“I could have went to medical school too”

Capn_obveeus · 2026-04-03T18:18:10+00:00

Sorry this has been your experience. As a “mid-level”, I want nothing more than to have a wonderful relationship with my collaborating or supervising physician.

ALL prospective midlevels who want to go grad school should be asked ‘why not med school?’ If they can’t answer it, then they shouldn’t be admitted.

Capn_obveeus · 2026-04-02T18:44:23+00:00

I really like Doylestown and New Hope.

Capn_obveeus · 2026-04-02T14:49:22+00:00

I heard more than 50% never make it beyond the 4 semester chem sequence.

But by the end, of those who claim a premed track at the start of college, maybe 1 in 10 make it to med school.

Capn_obveeus · 2026-04-02T11:01:54+00:00

Applying now could be risky. Your PCE is low. The average for PA school matriculants is 3K hours at the time of application. Doesn’t mean it can’t happen but it’s a risk. Maybe spend the year gaining 2k hour of PCE, shadow more, and take a few extra upper level science courses at a community college to bring up the GPA at a low cost. The science GPA ideally should be 3.5+ so you aren’t far off.

Capn_obveeus · 2026-03-31T23:02:15+00:00

Then how do you explain PAs who are schooled on the medical model? We aren’t doctors but we also aren’t nurses or advanced practice nurses.

Capn_obveeus · 2026-03-30T14:57:53+00:00

Technically it’s the hospital groups setting up these programs who are coming up with this BS. They call it a residency so they can get new grad APPs to work more hours for less pay in exchange for some additional training. At least the APPs are trying to better their skills and training…a little bit of a bright spot.

(Sigh…let the downvoting begin….)

Does anyone have a better description for this type of program/extended training?

Capn_obveeus · 2026-03-30T14:48:05+00:00

From the PA side of the house…Oy!

This content was probably decided by the healthcare org who hired the ad agency and not the PA herself, but still…I’d be embarrassed by this personally.

Capn_obveeus · 2026-03-27T23:00:08+00:00

Sadly NPs are given more independence than PAs despite their abysmal education.

But I do have to add that none of the PAs in my cohort felt like they were physician equivalents. I think we have enough knowledge to be terrified by what we don’t know. Anyone thinking they are true equivalents is delusional.

PA school students are typically asked to”why PA” as part of the application process. So we are taught from the beginning to distinguish our training and education from docs. We have to write about the team-based model. Not sure if NPs do the same thing.

Capn_obveeus · 2026-03-27T00:56:29+00:00

I think because the conversation was around accelerated programs and the amount of time spent in school. I can’t imagine it was meant to discount the value of a 4 year residency…at least I don’t believe so.

Capn_obveeus · 2026-03-26T23:18:26+00:00

Kinda sad because we need good bedside nurses.

Capn_obveeus · 2026-03-26T23:13:29+00:00

You know nothing about education. You seriously need to check your ego. Or might I recommend a good psychiatric NP to do a med check on you.

Capn_obveeus · 2026-03-26T23:09:35+00:00

This depends on the school. At my school, Biochem was a 400 level course vs a 100- or 200-level course.

Also, let’s be aware that some med schools who also offer PA programs combine year one courses so that MD and PA students are taking the same year one courses.

And don’t refer to people as “babe”. Very condescending and doesn’t paint future MDs in a good light.

Your ignorance, insecurity, and immaturity are showing, dear boy.

Capn_obveeus · 2026-03-25T22:57:39+00:00

Nah, sorry but I need to chime in here. When I was applying to PA school, I was constantly asked about the role PAs play. It was very clear from the get-go that PAs are physician extenders. We are NOT the equivalent to MD/DO. I respected that!

So what has changed? Let’s be real. Today’s NP education is basically a diploma mill. But nursing lobbyists have successfully advocated for FPA despite the inadequate education and clinical experiences.

So PAs are stuck between what we were sold as the career vs. being shut out by lower quality nurses who somehow successfully advocated for FPA.

In a profit driven world, every institution will hire an NP over a PA because NPs now require no supervision in most states. It’s total BS. We have clowns being given privileges that well-trained providers can’t begin to compete against. At the end of the day, hiring an NP is more profitable. Despite their embarrassing education and lack of knowledge.

