I know some students who are thinking about becoming doctors but are worried about how to pay for medical school. That’s a real concern. According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, the median cost of one year of medical school was $34,592 for in-state students and $58,668 for out-of-state students in 2016–2017. And then there’s still residency that doctors need for their training. While they do receive a salary, it’s not very much. Some doctors also need post-residency training if they specialize. It can be a long time and a lot of debt before doctors emerge on the other side of financial freedom.
This brings us to the Physician’s Assistant. PAs are also medical professionals. They do a lot of the same things that patients get from their doctors such as illness diagnosis, treatment plans, and medication prescriptions. In fact, PA’s often serve as a patient’s principal healthcare provider.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), a physician assistant’s salary is $108,610 annually. The top five states with the highest salaries are:
1. Connecticut
Annual Median Salary: $126,320
2. Washington
Annual Median Salary: $122,710
3. Alaska
Annual Median Salary: $120,990
4. New Jersey
Annual Median Salary: $120,700
5. Nevada
Annual Median Salary: $119,570
That’s about half of what an Internal Medicine doctor would make according to ZipRecruiter:
1. Connecticut
Annual Median Salary: $222,662
2. Washington
Annual Median Salary: $238,657
3. Alaska
Annual Median Salary: $$220,566
4. New Jersey
Annual Median Salary: $211,183
5. Nevada
Annual Median Salary: $218,835
To become an ARC-PA-accredited physician assistant, students must first earn an undergraduate degree and then a master of science in medicine program. PAs must also pass the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam.
Everything You Need To Do To Get Into Physician’s Assistant (PA) School
I have seen a lot of kids who want to get into PA school go through the trouble of not having enough information on the internet. Once I started looking for information, I realized that if someone wanted to know the whole procedure, he couldn’t do so. Having gone through the ordeal, I made sure that once I graduated, I will create a whole rundown about the process. So, in this article, I am going to highlight everything you are going to need to get into Physician’s Assistant (PA) school.
Apply As Early as Possible
The very first thing that you need to do is to apply early. There are a lot of schools that have programs running throughout the year, so you need to be ready for that. So, if you apply early, it automatically increases the chances of you getting in as there will be more seats compared to later. However, applying early doesn’t mean that you should do it without preparation. Getting into PA school involves some tips and tricks. To get more information about PA school requirements, courses, and what are the chances of you getting in, you can read their article as they have complied with the whole procedure.
What Score Do You Need?
GPA and GRE score is something that haunts every student who is trying to get into PA school. Any student who is applying to get into PA school is nervous about whether his score matches the other student or if they will get a scholarship or not. If the school you are applying to has a minimum GPA requirement, you have to fall within that, or else your application won’t be considered. When it comes to GRE, it is best if you shoot for the 300 minimum score as it will get you into most of the school.
Craft a Good Personal Statement
If there is one thing that matters the most when applying for PA school, it is the personal statement you are going to write. Every school takes a close look at what you are trying to convey from your personal statement, so you should communicate your thought properly. Give them a good reason why they should select you and use a positive tone when writing your statement as it reflects that you are actually enthusiastic about getting in.
Prepare for the Interview
The final step of getting into a PA school is nailing the interview. It is the hardest and the easiest part depending on how ready you are. Always remember that your personal statement is going to get you into the interview room, and the interview is going to get you into PA school. So, make sure that whatever you say during your interview is in line with your personal statement. You should start preparing for your interview the day you submit your application as it is a long process that involves a lot of research. Don’t stress about it too much as they mostly want to learn more about you and what makes you unique.
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