Choosing a PA School

Applying to PA school is already a nerve-wrecking process. But how do you decide which schools to apply to? If you don't have enough money to apply to an infinite amount of schools, (because who does?) you have to be smart and strategic about choosing the PA school that is best for you.

Here are some things I think you should consider when choosing a PA school

Location: Where do you want to be? Think about city vs small town. Consider possible distractions. What's the climate?

Research the School: What are the school's mission, goals, and values? Do those align with you? Is the school accredited and when is their next review? Have they lost accreditation before and why? What is their PANCE pass rate? This is important because ultimately you are there to acquire the skills and information you need to become a certified, practicing Physician Assistant.

Cost: Consider in-state vs out-of-state tuition. Also consider the cost of living in the area where you will be attending school. You will still be responsible for rent, bills, and groceries without any source of income. Of course you can take out loans, but seriously look at the cost. You may want to save as much money as you can.

Rotation Availability: What affiliations does the school have? Clinical rotations are equally as important as didactic year. You're going to be practicing the skills you learned during didactic year. Some students are hired by locations where they did a rotation, so actually liking the location where your school or rotations are is a plus!

Class Size: How many students do they accept? Don't just think about this for your chances of getting in. Instead, think of the class size in the aspect of how close and personal you want to be with the staff and your professors. I only applied to schools with class sizes ranging from 20-50. I wanted to make sure if I needed help or special attention, there would be enough staff to accommodate my needs.

Length of Program/Start Date: How long is the program? PA programs range from 23-27 months. When is the start date? Some schools start in January for Spring, Summer, or Fall. Think about where you are in life. Will all of your undergrad courses and prerequisites be complete by the deadline? Do you want to try to work and save money before starting school? Any other obligations going on (personal, family, etc). Take all of those things into consideration.

Does it feel right to YOU?: After your interview, talk with the professors, staff, and current students. How do they feel about the program? Current students can provide a lot of insight. Don't be afraid to ask them anything. Remember going to PA school is an investment in yourself. Be sure to chose a school that feels like the perfect fit to you.

 Feel free to reach out to me with any questions :)