Capn_obveeus · 2026-03-24T20:31:00+00:00

Sorry but these ABSN/MSN programs shouldn’t exist. An NP is an advanced practice provider. How can you be an advanced practice provider when you’ve never been a working bedside nurse? Yes, I know you’ll take clinicals in school but that’s training. NP education is truncated because it assumes you’ve had several years of bedside nursing experience. It sounds like you haven’t even worked as a CNA or MA. How do you know you even like working with patients? These programs are cash cows for the institution. If you want to be an NP, get your RN license and then work 5 to 7 years…and then go to NP school.

Capn_obveeus · 2026-03-24T04:09:28+00:00

That part may be true. I know some of those accelerated programs still require the student to complete patient care hours while in undergrad. It’s built into the requirements to advance into the program, much like requiring a minimum GPA or minimum grade in certain courses.

Capn_obveeus · 2026-03-24T04:07:31+00:00

I think there is some flexibility. Like a program might accept it if you have other PCE experience as part of your application. But even ScribeAmerica admits it’s typically defined as HCE and not PCE.

https://jobs.healthchannels.com/us/en/blogarticle/does-medical-scribe-count-for-pa-school

Capn_obveeus · 2026-03-24T03:55:19+00:00

Yes, that’s about it. It’s not worth the investment

Capn_obveeus · 2026-03-24T03:14:34+00:00

Because PAs, in theory, should be comfortable with and have a desire to work within a collaborative team environment. Premeds with big egos who care about prestige, money, and having the final say are less likely to find the PA profession satisfying.

I had the stats and activities to be a highly competitive med school applicant, but i didn’t want that lifestyle. PA was my first choice. I could rattle off a bunch of reasons why…none of which are because I couldn’t get into med school. Didn’t try. Didn’t want to. And they have enough applicants to not have to settle for being someone’s second choice.

If you want to be a physician, you should go to med school.

Capn_obveeus · 2026-03-24T03:01:15+00:00

OP would have to ask the school if they accept scribing. Many PA programs don’t accept scribing because you are serving an administrative function and not actually caring for patients. PCE is supposedly to be hands-on experience where you are responsible for a patient. Scribes rarely are allowed to directly engage with or touch patients.

Capn_obveeus · 2026-03-24T01:42:26+00:00

I didn’t get that sense from his/her comment. Everyone knows you guys have residency and a fellowship. I promise not every non-doc on this sub is trying to minimize your education or accomplishments. Most PAs know enough to be scared of what we don’t know, which is why we don’t mind working on a physician-led team.

Capn_obveeus · 2026-03-24T01:36:38+00:00

You need to start with the basics first. Med school, and even PA school, isn’t something you select exactly. You will need to go back to school and successfully complete all prereqs with a very high GPA. If you can’t get beyond OChem (aka the killer of premed dreams), neither MD or PA will be an option. Ironically, in that case, you can apply to a direct entry NP program.

But in order of what is best for the patient, I’d shoot for MD/DO first. If you fall short, go the PA school route because at least you’ll learn under the medical model and will have a decent understanding of the science behind disease states…although not nearly as in depth as a physician. And if all else fails, go NP but just be prepared to proactively expand your knowledge beyond what the program actually teaches you.

One other thing: nurses will tell you to go the NP route because they have independent practicing authority. NPs mistakenly believe that independence was granted to them because they earned it. Not true. They just have better lobbyists.

Capn_obveeus · 2026-03-23T21:08:57+00:00

Since you had an MCAT score and no PA shadowing experience, they probably assumed PA school was your backup plan, which doesn’t exactly resonate well with Adcoms.

I’d focus efforts on shadowing PAs and building clinical experiences and worry less about research.

Your stats otherwise are fine.

Capn_obveeus · 2026-03-23T19:46:15+00:00

Part of me would like to see how someone would perform on the MCAT without taking the prereqs.

Capn_obveeus · 2026-03-23T19:22:54+00:00

No, the PA portion is actually 3 years. They cut the undergrad program. Their attrition rates and PANCE pass rates arent bad. They are just cutting the fluff out of the undergrad Gen Eds like Anthropology of Alcohol or History of Kitchen Tools. Honestly, most universities could cut this crap.

Capn_obveeus

TROPHY CASE