These are just a few reasons why I chose to pursue a career as a PA! --- Subscribe for more videos! Smile & Be Positive! Instagram: @freshprinceofhealthcare
Keep in mind when you are interviewing at PA programs, it's not recommended to talk about the length of education as a significant reason for your decision to become a PA! Unless you are older and have a family, I would recommend not mentioning it in your interviews! Enjoy the video!
Hey Justin! For PA school, it's not a big deal what major you are. My best bet is to choose a major you really enjoy! As long as you do well in the pre-reqs you will be fine!
Hey Angelica! Congrats, that is a huge accomplishment :) Very happy for you! :D and yesss 100% agree with you, PA should not be a backup plan to anything else! Best of luck in PA school!
I'm an MD student and I watched this out of curiosity; thought it was a pretty reasonable discussion of preferring the PA route. Earlier financial stability is a really big one, and I think it's great that you state that as straightforwardly as you do. As you say, you get paid way more for on-the-job training as a PA vs as a resident, even when you account for stipends that some residency programs provide. The length of training is definitely another. The idea of "lateral mobility" I found especially interesting and probably a matter of perspective. I understand the appeal of having the ability to work in different fields and how that might be good for avoiding burnout. However, I think it's not necessarily accurate to portray working in "just one" field as a physician as a bad or negative thing. The reason medical school is so long is that you get both breadth and depth of knowledge to then choose (or your board scores choose for you--kind of) what field you want to dedicate yourself to. And then in residency, you get really, really good in that field. If a person enjoys having expertise and being the endpoint of treating complex problems that require a depth of knowledge in a specific field, then MD/DO might be the better choice. And, further, being dedicated to one field doesn't preclude the ability to be a "lifelong learner." I don't think you'll find a single physician who has decided he or she has stopped learning or stopped feeling the need to learn. Treatments change, our understanding of genetics and pathology change, and disease prevalence changes. There are also specialties that allow you to see a broad range of pathology. Internal medicine/hospital medicine treats literally everything under the sun. Emergency medicine has a "jack of all trades, master of none" style that appeals to people who want lateral mobility within a specialty. Anyway, cool and very well articulated video.
Kevin Huang great points. Definitely anyone in healthcare has to be a lifelong learner. I honestly commend anyone pursuing the medical school route and have really positive vibes towards physicians. Medicine as a whole is such a team based approach and it wouldn’t be the same without each individual playing their specific roles. Best of luck on your journey! 🙏🏽
I think I've made my mind up to become a PA. I've always envisioned myself as a healthcare and thought MD was the way to go. But after shadowing PAs, MDs and med techs, I see PA care more and work more closely with patients. I like that. It's not about ego, I just want to help people feel better and live health lives
Here's some other advice for the pre-PAs: * It's physician assistant, not physician's assistant. If a PA school sees that "S" on your application, chances are it'll end up in the circular file. (I'm not kidding.) * Just say "PA." The professional title is a mouthful, the sibilant "S" is a nightmare, and then there's the "Physician Assistant" vs. "Physician Associate" debate. So, just say PA. (Much in the same way you just say MD, DO, or NP.) * There are a lot of ways to get your hands-on hours. Get them lined up sooner than later. * Make your essay personal. Use anecdotes. * If being a PA is a second choice for you, then it's the wrong choice for you.
I choose PA because being a single mother raising an autistic son, Medical school would take up a lot of time and I have so many hobbies. I do respect MDs but there's more to life than medicine.
Thanks for watching the channel! I thought the same thing and wished there were more PA videos on TH-cam. That inspired me to make videos and pay it forward to future applicants :)
Ahh, I’m so excited to become a PA! When I was pre-med, it felt...wrong. Whenever I’d look at the pre-med track, I was terrified. However, when I learned about the PA profession, I felt a calling. Whenever I look at the pre-PA track, I feel motivated and challenged! I’ve never felt that way with any profession. I’m super excited and congratulations!
same. i wanted to be a surgeon for as long as i could remember, but it felt so daunting and i felt like i wasn’t smart enough and was scared to fail. pa seems so much more promising and aligns way more with me as a person. i’m starting undergrad next year and so excited to become a pa!
There were several factors that influenced my desire to want to be a PA but one of those was the fact that ive never been told by a PA that they wish they had never gone that route. Ive been told by plenty of doctors that they wouldnt do med school if they could it all over again
James Kim PA Student I am currently seeking my bachelors and master (dural enrollment) in healthcare Administration and I was wanting to do PA. I wanted to know what do you think I can do with both degrees together? I have been looking but nothing.
pizza pizza Anesthesia Assistant, which is somewhat similar to a CRNA, except an MD has to be present whereas a CRNA can practice independently under the supervision of an MD. AA is a dying profession....
THANK YOU! I am about to finish my fall semester as a second year pre-med student and I have been feeling a bit wary about becoming a doctor. I have always been so passionate about the medical field, but knowing it will cost a lot of money and time has discouraged me. I am looking towards changing my career path to a PA because I share some of your similar goals and this video has inspired me a bit more. thank you so much!
I had considered PA school myself at one point but in the end I chose medical school. There's definitely no right or wrong answer it's what works best for you. I have friends that are in PA school and they could've easily gone to medical school but they chose PA school instead because medical school wasn't in line with their end goals. Good job on the video!
@@nicolearguello5224 PA is about 2 years. Med school is 4 years plus 3-7 years of residency, and then 1-2 years of fellowship if choose to do it. A family doctor needs 3 years of residency. Surgeons need 5 years and possibly fellowship as well. Neurosurgeons need 7 years of residency. Resident physicians are paid during training but it’s only $55000-60000 for long hours of work, often 80 hour weeks.
This is a great video man, thanks. I first got interested in the PA profession when I found out what a PA was while in the military. I’ve only ever been interested in family medicine, and that was basically what our unit PA did, coughs and sneezes to sprains and breaks. Plowing through the pre reqs as we speak.
Watching your video has helped me tremendously. I've debated myself for several years after graduating from undergrad in 2013, I still can't figure things out and have just been working entry level jobs. My biggest obstacles at this point would be not having direct patient care hours, though I've worked in a health care related field for several years. I'm in TX so the schools here don't typically require a set number of hours for patient care, but having none at all certainly hurts I'm sure. Pretty positive I'll have to wait another year to even think of applying to PA school, as I would only have one good letter of recommendation and need to take anatomy and physiology still (stupidly I chose to take plant biology during college instead). Thank you, this was very informative for me and has given me hope!
This video really hit home for me. I was originally pre-med but switched over to PA for most of the reasons you mentioned. Now I'm preparing for my first PA school interview this week and couldn't be more excited! Thanks for making great videos, they've been extremely helpful.
Christina! You're very welcome! Congratulations on receiving an interview! That is a huge step in getting closer to your goal. Be yourself and stay positive! :)
This was really detailed and informative james!. i fell in love with the duties and career line of becoming a PA and now there's no going back . Upload more PA experience videos!
