The journey to becoming a physician assistant starts from your preparation period. This can be several months before you officially enroll in the PA school of your choice and start taking your courses.
The preparation period can be considered one of the most important aspects of your career as a PA, considering that this is when you will make the most important decisions that will shape your entire journey.
The importance of proper and adequate preparation before jumping in. When it comes to sending in your applications, you may think that you should apply to as many PA schools as you can, in hopes that at least one will accept you. While this seems to increase your chances of being admitted to a PA school, it’s also quite counterproductive.
As you begin your journey to becoming the PA you aspire to be, you need to be specific and selective. Having tangible goals and focusing on them throughout the entire journey will dramatically increase your chances of success.
That means being selective about the PA schools you apply to. A good rule of thumb is to apply to no more than 6 PA programs and identify target schools that align with your goals and bring you closer to your dreams.
Why You Need to Identify Your Target PA Schools
The preparation for PA school can be daunting and overwhelming. At this time, the most valuable trait you can have is clarity! Keeping your goals in mind, identify the target PA schools that serve your needs and wants the best. Being selective in the process can reap great benefits for you and your PA career.
Prioritizes Your Goals
The problem with applying to every PA school you can think of is you end up with a mindset of taking what you can get instead of what you want. And going to a school just because they’re the only institution that accepted you even if you don’t like their program is no good way to kickstart your career.
Instead of settling for the only option, take time to do your research and identify 5 to 6 target PA schools where you really want to receive your PA education. Your selection process can be based on criteria that suit your values, goals, preferences, and interests. Consider what you think the most important factors of a PA program are and set your goals accordingly.
Saves Time
Applying to a dozen PA schools also means submitting a dozen requirements and potentially attending long interviews for all of them. This can take up a lot of your valuable time — time that you could have spent getting patient care experience (PCE) hours, taking prerequisites, or preparing for your courses ahead.
Identifying the target PA schools that serve your goals saves you from the trouble of juggling a dozen things at once and allows you to spend your time wisely. With an idea of the specific programs that you’re aiming for, you can clearly outline the requirements that you need to prepare and accomplish.
Saves Money and Resources
PA schools charge application fees and secondary fees to successfully process your application. If you apply to a dozen schools, it would cost you about $725 on top of your tuition fee.
Given this expense, it’s a wise strategy to select 5 to 6 target schools that suit your criteria. This helps you save your resources for your tuition, books, and other miscellaneous expenses when you enroll.
Make Better Decisions for Your PA Career
Instead of applying to as many PA schools as you can fathom, a wiser course of action is to identify your target schools. These should be institutions that offer the programs you want and meet your preferences and needs as a future PA student.
Being selective not only helps save your time and money but ensures that you walk a straight path to your goals — that is, becoming a PA.
