I can’t believe it’s been since July that I’ve made a blog post. That’s two whole months of not posting. There have been multiple reasons, including laziness on one hand and being too busy on the other. Looking over my work calendar I’ve worked a number of Monday night overnight shifts, which means I’ve simply been asleep during the time I’d normally be posting on Tuesdays.

At the start of the year I picked up a lot of extra shifts, in part to ensure I had more patient contact hours when applying to PA schools. That obviously paid off. Since then I’ve picked up shifts for the extra money and experience and honestly because some nights we’ve been short-staffed and I’ve felt like helping out. One of the benefits of picking up shifts on short-staffed nights is that I’m often in the A-Zone which is not only where the traumas come to, but also where the tech desk is next to the provider desk. This, for me, is the real benefit. I learn a lot this way.

For example last week, both the attending and the lead PA that night had students following them. And in good Socratic fashion, they took time out to further their students education. Since these were slow nights, this meant I was able to listen in and even participate. As a result, I got basically graduate level lectures on hyperkalemia and pain management. That’s pretty cool.

I also in the last month was able to take advantage of some time schedule and visit the campus of the PA school I’m currently planning on attending. It was both exciting and a bit of a letdown. The letdown is because (and this is typical of a number of programs) it’s not on the main campus of the associated university and is basically in an office building. So much for that ivy covered wall experience. That said, I’ve had that, so that’s ok. But it was definitely exciting because I was able to stand in the classrooms and lecture halls I’ll be in in about 8 months!

I still wake up and have to pinch myself and say, “did I really get in?” I’m in a number of Facebook groups for prospective PA students and it’s heartbreaking to see some of the posts as they list their rejections and the like. I give advice where wanted and condolences where appropriate. There are also the successes which are nice to see and to give congratulations on.

But at this point, PA school itself is 8 months away. I’m thrilled and nervous!

I mentioned a few weeks that I had been accepted at a PA school. I won’t lie when I say that sometimes I lay in bed and think, “did I imagine that? Perhaps I read the email wrong!” I even went back and reread the email at least once, if not twice.

But since then three events have reinforced that I’m in. Last week the first down payment had to be submitted by midnight Tuesday night. I got out the credit card, went to the webpage and submitted my information. First deposit accepted. I figured they wouldn’t take my money unless they had accepted.

Later in the week there was a scheduled Zoom meeting for accepted students. At that point it was really sinking in. I mean they wouldn’t invite me to such a meeting unless I really was accepted, right?

The Zoom meeting was interesting, and being a good student, I did take notes. I don’t think there’s a quiz later, but I figured it’s better to be safe than sorry.

And just this morning I whipped out the credit card again and made the second down payment, also accepted.

I mentioned in my earlier post a concern about the school’s accreditation status. But two things have allayed my fears. The first is a practical manner. The way the review process works, if the worst case scenario happens, it would be only a month into the program and I’d work to get my money back and still have plenty of time to resubmit to other programs if I really wanted to try for a third round. Though I’d probably want to retake some undergrad courses to help my GPA.

The second is a more nebulous reason. I managed to find some forums for students in my cohort and some had contacted current students and their thoughts on the current probationary status was that the school in fact was making good progress in fixing the cited deficiencies and they all had great things to say about the program.

So, that makes me feel far more comfortable and prepared to stay the course and attend this school. For now, so that I don’t influence any potential recruiters at other schools (yeah, right, like they’ll read this!) I’m keeping the name out of my posts.

But, I’m getting more and more used to saying, “Yes, I’ve been accepted and will be a PA student next year.”

So yes, I’m no longer Schrödinger’s PA. I’m accepted and will be a PA student next year.

Coming up… more self doubts…

Those familiar with quantum physics know the idea of Schrodinger’s Cat. It’s a thought experiment that posits a cat in a box is in superposition of being both alive and dead until it’s observed (and to be clear, it’s BOTH alive AND dead, not simply alive OR dead until observed.)

Until recently, my PA status has been sort of in a similar state. Until I received notification from a program, I was both “accepted” and “not-accepted”. And this week, the quantum value collapsed and, I’m still both, but in different programs.

Not-Accepted

First, the program I wasn’t accepted into. I won’t give out its name for my own personal reasons, but let’s just say it was my top choice. As many of you know, one of the problems I’ve been trying to overcome in my applications is my poor undergraduate GPA from 34 years. This was a program that on their website said they didn’t have a minimum GPA so I was hopeful. Last year when I was turned down I wasn’t entirely surprised because most PA candidates get turned down their first time around and I barely met the threshold for patient contact hours and honestly, while my letters of recommendation were from folks that I knew would say good stuff, they had limits in how well they knew me.

So I was more hopeful this year, a slightly improved GPA (with more post-bacc classes taken) and far better references and a lot more patient contact hours.

I have to say, I was a bit surprised when I was denied again. Not so much that I was denied as much as how quickly it happened, less than 24 hours between my application being complete and being rejected. Last year it took a week.

This time I decided to reach out to the program director. Unfortunately that didn’t really make a difference. It turns out that despite their website claiming they don’t have a minimum GPA, in practice, they basically admit to having one.

But that happens.

Accepted

However, just over a day after exchanging emails with the director of the above program I received an acceptance letter from another program. I have to say I was quite excited.

So now I was non-accepted officially at one school and accepted officially at another.

That said, there’s on small issue which is a concern. Any PA program in the US, like any respectable college needs to be accredited. A program can have:

• Developing – Not accredited – just like it sounds. They can’t matriculate students. This means one can’t take the program and then take the PANCE (Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination). So this is an absolute no go for me.
• Provisional – Generally new programs that don’t have much of a history. This could be a program that has developed everything, but is still being observed. One can attend and graduate and take the PANCE. However, it’s not clear how good of a program would be because of its lack of histroy.
• Continued – This is the gold standard. This is what you want to see in a program. This means it is meeting the standards required. Odds are very good that you’ll matriculate and pass the PANCE on your first try.
• Probation – This can be problematic. The accreditation body has found problems. Programs have two years to fix this. If they succeed, great. If they’re making progress, they can get a two year extension. If they fail to make progress, accreditation can be withdrawn. If this happens in the middle of you attending, this can be “bad”.

There’s other categories, but those are the important ones.

So why do I mention them? Because the program I was accepted into is in probationary status. I have to admit, this makes me nervous. On one hand, I’m in a program. On the other, there’s a chance it could disappear before I can qualify to sit for the PANCE. That’s a HUGE concern.

That said, right now, I’m most likely going to make the down payment and secure a spot in the program.

“But Greg, you’re crazy! That’s risky!”

Yeah, potentially it is, but I’m not overly worried. For one thing, the program is nearly 3 decades old. So it’s not like it’s some new program struggling. It’s hit a rough spot that they appear to be taking steps to overcome. The faculty and staff seem very confident, which is a good sign. The program itself has some very strong points (and admittedly a few weaker points). And from reading comments of students currently in the program, they are feeling very well prepared to take the PANCE. Their most recent PANCE pass rate was 98% for a first time taker. This compares to the national rate of 92%. I can live with that.

And while I have to put in a non-refundable deposit soon, it doesn’t mean I can’t later change my mind. For example if another program accepts me, and I like the program better (there are many factors that can go into such a decision, accreditation status is just one, cost of attendance, cost of living, facilities, etc. are others) I can forfeit the deposit. I’d hate to do that, but it’s an option in the back of my mind.

So, I’m now semi-officially a PA Student… at one place, waiting to hear from others!