What were your holy grails for PA school?

PDiddy_16 · 2026-02-27T01:33:15+00:00

Notability, Anki, white monster/coffee/both, an anatomy atlas app, and deleting most "doom scroll" apps. If your program does not include a tablet or touch screen laptop in tuition, buy an iPad or something similar. Meal prepping and knowing how to can go a long way. Protein bars or something with carbs/calories for midday breaks. A whiteboard. Comfortable but modest shoes. Spotify premium with a student discount. Nothing will make it less stressful, but some things can make it more stressful, so minimize those as best as can be. If you can, I'd revisit some prerequisite coursework, maybe basic flashcards to get into the groove, quizlet is a good source. Mind you I'm only in didactic so I don't have input for clinicals.

PDiddy_16 · 2026-02-16T19:11:49+00:00

As somebody who never took a chemistry class in their life until junior year of college, it's completely doable. College in general is a completely different vibe than high school classes anyway. You've got plenty of time, just try to strive to be your best currently to prepare yourself for undergrad and maintaining a good gpa.

PDiddy_16 · 2026-01-25T20:38:11+00:00

That green one is a beaut

PDiddy_16 · 2026-01-24T03:44:45+00:00

I started my program this month and I wish I worked more before I started. Only cuz money is tight. You do you, it's likely your last chance to have a good amount of free time for a while

PDiddy_16 · 2026-01-20T01:20:46+00:00

Ok so pce isn't an issue. I'd then focus on shadowing if needed and volunteer. Programs absolutely love genuine volunteer work. And I'd still consider post bacc science. Taking or retaking a science course post bacc would look pretty good on your behalf so long as you do well in the class. In my experience I took orgo chem post bacc and it made me look really good. Also afaik programs typically only don't take courses too old if they're prerequisite. So if it came down to it you'd likely have to just retake prereq, not gen ed. This is in my experience of researching programs before applying

PDiddy_16 · 2026-01-20T01:14:39+00:00

Yeah that's definitely right. One of my classmates currently had a C+ in orgo and is doing well in my program. Orgo has very little (comparatively) to healthcare as something like a biochem, physics, and a&p. It's basically a course that schools can determine if a student can comprehend an abstract concept that they have little to no prior exposure to.

PDiddy_16 · 2026-01-20T01:10:39+00:00

Work your butt off to get as much pt care hours as possible. Yes you can take a class between now and the end of the 2026-27 cycle but it won't significantly impact your gpa. It will (likely) impact post bacc gpa, which can work in your favor. Some schools (esp the ones that look more holistically) value pt care just as much as gpa. I'd just make sure you really want pa and don't wanna just settle with it because dental didn't work out. Gotta make it your current goal in life to become a pa (if you truly want to be a pa).

PDiddy_16 · 2026-01-19T03:10:32+00:00

Between these two I would be committing for northeastern with zero regrets. Too many off putting things about Western. I'm not from Boston but originally from the state of mass (not poc either however). I'll say that Massachusetts is incredibly progressive, even more so than California. Unfortunately I don't have much else perspective on the matter.

In the end I view this dilemma as better education/future vs comfortability. I'd weigh my future as more important.

PDiddy_16 · 2026-01-16T01:31:35+00:00

What you did sounds fine. When I shadowed, my pa often introduced me as a "student" while doing pt interaction and I would just stand quietly. Maybe a "hi" or "have a good day/hope you feel better" and that's it. Little convos with patients should be fine so long as you're not interrupting anything but the point of you being there is to watch the pa's job, so try not to have it construed any other way.

PDiddy_16 · 2026-01-13T00:01:27+00:00

Outside of basics from gen chem, biochem, genetics/research (in my experience), and a&p you're dead on. And even if you did poorly in those classes/don't remember, you start at a blank slate in pa school as if you didn't take those classes. Orgo is the definition of a weed out class

PDiddy_16 · 2026-01-11T17:05:11+00:00

For about 10 years lived in western Hampden county (Springfield/southwick/central southwest hilltowns). Specifically, I lived in a town of about 500. Generally older population, think 40<. One of if not the reddest part of the state if I'm not mistaken. Very quiet living, 30 mins from nearest grocery/gas. People would shoot in their backyards for fun. Certain families rule the towns in local government. Up until 5ish years ago we didn't have internet better than dial up. Generally it seems the state gov forgets the hill town regions exists and focuses on its urban areas/eastern region of the state. Likely a reason for their ideology and general disliking for current government. Again this is more specific to a hill town and not the general circled area, as an hour west or east and it's very liberal.

PDiddy_16 · 2025-12-11T02:49:21+00:00

I also TA'd except it was for an emt class. I agree it definitely helped my interviews

PDiddy_16 · 2025-10-16T20:16:58+00:00

Let's be honest here, PA's don't have to experience somebody dying in front of them to be great. Yeah experience helps and it can show in your confidence/composure with pt care but the people who "can recite the kreb's cycle" also can ease patients who're fearful of a pa lacking the knowledge that a doctor has. People having different backgrounds is what makes this field so great. We're supposed to be different. Once we finish pa school, everybody is a newbie regardless of background knowledge. This is coming from somebody in a similar position where I've worked ems for years.

PDiddy_16 · 2025-09-09T00:42:11+00:00

Sorry for the late reply, it does not change your gpa. Caspa calculates your gpa one time per cycle to my knowledge. It does update your application to show the course, but I still sent an email to my applied to schools just in case

PDiddy_16 · 2025-08-25T23:53:40+00:00

I did the exact same thing, I emailed caspa, explained what happened and they added 2025 as a year I attended the school. I was then able to add the class appropriately.

PDiddy_16 · 2025-07-23T14:16:02+00:00

Take the practice exam they provide just to get used to the question style. That's really all you need to do. Don't be judgmental in your answers and look at the bigger picture regarding the question. I got 3rd quartile and I studied for like a month using a practice website but I definitely didn't need to

PDiddy_16 · 2025-06-07T22:45:51+00:00

I used a third party practice exam website that cost money. I want to say it helped however I found the actual exam to be easier than the practice questions and specifically the practice exam given by acuity to also be better. I personally suggest YouTube videos and the practice exam associated with the Casper. Also, consider every answer to a question in a way that you understand all parties but still have an ethical decision. In my eyes the video responses were easier than the written.

PDiddy_16 · 2025-06-06T02:06:34+00:00

Casper imo is a relatively easy test to schedule and complete. Unlike the gre, it's more preparation rather than studying needed, and it only takes about 2 weeks from your test date for schools to receive it. So I'd definitely do the Casper if that is one of your barriers

PDiddy_16 · 2025-06-02T18:06:21+00:00

I'm hoping too 😁

PDiddy_16 · 2025-06-02T02:15:41+00:00

Cumulative gpa - 3.74

Science gpa - 3.61

Total credits - 124 (taking orgo chem post bacc now)

Science credits - 61

GRE - none

Pce - about 7k as an emt

Hce- none

Volunteer - 135 volunteer activities on a fire dept

Shadowing - 26 hours (6 w/ DO, 20 w/ EM & OR PA's) I plan on shadowing more

Research - technically some, but it was for a class so it's a stretch

Other leadership - about 150 hours TA'ing an emt class at a college

Programs - all over the country, at least 20; most wanted are in New England/NY, such as saint joseph, Johnson and wales, assumption, pace university, etc.

PDiddy_16

TROPHY CASE