Here's some thoughts about the first weeks of school from some of my classmates:
1) How did you prepare for the start of PA school?
A) I had many friends and even a few new PA-Cs tell me that I should relax and just enjoy my time away from books. I took this advice but a month into ‘relaxing’ I felt that I hadn’t been keeping my mind focused. So, a few weeks before school began I checked out lumosity and used those ‘brain games’ to keep my mind sharp.
B) As far as actual "prep", I had to go back to school after being out of school since '04. I had to resign from my job as a pharmaceutical sales professional, sell my house, and move my family from Houston to the DFW area. Other than that, I mentally prepared myself that I don't know everything and this is all a new experience so stay loose and roll with it.
C) Most of my preparation was through my scribing at an ER in College Station. However, I really did anything I could to improve my application, such as shadowing in surgeries and doctor's offices, I did some research in undergrad with a professor, and some volunteering.
D) I volunteered in the hospital, shadowed PAs, and worked as a traveling health technician for an employee wellness company. I had a year between attending PA school and the end of pre-PA classes, so I definitely took a lot of time for myself. I think it's important to enjoy yourself before PA school becomes your life.
2) What has been the most interesting thing you have learned so far? What has been the hardest?
A) Thus far, I have had the easiest time identifying structures with our cadavers, so lab is fun and pretty easy for me. The hardest thing to learn so far has been arteries, nerves and innervations of the antebrachial region.
B) The most interesting thing I've learned so far is not necessarily anything to do with info covered in lecture, but more just getting to know my class and their individual backgrounds. So far, I don't feel like anything has been "hard", rather it's just another challenging task in front of me. I'm sure it will get more challenging as the program gets into full swing.
C) The most interesting thing for me, which is a little cheesy, but how incredible the human body is. I love learning information that I will use on a daily basis, rather than pointless information that I will forget later in life (see calculus). The hardest has been finding the best method for studying and keeping everything organized. It's a ton of information at once, so keeping it straight can be quite difficult.
2) What has been the most interesting thing you have learned so far? What has been the hardest?
A) Thus far, I have had the easiest time identifying structures with our cadavers, so lab is fun and pretty easy for me. The hardest thing to learn so far has been arteries, nerves and innervations of the antebrachial region.
B) The most interesting thing I've learned so far is not necessarily anything to do with info covered in lecture, but more just getting to know my class and their individual backgrounds. So far, I don't feel like anything has been "hard", rather it's just another challenging task in front of me. I'm sure it will get more challenging as the program gets into full swing.
C) The most interesting thing for me, which is a little cheesy, but how incredible the human body is. I love learning information that I will use on a daily basis, rather than pointless information that I will forget later in life (see calculus). The hardest has been finding the best method for studying and keeping everything organized. It's a ton of information at once, so keeping it straight can be quite difficult.
D) I think everything I've learned has been really interesting. It's only been three weeks since the start of the semester, so I can't comment on what has been the hardest. However, I'm just in sheer amazement of how complicated our bodies really are.
3) What study strategy has worked? What hasn't?
A) A good study habit I’ve started is to study by myself during the weekdays for about two to three hours. I try to set goals to have certain points down before concluding my study time. At the end of the week I try to group study and listen to how others approach topics and if I missed anything. I have found that studying alone sometimes causes me to ignore some things that shouldn’t be ignored.
B) I find the best study method for me is to teach. If I can understand the principle and then turn and teach it to someone else, then I have it nailed down. I didn't like studying on the 4th floor (silent floor)... way too much stress and quite for me.
C) I enjoy studying alone at first, then meeting with classmates to hash out everything and bounce ideas off each other. Talking out loud to myself and utilizing the cadaver lab and models is what seems to help me understand/remember the most.
3) What study strategy has worked? What hasn't?
A) A good study habit I’ve started is to study by myself during the weekdays for about two to three hours. I try to set goals to have certain points down before concluding my study time. At the end of the week I try to group study and listen to how others approach topics and if I missed anything. I have found that studying alone sometimes causes me to ignore some things that shouldn’t be ignored.
B) I find the best study method for me is to teach. If I can understand the principle and then turn and teach it to someone else, then I have it nailed down. I didn't like studying on the 4th floor (silent floor)... way too much stress and quite for me.
C) I enjoy studying alone at first, then meeting with classmates to hash out everything and bounce ideas off each other. Talking out loud to myself and utilizing the cadaver lab and models is what seems to help me understand/remember the most.
D) You can't study the night before an exam. You just can't. When you're going through 3 weeks of undergraduate material in a day in PA school, you really have to be diligent about keeping up with the material. This is your life for the next 2-3 years, so you have to just suck it up. The best study strategy is repetition and asking questions when you have your classmates or professors available to you. Don't be afraid to look stupid.
4) What do you like about PA school vs. undergrad studies?
A) Strangely, I love that it is fast paced. It forces students to stay on top of their studies. I’ve always loved summer classes that resulted in tests each week, so PA school’s schedule feels more natural for me, versus learning a topic one week and waiting almost a month to test over it.
B) I LOVE how here, the goal is for you to succeed, NOT to weed you out. I especially love the PA program in that we are not in direct competition with each of your classmates. Rather, we are all in this to succeed and the things and skills we are learning now will be put into real practice.
4) What do you like about PA school vs. undergrad studies?
A) Strangely, I love that it is fast paced. It forces students to stay on top of their studies. I’ve always loved summer classes that resulted in tests each week, so PA school’s schedule feels more natural for me, versus learning a topic one week and waiting almost a month to test over it.
B) I LOVE how here, the goal is for you to succeed, NOT to weed you out. I especially love the PA program in that we are not in direct competition with each of your classmates. Rather, we are all in this to succeed and the things and skills we are learning now will be put into real practice.
C) I love that I'm not wasting my time. The faculty are preparing me for the real world, and my classmates are helping me learn and gain experience in interprofessional relationships. I also like that everyone wants others to succeed. We are all part of a team, which can be different than cutthroat settings of undergrad.
D) Everything you learn is relevant for your future career. There were times in undergrad where I was bored to tears and I was wondering why in the world I needed to know something. Nothing in PA school is extraneous information. It's also great that everyone is experiencing the same things you're experiencing. Same classes, same stressors. It's a great bonding experience.
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