5 year program
5 year program
As a current high school senior, I have been invited to compete for a position in an accelerated, 5 year PA program. In this program I would earn a B.S. in Biology and an M.S. in PA Studies in those 5 years. Do you have any opinions about 5 year PA programs? Pros and/or cons of such a program?
Re: 5 year program
Good for you!
Well, the pluses of the 5-year programs are:
1) you have a guarantee that you have a seat in a PA class before you normally would
2) Continuity - you go to the same school for PA school that you go to for your undergrad. That means if it's a good school you get to be there for the whole shebang.
The minuses:
1) You're staying there for 5 years, so if you don't like it, too bad (you could, of course, leave after the undergrad part, but forget that for now).
2) You don't get the mental "pollination" of being in a new place
3) Your undergrad major is going to be PA, pretty much no matter what
Overall, I think you should be stoked about this. It's hard enough getting into any PA program, much less your top choice. If you think the 5-year program you have been accepted to is good, I say go with it. It guarantees you'll become a PA as long as you finish, and you can do it all with a minimum of disruption, such as relocating and re-familiarizing yourself with a new campus/program.
Well, the pluses of the 5-year programs are:
1) you have a guarantee that you have a seat in a PA class before you normally would
2) Continuity - you go to the same school for PA school that you go to for your undergrad. That means if it's a good school you get to be there for the whole shebang.
The minuses:
1) You're staying there for 5 years, so if you don't like it, too bad (you could, of course, leave after the undergrad part, but forget that for now).
2) You don't get the mental "pollination" of being in a new place
3) Your undergrad major is going to be PA, pretty much no matter what
Overall, I think you should be stoked about this. It's hard enough getting into any PA program, much less your top choice. If you think the 5-year program you have been accepted to is good, I say go with it. It guarantees you'll become a PA as long as you finish, and you can do it all with a minimum of disruption, such as relocating and re-familiarizing yourself with a new campus/program.