This is AWESOME! I'm currently working towards my BSN and have been debating PA or NP. Still on the fence about it, but your videos are very informative! Thanks so much for posting!
I lived with my ex girlfriend for three years of the four years of medical school, everything this man said hits the nail on the head. The financial stress alone to become a doctor is a weight so hard to imagine, plus the stress to keep up pushes nearly every med student to either contemplate dropping out or harming oneself. My ex constantly second guessed herself and wished she had chosen the route of becoming a PA instead, for all the reasons mentioned: time, family, finance, reduced stress. Massive kudos to all whom endure medical school, the world certainly needs as many doctors as we can have. Just know it is not a life decision to embark upon without great deliberation.
Thanks for taking a moment to recognize the sacrifices that people make to become physicians. It means a lot to anyone who chose that path. I think a lot of people take physicians sacrifices for granted simply because they are well compensated. If you're only in it for the money it's definitely not worth it.
Wow, this video was SO helpful!!! I have been wrestling with knowing whether going to PA school is the right decision for me, and your video put a lot of that at ease and I think that it would be a good fit for me. Thank you!!
I'm a senior in high school and this video has really solidified my thoughts on becoming a PA. Many of the reasons that geared you towards this career path are similar to mine. Thank you so much for your insight.
Really great advice man........I'm in grade 10 and I've really been thinking about what I want to do in life now so that I don't feel uncomfortable and start panicking when it's time to make the decision. I've been doing some really deep research into multiple jobs in the medical field (I know my life is headed towards that) and although the high salary of a physician is quite enticing, I don't feel comfortable going into that field because it doesn't seem as though I would have enough time for family, friends and just an adequate amount of interaction outside of work. I want a job that pays me enough to make a really decent living, but also gives me enough time to spend with the people I care about and just relax in general. Watching videos like yours really ensures me that I'm making the right decision. Thank you so much!
Hi James! I just rewatched this video after 3 years! You've come SO far, SO quickly! MAN, I'm so PROUD of you! I hope we meet someday! May the good Lord grant you continued success in your positive endeavors!😊👨🏾⚕️
I'm about a month away from finishing my first semester of PA school! I chose PA school over med school for many of the same reasons as you. So far, I've learned a lot and enjoyed it as well. Good luck and enjoy your time before school starts, it's non-stop!
I just came across this video today and I would like to thank you for your advice and personal perspective! I'm currently an incoming pre med at my University and my first step is to shadow as much physicians as I can. Thank you so much for making this video! I'm definitely going to have to do a lot of exploring soon.
This was really helpful James! I've done most of the leg work towards applying to med school but for nearly all the reasons you've stated, it's been looking less and less attractive. I'm going to go look into shadowing a PA... thanks so much! also, you're so beautiful whatever family you create will be gorgeous :)
When talking about money (which shouldn’t be the biggest deciding factor) annual salary is only part of the equation. Yes, physicians (specialty surgeons in huge hospital systems) have a higher annual salary. Duh. But if you have low overhead, a decent wage, and know how to manage your income you can make a lucrative living. This is purely anecdotal, but I know a kick ass charge RN that made 175k last year. She worked hard and managed her money correctly. If you want to make big money look outside the box. If you want power work in a strong program. There was a cardiothoracic PA I worked with that would wear a t shirt and baseball cap wherever he went. He was very respected and could have a cardio ICU bed in 5 minutes when our ED managers would fight 4+ hours for a bed. Don’t let your career be defined by what they put in the college brochure...
Thank you for this! I was currently applying to medical school, but the burnout I was already feeling was unreal. I couln't make up my mind, but I was looking at the loans I already have from my masters program and post-bacc program. I couldn't let my loans sit for 8-10 more years lol I feel that we have similar viewpoints and it actually helped me really be good with my decision! Good Luck:)
from Joel: James, Your comments are right on target! After a career as a U.S. Army officer (Signal Corps), I was a PA for 30 years before fully retiring >10 years ago. I'm now 84yo and have absolutely no regrets about becoming a PA.🙂
Currently I am a biochem major deciding between becoming a Doctor or a PA. This video pointed out that the lifestyle I want lines up better with a career of a PA, so thank you I needed this video.
Hey James, glad to see you making videos about the profession, as a fellow PA prospective I wish you the best of luck in PA school and cant wait to see more of your videos.
Thank you and appreciate it! I will do my best to make videos while in PA school to give you guys more perspective! Wish you the best on your journey :)
You should definitely keep it up if you can (I've heard PA school is a full time gig) so I hope you have the time, I suggest you make a video about the stereo types guys face going into the PA profession regarding their gender.
I'm glad that i ran into yr vid, understanding the PA route a bit more now. I will be applying to a surgical technology program by the end of the year (also interested to apply for CNA program) but now I'm questioning my decision because I'm interested in PA school after watching this vid. This is hard. Anyway, loved that end caption "Don't forget to be my blood type, Be Positive"
I enjoyed listen to you. I would like to keep watching your video. I believe that all you shared was helpful and motivated me to keep learning about the different pathways that my bachelor can offer me. This is helping me to keep searching, to have options a decide eats better. Thanks for sharing.
I’ve finally found the career that I truly admire and love. I applied to university in Canada. Just waiting for their reply. So, that I can start my nursing major and French minor and get my Bsn and then apply to PA school for the Masters PA program!!!!! You’re amazing!
I'm applying to PA school this summer. Married with three children. Length of education is a big plus, especially in my stage of life. A lot of your reasons are my reasons.
I've been going back and forth with this topic for a year or so now, and I am a sophomore in college. This video definitely put things into perspective for me and I cant thank you enough for that!
Thanks for the videos James they've helped me a ton. Hardest decision of my life but after reading hundreds of accounts from PA's and doctors...I decided to go for PA. I'll have to come up with a better interview answer...but it was honestly down to the time investment and stress levels of becoming a doctor vs PA. I have too many goals outside of work to devote my life to a specialty in medicine. Plus I'm seeing PA jobs offering over 200k in my area which works for me. Maybe if I started my journey at 21 I would have chosen med school but I don't want to wait until I'm 40 before I make good money, and many doctors mention the time sacrifice involved.
Good points, thanks for sharing! I’m in the med route, and I definitely wish we could switch specialties easier. We don’t even get a lot of exposure to all the different subspecialties, so it’s sometimes challenging to commit to which specialty to pursue.
