End of spring session and cannot believe the work load just to get through this semester of 10 hours, work, family commitments and earning decent grades. I am finishing the last of the required prerequisites to East Carolina (ECU) and EVMS' PA programs. My brain needs a rest.
I still have three final Exams and I have been studying yesterday and all day today and believe I deserve a small break right now. Organic Chemistry final tomorrow and Microbiology Lab Practical to be following by the Microbiology final in a few days.
The onset of spring fever is like I have never had before. It is beautiful outside and I am stuck in here at my desk trying to focus and retain this subject material which is definitely difficult for me the non-medicated, highly functioning ADD person that I am. I respond to any noise or bird that flys by the window, really bad. I have only to make it through the next 18 hours and I will relax my mind for a couple of days of fun in the sun.
Its hard to believe that I started this prerequisite journey two years ago in the fall of 2009. My time in school (2 schools) has literally flown by and I cannot quite grasp that I am nearing the end of this portion. I guess when it is over I will relax a bit.
Right now, I am missing my wife and two boys, they are having a good time on vacation but they too deserve this time, the only downside is that they are without me and I miss them. I will be joining them tomorrow night once I have completed my self inflicted torture. I realize that when I get into PA school there will be many days without seeing them, since I will be living a few hours away. I know this will be difficult and I don't know how I will do it, but I know other people go through this and survive, so can I. I realize that they are one of the reasons for my commitment to this future in medicine.
Well it is back to studying. Contact me if you have questions about this career path or my progress. Happy to share my experience.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Saturday, April 9, 2011
The process is a mystery.....why?
In my office tonight after putting my two young boys to bed, I am preparing for exam week with Organic Chemistry and Microbiology. This is shear punishment, not just to pass but to make an A. I was just reflecting on my journey and how difficult it has been thus far and still how uncertain the end goal is still for me. I have invested 24 months in added education and have even retaken course work from my previous BS from 1994. I know that I am not alone there are a few of us out there.
I don't understand why there is no clear cut path for the returning student to make a major change in their career to become a Physicians Assistant. There seems to be a hundreds of ways to do it incorrectly, but only one right way and every school has different qualifiers. They seem to change on a semester by semester basis. Is it possible to find the person that can unlock the information safe for this process? Had I not been persistent in finding out information on my own, I would not have gotten this far. I am not sure if what I am doing is in fact the best or worst way to go about this process of getting into a PA Program. It seems odd, while the health care industry claims there is a enormous need for many qualified and caring people in the filed, it is next to impossible to get a straight answer from anyone on how you can complete the process.
There appears to be certain highly subjective opinions about course work, qualifications and experience necessary to matriculate into the limited spaces in PA programs. You could literally spend several years in the trenches taking your prerequisite course work with 3.5 GPA or higher and not get in to a PA Program. How can this be?
The typical non-traditional (older) student must make a higher level of commitment to get these things done with all their other responsibilities associated with being...... well older. Providing for a family, maintaining your job, children and other commitments to juggle and no one will give you the straight answer to the question; If you complete this you are ready and we will accept you. Why the mystery? It is like showing up for a job everyday with the expectation of getting paid in time and finding out you might not.
My current experience is in the business environment, if you want something, you set your goals and you work toward this and it is black and white you can attain the goal, at least that is how it has been. I have personally spoken to several academic advisors and they have been less than complementary and far from encouraging in our meetings. In two of the meetings they actually asked if I would consider something else that was being offered at there school. What is this? How should I feel when I leave this meeting, how would that make you feel? If you do all these things we are asking, then you might get in. What?
Why should this be so difficult, a person works hard and organizes their time upholds the highest standards and they are being turned away or discouraged from the applications process because it is "very competitive". I don't know what the decision makers are doing and how they are rationalizing their selection decisions for students of their PA programs......what is the big secret? Let us know and we will rise to the occasion. I believe it is more difficult for the non-traditional student than the younger lesser experienced students. The panel of decision makers should include in their selection process of an applicant what has been accomplished (in other fields) and what the students have to give up in order the make this happen? There are many areas that are affected; First, the loss of income, secondly, the time that you spend studying and not being with your family is gone forever, all for the hope that we will get the chance to go forward?
Why would a 23-28 year old student that has done only school or has minimal life experience be a better candidate than someone in their 30's or 40's? These mature students who have shown success in other fields perhaps and have experienced life, love and loss. They have been developing their people skills and isn't this what also makes an excellent care provider? When at bedside of a patient this will be their most important attribute when comforting the sick or scared. Ultimately, the patient wins.
This path needs to be clearer and not full of so many obstacles.
I don't understand why there is no clear cut path for the returning student to make a major change in their career to become a Physicians Assistant. There seems to be a hundreds of ways to do it incorrectly, but only one right way and every school has different qualifiers. They seem to change on a semester by semester basis. Is it possible to find the person that can unlock the information safe for this process? Had I not been persistent in finding out information on my own, I would not have gotten this far. I am not sure if what I am doing is in fact the best or worst way to go about this process of getting into a PA Program. It seems odd, while the health care industry claims there is a enormous need for many qualified and caring people in the filed, it is next to impossible to get a straight answer from anyone on how you can complete the process.
There appears to be certain highly subjective opinions about course work, qualifications and experience necessary to matriculate into the limited spaces in PA programs. You could literally spend several years in the trenches taking your prerequisite course work with 3.5 GPA or higher and not get in to a PA Program. How can this be?
The typical non-traditional (older) student must make a higher level of commitment to get these things done with all their other responsibilities associated with being...... well older. Providing for a family, maintaining your job, children and other commitments to juggle and no one will give you the straight answer to the question; If you complete this you are ready and we will accept you. Why the mystery? It is like showing up for a job everyday with the expectation of getting paid in time and finding out you might not.
My current experience is in the business environment, if you want something, you set your goals and you work toward this and it is black and white you can attain the goal, at least that is how it has been. I have personally spoken to several academic advisors and they have been less than complementary and far from encouraging in our meetings. In two of the meetings they actually asked if I would consider something else that was being offered at there school. What is this? How should I feel when I leave this meeting, how would that make you feel? If you do all these things we are asking, then you might get in. What?
Why should this be so difficult, a person works hard and organizes their time upholds the highest standards and they are being turned away or discouraged from the applications process because it is "very competitive". I don't know what the decision makers are doing and how they are rationalizing their selection decisions for students of their PA programs......what is the big secret? Let us know and we will rise to the occasion. I believe it is more difficult for the non-traditional student than the younger lesser experienced students. The panel of decision makers should include in their selection process of an applicant what has been accomplished (in other fields) and what the students have to give up in order the make this happen? There are many areas that are affected; First, the loss of income, secondly, the time that you spend studying and not being with your family is gone forever, all for the hope that we will get the chance to go forward?
Why would a 23-28 year old student that has done only school or has minimal life experience be a better candidate than someone in their 30's or 40's? These mature students who have shown success in other fields perhaps and have experienced life, love and loss. They have been developing their people skills and isn't this what also makes an excellent care provider? When at bedside of a patient this will be their most important attribute when comforting the sick or scared. Ultimately, the patient wins.
This path needs to be clearer and not full of so many obstacles.
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