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Physician Assistant School
Posted on 10/14/26 at 8:26 am
Posted on 10/14/26 at 8:26 am
I know that we have some PAs here.
Any advice for a freshman college student wanting to go to PA school?
He is presently a Freshman Biological Sciences Major at LSU.
What are the best majors to have on application?
Best clinic shadowing opportunities?
Do the schools take rec letters?
What about EMT, med tech, etc licensing? If so, what are the best ones to help with acceptance.
Any advice for a freshman college student wanting to go to PA school?
He is presently a Freshman Biological Sciences Major at LSU.
What are the best majors to have on application?
Best clinic shadowing opportunities?
Do the schools take rec letters?
What about EMT, med tech, etc licensing? If so, what are the best ones to help with acceptance.
This post was edited on 10/14/26 at 8:33 am
Posted on 10/14/26 at 8:35 am to Sheepdog1833
Just curious, why not CRNA? Def better pay and less BS
Posted on 10/14/26 at 8:50 am to Sheepdog1833
Most PA schools want "Contact hours" with patients/people. Find a part time or summer job that allows them to accumulate those hours.
Posted on 10/14/26 at 8:50 am to sonoma8
quote:
Just curious, why not CRNA?
CRNA's make bank.
Posted on 10/14/26 at 8:58 am to Lonnie Utah
quote:
CRNA's make bank.
I gotta assume this bubble is going to pop at some point? IDK maybe not. But not everyone can be a CRNA, and its like MUCH more difficult to get into than being a PA?
Posted on 10/14/26 at 8:58 am to Sheepdog1833
Daughter in law did it. She was a psychology honors track student. She made excellent grades. Had to backfill some other courses after graduation and before application. When it came to choosing either med school of PA, she went PA. Didn't want to go to med school. But in her case she went to a program at a medical school. Rigorous school work. Last year was rotating clinical at multiple locations.
Biological Sciences seem to be a good way to go.
Biological Sciences seem to be a good way to go.
Posted on 10/14/26 at 9:00 am to Sheepdog1833
I'm in med school currently, so maybe this can help somewhat.
Major isn't the biggest deal. Any biological/chemical science major should get you the pre reqs you need for PA school. I know people in my class who have fine arts degrees.
Any experience is good experience. Get as much as possible. Shadowing, EMT, medical assistant. Make time for service hours as well. Research can always help too.
I don't know about PA school, but every med school requires letters and they all tell you how to submit them. If PA school requires them as well, it will probably be something similar.
Go to a PA school's website and see what's required to apply. Most undergrads also have a pre-health office for students wanting to do med, dent, PA, PT etc. They should have people who can answer these questions and help him make a long term plan
Major isn't the biggest deal. Any biological/chemical science major should get you the pre reqs you need for PA school. I know people in my class who have fine arts degrees.
Any experience is good experience. Get as much as possible. Shadowing, EMT, medical assistant. Make time for service hours as well. Research can always help too.
I don't know about PA school, but every med school requires letters and they all tell you how to submit them. If PA school requires them as well, it will probably be something similar.
Go to a PA school's website and see what's required to apply. Most undergrads also have a pre-health office for students wanting to do med, dent, PA, PT etc. They should have people who can answer these questions and help him make a long term plan
Posted on 10/14/26 at 9:02 am to aTmTexas Dillo
quote:
Daughter in law did it.
quote:
aTmTexas Dillo
woah, you have a son and he married a woman?
Posted on 10/14/26 at 9:14 am to baldona
quote:
gotta assume this bubble is going to pop at some point?
They have been saying that for 20 years… currently at a trauma center and they are way understaffed. Locums making bank right now.
Posted on 10/14/26 at 9:15 am to Sheepdog1833
Good PA school at LSU-S
Posted on 10/14/26 at 9:16 am to Sheepdog1833
Why not be a doctor? Have PA as a back up plan
This post was edited on 10/14/26 at 9:17 am
Posted on 10/14/26 at 9:16 am to sonoma8
quote:
Just curious, why not CRNA?
I tried pushing this after two eye surgeries, endoscopy and colonoscopy within a year.
But he wants more hands on if that makes sense. I told him it doesn’t get more consequential than anesthesia but no interest.
Posted on 10/14/26 at 9:17 am to baldona
quote:
I gotta assume this bubble is going to pop at some point?
Nope. The projections are salaries are going to continue to skyrocket.
Posted on 10/14/26 at 9:30 am to danilo
quote:
Why not be a doctor? Have PA as a back up plan
6 figure salary and a fraction of the school/training
Posted on 10/14/26 at 9:39 am to BU Bear In BR
quote:
6 figure salary and a fraction of the school/training
Google says
quote:
The median annual wage for physician assistants (PAs) in the United States is $135,880
$135k is not baller
Posted on 10/14/26 at 9:42 am to Sheepdog1833
My daughter just went through the application, interview, acceptance process. It took 2 cycles to get in. It's much more than good grades and test scores. They really prioritize real life hands on work experience. They don't want green applicants, they want PAs who can hit the ground running. Have him work in a patient contact setting during his summers and/or winter breaks. I wouldn't sacrifice grades though. You can always get work experience after graduating, but you can't fix a bad GPA. Be open to having to work for a year or two after graduating to build those hours up if he has to. Similar to an RN needing to work in the ICU for a while before applying for CRNA. Good luck!
Posted on 10/14/26 at 9:44 am to danilo
quote:
$135,880
quote:
6 figure salary
Read much? Didn't say anything about baller
However it's a misleading number. Brought down by women who work PRN after having kids and work urgent care. Those who go into specialized areas can make much more
Posted on 10/14/26 at 9:45 am to baldona
quote:
CRNA's make bank.
I gotta assume this bubble is going to pop at some point?
Nope.
They are cheaper than relying exclusively on physician anesthesiologists and there is a huge demand for them.
I work in healthcare consulting and if I had a kid interested in medical field it would be on my short list of recommendations.
quote:
But not everyone can be a CRNA, and its like MUCH more difficult to get into than being a PA
This is true.
Posted on 10/14/26 at 9:48 am to BU Bear In BR
quote:
Read much? Didn't say anything about baller
However it's a misleading number. Brought down by women who work PRN after having kids and work urgent care. Those who go into specialized areas can make much more
It's really not far off though. Most I see are within 15-20k of 150k, which is what we model as the median in valuation models.
ETA:
I do know a PA that is also the clinic operations manager for a very successful plastic surgery center and he makes probably 250k, maybe slightly more.
But that's unusual.
This post was edited on 10/14/26 at 9:49 am
Posted on 10/14/26 at 9:52 am to danilo
quote:
$135k is not baller
With a spouse making similar salary, depending on location, you are living a comfortable life.
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