HOW TO GET INTO PHYSICIAN

ASSISTANT SCHOOL

A practical guide for students at The University of Michigan, Ann

Arbor

The Pre-Physician Assistant Club presents:

CONCENTRATION/ MAJORSWhat majors are most helpful for

getting in?

Doesn’t matter, pick a major you enjoy

Something in the sciences is probably good (then a lot of your classes will overlap with your PA school prerequisites – for example, kinesiology)

Make sure you get your PA school prerequisites done!!!

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIESWhat clubs should I join?

The Pre-PA Club is obviously the best Being an Active Member and becoming

involved is a great way to stand out on your application!

Do what you’re interested in, have fun!

Many programs are interested in your community service/volunteering activities

Research is great too (ex: UROP)

TESTINGDo I need to take the GRE or the

MCAT?

Most programs require the GRE Some programs will accept either the

GRE or the MCAT (as far as we know, there isn’t a preference for one or the other)

A few programs don’t require any test Take practice tests! Try not to take the

actual exam more than once or twice

SHADOWINGWhy should I observe PA-Cs in their work environment? You should shadow PA-Cs so that you can better understand

the profession and have a real idea of what they do (Admissions people want to see that you know what you’re getting yourself into)

SHADOWING DOES NOT COUNT TOWARDS YOUR PATIENT CARE EXPERIENCE HOURS (but it is, nonetheless, very important)

It is not appropriate to ever assume that someone you’re shadowing will give you a job/allow you to shadow for more than part of a day/one day

Ways to find shadowing opportunities: If your primary care provider is a PA-C, or there is a PA-C in the

office you go to, talk to them! Call local doctor’s offices or hospitals University of Michigan Alumni Association Mentors -

http://alumni.umich.edu/career/FindAMentor.php, 08-05-2008)

VOLUNTEERINGHow will it help me?

Volunteering in a hospital is great because it puts you in the health care setting and allows you to observe and become comfortable (and it’s fun!); it is also a great stepping stone and a great way to make connections University of Michigan Health System Volunteer Services -

http://www.med.umich.edu/volunteer/ Trail’s Edge Camp for Ventilator Dependent Children -

http://www.med.umich.edu/mott/trailsedge/index.html AWESOME opportunity!! First week of June every year

(Talk to Margaret for more info if you’re interested)  *Some programs WILL NOT accept volunteering as part of your

patient care experience, but many programs ARE interested in your community service/volunteering activities (for example, Wayne State REQUIRES you to submit an official record of all your volunteering for 2 years)

PATIENT CARE EXPERIENCEWhat are programs looking for? VARIES BY PROGRAM – CHECK FOR SPECIFIC

REQUIREMENTS!! Most programs require anywhere from 500-2,000

hours of “direct patient care experience” – what they accept varies

Most programs prefer paid positions, but some unpaid positions work. The more responsibility you hold in your position and the more time you have worked, the more competitive you will be as an applicant

Positions include (but are not limited to) Certified Nurses Aid, Phlebotomist, Patient Care Tech/Attendant, EMT, RN, Physical Therapy or Occupational Therapy Aid, Medical Technologist, etc

PATIENT CARE EXPERIENCE CONT.

Washtenaw Community College Certified Nurses Aid Training http://www.wccnet.edu/academicinfo/creditofferings/courses/course.php?course=HSC%20100

(4 Credit course – approx 5 weeks) (*Fills up REALLY fast) The American Red Cross offers a CNA course also, but it is

more expensive University of Michigan Job Site - www.umich.edu/~jobs Sunrise Assisted Living - http://www.sunriseseniorliving.com

Ask Andrea or Jillian for more information! St. Joseph Mercy Hospital Job Site -

http://www.sjmercyhealth.org/bodygen.cfm?id=6 The Caring Space (Home Health Aid jobs) -

http://www.thecaringspace.com/ Glacier Hills Care and Rehabilitation Center -

http://www.glacierhills.org/index.htm

CASPAWhat is it? The Centralized Application Service for Physician

Assistants Most (but not all) programs use CASPA, so you can

more easily apply to multiple programs *Many programs ALSO require a supplemental

application for their specific program/school which may include additional essays that should be different from your initial personal statement!

Application not complete without transcripts, payment, recommendations

*It can take up to 6 weeks for CASPA to process your application and send it to the specific programs, so don’t wait until their deadline to submit!!!

RECOMMENDATIONS Who should I ask? CAPSA requires three

Almost all programs require that one be from a PA-C (or a health care professional who works with/is knowledgeable about them) This should be someone you have had multiple,

meaningful interactions with, NOT someone you just shadowed once or twice.

Advanced prerequisite professors (i.e. Anatomy, Physiology, Microbiology, etc)

Supervisors from patient care positions Basically, people who will be able to attest to

your ability to succeed academically and professionally

INTERVIEWHow do I prepare? *If you are granted an interview, this IS your

opportunity, you may not get another chance with this program; that being said, it is your chance to interview them as well

Be confident Be prepared (know how to “speak PA”) Be professional Know history of profession Be able to articulate why you want to be a PA (and not a

doctor or a NP) The Career Center has MANY interviewing tips & ways to

prepare. Visit http://www.careercenter.umich.edu/students/interviewing/index.html

Come to mini/mentoring meetings!

ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTSThings to keep in mind… VARIES BY PROGRAM – CHECK FOR SPECIFIC

REQUIREMENTS!!