The biggest factor for me when it comes to choosing a career is how much time i will spend with my future family. I chose to specialize in dentistry, most likely orthodontia.
thank you soon much for this video. I have an appointment with a pre-health advisor tomorrow and i was unsure of what to ask, but this clarified so much. My personality is very similar to yours and I think i would excel in this profession! thanks again :-)
James Kim PA Student the meeting was amazing! I haven't felt this excited about my future in so long. Only problem is that my family isn't thrilled because I have had the dream of being a doctor since I was three years old, and they don't fully understand the PA profession, but hopefully they'll come around :-)
Dude I’ve been struggling to finish my med school applications for months now, primarily because I’m also an “impulsive” person like you described. I want to learn and do it all and was afraid that if I became a physician, I would switch specialties MULTIPLE times later on. I tried looking for a specialty that’s super broad so I can keep as many doors open as possible but, I still couldn’t convince myself that this was truly what I wanted to do. After exploring other options, I’ve realized that becoming a PA is a WAY better fit for my personality/impulsiveness and I couldn’t be happier! All the anxiety and fears of choosing a single speciality are gone! Lol
Loving the videos James. I'm a 1st yr Pre-Med student currently and have been weighing a few options on what type of career I'd like to pursue. I've done a lot more research since entering college on what it takes to go to med/pa/chiropractic schools. From listening to you, we seem to share a lot of ideals. Which is why I think I'll shadow a few PA's this summer I think.
I’m 2 years late on this video😂 but I’ve wanted to be a doctor my whole life but having a big family is the most important thing to me. Because of that (and other reasons), I just decided being a doctor most likely won’t be the right path for me. I was literally about to just give up and then I was told about being a PA. And I think I just found out, for certain, what I wanna be. So thank you.
This is amazing. I've been wanting to become a PA for years and just expected that I'd have to sacrifice my big family dreams like most college heavy careers, but I had no idea just how conducive the profession is to starting a big family young
Good luck! Just rechecking this video comments. I start clinicals on Monday. PA school is definitely the most difficult thing I have done in my entire life, but it will be worth it in the end.
My mother was a pa and than after she had a few kids, she went back to med school and she says that being a pa helped her figure out her specialty. She went to Med school at 33 when all me and my 3 siblings were old enough to go to school and didn’t need to be cared for all the time and she was a practicing doctor by 41 because her med school was a 3 year program and her residency was only 5 years. She also had my dad who made about 70 k as a teacher to take care of us when we were out of school. It’s never too late and you don’t have to sacrifice a family for it. She was around a lot growing up and I think it’s a misconception that doctors don’t have time for their families. She had passive income because she invested while working as a pa and bought properties to rent out so that was enough to keep me and my siblings accounted for while she was in med school. She paid off her loans after only 3 years because she maid 350 k a year and gave about 75k a year. She has passive income so she isn’t worried about having debt in retirement and she has passive income that will still come after she retires so she isn’t worried about not having saved enough to retire. The reason she switched is because she always wanted to do surgery and while physician assistants can specialize in surgery, they can only do small things like cutting abscesses and inserting chest tubes and my mom longed to do more complex procedures. Shes now an attending general surgeon at a hospital and shes happier than she’s ever been. If you want to do something, don’t let time or age deter you. You’ll be that age anyway. You just may not be as fulfilled. If she didn’t do it, she would be 41 anyway but she wouldn’t have been as happy as she is now.
@@amaltaher2717 Not all of us are privileged with wealth and a spouse who makes good income to pay off medical school debt. Good for your mom, but most of us don’t have that luxury. “Just buy more properties and investments” lol as if it’s that easy.
hi james! so glad i found your channel today! your videos are all so helpful! I'm a dreamer and becoming a PA or an Orthodontist were my dreams 6 years ago (big difference lol i know) but I wasn't ready mentally or academically for the science courses. I had personal and academic issues so I put the research and dreams on pause then went back to school 2 years ago. I am a web design major and I think that was more of a hobby and wanting a degree in something I enjoy but I have a passion in helping people, thus wanting to become part of the healthcare field as my career. I've been working at a dental office for 3 years now and I am still scared on how well i'd do in the pre-reqs or if I can even get into PA/Dental school, but as time flew by, I thought, if I don't start now with the pre-dental pre-reqs I wouldn't know if I can't actually succeed, time doensn't wait for anyone - so I basically prepped my course outline, prepped my mindset for dental school and finally took BIO1 + 2 and Chem 1 and to my surprise I received A's and B's! The more I think about Dental school though and how old I am (2 years older than you), I feel like I'm digging myself into a big hole, so I am currently reviewing all of my research that I compiled in my PA dream folder and it seems like a better option - why didn't I settle with this sooner and realize the benefits now!? watching your videos today opened my mind up more too. I feel like i have the same aspirations and wants/needs as you do in terms of being a continued lifetime learner, wanting to be in different fields and wanting a family in the future, and most of all, not wanting to be drowned in debt. sorry for this long comment lol I really thank you for your channel and I will continue watching them today lol I haven't watched all of them yet, but I was wondering if you can make a video for non-traditional students wanting to apply for PA? Like what kind of transitions do we need if any? I am not that much of a science-based class person either ._. but i love math. should I rethink my decision for PA too bc of that?
Hey! Thanks for watching the videos and glad they've been helpful! I will most definitely add a video on my advice to non-traditional students to my list of videos to make! I think to begin you should definitely figure out if you want to fully commit to dental or PA, as they are very different things and you need to really figure out which one would you enjoy more and put in the necessary work to get there. If you truly enjoy working in your dental office, why not go the dental school route? It's only 1-2 years more than most PA programs and you can definitely pay off student loans quickly if you are diligent. If you choose to pursue the PA route, continue to finish all the necessary pre-req courses as they are required when you apply to PA school. It's okay to be a web design major as long as you complete and do well in your pre-req courses! You say you're not a science-based class person but you received A's and B's in BIO 1 & 2 and CHEM 1. So lets get that notion out of your head because you obviously can handle science courses and have done well in them. I would check with PA programs if your dental office experience counts as patient care experience. If they do not accept it, you will most likely need to get direct patient care experience either through EMT, CNA, MA, PT aide, LVN, just to name a few. Whichever route you decide to choose, if you're really passionate about it, you're never too old to pursue it. You are still fairly young so just carefully weigh your options and go from there! Hope that helped!
Hi Kwaniie! I'm also not feeling confident about taking these science courses for PA school. I read you got A's and B's in Bio and Chem! do you have any tips on how you overcame the fear? and any tips on how you achieved As and B's in those classes? thank you!!
omg!! thank you so much for this and i really feel like this might be the one for me instead of MD esp with me being so impulsive and i always wanted to try peds, surgery, ER, and cardio and with MD i cant switch between the four of them 😭😭😭
James Kim. I'm a single mom of two boys with a dream of being a dermatologist. Of course going to medical school is probably not a good idea for someone in my situation. I'm 25 so I'd like to start school now. This video definitely put a smile on my face and I'm so thankful for it. I will now plan on becoming a PA in dermatology. I'm inspired and hopeful I can really do it. I will really give it all I got.
zena shamoon most important of all is to make sure you gain health care experience!! That’s one of the most important steps!! Start shadowing and volunteer nowwww!!
AMAZING video! currently a freshmen in college and was accepted into an amazing direct nursing school. has had doubts with continuing with nursing school because I don't see a future with nursing, more interested in the doctoral duties.
