6 Things to Expect When You Start PA School

I remember the goal of being accepted into physician assistant (PA) school was my dream for so long. When I got the email that started with the word “congratulations!” I had an overwhelming sense of accomplishment. In all honesty, it simply was the goal of getting into PA school that I was after. I knew that once I was accepted I would eventually graduate and ultimately pass the PANCE. I gave very little thought to what it would be like to start PA school and what it entailed. My focus for so long was solely on the goal of getting in. While I did have a friend already in PA school, she would tell me more about the professors and her classmates and not the actual work that was involved.

I hope that this article sheds some light on what to expect when you start PA school. I don’t want you to go in as blindly as I did. It is also something to consider before you sign up for another 2.5 years of your school life. PA school has its ups but it also has its downs. More than anything it is just a lot of necessary focus and attention to the task at hand.

Say goodbye to freedom on the weekends

Right now you are probably working your medical assistant job and maybe volunteering a little on the weekends. You’re possibly still taking classes where you have to study. Chances are you find time to enjoy yourself on the weekends. When I was in PA school all of my exams were scheduled for Mondays. That meant my weekends were spent studying. I occasionally drove home to visit my husband (then boyfriend) but the majority of that weekend was spent stressing over my exam that coming Monday. I was never able to truly relax on the weekends and chances are you will likely feel the same way.

Expect to not always get straight A’s

This is something that I did read about before starting but didn’t think it would apply to me. In my first-ever quiz of PA school, I got a 40-something percent. This is not a lie. I went into instant panic mode after it happened and even opted out of a fun after-class activity because I was so upset about my quiz grade. Never in my life had I ever received a grade that low! Of course, I took that as a clue that I needed to study differently and eventually, I found my groove in school and ended up graduating with honors. I would venture to say most people who start PA school are overachievers and anticipate doing well in their classes. I am here to tell you, it will likely not happen. If it does that’s great! If it doesn’t just know it’s normal.

Studying is never over

As I mentioned previously about not having true freedom on the weekends same goes for the rest of the week. *Cough cough* I mean the rest of the two years of school. There is simply no end to studying. This mirrors real life too. Once you decide to become a medical provider you have also signed up to be a lifetime student. The field of medicine is constantly changing, and you need to be able to keep up with those changes and stay up to date with the latest protocols and medications. Continuous studying needs to become second nature. Fortunately, once you do graduate and start working it does slow down.

You have to figure out a lot on your own

Unlike in college, you don’t have the option to hire tutors or rely on friends who have already taken the class to help you understand the material. You could ask someone from the class ahead of you but chances are they won’t have the time to sit down and help. Professors will expect a lot of independent studying out of you (as they should since this is a master’s program). Don’t anticipate having your hand held when you start PA school. You will be sorely disappointed.

Anatomy lab is HARD

Okay, I don’t care who tells you differently. The truth is anatomy lab is intense. You can expect to spend long hours in a basement with dead bodies. If you’re lucky you may be able to work on an untouched body. Otherwise, you may get a hand-me-down from medical students. It’s a tough class. Not to mention, it smells. (I am very sensitive to smells). It is also difficult to not think about the fact that you’re cutting into someone that used to be alive. Maybe I am just being a little dramatic, but you couldn’t pay me any amount of money to redo that class.

You may feel isolated and that is normal

With all the time you spend hunched over textbooks and reviewing PowerPoints, it is normal to feel a little isolated. Especially, if you’re constantly looking at social media and seeing your other friends who got jobs straight out of college on vacations or living their lives. I decided to delete social media when I started school to focus. I do believe it was part of what helped me do so well in school. I’m not saying don’t communicate with family and friends (in fact please make sure you do), but maybe stop endless scrolling and comparing your stage of life with someone else’s.

There you have it. Those are 6 things I think you should give major consideration to before you officially start PA school. You can’t expect to do well if you are not super focused on the task at hand- learning medicine and doing well enough in your classes to graduate and become a medical provider. It is not for the faint of heart.

This post wasn’t supposed to be all doom and gloom. I want to be transparent and honest with what you’re getting yourself into. Now that I am a practicing physician assistant I am so grateful for having completed that season of life. I have a meaningful career and thanks to the specialty I chose, I also have true free weekends which feels oh so good. You will get there too if you decide to go for it. I would love to be a part of your journey no matter how small. Comment below with where you are on your path to PA school!