Hello all,
I am currently in my last year of undergrad and have a tough decision to make about what I will do during my two gap years before (hopefully!) starting PA school. I have about 350 patient care hours, but none of them are in a paid position such as EMT or CNA, mostly from shadowing and internships. I have two options for what I will do during my gap years.
1) I have been accepted to teach high school science with Teach for America. While I'm super excited about this opportunity and the ability to serve in a low-income community, I know that I will be super busy during these two years and I don't know if I will be able to rack up a lot of patient care hours, especially because I won't have the time to complete a CNA or EMT course. However, financially, I could make some money which would help get me through grad school.
2) I am waiting to hear if I have been accepted to a Fulbright to teach English in South America for nine months, in the country where I studied abroad. The nice thing about this is that it wouldn't start until March of next year, so I could take a CNA or EMT course this summer after I graduate and then work in a healthcare setting until I leave. As part of the grant, I would also have the opportunity to get involved with a community organization dealing with health and volunteer with them. My concerns with this option are the financial aspect, that I wouldn't be able to earn as much money for grad school, as well as the fact that being abroad may conflict with the interview dates for some PA school programs.
Any input would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!