Thank you for elaborating on your decision. I’m currently a firefighter in the Air Force reserves and have always wanted to be in the medical field. I have considered becoming a paramedic but I’m leaning more towards PA since I’ve always wanted to be a doctor but I just can’t fathom being in school for another 10+ years when I’m already 25
Thank you so much for these videos. I am a junior in high school and am trying to get into a BS/MS program right out of senior year. Not many schools offer a program with direct entry so I love watching your videos and seeing your perspective. Keep up the awesome work! :)
If I become a PA, everyone thinks I finished a 1 year program to become an "assistant". If I become a Nurse, everyone thinks I'm a gay guy. If I become an NP, I'm really good at being a gay guy. The struggles of being a guy and not being good enough for Med school is real AF
Hi, your video is very helpful for my daughter who got a seat for DO school and now she is also trying to get in PA schools. she is confused what to do and not 100% sure about DO school . now after watching your video ,we can decide to be PA. thanks a lot & God bless you.
It's funny how you guys have separate p.a school in the states. Here in the UK, to become a p.a, we have to go to medical school. Although, some unis (less prestigious ones) offering the p.a course don't even have a medical school. Also, the official title here in the UK is physician associate and not assistant. I think that may be because assistant is a separate, very specialist role in anaesthesia. We do a 3 year undergraduate science degree (post-18 years of age) and then a 2 year p.a studies masters degree. So overall, the route is 5 years, which seems shorter than the US route
The PA route is true gem career-wise. The length of training, job opportunities, long term earning potential, and flexibility is probably unmatched. I know of a couple of practices where PAs run the show, and makes more than the doctor. Largely because, an enterprising PA has much more time to expand into business ventures and outside interests. Overall it's a true winner, and probably more bang for your buck than any other career.
Fun fact: the gpa req for PA schools and med schools are actually closer than you think ( both roughly > 3.6. Least in my home state). That is something I never knew :)
Thanks so much for this video!!!! I am needing to go back to school to do Prerequisites for PA/Medical School (I took most of the classes more than 10 YEARS AGO). I LOVE your videos because I feel that your personality and mine are extremely similar!!!!
Hi I am a rising junior/senior. I am graduating early and I really want to become a PA. I’ve looked for potential professions for myself for months now. I knew I enjoyed interacting with people and I also knew that I wanted to help people. My goal is to graduate college in 3 years as well and get into PA school. But, I’m kind of confused on how all of this PA school stuff and college classes work. I heard that you have to take specific majors in college in order to fit PA school criteria. This whole PA thing to me in unreal. The amount of years required for a PA is way less than most doctors. I was completely shocked to discover this profession. I was absolutely thrilled to even find out how much they pay you a year. Essentially I’m doing a job I enjoy and I’m getting paid well. May you please inform me on what major you decided to take in college and how your 4 years of undergrad has a way of playing a huge role in PA school. Basically, may you please explain the classes you took and your journey into becoming a PA. I am currently 16 and will be 17 when I graduate. If I do 3 years of undergrad at college and 2 years of PA school, can I be earning money and be out into my profession by the age of 23 or 24?
Keep in mind when you are interviewing at PA programs, it's not recommended to talk about the length of education as a significant reason for your decision to become a PA! Unless you are older and have a family, I would recommend not mentioning it in your interviews! Enjoy the video!
Um im not into the nursing program yet but if I want to become a PA should I suggest changing my major?
Hey Justin! For PA school, it's not a big deal what major you are. My best bet is to choose a major you really enjoy! As long as you do well in the pre-reqs you will be fine!
This was so helpful! thank you!
James Kim If you shouldn't get into being a PA for the money, then what should you get into for the money? 90k is a lot.
James Kim This was an excellent video
This dude really said “Don’t forget to be like my blood type, Be positive’’. That’s so cheesy, yet so beautiful
Amen! I just got into PA school! :) People need to understand how awesome it is to be a PA. It isn't a backup plan. This is THEE plan ;)
Hey Angelica! Congrats, that is a huge accomplishment :) Very happy for you! :D and yesss 100% agree with you, PA should not be a backup plan to anything else! Best of luck in PA school!
Congratulations Angelica!! (It's Christina) Very cool to see we watched the same video
Hey, i'm currently confused on what Bachelors Degree i should major in to become a PA. Any advice?
A M congrats!! Best wishes to you!
How Much You Get Per Hour As A PA?
How Many Do You Need To Go To College In Order To Be A Full Time PA?
As a PA I think you summarized the pros of being a PA very well. 5 years in and I still love my job.
Thank you Chad! Appreciate your comment and so happy to hear you're still loving it! Wishing you the best with your career :)
Chad, your picture is backwards.
I'm an MD student and I watched this out of curiosity; thought it was a pretty reasonable discussion of preferring the PA route. Earlier financial stability is a really big one, and I think it's great that you state that as straightforwardly as you do. As you say, you get paid way more for on-the-job training as a PA vs as a resident, even when you account for stipends that some residency programs provide. The length of training is definitely another.
The idea of "lateral mobility" I found especially interesting and probably a matter of perspective. I understand the appeal of having the ability to work in different fields and how that might be good for avoiding burnout. However, I think it's not necessarily accurate to portray working in "just one" field as a physician as a bad or negative thing. The reason medical school is so long is that you get both breadth and depth of knowledge to then choose (or your board scores choose for you--kind of) what field you want to dedicate yourself to. And then in residency, you get really, really good in that field. If a person enjoys having expertise and being the endpoint of treating complex problems that require a depth of knowledge in a specific field, then MD/DO might be the better choice.
And, further, being dedicated to one field doesn't preclude the ability to be a "lifelong learner." I don't think you'll find a single physician who has decided he or she has stopped learning or stopped feeling the need to learn. Treatments change, our understanding of genetics and pathology change, and disease prevalence changes.
There are also specialties that allow you to see a broad range of pathology. Internal medicine/hospital medicine treats literally everything under the sun. Emergency medicine has a "jack of all trades, master of none" style that appeals to people who want lateral mobility within a specialty.
Anyway, cool and very well articulated video.
Kevin Huang great points. Definitely anyone in healthcare has to be a lifelong learner. I honestly commend anyone pursuing the medical school route and have really positive vibes towards physicians. Medicine as a whole is such a team based approach and it wouldn’t be the same without each individual playing their specific roles. Best of luck on your journey! 🙏🏽
I think I've made my mind up to become a PA. I've always envisioned myself as a healthcare and thought MD was the way to go. But after shadowing PAs, MDs and med techs, I see PA care more and work more closely with patients. I like that. It's not about ego, I just want to help people feel better and live health lives
That's awesome and think it's great that you were able to shadow different health care providers! Best of luck :)
How did you shadow PAs? Did you just contact the PA directly? Orrr
Dior yeah I shadowed PAs and doctors at a military hospital for 2 years
Here's some other advice for the pre-PAs:
* It's physician assistant, not physician's assistant. If a PA school sees that "S" on your application, chances are it'll end up in the circular file. (I'm not kidding.)
* Just say "PA." The professional title is a mouthful, the sibilant "S" is a nightmare, and then there's the "Physician Assistant" vs. "Physician Associate" debate. So, just say PA. (Much in the same way you just say MD, DO, or NP.)
