To gap year or not to gap year?

Gap years are a contentious topic. Some people say it is easier to just jump right into PA school after undergrad, while others caution against it-- after all, PA school is far more grueling that undergrad was and halfway through didactic, you'll be begging for a break.

Gap year options

Work work work work

This one is obvious. For those who are lacking their PCE hours, working a full year will get you at least 1,000. This is enough for most of the PA schools out there (however some require as much as 2,000). My best recommendation for a gap year is to scribe. I've mentioned this before, but scribing is a fantastic way to learn about medicine, get close with providers, and even pick up some tips and tricks for when you become one yourself. The best part? No certification required. 

Volunteer

PA schools looooove to see applicants with community service on their resumes. It shows that you are compassionate and can relate to those who come from different walks of life. There are so many ways to get involved in volunteering, either in your own community or elsewhere. For instance, AmeriCorps allows you to volunteer in any part of the US for a few months at a time, similarly to the PeaceCorps abroad. 

Travel

This one's the option that I wanted to take so badly this year. I wanted to pick up and travel the world (or at least Southeast Asia) for 6 or so months... problem is, I didn't have the money (or anyone to go with). Traveling is a great way to see the world in a new light and to gain perspectives that you might not otherwise have gotten. 

Post-Bacc 

Post-Bacc programs are those that allow students to gain the necessary pre-requisites for PA school, dental school, medical school, etc... 

Post-Bacc programs do not get you an extra degree, but are targeted at those who have completed a bachelor's in a field unrelated to what they want to study. 

Master's programs

This is probably the most expensive option. Master's programs that are beneficial for PA school can be anything, but the most common are probably Masters' of Public Health and programs that target "pre-med" students, such as this one from The University of Alabama at Birmingham. Master's programs are not an easy way to boost your GPA-- they involve a TON of work and dedication, but show programs that you can handle the rigor that they're about to throw at you. 

My path to PA-C

My situation is a little unique. Around this time last year, I took the GRE and was compiling my letters of rec. I was going to apply to PA school and begin right after undergrad ended. However, at the last second, I deleted my application. I chickened out. I was too afraid of rejection to even put myself out there to PA programs. My grades are subpar and I was worried that PA programs would laugh at my application because of them. However, after seeing two of my good friends get into PA school, I realized just how much of a stupid decision I made. 

I told all of this to the director of admissions at my home institution's PA program and asked his advice on what to do during my off year (and a half)-- at this point, I had more than enough PCE for even the most competitive programs and wasn't really up for working for an entire year. He recommended to me getting a master's degree-- it would prepare me for the rigor of PA school while helping me boost my low science GPA. I went all in. I signed up for the master's program he recommended, a master's in biotechnology. 

The biotech program at my school is one of a kind. Not only do you get a grueling set of science courses, but you also must take some business classes as well to be able to better understand both sides of the field. Biotechnology is booming, with startups selling for millions of dollars every day. It requires a unique set of STEM and business sense to make it from "bench to commercialization," as they say in the field. Graduates from the program go on to work for biotech startups, work in research, and even enter into medical and PA schools. 

The science required for biotech is everything from lab skills to deep knowledge of biochemistry. We learn how to clone and transfer genes from bacteria to human cells, how different proteins result in disease, how to discover drug targets for various diseases, and how to interpret systems biology- statistics done on biological experiments. That's just this semester. The science courses are a whirlwind and every lecture hurts my brain. But all of it is applicable to clinical practice and will make me a better clinician.

The best part of this program, however, has been the internship portion hands down. You have the option to either intern with a biotech company/research lab or to shadow with people in the field you intend on entering into after the program. I seized the shadowing opportunity, and have been working closely with three PAs. One works in neurosurgery at the university hospital, while the other two work in an outpatient vein surgery center. I have been able to see various surgeries as a result, from endogenous laser ablation, laminectomies, phlebotomies, and tumor resections to name a few. Each PA I have worked with has a different view on the world and has each individually inspired me to keep pushing on my path to PA-C.  

If you want to know more about my life as a grad student, drop a comment on this page, email me, or DM me on Instagram! 

Well, what's the best route to take?

Honestly, just like everything else in this world. it depends on you! A lot of people go straight from undergrad into PA school and do just fine. Some people need a year (or 5 or 10) to figure out exactly what they want to do and how they're going to go about it.