ways you would recommend to get them throughout undergrad? i am a college freshman right now

[@XxNannerCremexX]

Great video!

[@AubrieJones]

Thank you so much! :)

[@cristnaholguin6901]

Hi! I am a medical assistant. What I have to do?

[@Kooltrex]

I'm 22 and graduated with a business degree, do you think it is too late for me to pursue PA school?

[@AubrieJones]

No! You’re young and have so much time. Some of my classmates are in their 40s and 50s and didn’t major in anything health related and are going great!

[@nanabraimoh4052]

Hello I would like to ask how you get to scribe did you need a certificate please let me know

[@AubrieJones]

Hello! Actually, there is not really a certificate to become a scribe. All of the jobs I have seen have been on job training! I actually had a two month on-boarding process where I was taught how to chart, basic medical terminology and how the practice runs.

[@nanabraimoh4052]

Aubrie Jones Thank you

[@AuraRodriguezGomez]

my local pa schools all require a bachelors degree ... kms

[@AubrieJones]

I don’t know of many that don’t!

[@MrSmilesAlot]

Should I volunteer and get my hours during undergrad or after?

[@feni20216]

Undergrad I’m pretty sure

[@AubrieJones]

Yes! Many people take time after undergrad to get more experience but I would start then if possible.

[@AubrieJones]

Yes! Many people take time after undergrad to get more experience but I would start then if possible.

[@AubrieJones]

Yes! Many people take time after undergrad to get more experience but I would start then if possible.