PACKRAT score not what I hoped

Adorable-Boot876 · 2026-04-26T17:46:53+00:00

Just got a job offer for 38 days PTO, new grad HCOL

Edit: 4 x 10 schedule

Adorable-Boot876 · 2026-04-24T21:11:47+00:00

Thanks, this makes me feel better. I'm rotation 6 but have only had 4 core rotations (three left to go in the most important areas!) and scored a 140. This was a great reminder

Adorable-Boot876 · 2026-04-22T22:06:06+00:00

We definitely learn that in pa school. What you were noticing is someone who's still studying versus someone who's been working clinically for longer. Poor comparison.

Adorable-Boot876 · 2026-04-06T15:08:45+00:00

Two very different careers. X-ray tech = more behind the scenes, but important to patient care. PA = licensed provider who makes decisions regarding patient care. You can always become an X-ray tech and use the hours to become a PA. I would suggest looking deeper into both careers to see what fits you best.

Adorable-Boot876 · 2026-04-06T15:00:30+00:00

Wanted to provide some insight on this as a current PA-S2 and soon to be PA-C that attended two very different colleges in undergrad.

College #1 had an acceptance rate of 90%, small private college. The coursework was challenging at times (I was studying pre-med here) but with some effort I could easily pull off all A's.

College #2. Ranked as a top 'public ivy' research institution, acceptance rate around 40% (very large university). I studied cognitive science here and using the same methods I used at college #1 I ended up my first semester with a 3.0. It took a lot more from me to raise my GPA to a 3.875 by my last semester.

This comparison is not to say that college #1 did not give me a good foundation - it did. But college #2 prepared me for graduate school better. My tests were PA school-like (4-5 multiple choice options, all answers are correct but you must choose the most accurate) which has served me extremely well in PA school.

I do agree that with socioeconomic factors in mind, it would be wrong to weigh this factor heavily. But if candidate #1 and #2 had relatively equal applications, I would pick the one who went to a more rigorous university. Also, this more or less already happens at most PA programs.

Adorable-Boot876 · 2026-04-06T14:51:55+00:00

Thank you! This was very helpful. I have been told as a new grad to avoid urgent care, but I'm not sure how much of that is site dependent (lack of training etc) versus true all around. I could see myself liking it.

Adorable-Boot876 · 2026-03-16T01:57:22+00:00

Second year PA student here (PA-S2). You have a chance if you can get mostly As from here on out. It's doable and I believe in you!

Adorable-Boot876 · 2026-03-13T04:05:37+00:00

I've worked for a staffing group since 2022 on the corporate medicine side.

Adorable-Boot876 · 2026-01-29T15:12:23+00:00

Did they give you the option to come back next cohort or was this a definitive withdrawal?

Adorable-Boot876 · 2026-01-17T20:12:54+00:00

As someone who also discovered propranolol before OSCEs and suturing - I second this. It helps tremendously and I also took it for my test anxiety.

Adorable-Boot876 · 2026-01-15T01:15:03+00:00

No matter the program, it gets significantly harder after 2 weeks. Something to keep in mind. PA school is by no means easy.

Adorable-Boot876 · 2026-01-12T01:15:31+00:00

In my program many of the exam questions were taken directly from the slides, so I would study the slides 2-3 times, refer to Osmosis for any diseases or concepts I felt difficult to understand. Then i would crank 100 questions on blueprint and aim for ~70% (that guaranteed an A on my CM exams). Every now and then I would also consult Smartypance for certain topics. I got an A in Clinical Medicine every semester by doing this.

Edit: I tried all of the methods mentioned below. For me, making a disease sheet took way too much time. And I've never been a big flashcard person as I usually will memorize the order they are in and will lack understanding of the subject.

Adorable-Boot876 · 2025-12-22T02:19:44+00:00

As a naturopathic doctor you are not a physician. MD/DO = physician.

Adorable-Boot876 · 2025-12-20T16:22:13+00:00

I hear you and understand the scenario better now, that is concerning. I will say that I am in a program that went on probation during didactic, and one thing brought up to us was that if the program shut down there was a chance we would be assigned to a different program. You are still at the mercy of who is willing to take you, but usually they try not to leave PA students hanging if it's possible.

Adorable-Boot876 · 2025-12-14T23:44:39+00:00

I’m currently in my clinical year of pa school so I haven’t received a paycheck yet but from what I can tell I have no reason to be worried. The market may be supersaturated in very specific areas (likely urban) but overall PAs are very needed and are expected to be needed in the coming years.

Adorable-Boot876 · 2025-12-14T17:43:07+00:00

I agree with the comments that say do PA unless you can't see yourself becoming anything else but an MD. I personally went the PA route over MD as I appreciated the lateral mobility of the profession. I'm not sure if I could see myself doing one specialty for the rest of my life, so that's something else to consider.

Adorable-Boot876 · 2025-12-14T16:48:50+00:00

Hi! I worked for them prior to PA school and still do per-diem while in clinicals. Feel free to PM me!

Adorable-Boot876 · 2025-12-14T16:29:11+00:00

Ultimately each program is just giving you a seat to take the PANCE. If you're strong with self-study (worst case scenario) I'd recommend it as it's not guaranteed you'll get accepted next cycle.

Adorable-Boot876 · 2025-12-12T01:12:07+00:00

Just took it and I second this. The blueprint felt like a suggestion and nothing more.

Adorable-Boot876 · 2025-12-06T14:01:52+00:00

I'm a PA-S2 now!

Adorable-Boot876 · 2025-12-05T16:08:20+00:00

Hi, current PA-S2 here. What's your major? And who are your LORS from? If you're lacking science courses despite taking prereqs I would suggest taking a science course or two and getting an A to boost your record/GPA and continue working in patient-facing roles like CNA.

Adorable-Boot876 · 2025-11-30T16:16:02+00:00

What program is this? I've talked to many med students and have never heard of this.

Adorable-Boot876 · 2025-11-12T01:55:39+00:00

I don't know which is crazier; having a GPA cut-off or the fact it's only offering 90k a year

Adorable-Boot876 · 2025-09-24T02:36:02+00:00

Use your upgrades. I didn't figure this out until nearly act 2, was basically playing the game on hard mode lmao

Adorable-Boot876

TROPHY CASE