* There are a lot of ways to get your hands-on hours. Get them lined up sooner than later.
* Make your essay personal. Use anecdotes.
* If being a PA is a second choice for you, then it's the wrong choice for you.
Very great and honest advice. PA is not a second option career!
the "s" isn't important. and PA = MD, right? TOTALLY the same exact thing, no difference what so ever.
funkychemonesia
Thank you.
Medicine is medicine. Anyway I can practice I'm going to take it.
I choose PA because being a single mother raising an autistic son, Medical school would take up a lot of time and I have so many hobbies. I do respect MDs but there's more to life than medicine.
Not that many people on TH-cam that talk about pa stuff, I'm so glad I found ur channel.
Thanks for watching the channel! I thought the same thing and wished there were more PA videos on TH-cam. That inspired me to make videos and pay it forward to future applicants :)
i scratched my screen for like 5 minutes because of your profile picture
Zesty Beaver I was touching my screen cuz I thought there's a lash on my screen lol
Ahh, I’m so excited to become a PA! When I was pre-med, it felt...wrong. Whenever I’d look at the pre-med track, I was terrified. However, when I learned about the PA profession, I felt a calling. Whenever I look at the pre-PA track, I feel motivated and challenged! I’ve never felt that way with any profession. I’m super excited and congratulations!
I feel the exact same year😄
Way*
same. i wanted to be a surgeon for as long as i could remember, but it felt so daunting and i felt like i wasn’t smart enough and was scared to fail. pa seems so much more promising and aligns way more with me as a person. i’m starting undergrad next year and so excited to become a pa!
There were several factors that influenced my desire to want to be a PA but one of those was the fact that ive never been told by a PA that they wish they had never gone that route. Ive been told by plenty of doctors that they wouldnt do med school if they could it all over again
If i could do it all over again (from high school)... I'd be a PA or AA...
- I say this as a med student.
Thanks for the insight. Best of luck to you and stay positive my friend!
James Kim PA Student I am currently seeking my bachelors and master (dural enrollment) in healthcare Administration and I was wanting to do PA. I wanted to know what do you think I can do with both degrees together? I have been looking but nothing.
Please help!!
pizza pizza Anesthesia Assistant, which is somewhat similar to a CRNA, except an MD has to be present whereas a CRNA can practice independently under the supervision of an MD. AA is a dying profession....
Bullsh**
THANK YOU! I am about to finish my fall semester as a second year pre-med student and I have been feeling a bit wary about becoming a doctor. I have always been so passionate about the medical field, but knowing it will cost a lot of money and time has discouraged me. I am looking towards changing my career path to a PA because I share some of your similar goals and this video has inspired me a bit more. thank you so much!
I had considered PA school myself at one point but in the end I chose medical school. There's definitely no right or wrong answer it's what works best for you. I have friends that are in PA school and they could've easily gone to medical school but they chose PA school instead because medical school wasn't in line with their end goals. Good job on the video!
Definitely no right or wrong answer. So much respect for you for pursuing medical school. Best of luck on your journey :)
How expensive is pa to the md school same or less
@@gamerking5282 As mentioned in the video, PA school is only 2-3 years.
Med school is anywhere between 4-12 years. So way more expensive.
Nicole Arguello Med school is always only 4 years. The remainder is paid training in residency and fellowship!
@@nicolearguello5224 PA is about 2 years. Med school is 4 years plus 3-7 years of residency, and then 1-2 years of fellowship if choose to do it. A family doctor needs 3 years of residency. Surgeons need 5 years and possibly fellowship as well. Neurosurgeons need 7 years of residency. Resident physicians are paid during training but it’s only $55000-60000 for long hours of work, often 80 hour weeks.
This is a great video man, thanks. I first got interested in the PA profession when I found out what a PA was while in the military. I’ve only ever been interested in family medicine, and that was basically what our unit PA did, coughs and sneezes to sprains and breaks. Plowing through the pre reqs as we speak.
Watching your video has helped me tremendously. I've debated myself for several years after graduating from undergrad in 2013, I still can't figure things out and have just been working entry level jobs. My biggest obstacles at this point would be not having direct patient care hours, though I've worked in a health care related field for several years. I'm in TX so the schools here don't typically require a set number of hours for patient care, but having none at all certainly hurts I'm sure. Pretty positive I'll have to wait another year to even think of applying to PA school, as I would only have one good letter of recommendation and need to take anatomy and physiology still (stupidly I chose to take plant biology during college instead). Thank you, this was very informative for me and has given me hope!
The process isn't easy but stay patient and positive! You got this!
This video really hit home for me. I was originally pre-med but switched over to PA for most of the reasons you mentioned. Now I'm preparing for my first PA school interview this week and couldn't be more excited! Thanks for making great videos, they've been extremely helpful.
Christina! You're very welcome! Congratulations on receiving an interview! That is a huge step in getting closer to your goal. Be yourself and stay positive! :)
That Kevin Hart clip killed me lol
Haha I love it
This was really detailed and informative james!. i fell in love with the duties and career line of becoming a PA and now there's no going back . Upload more PA experience videos!
Thank you! I am actually going to be starting PA school this summer so stay tuned for more videos :)
yay! already subbed!
Thank you so, so much for this video! I am a non-traditional student and I have been struggling with this question. This video helped me immensely!
As a practicing PA this is an excellent video. Well said James! Good luck with the program!
Thank you so much! Hearing your comment as a practicing PA made my day. Appreciate it :)
great synopsis! you provided correct and great information for those interested in PA in a professional way!
Thank you Maryam! Appreciate your comment
This is AWESOME! I'm currently working towards my BSN and have been debating PA or NP. Still on the fence about it, but your videos are very informative! Thanks so much for posting!
Definitely weigh out the options! Both are amazing fileds to go into :)
I lived with my ex girlfriend for three years of the four years of medical school, everything this man said hits the nail on the head. The financial stress alone to become a doctor is a weight so hard to imagine, plus the stress to keep up pushes nearly every med student to either contemplate dropping out or harming oneself. My ex constantly second guessed herself and wished she had chosen the route of becoming a PA instead, for all the reasons mentioned: time, family, finance, reduced stress. Massive kudos to all whom endure medical school, the world certainly needs as many doctors as we can have. Just know it is not a life decision to embark upon without great deliberation.
This was a great video. I'm a college freshman and you really assisted in pointing me in the right direction. Thank you!
Glad it helped!
Thanks for taking a moment to recognize the sacrifices that people make to become physicians. It means a lot to anyone who chose that path. I think a lot of people take physicians sacrifices for granted simply because they are well compensated. If you're only in it for the money it's definitely not worth it.
Physicians sacrifice the most, in my opinion, and that definitely doesn't get the attention it deserves.
Very wise insight
Wow, this video was SO helpful!!! I have been wrestling with knowing whether going to PA school is the right decision for me, and your video put a lot of that at ease and I think that it would be a good fit for me. Thank you!!
