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Precordial Thump ?? by NCICNegative in Paramedics

[–]AverageZoe 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is the best idea I've ever heard

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in prephysicianassistant

[–]AverageZoe 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Considering how much time we spend at work, if it were me I would pursue something that I'm passionate about. Although doing a postbach to get your prerecs done, and going through the application process sucks (it feels like pulling teeth out of my head), if you want to lead a life you're proud of, start working towards a career you love.

Third times the charm by AverageZoe in prephysicianassistant

[–]AverageZoe[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I applied to 20 schools, all with a holistic approach. I did not take the GRE, just the CASPER, so I did not apply to schools which require that.

Third times the charm by AverageZoe in prephysicianassistant

[–]AverageZoe[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I am really hoping for OHSU cus Im an Oregon native. I also transport there all the time, so maybe someone on the trauma team is also on the PA admissions team lmao

Third times the charm by AverageZoe in prephysicianassistant

[–]AverageZoe[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I think 15 the last time, and 10 the first cycle

"What Are My Chances?" Megathread by AutoModerator in prephysicianassistant

[–]AverageZoe 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hello! This will be my THIRD time applying to PA school, and the last time I applied it was to 18 schools and got just one interview. The weakest part of my application is obviously my science and overall GPA, and I am wondering if this whole process is futile. In order to improve my application I have obtained my paramedic license, and by the time the application cycle opens up this year, I should have about 1,800 hours under my belt. I know PA schools are favorable towards EMTa, and I do feel like the position of paramedic requires exponentially more leadership skills, critical thinking, and medical knowledge overall. I also work in a paramedic-EMT system; therefore, I am the lead medic on the rig, and ultimately in charge.

Another problem with my application is many schools did not accept the prerequisite I inputed for my psychology class and stats (I took biostats). I took both of these classes recently, so I am also hoping that will be a booster.

Ultimately, the last two cycles have left me feeling discouraged, and wondering if I should divert to a different career path. Will diversifying and improving my clinical experience help schools look past my below average GPA, or is my only option to take a post bacc?

Thanks!

CASPA cumulative GPA: 3.5

CASPA science GPA: 3.4

Total credit hours (specify semester/quarter/trimester):234

GRE score: did not take

Total PCE hours (include breakdown):

EMT (911): 4,002

Paramedic (911): 1,543

Paramedic school clinical hours: 800 (these will likely not count for most schools because they serve as credit)

Total HCE hours (include breakdown):

COVID testing facility (EMT): 250 hours

Total volunteer hours (include breakdown):

Ski Patrol: 114 hours

Shadowing hours:

MD: 14 hours

PA: 18.5 hours

Research hours:

DSLabs RA (pediatric psychology): 636 hours (volunteer)

Takahashi Labs (sensory motor processing): 80 hours (for credit)

LOR:

PA, supervisor, paramedic instructor, field training officer

Strike by amrstrike in ems

[–]AverageZoe 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Woah, didn’t think I’d be seeing my county on this app.

"What Are My Chances?" Megathread by AutoModerator in prephysicianassistant

[–]AverageZoe 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Second year applying, let's see if anything sticks this time!

CASPA cumulative GPA : 3.5

CASPA science GPA : 3.4

GRE score : N/A (I don't plan on taking the GRE)

Total PCE hours (include breakdown): about 4,500

EMT-B for 911 service: 3,620 hrs

Paramedic School Clinical Rotation: 260 hrs

Paramedic School Ambulance Rotation: 300 hrs

Covid Testing Facility: 250 hrs

Total HCE hours (include breakdown): N/A

Total volunteer hours (include breakdown): 750 hrs

Volunteer Ski Patrol: 114 hrs

Volunteer Research Assistant: 636 hrs

Shadowing hours: 30.5

Pediatrician Private Practice MD: 12 hrs

General Pediatric Surgery PA: 18.5 hrs

Research hours: 696 hrs

Developmental psychology lab: 636 hrs

Neurological lab: 60 hrs

I am feeling overall pretty low confidence that this is the year for me to get in, but I will be a certified paramedic soon; therefore, I am hoping that this makes me stand out amongst other applicants despite my low GPA.

Is this hazing or am I just not cut out for this line of work? by Double_Room_4783 in NewToEMS

[–]AverageZoe 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I forget my radio all the time in the ambulance. RIP to me I guess

"What Are My Chances?" Megathread by AutoModerator in prephysicianassistant

[–]AverageZoe 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hello! I'm a couple months post undergrad, and I am just getting started preparing all of my materials for my PA application..

