If it’s always been your dream to become a physician assistant, then you’re probably preparing for it early on before you even set foot in University — which is a good idea considering that your journey to becoming a PA starts with your undergraduate years.
A lot of the decisions you make in college can either make or break your chances of getting into PA school, so it’s important that you choose your degree wisely, complete the prerequisite courses, maintain a good GPA, and stay on track with your schedule.
To help you advance your academic standing and increase your chances of getting into the PA school of your choice, we created this complete guide on the best majors for PA school and how to choose the one that’s right for you.
Does Major Matter for PA School?
A lot of people believe that to be eligible for PA school admission, they need to obtain a related course, specifically on science or health. But actually, there is no exact list of courses you need to take for PA school. The undergraduate degree you choose is entirely up to you. All that PA schools require is that you earn a bachelor’s degree.
While there is no such thing as the “right” major to get into PA school, some programs will have certain prerequisites that they require their applicants to complete. In essence, you can take any major you want and still be qualified for PA school as long as you have completed the required credits, which include, among others:
Anatomy
Biology
Chemistry
Healthcare Ethics
Mathematics
Medical terminology
Microbiology
Physiology
Statistics
Most students who end up in PA school take courses that align with the nature of the PA profession. Statistics show that the most common degrees for aspiring PAs are biology (41.5%) and health sciences (14.8%).
However, some students take other majors and decide to go to PA school later on, which is more than okay. They take the required prerequisites after their undergraduate degree and before applying for PA school to complete the required units. This just shows that you don’t have to worry about taking an undergraduate degree that suits PA school because most programs do not favor applicants with related majors.
How to Choose the Best Major for PA School Prep?
While it’s okay to take any course you want before transitioning to PA school, some students may prefer to take a related course as an undergraduate degree. If you have a couple of majors you want to pursue but can’t decide on which one will best gear you towards your chosen profession as a PA, here are some things to consider for your PA school and undergraduate preparation.
Don't Choose a Major to Impress PA Schools
A lot of students make the mistake of basing their choice of undergraduate degree on what they think will impress PA schools the best. But let us be the ones to tell you that the courses you took during college is not one of the prime factors that PA schools look into when deciding your admission.
Any type of major is accepted in PA schools, as long as the applicant has completed the prerequisite units and hours of healthcare experience. PA schools do not favor those who have majored in science or health. There are other more crucial factors they consider for their decision, such as skills, GPA, GED score, and even how well the applicant performs in their interview.
Your choice of an undergraduate degree will matter way less than your actual motivation and intention to excel in PA school and become a great physician assistant in the future. With that, your basis for your choice of undergraduate studies should not be what you think would impress PA schools the best.
Instead, your choice should be one that you are eager to pursue — something related to your skills and interests. Having this mindset will motivate you to complete your degree and make a smooth transition to your PA education. Think of it this way: a student with a background in medical courses or science is a strong candidate. But that doesn’t mean that someone without it is less favorable. In fact, it makes them a well-rounded student and hence, also a strong candidate.
Think About Efficiency
While you can take any type of course and still be qualified for PA school, it’s important that you consider efficiency. We’re sure you don’t want to complete a 4-year degree and take some more classes just to meet PA school prerequisites, right? There are a lot of courses in undergraduate majors that can overlap with courses required by PA school.
For example, certain courses you take in a science major, such as biology and anatomy, can knock out these two unit prerequisites in your PA school application. But do keep in mind that different schools and programs may have different prerequisites as well. It’s important to know what are the most commonly required prerequisites so that you can make the most efficient degree choice.
To give you an idea, here are the most common prerequisites required by most PA schools:
Anatomy (required by 94% of PA schools)
General chemistry (required by 84% of PA schools)
Physiology (required by 83% of PA schools)
Microbiology (required by 80% of PA schools)
Statistics (required by 74% of PA schools)
General psychology (required by 61% of PA schools)
If you’re considering taking up a specialization or a post-baccalaureate program, it’s also worth thinking about which courses you can take in your undergrad years that would overlap with the requirements of the higher education you’re aiming to attain.
