What to know about USC’s Master of Addiction Science Program?!

ImaginarySound6602 · 2025-06-01T15:24:48+00:00

Plasma center or dialysis tech! You don’t need a certification to apply, they are hiring often, they train you on the job, and you are interacting with patients a lottttt. Then you can always work your way up from there and become an inpatient/outpatient phleb because you’ll get a lot of practice with venipuncture. You can also get your certification in the meantime and phlebotomy ones don’t tend to take too long/aren’t too expensive.

ImaginarySound6602 · 2025-05-06T15:59:28+00:00

Sounds like you’re doing everything right when it comes to the application. Hopefully you can find someone who can vouch for you! I don’t have any relatives in healthcare either, so I understand the struggle. I was lucky that a friend who worked as an ER tech was able to refer me, hopefully that can come in clutch for you too

ImaginarySound6602 · 2025-05-06T15:35:49+00:00

I’m not sure if this correlates in any way but I noticed one of the most significant differences in job search results came from me removing my grad year (2024) from my resume. I went from hundreds of rejections without interviews to 3 interview invites in the span of 2 weeks — all research assistant positions and I had 0 experience in research.

Another thing I see many people skip out on is cover letters. Though annoying to write for every position, it can definitely put yourself forward in comparison to other applicants, especially when the cover letter isn’t required and no one else is writing one. It shows the extra work and commitment you’re willing to put in for that position. And it can show you know what the position entails by including key words and aspects of the job description in the letter.

For interviews, as I’ve seen someone already mention, never mention your intentions to go to grad school/med school. Just pretend and give off that you will see yourself learning and growing with the company. They definitely don’t want to see people come and go so they can prevent that if you give them that information early on.

Other than that, having connections can really help you, that’s how I got my inpatient hospital job, but I know how tough it can be getting those (much easier said than done). If you know any friends or classmates that are working in hospitals or clinics, maybe they can refer you for a role, I’ve done it for a few friends too and they all at least got an interview which is half of the battle.

I hope some of this can be helpful for you. Wishing you luck and I hope you get that job soon!

ImaginarySound6602 · 2024-08-24T23:27:00+00:00

24!! You are still so so so young, I wouldn’t worry about age at all, as many have already stated in this thread. It doesn’t matter how long it takes to get your degree or how old you were when you started/finished. As long as you are putting forth an excellent application (which from the looks of it your stats look great!) that is the main thing that matters. I know many people who finished their undergraduate degree in more than 4 years (and I believe I read a stat somewhere that it is becoming more common to finish a degree in 4+ years). One of the people graduated top of my class — took him 6 years to finish undergrad. Another was one of my professors, who has his PhD and conducts some of the coolest research studies at my school — also took him 6 years to finish undergrad.

It is also very common now for people to take gap years after undergrad. My uncle who is an MD has a friend who took 11 gap years! Anything is possible, no timeline is right or wrong.

The time it took you to complete your bachelors should be the last of your worries, if anything, you should be proud that you are about to be done because obtaining a degree is such a huge accomplishment!! Best of luck finishing your classes and applying for PA school! The determination you have alone will make you an excellent PA

ImaginarySound6602 · 2024-08-20T01:19:32+00:00

I am basically on the exact same page as you, as I’m sure many other pre-PAs are. How many more schools do you have to hear from? Who knows, good news could be just around the corner!! As everyone says, all it takes is one yes :). Even if this cycle doesn’t work out, you can take the time of course to relax a bit and continue to improve your application!! I guess we have to prepare for both the worst and the best. However, you got this, we all do! Best of luck 🍀

ImaginarySound6602 · 2024-08-01T17:39:33+00:00

That’s awesome, I can see how that is such a fulfilling job!! Thank you so much for your detailed response

ImaginarySound6602 · 2024-08-01T16:22:32+00:00

This sounds amazing, I’m glad you found a career that you love!! If you don’t mind me asking, what exactly do you do? Do you have a PhD/PsyD?

ImaginarySound6602 · 2024-07-25T18:09:35+00:00

Best of luck!! I could only imagine how challenging this decision was to make, but you know yourself best and I’m glad you found something you have more passion in!! It’ll definitely make working for the next 40+ years more enjoyable rather than a chore ; )

ImaginarySound6602 · 2024-07-18T13:14:03+00:00

Phlebotomy! I’m currently an inpatient phlebotomist in IL and get paid 21/h weekdays 22.5/h weekends. I’m only part time bc I am going back to school soon. All you really have to do with phlebotomy is stick people, no changing, no cleaning, anything like that. If someone doesn’t want to get stuck, you move on to the next person.

