Analysis of an Applicant*updated

I am about ready to enter my transcript grades into CASPA, so while I have the info out, I figure I will give some detailed background about where I am coming from as a future PA-S applicant!

My grades are solid. I graduated from my undergrad school with a 3.38 overall, which is average, but I'm very proud of considering the level of academic intensity at the school, the fact I was a double major, being a two sport athlete and worked part time. I should be okay, because I can tangibly prove to an ADCOM that I can handle a tough workload. That's one thing working in my favor!

Just going through general prereq's, here is what I am looking at:

Anatomy and Physiology 1: B
Anatomy and Physiology 2: B+
Chemistry 1: B+
Chemistry 2: A
Organic Chem: A
Biology 1: A
Biology 2: A
Microbiology: A-
General Psychology: B
Human Development: A-
Sociology: B+
Statistics: B
English Comp: A
Medical Terminology: A

Other science classes that I have taken:
Biophysical Foundations of Human Movement: B
Basic Athletic Training: A-
Motor Control and Learning: A
Exercise Physiology: B
Anatomical Kinesiology: A-
Advanced Exercise Physiology: A-
Biomechanics: B
Disorders of Voluntary Movement: B+
Neurophysiology: B+

I'm guessing that my science GPA is a 3.46, and that is using Iowa State's University's GPA calculator. My post-grad GPA (Bio 1, Chem 2, Microbio, and two health care study classes) is a 3.92, and they say that ADCOMMs look for upward improvement. So that is a plus there.

Other good things for my application include being a volunteer host for an recreation and kinesiology conference at my school, volunteering at a gang-prevention center and organizing a fundraiser that raised $1000, going on a mission's trip to Latin America, and being a TA for a year. I also got some awards my senior year, two for servant leadership, one for being an Academic All-American for softball, and one for being Outstanding Recreation Student of the Year for Massachusetts. Therefore, extra-curricularly I think I look okay.

Here is the biggest (or two biggest) problems: My age! And lack of experience! Both are HUGE flaws. I'm 22 now, but I'll be 23 when I apply and start school. That's below the average, which is somewhere around 27. Also, the only patient contact experience I have thus far is my 2 credit internship in cardiac rehabilitation, which only got me 56 hours. thankfully I learned to do blood pressure, and oxygen and blood sugar levels, which helps a little. I've started volunteering at an outpatient chemotherapy center, and I'll probably have 100 hours by the time I apply. Not only that, I'm going to start volunteering in an ER, which will give me another 100 hours. I plan on getting at least 50 hours of shadowing in before I apply. Basically I'll have 300 hours of patient care experience when I submit my application, which is pitiful compared people who will apply with thousands and thousands of hours. I too am a proponent that those who are the most experienced will be the best off as PAs. Therefore I have some obstacles to overcome, and it's a good thing I love challenges.

I think the thing that will really make or break me then is my interview. I won't worry about it so much this summer, but once fall hits that is going to be my main focus. I will really need to work on how I am going to present myself as someone who deserves a spot in a PA program more than someone with more experience. That's going to be tough, but like I said before, I welcome the challenge.

Throughout all my planning and whatnot, I realized that I need to have a backup plan. It would be stupid of me to place all my eggs in one basket, so to speak, only to not be accepted and left hanging with no direction. Therefore, in the event I don't get accepted, I'm going to get my EMT-B training from the community college I am currently taking classes at. I wanted to get it done this past semester, but the only time it was offered was at night, when I do all my nannying for the family I live with. If I don't get accepted, I will do my training Fall 09 (and I can take it as a 8 credit course which will allow me to defer my undergrad loans), and work or nanny full time in the day. Then Spring '10 I would take some enhancer courses, maybe genetics or Biochem, and hopefully be getting some hours in on an ambulance.

As much as I acknowledge how important patient contact experience is, there are so many factors that make it essential for me to at least apply now. I have my undergrad loans that are racking up interest, and if I had to start paying them now, I would have to work two jobs and wouldn't be able to take the classes I need. Plus, I can still be a dependent for tax purposes with my parents (since they do take care of my insurance and car maintenance), but only until I am 25. I need to be a dependent in order to get the specific scholarship I am looking for. But that's another post.


I feel like this post is getting on the longer side, so I need to wrap things up. In conclusion, I think I'm on the fence in terms of my chances of being considered a good applicant. I know people in my situation have been accepted though, so it's all about how well I can sell myself.

But can I say, even if I don't get into school for 5 more years, that won't affect how excited I will be to be able to contribute to my community in such a role. I've never felt this much calling in terms of vocation in my life before, so this is all very exciting to me.