Do your research on the prerequisites required by the PA school of your choice. To start, choose about 5 schools where you would like to attend for your post-graduate PA education. Check their admissions requirements or speak to an admissions representative to get a better idea of their prerequisites list. The more informed you are, the better you can decide what degree would be more efficient for you to pursue.
Don't Be Afraid of Challenges
You might be hesitant to take a science major because of the difficulty of the degree and the courses involved. Certain degree tracks that are related to PA education can be more challenging than other majors. But instead of shying away from them, embrace the challenging degree tracks!
The true intent of PA school prerequisites is to prepare you for the courses that you will be taking when you begin your post-graduate PA education. By taking prerequisite courses, you are gaining basic knowledge on medical concepts, which will greatly contribute to your success in PA school.
Taking the prerequisites gives you the confidence that you can handle the courses that you need to complete to become a PA. Further, being up for the challenge allows you to learn and develop adaptive skills, mindsets, and important characteristics that will greatly serve you during your PA training and in the profession itself.
So be brave enough to choose a challenging course — one that will help you gain the skills, knowledge, and experience you need to excel in PA school. This will benefit you more than choosing a major that you think would impress the PA program you are applying for.
Science Major is Not a Must
Contrary to popular belief, a science major is not a requirement to get into PA school. Your options when it comes to your undergraduate degree are limitless and you can take whatever major you want. However, that doesn’t mean that science courses should be completely out of the picture.
While not required, science courses are highly beneficial in helping you gain the basic knowledge you need to excel in PA school courses. By taking a science major, you can also hit two birds with one stone: completing your bachelor’s degree while knocking out prerequisite requirements for your PA school application.
Another thing that you have to consider is taking a course that has some sort of relationship or application to science or medicine. Although you can be accepted to PA school with a degree in photography, literature, history, etc., it may be difficult to prove your interest in pursuing a medical career. Further, it can be harder for you to excel in PA school without a science or medical background.
At the same time, you can always decide to take science courses in the future to meet the required prerequisites. But let’s go back to efficiency here. If you really want to become a PA, it’s a good idea to choose a major that covers courses that overlap with PA school prerequisite requirements.
Remember: PA Schools Have Other Requirements
The whole reason why PA schools don’t require a particular major is that they put more weight on other things. The requirements asked of you are meant to help the school determine your qualifications and whether or not you are a good fit for their program.
Hence, they’re not just going to be looking at your undergraduate major. They will look at your GPA, GED, GRE score, healthcare experience, interview performance, etc. There are so many things more important to PA schools than just your undergraduate degree, so you don’t need to stress too much about choosing a major that will impress the PA program of your choice.
What are the Best Majors for PA School?
If you’re keen on pursuing an undergraduate degree that will help excel in PA school, you can choose a related major with minors in science courses. Among the most common majors that pre-PA school students pursue include:
Biology
Biochemistry
Biomedical Science
Chemistry
Health Sciences
Kinesiology
Medical Ethics
Medical Technology
Neuroscience
Nutrition or Family and Consumer Sciences
Psychology
These are majors that incorporate many prerequisite courses often required by PA schools. Within these majors, you can gain initial knowledge on medical concepts, sciences, health ethics, etc. that you will cover more in-depth in your PA school education.
Choose the Major that is the Best for You
It’s important to understand that there are no specific majors that are best for PA school. Whether you are set on pursuing PA education after your undergraduate studies or not, you should choose the major that is best for you!
Remember that PA schools do not favor science courses or candidates with medical or health backgrounds. You can choose any type of degree you want and still be in the running to pursue PA education in the future.
What matters the most is that you choose a major that suits you, your interests, your passions, and your skills. Otherwise, you’ll get bored and unmotivated to pursue higher education. Do what is right for you and not what you think will impress PA programs.