Hey Spencer! Thanks for watching the videos, I'm glad I could help. Stay positive :)
I'm a senior in high school and this video has really solidified my thoughts on becoming a PA. Many of the reasons that geared you towards this career path are similar to mine. Thank you so much for your insight.
Best of luck Tyson!
4 years later, how’s is going Tyson
Thank you for covering a lot of topics that I had questions about! I'm considering the PA route and this video was really helpful. :)
You're very welcome, best of luck!
Really great advice man........I'm in grade 10 and I've really been thinking about what I want to do in life now so that I don't feel uncomfortable and start panicking when it's time to make the decision. I've been doing some really deep research into multiple jobs in the medical field (I know my life is headed towards that) and although the high salary of a physician is quite enticing, I don't feel comfortable going into that field because it doesn't seem as though I would have enough time for family, friends and just an adequate amount of interaction outside of work. I want a job that pays me enough to make a really decent living, but also gives me enough time to spend with the people I care about and just relax in general. Watching videos like yours really ensures me that I'm making the right decision. Thank you so much!
You got lots of time. Shadow all the different fields if you can! Best way to see first hand what each profession is like :)
Hi James! I just rewatched this video after 3 years! You've come SO far, SO quickly! MAN, I'm so PROUD of you! I hope we meet someday! May the good Lord grant you continued success in your positive endeavors!😊👨🏾⚕️
Thank you good sir! Thanks for rocking with me for 3 years!!
Ahhhh dude yes!!!!! I just found your channel. Great video, positivity is contagious. Thanks for your prospective
Thank you and of course!
I'm about a month away from finishing my first semester of PA school! I chose PA school over med school for many of the same reasons as you. So far, I've learned a lot and enjoyed it as well. Good luck and enjoy your time before school starts, it's non-stop!
Hey Vance! So glad to hear and thank you so much! Best of luck to you as well :)
I just came across this video today and I would like to thank you for your advice and personal perspective! I'm currently an incoming pre med at my University and my first step is to shadow as much physicians as I can. Thank you so much for making this video! I'm definitely going to have to do a lot of exploring soon.
Hey Jessica! You're very welcome! Best of luck to you!
This was really helpful James! I've done most of the leg work towards applying to med school but for nearly all the reasons you've stated, it's been looking less and less attractive. I'm going to go look into shadowing a PA... thanks so much! also, you're so beautiful whatever family you create will be gorgeous :)
Thank you Priscilla :)
This really helped me so much! Thank you for making videos!
Thanks for your support Natalie! I appreciate you!
When talking about money (which shouldn’t be the biggest deciding factor) annual salary is only part of the equation. Yes, physicians (specialty surgeons in huge hospital systems) have a higher annual salary. Duh. But if you have low overhead, a decent wage, and know how to manage your income you can make a lucrative living. This is purely anecdotal, but I know a kick ass charge RN that made 175k last year. She worked hard and managed her money correctly. If you want to make big money look outside the box. If you want power work in a strong program. There was a cardiothoracic PA I worked with that would wear a t shirt and baseball cap wherever he went. He was very respected and could have a cardio ICU bed in 5 minutes when our ED managers would fight 4+ hours for a bed. Don’t let your career be defined by what they put in the college brochure...
Thank you for this! I was currently applying to medical school, but the burnout I was already feeling was unreal. I couln't make up my mind, but I was looking at the loans I already have from my masters program and post-bacc program. I couldn't let my loans sit for 8-10 more years lol I feel that we have similar viewpoints and it actually helped me really be good with my decision! Good Luck:)
This was a great video and solidified my reasons for wanting to become a PA vs. MD :) Thanks James!
Thank you! I'm glad it helped clear things up for you :) best of luck and stay positive!
Be like my blood type, Be Positive 😂 you get a like for that one my friend.
Thank you Clayton!
from Joel: James, Your comments are right on target! After a career as a U.S. Army officer (Signal Corps), I was a PA for 30 years before fully retiring >10 years ago. I'm now 84yo and have absolutely no regrets about becoming a PA.🙂
Currently I am a biochem major deciding between becoming a Doctor or a PA. This video pointed out that the lifestyle I want lines up better with a career of a PA, so thank you I needed this video.
Thanks for your advice! really helped clear things up for me.
You're very welcome Angie! Best of luck to you and be positive! :)
I THINK that this is the best career for me!!
Hey James, glad to see you making videos about the profession, as a fellow PA prospective I wish you the best of luck in PA school and cant wait to see more of your videos.
Thank you and appreciate it! I will do my best to make videos while in PA school to give you guys more perspective! Wish you the best on your journey :)
You should definitely keep it up if you can (I've heard PA school is a full time gig) so I hope you have the time, I suggest you make a video about the stereo types guys face going into the PA profession regarding their gender.
I'll do my best in my down time. That's an interesting topic and will definitely add it to my list. Thanks again for your support!
Could you do a video on how to prepare for PA school. I've been accepted to a program that starts in May. Thanks!
You are so helpful! Thanks so much for making videos like this.
Aww thank you Anna! :)
I'm glad that i ran into yr vid, understanding the PA route a bit more now. I will be applying to a surgical technology program by the end of the year (also interested to apply for CNA program) but now I'm questioning my decision because I'm interested in PA school after watching this vid. This is hard. Anyway, loved that end caption "Don't forget to be my blood type, Be Positive"
You should definitely consider all your options! You could even work for afew years as a surgical tech then apply to PA school! Best of luck :)
you just eliminated my panic attacks, thank you so much
Best of luck Mark! Stay positive!
I enjoyed listen to you. I would like to keep watching your video. I believe that all you shared was helpful and motivated me to keep learning about the different pathways that my bachelor can offer me. This is helping me to keep searching, to have options a decide eats better. Thanks for sharing.
I’ve finally found the career that I truly admire and love. I applied to university in Canada. Just waiting for their reply. So, that I can start my nursing major and French minor and get my Bsn and then apply to PA school for the Masters PA program!!!!! You’re amazing!
James. Another great video. Keep up the great work!
Thank you so much!
As a current first year pre-health student in university, THANK YOU for this video!!!
You're very welcome! Good luck on your journey! Don't forget to have fun along the way :)
Thanks for the video my friend ! im sticking with MD ! :)
I loved the blood type part !!😅😍
wow you did a better job helping me than my college advisor.. 😂😂 thanks!
Glad I could help!
I'm applying to PA school this summer. Married with three children. Length of education is a big plus, especially in my stage of life. A lot of your reasons are my reasons.
Best of luck Joshua in applying this year. Wish you the best and stay positive!
How did it all turn out?
I've been going back and forth with this topic for a year or so now, and I am a sophomore in college. This video definitely put things into perspective for me and I cant thank you enough for that!
lillythePA deep edits caspa applications
lillythePA deep edits caspa applications
Thanks for the videos James they've helped me a ton. Hardest decision of my life but after reading hundreds of accounts from PA's and doctors...I decided to go for PA. I'll have to come up with a better interview answer...but it was honestly down to the time investment and stress levels of becoming a doctor vs PA. I have too many goals outside of work to devote my life to a specialty in medicine. Plus I'm seeing PA jobs offering over 200k in my area which works for me.
