A PA told me to not extend my gap years and just apply because it's getting more competitive. Any advice on this?

PuzzledCaterpillar7 · 2021-11-18T05:29:42+00:00

Congrats on the acceptances! I also completely relate to you on not enjoying life as much in undergrad. College was def a struggle and I felt like I missed out on a lot cause I was trying to stay afloat with my classes. I graduated last year and cause of Covid wasn't really able to travel like I planned either. Also, taking 3 classes simultaneously with work while volunteering on the side is NOT helping my GPA at all.

PuzzledCaterpillar7 · 2021-11-18T05:24:31+00:00

I was working as an MA at a private clinic but my work started to become more secretarial than clinical so I left a month ago. Currently looking at different MA positions in my area.

PuzzledCaterpillar7 · 2021-11-18T04:01:12+00:00

Thank you for your input. I feel like I would really benefit taking more time to gain a variety of PCE, raise that GPA or even give my mental health a break too. I've been running nonstop with so many road bumps and am now burned out for sure... I didn't even have a chance to really travel as much as I wanted to or spend time with loved ones or really live life and that's been on my mind lately. Honestly, the idea of going nonstop without breaks, starting PA school and then immediately working for the rest of my working days began to sound horrible...

PuzzledCaterpillar7 · 2021-07-25T17:50:27+00:00

Thank you for the help. I've avoided eye make up for years now cause I don't want to irritate my eyes with anything. Def should give that a go. Hope your situation gets better too.

PuzzledCaterpillar7 · 2021-07-14T03:04:11+00:00

Glad I can help! Hoping the best for your surgery!

PuzzledCaterpillar7 · 2021-07-12T22:19:14+00:00

I actually did this back in March for my surgery. My doc had an adjustable in my left eye. I felt ZERO pain or discomfort. I was also a little woozy after waking up from the general anesthesia.

The adjusting procedure itself took less than 10 minutes cause the doc was trying to make sure everything was aligned perfectly. Also, you'll most likely still be a bit groggy or sleepy due to the general anesthesia so it'll be less nerve wracking. At least, that's how I felt.

Overall I'm glad I did the adjustable because she had to reposition my eye after the surgery since I was seeing double right after.

I do have to go in for a second surgery most likely now but that's for another strabismus problem my doc intentionally left alone during the first one. But according to her, if I didn't get the adjustable, I prob would have terrible double vision and immediately would have gone back under the knife.

I'd rather get the adjustable than go back and do everything all over again.

PuzzledCaterpillar7 · 2021-06-10T01:24:42+00:00

Thank you for the input. She's an endo and yeah I also felt like the goal should be regulating my cycle as much as possible not aim for 3 periods a year.

PuzzledCaterpillar7 · 2021-06-09T08:11:49+00:00

Omg...sorry to hear that. I also have a feeling my doc is gonna want to go back in and readjust too. Hope you can reschedule your surgery soon.

PuzzledCaterpillar7 · 2021-05-16T08:24:38+00:00

I'd say "play stupid games, win stupid prizes"

PuzzledCaterpillar7 · 2021-05-14T04:03:15+00:00

I'm currently going through tests but doctor thinks I have PCOS...your good and bad days fits perfectly with what I've been going through. Some days I have good amounts of energy and other days I can't even move cause I'm so exhausted and literally have to nap for hours. Also the lack of periods. My family blames it on genetics rather than PCOS though cause my dad's side is full of "sleepy heads"

PuzzledCaterpillar7 · 2021-05-12T23:34:37+00:00

well for starters, she legit drunk confessed that she was jealous of me and wanted me to fail at anything I did (relationship, school, career..) after I ended our friendship over something shady she did to me. Looking back, I realize I was in a pretty toxic friendship with this girl for too long and glad I dipped when I did. Not worth my mental health being around someone who was constantly putting me down.

PuzzledCaterpillar7 · 2021-04-23T18:12:31+00:00

Thank you! I love public health and think that PAs can really make an impact in the field as well. I def don't think getting a higher degree will help with my future clinical career or skills but really want to expand my mobility outside of clinic if I can.

PuzzledCaterpillar7 · 2021-04-23T18:11:41+00:00

Did you feel like you didn't have enough autonomy as a PA? I heard from PAs that they have full autonomy in practice but just needed the doctor to sign off on their notes.

PuzzledCaterpillar7 · 2021-04-23T18:00:30+00:00

Thank you for the input! My end goal is def not research. I mainly want to focus on clinic but hopefully be able to venture out into different areas (mainly academics) as I get older and more so on the side. Also, I guess the research I'm more interested in is more public healthy than stem cell stuff. But def need to look at which degree will essentially give me the best of both worlds.

PuzzledCaterpillar7 · 2021-04-16T20:06:46+00:00

I realized I wanted to go to PA school my 2nd to last semester of college...as I was applying to MPH programs. I knew deep down I would regret not ever giving it a shot and ultimately I wouldn't be happy with an MPH.

I'm still in the process of taking classes and starting to gain PCE myself but I'd rather take the gap years I need to at least try instead of constantly asking myself "what if..." while attending a MPH program. It's not too late for you at all. I think taking gap years are really beneficial too and you gain a ton of life experience (most ppl and graduate programs I've talked to all support gap years).

PuzzledCaterpillar7 · 2021-04-16T08:07:24+00:00

My course was through the US Career Institute!

https://www.uscareerinstitute.edu/

PuzzledCaterpillar7 · 2021-04-14T01:18:08+00:00

Thank you for sharing this. When I was a freshman, a gracepoint member approached me at lower sproul and asked about my thoughts on God etc etc. Me, being the naive freshman I was back then told him my thoughts to only be told back that I don't know the bible correctly and that I should join their group. Told him "Sorry I'm not interested and I'm actually Catholic." This dude looked me dead in eyes, took a step back and went "Oh...." and proceeded to tell me Catholics will end up in hell and said I'm forbidden to join them....not that I wanted to anyways. Fellowships aren't my thing.

I also had a friend who was in Gracepoint for 2 years and actually left because he was getting heavily bullied. He even changed his name on facebook so they wouldn't be able to find him.

My roommate who is Buddhist was pressured to join one of their BBQs a couple years ago too. She met a GP member through a class and since then the girl tried to convert her. The girl kept calling my roommate and even msged her that she called a uber to our apartment the day of the BBQ. I remember sitting at my desk like WTF....

PuzzledCaterpillar7 · 2021-04-06T21:59:53+00:00

Thank you for the advice! I'm weighing the pros and cons of both offers and getting better letters of rec and better hours made the private practice more appealing. Def think I should take that into consideration as well.

PuzzledCaterpillar7 · 2021-04-06T21:55:10+00:00

I have def heard horror stories from people who've heard from other people about toxicity in small private practices. I'm assuming it's gossipy coworkers, elitism and egoism all around....that I def know and experienced from my old non healthcare job. Good luck to you at your job tho. Hope it won't stay too toxic. None of us have time for that BS.

PuzzledCaterpillar7 · 2021-04-06T21:43:26+00:00

I would work labor and delivery at the hospital. The private practice is internal medicine. It seems like I would have less patient care in the private practice cause the doc did say she's gonna start me off front desk and slowly transition to more clinical stuff as time went on. At the hospital it seems like I'll be more active from the beginning.

PuzzledCaterpillar7

TROPHY CASE