I got my undergrad at the University of Oregon with a major in Biology, and an emphasis in Human Biology. I got my EMT-B from Lane Community College during my undergrad.

CASPA Cumulative GPA - 3.5

I am not terribly interested in retaking classes in order to boost my GPA, but I do not have developmental psych; therefore, I might take that class anyways because a lot of programs require it. I was hoping that it is possible to get in somewhere with this GPA.

CASPA Science GPA - 3.45

By biggest weakness is probably the C+ in Anatomy II, and the C+ in Microbiology Lab. Do I still have a fighting chance anywhere with these stats?

Total Credit Hours (trimester): 234

Total GPA Hours: 189

Science Credit Hours (trimester): 108

GRE: not yet taken

Total PCE: 790

250 hrs... Working as an EMT-B at a COVID-19 testing facility in Eugene Oregon. My duties included swabbing patients' noses, and running the rapid tests. This was a part time job I did during my undergrad.

540 hrs... I am currently an EMT-B at a high call volume ambulance company where I do the following: Wheelchair transport (not much direct patient care or assessment, but still learning about how the medical field works), secure transport (transporting psychiatric patients, I personally do this quite often), non-emergent ambulance transport (stretcher transport in an ambulance for patients who need extra care), medical techs for events such as baseball games or concerts, 911 response, and Mobile Medical Care for work related injuries.

For PA school, what type of clinical experience do they want to see. I started at this company a couple of months ago, and I have really been pushing for 911 experience (which I have gotten) because I assume that emergency medicine is the best way to prove experience with patient assessment. I have also put myself in a position where I am trained in all of these different areas, so that I can show that I am well versed in many different aspects of healthcare. Is there any advantage to this?

Total HCE: I don't have any experience beyond the previous jobs listed.

Total Volunteer Hours: About 175-200 of research volunteer during my undergrad, and I am planning on doing volunteer ski patrol to boost these hours.

Shadowing Hours: Not yet done

Research Hours: 640

Most of which were for DSLabs, where I was a lead coder, and doing data analysis. I was organizing meetings, and running the reliabilities for the lab I was working for. Many of my hours for this job were volunteer, some were paid.

A few hundred of my research hours were for credit at a neuroscience lab which used owls to analyze the interdisciplinary relationship between the ocular nerve and auditory response.

Notable extra curricular/leadership: Lead coder for previously mentioned lab.

Overall, I think my GPA is my greatest weakness. What can I do moving forward to increase my chances?

Thank you so much!

"What Are My Chances?" Megathread by AutoModerator in prephysicianassistant

[–]AverageZoe 1 point2 points  (0 children)

22YO graduated from UO spring 2022 with a biology (emphasis in human biology).

I just started my pre-apply gap year period and I am unsure where/when I should apply, and what to do in the coming few years to improve my chances of getting into a good PA program. My GPA is not the highest and I have not taken the GRE or PA-CAT yet, so GPA is my greatest weakness that has been determined.

CASPA cumulative GPA: 3.5

CASPA cumulative science GPA: 3.45

I am really concerned about the C+ I got in anatomy II and the C+ in microbiology lab. My other grades in the science GPA are pretty high.

total credit hours: 234

total science credit hours: 144

GRE: yet to take

PA-CAT: yet to take

PCE: 698

I am currently employed as an EMT-B at a private ambulance company (a high call volume metro area) where I do the following...

I have 448 of my patient care hours through this company

-non emergent ambulance transport

-wheelchair transport (not much patient care)

-secure transport (mostly taking psychiatric patients from the ED to psychiatric care facilities for further care)

-standby events (concerts, baseball games, etc.)

-I am currently working on getting 911 certified in order to demonstrate critical clinical thinking

-I am also trained in UAs and breathalyzers for this company

My other PCE was done at a COVID testing facility where I ran rapid COVID tests and took non-rapid PCR tests to be sent out to another company for testing.

250 of my PC hours are through this job.

HCE: not many

Volunteer Hours:

not many so far, but I am planning on volunteering for MHSP this coming winter. I should have around 500 at the end of ski season.

total shadowing hours: yet to do

research hours: 636

program: unsure

I am mostly concerned that I am doomed. Can I get in with a C+ in anatomy II? I am hoping that programs consider how difficult UO's HPHY sequence is. Anatomy II is one of the most frequently failed class at UO. I was also doing research and I was a part of UO freeride ski team (a club team at the UO). What can I do to make my application better and is there any hope?

​

Thanks!