Maybe if I started my journey at 21 I would have chosen med school but I don't want to wait until I'm 40 before I make good money, and many doctors mention the time sacrifice involved.
Good points, thanks for sharing! I’m in the med route, and I definitely wish we could switch specialties easier. We don’t even get a lot of exposure to all the different subspecialties, so it’s sometimes challenging to commit to which specialty to pursue.
Definitely. Best of luck on your journey!
James Kim thank you!
The biggest factor for me when it comes to choosing a career is how much time i will spend with my future family. I chose to specialize in dentistry, most likely orthodontia.
That's awesome! Best of luck to you!
Debt is the only downside to dentistry. If you can get into your state school you will live a life better than 99% of all people
This was incredibly helpful, thank you so much!
This was SO helpful to me. Thank you so much!
Hey Bayley! Glad it was helpful! :)
very informative! thank you james
thank you soon much for this video. I have an appointment with a pre-health advisor tomorrow and i was unsure of what to ask, but this clarified so much. My personality is very similar to yours and I think i would excel in this profession! thanks again :-)
You're very welcome Sloane! Let me know how your meeting went!
James Kim PA Student the meeting was amazing! I haven't felt this excited about my future in so long. Only problem is that my family isn't thrilled because I have had the dream of being a doctor since I was three years old, and they don't fully understand the PA profession, but hopefully they'll come around :-)
this sounds like more me too, thank you for helping me choose. As i already have 2 master's degrees in other subjects.
Dude I’ve been struggling to finish my med school applications for months now, primarily because I’m also an “impulsive” person like you described. I want to learn and do it all and was afraid that if I became a physician, I would switch specialties MULTIPLE times later on. I tried looking for a specialty that’s super broad so I can keep as many doors open as possible but, I still couldn’t convince myself that this was truly what I wanted to do. After exploring other options, I’ve realized that becoming a PA is a WAY better fit for my personality/impulsiveness and I couldn’t be happier! All the anxiety and fears of choosing a single speciality are gone! Lol
Loving the videos James. I'm a 1st yr Pre-Med student currently and have been weighing a few options on what type of career I'd like to pursue. I've done a lot more research since entering college on what it takes to go to med/pa/chiropractic schools. From listening to you, we seem to share a lot of ideals. Which is why I think I'll shadow a few PA's this summer I think.
Hey Sam! Thanks for the support! Yes definitely keep your options open and explore the different medical fields! Wishing you the best on your journey!
You are right about the struggles and sacrificess
I’m 2 years late on this video😂 but I’ve wanted to be a doctor my whole life but having a big family is the most important thing to me. Because of that (and other reasons), I just decided being a doctor most likely won’t be the right path for me. I was literally about to just give up and then I was told about being a PA. And I think I just found out, for certain, what I wanna be. So thank you.
This is amazing. I've been wanting to become a PA for years and just expected that I'd have to sacrifice my big family dreams like most college heavy careers, but I had no idea just how conducive the profession is to starting a big family young
Good luck! Just rechecking this video comments. I start clinicals on Monday. PA school is definitely the most difficult thing I have done in my entire life, but it will be worth it in the end.
My mother was a pa and than after she had a few kids, she went back to med school and she says that being a pa helped her figure out her specialty. She went to Med school at 33 when all me and my 3 siblings were old enough to go to school and didn’t need to be cared for all the time and she was a practicing doctor by 41 because her med school was a 3 year program and her residency was only 5 years. She also had my dad who made about 70 k as a teacher to take care of us when we were out of school. It’s never too late and you don’t have to sacrifice a family for it. She was around a lot growing up and I think it’s a misconception that doctors don’t have time for their families. She had passive income because she invested while working as a pa and bought properties to rent out so that was enough to keep me and my siblings accounted for while she was in med school. She paid off her loans after only 3 years because she maid 350 k a year and gave about 75k a year. She has passive income so she isn’t worried about having debt in retirement and she has passive income that will still come after she retires so she isn’t worried about not having saved enough to retire. The reason she switched is because she always wanted to do surgery and while physician assistants can specialize in surgery, they can only do small things like cutting abscesses and inserting chest tubes and my mom longed to do more complex procedures. Shes now an attending general surgeon at a hospital and shes happier than she’s ever been. If you want to do something, don’t let time or age deter you. You’ll be that age anyway. You just may not be as fulfilled. If she didn’t do it, she would be 41 anyway but she wouldn’t have been as happy as she is now.
@@amaltaher2717 this is so inspirational omg props to ur mom!!
@@amaltaher2717 Not all of us are privileged with wealth and a spouse who makes good income to pay off medical school debt. Good for your mom, but most of us don’t have that luxury. “Just buy more properties and investments” lol as if it’s that easy.
hi james! so glad i found your channel today! your videos are all so helpful! I'm a dreamer and becoming a PA or an Orthodontist were my dreams 6 years ago (big difference lol i know) but I wasn't ready mentally or academically for the science courses. I had personal and academic issues so I put the research and dreams on pause then went back to school 2 years ago. I am a web design major and I think that was more of a hobby and wanting a degree in something I enjoy but I have a passion in helping people, thus wanting to become part of the healthcare field as my career. I've been working at a dental office for 3 years now and I am still scared on how well i'd do in the pre-reqs or if I can even get into PA/Dental school, but as time flew by, I thought, if I don't start now with the pre-dental pre-reqs I wouldn't know if I can't actually succeed, time doensn't wait for anyone - so I basically prepped my course outline, prepped my mindset for dental school and finally took BIO1 + 2 and Chem 1 and to my surprise I received A's and B's! The more I think about Dental school though and how old I am (2 years older than you), I feel like I'm digging myself into a big hole, so I am currently reviewing all of my research that I compiled in my PA dream folder and it seems like a better option - why didn't I settle with this sooner and realize the benefits now!?
watching your videos today opened my mind up more too. I feel like i have the same aspirations and wants/needs as you do in terms of being a continued lifetime learner, wanting to be in different fields and wanting a family in the future, and most of all, not wanting to be drowned in debt.
sorry for this long comment lol I really thank you for your channel and I will continue watching them today lol I haven't watched all of them yet, but I was wondering if you can make a video for non-traditional students wanting to apply for PA? Like what kind of transitions do we need if any? I am not that much of a science-based class person either ._. but i love math. should I rethink my decision for PA too bc of that?
Hey! Thanks for watching the videos and glad they've been helpful! I will most definitely add a video on my advice to non-traditional students to my list of videos to make! I think to begin you should definitely figure out if you want to fully commit to dental or PA, as they are very different things and you need to really figure out which one would you enjoy more and put in the necessary work to get there. If you truly enjoy working in your dental office, why not go the dental school route? It's only 1-2 years more than most PA programs and you can definitely pay off student loans quickly if you are diligent.
