Basically my question is this: if a person was accepted into a PA school without a bachelor's degree, and that person eventually made the decision to attempt to become a surgeon/ doctor, would the PA degree be sufficient to be accepted into medical school, or would he have to return to college and gain a bachelor's degree to be accepted into medical school?
Here's my personal situation if that helps.
I went into the military at age 19 to become a Pararescueman (USAF special operations) and was successful in my training. I was a PJ for 8 years and I loved the paramedic side of being a PJ so much, I decided to continue my education. I was able to get into PA school despite having only an associate's degree because I had fulfilled all the required college courses as well as how much they valued my experience as a PJ, and I currently have just over 1 semester left with a GPA of 3.8. However, I've decided that a career as a PA isn't quite what I want. As great as it is financially, money has never been a motivating factor for me, and I want the far greater range of practice and responsibility that comes with a full medical degree. I'm thinking I would prefer to be a surgeon, but I'll make that decision as it comes.
So right now I'm stuck in the situation of being almost through my PA education and thinking that it may be useless, as medical schools invariably have the requirement of a bachelor's degree, even though the PA where I'm studying is technically a masters/ graduate degree. So I'm trying to decide if it would be sufficient to just finish the PA program or drop it and start with the remaining 2 years I need for a bachelors degree. I have tried to contact some medical schools, but have not heard back, so if anyone knows the answer to this I would greatly appreciate it. I need to get on this pretty quickly to enroll this semester, if that's the path I need to take.
Also, I understand I won't get any "shortcuts" in medical school because of this degree, that's not what I'm asking.
Thanks for any helpful answers. Normally I wouldn't turn to Yahoo for information like this but I'm trying to get at least an educated opinion in case I don't hear back from anybody that I know would have the answer.
Answers & Comments
Verified answer
You only have one term left to complete your PA? Finish it. Finish it, so you can bank it, in case med school doesn't work out for you. I understand that you can be a PA in a surgical sub specialty - look into that as one possible option.
In the meantime, research your other medically-related options. I know that some med schools accept students before their bachelors is complete, but must you be enrolled in a bachelors program in order for this to occur?
At worst, an idea is to finish your PA degree, and start working to fund your studies (unless your GI Bill or etc. will cover this). Then go back to school to complete your Bachelors.
But no matter what, finish the PA program. You are only a semester away from being done. It's ridiculous not to finish that program and put it in the bank, when there's a real possibility that you won't get into med school even if you finish your bachelors - not because there's anything wrong with you, but only because the majority of applicants to US med schools don't get in anywhere.
Every now and then, a professional school or even a PhD program is willing to make an exception to the rules for admission, but the case itself really does have to BE exceptional. And only a given school can tell you whether this would be a possibility in your situation.
If were you, I'd finish the PA program, definitely. Don't drop it. I would also try talking face to face to a dean or other administrator at a couple of med schools about your history. It is JUST possible that an exception could be made in your case.
Here's another suggestion. Contact Bryn Mawr College (outside of Philly) and ask whether you could qualify to be admitted to their one-year premedical course for people who did not take the premed courses as undergraduates and who want to become doctors. It may be that you've already taken the equivalent of some of those courses, but you'll have to talk this out with an administrator. A post-baccalaureate premed course could help you get into med school without a Bachelor's, assuming a place like Bryn Mawr let you in without a BA, but again, you really need to get information and opinions from the right people.
I'm suggesting Bryn Mawr because their course lasts just a year whereas others last two from what I understand. If you're going to spend another two years not going to med school, you might as well get the Bachelor's and do the additional premed courses you might need while working on the undergraduate degree.
you certainly sound centred, properly concept out in terms of targets and conscientious. All of that are great attributes for capacity medical doctors or PAs. GPA would be a controversy till you could quite "knock it out of the park" on your MCAT score. actually evaluate a prep path for the EMCAT. I did a speedy seek on a internet site that shows some results of universal applicants with comparable academic archives. in case you could swing a 30 on your EMCAT you would be ok. do exactly no longer assume a slender decision geographically (like in basic terms Pennsylvania colleges). some good stable med colleges in this area of the rustic to evaluate, based on your very final GPA and an outstanding EMCAT score are: Virginia Commonwealth U *** Albany scientific college Albany,great apple East Carolina U *** Ohio college (Osteopathic) college of Maryland college of Virginia *** = superb extra healthful good success!
Check the non-traditional section of the Student Doctor forums to see if anyone has had a similar experience. If not, I suggest you post your question there.