Interview with Audrey Lively

Here's an interview with a recently graduated PA-C, Audrey Lively.

1) Tell me about your application and interview experience (how many schools appied to/interviewed, why did you pick your school, what did you like about the process)

I applied to 4 schools, 2 in TX, 1 in Arkansas and 1 in Nashville, TN. I was invited to move forward in the 2 out-of-state schools initially, but decided against the school in Arkansas, as I thought my husband had a better chance of getting a job in Nashville. I interviewed in Nashville, was accepted 2 weeks later, and given 10 days to submit a non-refundable deposit. I decided to go to school in Nashville because, for one, I wasn't given much time, but I also liked the city, the size of the school, and the reputation the school had in TN. On the day I interviewed I was also given a tour by some members of the class ahead of me and was given the opportunity to meet several current students. Student-to-teacher ratio was important to me, as was the initial passing rate on the boards. What I liked about the application was that you could complete one application on CASPA and it would submit it to as many schools as you wanted. I also liked the promp response from my school in Nashville letting me know I was accepted.


2) How did you cope with your didactic year?

Didactic year is definitely difficult. One professor accurately described it to us as trying to drink water out of a fire hydrant. You are literally flooded with information and only given a short time to learn it. That being said, it is definitely doable. The key is to learn quickly how you study and retain information best. PA school is not just about rote memorization and regurgitation. It actually requires understanding how disease processes and medications work and applying that information to specific situations. Everyone does this in a different way, and it is pivotal to recognize your personal learning style. My style of studying involved reviewing a course lecture once the day I heard it. After the first review, I would add notes from the textbook and external sources to give myself a better understanding. Making flow charts and tables was really helpful for me as well. It was definitely the most stressful time in my life, but keeping my eye on the prize of clinical rotation year is what kept me going. You also have to allow some time for yourself and your family and friends to unwind. I will admit I didn't allow much, but I made sure I budgeted it into my studying time, which is what kept me going.


3) What was your favorite clinical experience?

I am very hands-on, so I enjoyed any clinical experience that involved procedures. My favorite rotation was when I worked at the VA in Nashville in the surgery department. I spent 6 weeks surgically removing melanomas, basal cell carcinomas, and lipomas on my own, with a PA as my preceptor. In my experience with clinical rotations, I preferred having PAs as preceptors, as they seemed to allow more solo experience, realizing how vital the clinical rotation year is in your development as a PA.


4) Now that you're about to start working, any advice looking back on school? What beside prereqs and shadowing would you recommend?

I would recommend shadowing in a variety of specialties to give yourself a better idea of what you are interested in before going to school, as there are a limited number of clinical rotations and if there is a specific specialty you would like to experience in your elective you have a better idea. Also, I'm sure this varies by school, but at my school you were able to request specific locations and physicians/PAs as preceptors if you had a connection. If possible, I would recommend making those connections or at least exploring the hospitals and clinics to get the best idea of who you would like to work with. Clinical year goes fast and that is all you get to be a student, so make the most of it and try to set yourself up for the best experiences possible.


5) You went to school in TN and will now get your first job in TX. What step will that take?

It is not any more difficult to go to school in one state and work in another, it just takes some research on your own to learn the state requirements. Going to school in TN, state conferences and lectures regarding licensure were geared toward the TN process, which is very different than that in TX, so it took some online research and calling the TX board on my own to find out exactly what I had to do. As long as you graduate from an accredited school, you are free to get your licensure in other states and may take the PANCE in any state. I would just recommend beginning your research at least 6 months before graduation, because some states actually allow you to practice with a temporary license immediately following graduation and give you a year or more to pass your boards.