If you choose to pursue the PA route, continue to finish all the necessary pre-req courses as they are required when you apply to PA school. It's okay to be a web design major as long as you complete and do well in your pre-req courses! You say you're not a science-based class person but you received A's and B's in BIO 1 & 2 and CHEM 1. So lets get that notion out of your head because you obviously can handle science courses and have done well in them. I would check with PA programs if your dental office experience counts as patient care experience. If they do not accept it, you will most likely need to get direct patient care experience either through EMT, CNA, MA, PT aide, LVN, just to name a few.
Whichever route you decide to choose, if you're really passionate about it, you're never too old to pursue it. You are still fairly young so just carefully weigh your options and go from there! Hope that helped!
Hi Kwaniie! I'm also not feeling confident about taking these science courses for PA school. I read you got A's and B's in Bio and Chem! do you have any tips on how you overcame the fear? and any tips on how you achieved As and B's in those classes? thank you!!
I´m from Germany, but this video helped me a lot, ´cause this is the struggle I have at the moment! Thank you, James! :)
Thank you for this video!! I’m a rising junior in college & want to go on to PA school afterwards
You got this Gabie :)
omg!! thank you so much for this and i really feel like this might be the one for me instead of MD esp with me being so impulsive and i always wanted to try peds, surgery, ER, and cardio and with MD i cant switch between the four of them 😭😭😭
James Kim. I'm a single mom of two boys with a dream of being a dermatologist. Of course going to medical school is probably not a good idea for someone in my situation. I'm 25 so I'd like to start school now. This video definitely put a smile on my face and I'm so thankful for it. I will now plan on becoming a PA in dermatology. I'm inspired and hopeful I can really do it. I will really give it all I got.
Hey Carmella! So glad the video was helpful. If you're truly passionate about it, you'll get there! Best of luck and stay positive! :)
Thank you! Love this
You're very welcome!
I was just accepted into my top PA school choice last week!!
Congrats Luis!!!
James Kim Thank you so much!
Can you tell me the steps I should follow after high school in order to become a PA? I keep thinking of careers and always find my way back to PA.
zena shamoon most important of all is to make sure you gain health care experience!! That’s one of the most important steps!! Start shadowing and volunteer nowwww!!
zena shamoon check out my latest video!
I’m currently a pre-PA and agree with everything you said!
AMAZING video! currently a freshmen in college and was accepted into an amazing direct nursing school. has had doubts with continuing with nursing school because I don't see a future with nursing, more interested in the doctoral duties.
Thank you Mandy! I will be posting a PA vs. NP video soon so stay tuned for that. Best of luck in college - study hard and enjoy it :)
+James Kim can't wait for more of your videos! you gained a subscriber ;)
Thanks man ! it was helpful.
Great video James!
Thanks brotha :)
Thank you for elaborating on your decision. I’m currently a firefighter in the Air Force reserves and have always wanted to be in the medical field. I have considered becoming a paramedic but I’m leaning more towards PA since I’ve always wanted to be a doctor but I just can’t fathom being in school for another 10+ years when I’m already 25
Thanks for your service!
Thank you so much for these videos. I am a junior in high school and am trying to get into a BS/MS program right out of senior year. Not many schools offer a program with direct entry so I love watching your videos and seeing your perspective. Keep up the awesome work! :)
Hey Julian! Thanks for watching the videos! Best of luck to you!
Getting into one of those programs is OPTIMAL
Great Video Man, you da Man!
Thanks Miguel! YOU are the man! :)
Bro, you and your videos are the bomb.
Thanks! Just subscribed to you!
Thank you so so much for this video!
You're very welcome Haley!
VERY HELPFUL! Thank you!!!
You're very welcome Maria!
If I become a PA, everyone thinks I finished a 1 year program to become an "assistant". If I become a Nurse, everyone thinks I'm a gay guy. If I become an NP, I'm really good at being a gay guy. The struggles of being a guy and not being good enough for Med school is real AF
You'll be a lot happier when you stop caring what others think! Just be positive and keep working hard! :)
James Kim Lol, I know eh. People are too judgmental sometimes. But thanks for the words of wisdom buddy :)
It's tough. I struggle with caring what others think too. You're welcome :)
look into RRT!
Manuel LopeZ Thanks, will do
I definitely want to be a PA now! So excited!
Woohoo! That's awesome!
Thank you for this video bro, love it
lillythePA deep edits caspa applications
Hi, your video is very helpful for my daughter who got a seat for DO school and now she is also trying to get in PA schools. she is confused what to do and not 100% sure about DO school . now after watching your video ,we can decide to be PA. thanks a lot & God bless you.
It's funny how you guys have separate p.a school in the states. Here in the UK, to become a p.a, we have to go to medical school. Although, some unis (less prestigious ones) offering the p.a course don't even have a medical school. Also, the official title here in the UK is physician associate and not assistant. I think that may be because assistant is a separate, very specialist role in anaesthesia.
We do a 3 year undergraduate science degree (post-18 years of age) and then a 2 year p.a studies masters degree. So overall, the route is 5 years, which seems shorter than the US route
The PA route is true gem career-wise. The length of training, job opportunities, long term earning potential, and flexibility is probably unmatched. I know of a couple of practices where PAs run the show, and makes more than the doctor. Largely because, an enterprising PA has much more time to expand into business ventures and outside interests. Overall it's a true winner, and probably more bang for your buck than any other career.
Great way to look at it! Couldn't agree more
Fun fact: the gpa req for PA schools and med schools are actually closer than you think ( both roughly > 3.6. Least in my home state). That is something I never knew :)
Thank you for the information.
You're very welcome Sean! Thanks for watching
Kevin Hart... 😂 Loved the video. Thanks for the great insight!
:)
Thanks for this 💕
Thanks for the support :)
Your reasons for choosing PA school over med school are the same for me! :D
Thanks so much for this video!!!! I am needing to go back to school to do Prerequisites for PA/Medical School (I took most of the classes more than 10 YEARS AGO). I LOVE your videos because I feel that your personality and mine are extremely similar!!!!
Hey Kristin! You're very welcome! and thank you for the support!
Hi I am a rising junior/senior. I am graduating early and I really want to become a PA. I’ve looked for potential professions for myself for months now. I knew I enjoyed interacting with people and I also knew that I wanted to help people. My goal is to graduate college in 3 years as well and get into PA school. But, I’m kind of confused on how all of this PA school stuff and college classes work. I heard that you have to take specific majors in college in order to fit PA school criteria. This whole PA thing to me in unreal. The amount of years required for a PA is way less than most doctors. I was completely shocked to discover this profession. I was absolutely thrilled to even find out how much they pay you a year. Essentially I’m doing a job I enjoy and I’m getting paid well. May you please inform me on what major you decided to take in college and how your 4 years of undergrad has a way of playing a huge role in PA school. Basically, may you please explain the classes you took and your journey into becoming a PA. I am currently 16 and will be 17 when I graduate. If I do 3 years of undergrad at college and 2 years of PA school, can I be earning money and be out into my profession by the age of 23 or 24?