Advice and Tips for Students Beginning PA School
Updated: 08/08/2015
Everyone wants to be prepared for physician assistant school, but there isn’t a formal “way” to prepare. Every student has their own process, ideas, and opinions about what you should and should not do. Ultimately, it is your own prerogative to decide how to spend your year, month, or days before your program begins. Only you know what type of learner you are and what you don’t know or don’t remember. Keep this in mind as you read this article because you’ll find yourself over analyzing everything and getting nothing out of it.
First off, remember that everyone in PA school is just as nervous as you are. You’re not alone; this is normal. Everyone is equally freaking out that they won’t be prepared for rotations, for the PACKRAT or for the PANCE. A little bit of anxiety and apprehension is good to keep you on your feet, but too much can bring you down. Mastering physician assistant school is all about balance.
Here are a few tips from previous and current students:
- Before PA school begins.
- Study anatomy and physiology briefly if you haven’t taken it in a while. This is not required and I personally took an online anatomy course prior to PA school, but I didn’t feel like it helped me any. Your program was built to help you become a clinician and you have to trust them that they will. You’ll definitely learn enough anatomy and phys during PA school, so do not fret if you don’t do this.
- Central nervous system & Peripheral nervous system
- Cranial nerves
- Cardiovascular system (veins and arteries)
- Bones and muscles