THIS IS WHY WE STARTED THE CLUB!! Trying to figuring out classes is very frustrating

YOU MAY HAVE TO TAKE SOME COURSES AT OTHER UNIVERSITIES/COLLEGES (i.e. Eastern University, Washtenaw Community College)

MOST PROGRAMS WANT A GPA OF 3.0 or higher

NOW FOR THE FUN STUFF…

COURSES!What fulfills my requirements?

HUMAN ANATOMY Almost always required. Take:

MEDADM 403 - offered Fall and Winter, has a lab that meets 4 times during the semester, offers a lab component that meets 4 times during the semester (works with plastinated bodies, not cadaver dissection, but some schools still count it) Reviews:

“One of the most exciting courses I’ve taken so far…there are weekly quizzes which help you stay on track and not fall behind in the course. The professors are great and really help you a lot – I really enjoy the lectures.”

“This is my absolute favorite class taken at U of M! The lab portion is really helpful in pulling all of the concepts together!”

Also offered at Oakland University (and others)

HUMAN ANATOMY LAB Not often required, but sometimes

recommended.

FYI- Central Michigan DOES require this! UM does not offerOffered at Oakland University

HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY At least one is almost always required,

sometimes upper level also. Take one or two: PHYSIOL 201 – Lower level PHYSIOL 502 – Upper level AT 375- Pathophysiology through the Athletic

Training department Email the professor for an override, he is very receptive to

admitting Pre-PA students Does NOT count toward your 120 credits to graduate.

MOVESCI 340 – Exercise Physiology (lab included) (**NOT all schools will accept Exercise Phys to fulfill Physiology requirement.)(Wayne State University Accepts Exercise Phys & AT 375 to fulfill their upper level requirement.)

HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY LAB Not often required, but sometimes

recommended. MOVESCI 340 – Exercise Physiology (lab

automatic component of lecture course)UM does not offer

*** Regarding Human Anatomy and Physiology Courses – Some schools will accept two semesters of joined courses, some will not (check with your specific programs of interest). ***

INTRODUCTORY BIOLOGY Almost always required with lab.

Take all three: BIO 171 – Ecology and Evolution, offered

Fall and WinterBIO 172 – Molecular, Cellular, and

Developmental, offered Fall and WinterBIO 173 (Lab) – Offered Fall and Winter

GENERAL CHEMISTRY Almost always required with lab.

Take both: (Note: If you passed out of Chem 130, check

with your school to see they’ll accept that test score in substitution of the course – Not all schools will.)

Some schools also require 2 semesters of general chemistry….

CHEM 130 – Offered Fall and Winter CHEM 125 (Lab) – Offered Fall and Winter

ORGANIC CHEMISTRY Often either Orgo 1 OR Biochem is

accepted Orgo 2 rarely required

CHEM 210 and CHEM 211 (Lab) – Orgo I, offered Fall and Winter

CHEM 215 and CHEM 216 (Lab) – Orgo II, offered Fall and Winter

BIOCHEMISTRY

BIO 310 – lower level, not offered every semester (Need prior or concurrent enrollment in Chem 215) Reviews: “Horribly difficult class.” “Pretty good so far [in

progress].” BIOCHEM 415 – upper level, offered Fall and Winter

(Need both semesters of Organic Chemistry first; some advisors recommend Physics first but students say it is not necessary) Reviews: “A lot of memorizing and lots of work…lectures

weren’t very engaging.”

What’s the difference? Essentially same material, 415 exams are all multiple

choice while 310 also utilizes short answer questions

MICROBIOLOGY Take either:

BIO 207 – Lab included, offered Fall and Winter Reviews: “Didn’t really like it much.” “A lot of

studying – the lab is exciting and relaxed, helps to boost your grade.”

MICROBIOL 301 and 350 (Lab) – Offered Winter only (Biochem is an advisory prerequisite but not required according to advisors) Reviews: “If you do well on the first 3 exams,

you don’t have to go to class for the last few weeks since your lowest exam score can be dropped (provided you take all 4 exams)”

PHYSICS Not generally required

(can get away without taking labs) PHYSICS 125 and PHYSICS 127 (Lab)PHYSICS 126 and PHYSICS 128 (Lab)

Calc based physics is not necessary, even if you decide to take the MCAT

MATH College algebra or higher

Math 105 is Pre-CalcMath 115 is Calc 1

NUTRITION Not always required, but usually

recommended. Choose one:BIO 105 – Offered Fall and Winter

(sometimes… sporadic based on the professor teaching it)

MOVESCI 241 – For Kinesiology majors

STATISTICS Almost always required Choose one:

STATS 100 – Lower levelSTATS 250 – Offered Fall and Winter

Reviews: Great class! Get Brenda Gunderson if possible

MOVESCI 250 – For Kinesiology majors

MEDICAL ETHICS Finally offered @ UM again! Often recommended, gaining

popularity as required in some programsPHIL 356Offered at Washtenaw Community College

(or others)

MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY Gaining popularity as a requirement

(Wayne State just started requiring it)UM does not offer (yet!)Offered at Washtenaw Community College,

online at Schoolcraft Community College (or others)

PSYCHOLOGY Generally only a general or

developmental course is required, occasionally abnormal is recommended.(If you have Psych AP credit from high school, make sure to check if your school will accept it – Not all schools will.)Psych 111 – IntroductoryPsych 250 – Developmental, GREAT class!

(need Psych 111 first)Psych 270 – Abnormal (need Psych 111

first)

GENETICS Required by some, Recommended by

others- check individual programsBio 305- Really HARD!

ENGLISH Generally one or two composition

courses are required (For LSA, English 125 and ULWR should fulfill).

WHAT NOW?Take a deep breath!