Yes, I was surprised to see that, too.
First off, I’d like to thank all of you for helping me with this problem way more than anyone else has! @mom2collegekids-I get what you’re saying. To somehow take the things I’m missing in the summer. But I’m not sure if that’s even allowed? According to @WayOutWestMom , i might do coursework for PA during the summer so I might not even be able to take the other pre med reqs. @MYOS1634- Am i at a disadvantage with PA as my major? and it is possible that St. John’s makes me take other courses for PA during the summer so I’m not sure if I will have room on my schedule(summer). Any other help is appreciated!
So should i change my major and leave the program? and beginning working on a pre-med track? I’m all up for taking classes in the summer if it means fulfilling all requirements! I just don’t want med schools to look down on me as a PA major or because i took certain reqs in the summer.
Also when applying to med school, I don’t think just PA is enough. I would need to shadow doctors and do research. How will I have the time?
Pa will give you clinical experience -actual experience, way better than shadowing. No you won’t have summer requirements so you’ll he able to take classes then ; if you compared and checked the pa reqs and premed reqs you’ll have noticed the first two years are exactly the same and you could see the pa program covers almost everything you need for 2years. You’ll have to be a bit creative and flexible to add the couple missing classes -4out of 40 so really it’s no big deal, If you can’t manage it you’re not going to make it to d school anyway. Pa is an excellent premed major. In addition, in terms of reputation, pa at st john’s is MUCH better than bio.
@MYOS1634 Shouldn’t i be shadowing researchers? and what about the research? I have this weird feeling there is some summer stuff for the program. I’m sure I can manage it.
*Correction, *shouldn’t i be shadowing doctors if i plan to become a doctor
Yes, you should be shadowing some physicians if you plan to apply to med school, but that doesn’t take a huge amount of time. You can easily knock that out in a couple of weeks–or even one intense week-- during one summer. Or alternately as a few hours here and there over 4 years. Plus some your clinical experiences for your PA program will involve working with physicians so you will get a close up view of what the differences are between the 2 professions (Physician vs. PA).
Most pre-meds volunteer to work in research labs during the school year, working 5-15 hours/week for two or more semesters. There’s nothing about your PA curriculum that would prevent you from doing that.
About 15% of med students have no research experience. Mission driven schools that are not research focused really don’t expect bench research from all of their applicants. (BTW, you don’t shadow researchers, you volunteer to work in their labs.)
Shadowing and research don’t automatically fall into students’ laps. There’s no restriction as to who can apply but you have to be proactive and do it. St John’s is a low-research university, whether you’re in bio or PA, and as I’ve mentioned, it’s more active in PA than in strict bio, so you’re better off in that field. Strive to get an A in your first semester -and that means, that you go to office hours for every class, with your outlined notes and the questions you had during class written out (that’s when they’ll be answered - if you don’t go every week, they’ll pile up and never be answered) and as soon as you get a B or under, you go to the tutoring center. You sit in the first row and you raise your hand in every class. IN short, you make a positive impression on your professors. Then at the end of the first semester, you go talk to your professors and see if they could have a role for you as part of their research. Working in a research lab is nt major-dependent, it’s drive-dependent.
As for shadowing, first, you’ll be doing actual clinical work so it won’t be as important, and second, you’ll have lots of contacts in hospitals as part of your PA training, therefore you’ll be able to network, be known positively where you’re training, and ask your supervisor if you could come to shadow a doctor in various specialties with more likelihood of a positive answer.
@WayOutWestMom i hope that’s true. @MYOS1634 I can really apply myself so if I want an A, I’m prepared to work for it. The PA training usually happens in the last year, like actually going to a hospital. But i would apply for med school in junior year if this whole situation works out so i’m not sure if that would work. I realize that the school is not strong in research but is the only way to get it through professors? My orientation is tomorrow so I plan to ask them some things. But like you said, this school isn’t research driven so would it be wise to transfer out?
I would advise you dont apply to med school junior year and plan to do a glide yearm which MANY successful applicants do.
ALL professors do research. If you stand out, you’ll have a shot.
First, be known positively to your professors. Then ask for a lab position. THen go from there. If they find you talented, they’ll recommend you for REU (summer research in national labs), for which students from non research Us have priority.
I second the recommendation to wait to apply until after graduation. Taking a glide year is the big trend in med school applications. Besides, you’ll miss too much of your clinical training senior year if have med school interviews and may not be able to graduate. (And that’s the last thing you want!) You’ll also need to finish your clinical training because you’ll be asked (over and over again)–Why do you want to become a physician instead of PA? Hands on experience working as a PA will allow you to answer that with specifics.
Actually most REUs are on university campuses. The National Labs now require security clearances to get on site so they typically don’t offer REUs. And your professor doesn’t have to recommend you for a REU, students simply apply for REU programs they’re interested in during December-January-February thru the individual programs. Transcripts and LORs from professors are required.
Biological Science REUs:
@MYOS1634 When you say glide year, do you mean taking a year off after i finish undergrad? And ok, got it- i have to stand out. Hopefully I cant get that summer research thing and hopefully it doesn’t clash with anything else. My orientation is tomorrow so I will ask them questions and update you accordingly.
^^^
I agree
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To somehow take the things I’m missing in the summer. But I’m not sure if that’s even allowed?
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I think you misunderstood. Look over the list of courses you’ll need to take, Frosh Comp, history, etc. Then, take THOSE classes during the summer to “open up” space during the school year for any premed prereqs that you’ll still need.
I looked over the plan, and unless I missed something, it doesn’t look like any PA classes are required for the summers during the first few years.
@mom2collegekids oh so what you’re saying is take some other classes during the summer so i can take pre med reqs during the school year. Got it! @WayOutWestMom But taking a whole year off would seem like I’m putting myself further behind. Also thanks for the info on research!
Good grief! Getting accepted to med school isn’t a race! Achieving your goal is the only thing that matters.
Have you looked at the average age at matriculation into med school? It’s 24.
^^ Not only there is no rush to get into med school but also there is no race to become a physician after the med school. Depends on residency matching, after the med school, there is still two to ten years of “apprenticeship” before a physician can become fully fledged. Residency and fellowship have long learning cycle and in between, one to several years of delay is normal, so what is the rush to apply in your 3rd UG year?
@WayOutWestMom i want to start my career as soon as possible so i can settle down as well. Averages are not great measures of central tendency.
Well, MOST students don’t start med school right after college. If you want to start your career as soon as possible, don’t choose medicine: your career will likely start when you’re in your early 30s…
Also UPDATE for everyone. My advisor at the orientation said that I would not be able to take any extra classes(summer time) since I am in a direct track program. She said there’s no way it can be done for me to take pre reqs for med school. She said I should have not been in the PA program if i wanted to be a doctor anyways. Please help me with updated responses! I’d greatly appreciate it!