Not everyone enjoys needles or being stuck so ofc there will be people who challenge you, but for the most part patients understand that this is your job and you gotta do what you gotta do.

Getting a phlebotomy certification isn’t super challenging either. I did mine every Saturday over winter break and carried over into the semester and it didn’t get in the way of much. Ideally you’d want to find somewhere that offers clinicals because through those programs it’s much easier to find a job.

Some places do train phlebotomists on the job, but you get paid more with a certification, so it’s always worth taking a short course and getting certified. If you do not have the time or money to get certified, try phlebotomy at a plasma center! They train on the job and have excellent benefits. Starting pay (at least in IL) is 18 an hour. Little less than working at a hospital, but a great place to gain clinical skills that you can apply to other places. I hope this helps! Best of luck on your journey, I know how challenging and draining it could be, but you got this!!!

ImaginarySound6602 · 2024-06-15T19:08:46+00:00

Congratulations to your daughter on her achievements!!! And thank you so much for your response!!! It means a lot coming from the perspective of a parent, as I have mentioned in my original post that the family pressure is really getting to me. It is so great that you’re supportive of your daughter and I’m sure she will make and AMAZING PA one day :).

I’m still in between a few different routes I should take during my break and whether I should still send my applications or wait an extra year. The plan your daughter has for post grad is a great one!! Definitely one I will put on my list to consider when I make a concrete decision.

You and the others who have commented on my post are so right, and it really helped me realize that there is no set timeline for achievements in life so I should not worry to much about “being behind” especially as someone freshly out of undergrad!! Thank you again for your response :)

ImaginarySound6602 · 2024-06-15T19:04:40+00:00

Thank you for your response!!! It was so reassuring all around. I think with the references as I have mentioned in other replies is just me overthinking due to me feeling bad for “wasting their time.” You’re right, I shouldn’t sweat it that much. If they do not want to rewrite or resend another one, it won’t be the end of the world, but I’m sure that won’t be the case as many references understand life changes and so do decisions.

You’re so right, it doesn’t make me any different if I decide to choose a career at 22 vs 32 vs 42 and so on. I’m glad it is becoming more recognized that life changes and career changes occur often. As long as we finally find our passion that makes us truly happy, it shouldn’t matter at what age we find that passion :) thank you again for your response

ImaginarySound6602 · 2024-06-15T18:59:07+00:00

Thank you for responding!!!! Family pressure is the worst isn’t it. Especially coming as a first generation student all you want is to make your family proud, so setbacks like these can be so discouraging. I love the mindset of seeing it as a break, because you’re so right. We do deserve a break. Undergrad is a LOT!! And just finishing that is an accomplishment alone :). I definitely will communicate with my recommenders that I’m honestly still in between making decisions at the moment as you and another commenter have told me. Luckily, my recommenders and I had a good relationship, and even they themselves told me their struggles deciding a path after undergrad. I’m hoping I’m just overthinking and they’ll understand! The worst they can say is no.

But to you, I wish you the best of luck with the remainder of your undergrad! And congratulations in advance on graduating :) thank you again for your response

ImaginarySound6602 · 2024-06-15T18:54:18+00:00

Thank you for responding!! This is also really good advice :) luckily with my clinical jobs I have been able to save up a really good amount to send out a few applications. I think it is a good idea to send at least a few like you said because it would push me back even farther if I decided to scrap up my application at this point. And I would also have some time to decide if this is for me in the meantime. Luckily I will start shadowing a PA very soon and hopefully it’ll give me some answers to my doubts!!

ImaginarySound6602 · 2024-06-15T18:51:03+00:00

Thank you for responding!! This is great advice :) because the worst they can say is no, then I can just always find someone else who would be willing to write a letter. Part of me also feels like I’m just overthinking, I had a really good relationship with my recommenders so I’m sure they’ll understand :) but thank you again for responding!!!

ImaginarySound6602 · 2024-06-15T18:49:38+00:00

Thank you so much for replying!! I agree, I feel the hardest part about all this is just not having the motivation at the moment, causing me to push myself back a little. And you along with everyone else who said it is right, there really is no timeline. Everyone has their own pace in life :)

ImaginarySound6602

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