It's getting so close, y'all. And I am so far beyond excited that I could literally cry. Just cry.
Except for shopping for new clothes and scrubs, I'm completely ready to start!! I've been hanging out with my new friend Kristen so she and I checked off our to-do lists together. Today we turned in our orientation packets, gave our "laboratory specimen" for drug tests, picked up our parking permits, and got our student IDs! Pretty successful day if I do say so myself. Now we've officially completed all requirements and are cleared to start the program.
My class has a Facebook group that we've all been communicating through and I've already been invited to four socials within the first week of school. :) Should be looooots of fun. And then of course there's the white coat ceremony/annual PA ball in October that I just cannot wait for!
We've been getting tons of emails recently about dates and times and places, but one of them was about purchasing an instrument kit that the program has put together and offered to us at a supposedly great deal. It probably is, but it's still expensive to me ..... anyway, here is one of the new toys I get to play with soon. :) :) :)
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Except for shopping for new clothes and scrubs, I'm completely ready to start!! I've been hanging out with my new friend Kristen so she and I checked off our to-do lists together. Today we turned in our orientation packets, gave our "laboratory specimen" for drug tests, picked up our parking permits, and got our student IDs! Pretty successful day if I do say so myself. Now we've officially completed all requirements and are cleared to start the program.
Can you tell we're excited?!
My class has a Facebook group that we've all been communicating through and I've already been invited to four socials within the first week of school. :) Should be looooots of fun. And then of course there's the white coat ceremony/annual PA ball in October that I just cannot wait for!
We've been getting tons of emails recently about dates and times and places, but one of them was about purchasing an instrument kit that the program has put together and offered to us at a supposedly great deal. It probably is, but it's still expensive to me ..... anyway, here is one of the new toys I get to play with soon. :) :) :)
I obviously have no idea how to use it, but it looks fun. It's an oto-ophthmaloscope. I hope I added enough h's and o's in that word. Anyway, they've asked us to purchase our own stethoscope, so of course I had to choose a pink one. Littmann Cardiology III in raspberry. Can't wait!
I am going into PA school this fall as well! At Franklin Pierce in New Hampshire our start date is not til Nov 26th.... I am waiting for my Orientation packet they said would be mailed out in September. Can you elaborate on the orientation packet.
ReplyDeleteChristie
Thanks for the update on orientation!! I received my packet but no background or drug test! only details of books, financial aid, and name tag for lab... What would you suggest preparing before the start?/ I have not been in school in 6 years so nervous about the curriculum. I have a family as well, Husband and 8year old daughter.. So they will be an hour away!
ReplyDeleteIt is quite the commitment for sure I am 34, I keep saying to myself it is worth it, it is worth it!
Hey Christie!
DeleteIf they haven't given you specifics on preparing for an exam, then I wouldn't do a dang thing until you start. Week three has been a little different for me than the first two. It's hard. I mean, like really freaking hard. You're absolutely right that it's worth it! That's what I keep telling myself, too.
You may have to adjust a little bit since it's been a minute since you were last in school, but just stay on top of your studying, literally from day one. This will help you to feel better about everything and not get so overwhelmed.
Here are a few other things to keep in mind ...
1. There WILL be other people in the program that are smarter than you. No big deal. If you're like me, you don't need to be at the top of the class, you just need to be IN the class. :)
2. People like to brag about how much they know/have studied. This will likely intimidate you, but don't let it. I GUARANTEE you, if you're studying as much as you legitimately feel like you can (before class, between classes, and after class), you're doing enough. And you'll have your own strengths that they're weak in. So, save yourself some stress and don't let this bother you. I let it bother me, then I joined a small study group for my anatomy dissection lab and I found out that we're all feeling about the same way ... confident in some areas, lacking in others.
3. If something in lecture isn't making sense, youtube the $h!t out of it! This has really helped out my class.
I think that's prolly all the advice I can give for now. Do you have a blog? I'd love to keep up with you once you start!
No I do not have a blog, but would like to keep in touch. your blog has actually helped to let some of my fears go... So that I can somewhat enjoy the fact that I was excepted!! So far all I have been doing is freaking out!!! The Tuition alone is enough to make your stomach turn! I have been looking at the estimated Salary for PA and holy cow it is all over the place! To pay back the enormous debt of 110,000 well it is over whelming for sure. On the financial aid websites it says you need to make 123,000/year to pay back with 1:3 ratio! well.... last time I checked the salary was not quite that high! So I am looking at the NHSC programs that pay back a % of your student loans for 2 years of service in underserved community... And i haven't even started my first day yet!
ReplyDeleteI appreciate your information so thank you for Blogging!
I know, tuition is nauseating. :/ Applying for NHSC is actually a great idea and I REALLY wanted to, but unfortunately because I'm going to a surgical physician assistant program and not just a general curriculum PA program, I don't qualify. I wanted to punch someone when I found that out!
DeleteDon't stress about the student loans though, unless you're the type of person that absolutely hates being in debt. I just look at my loans as something I'll be paying on for a while and that's just how it is. I try not to think about it that much. My one suggestion to you in this regard is try to get a Perkins loan. It's something you have to reapply for every year, just like FAFSA but you can actually have that particular loan cancelled at 15% per year for every year you work in the health care. Basically, you will never have to pay that off ... just continue to have it cancelled. It's a SWEET deal. I missed the deadline for this year, which once again pissed me off, but you can bet your booty I'm applying for next year as soon as they start accepting applications. At UAB, it's a first come first serve basis for that loan, so call your school's financial aid and find out when your deadline is and how early you need to apply. It's absolutely worth it!
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ReplyDeleteI asked Financial aid about Perkins loan but they said it is for undergraduate only :( But I figure for 10 years after I will be making my salary that I am now as a hygienist! I am starting to get my ducks in a row for school like order my books. They have not said to us yet that we need to order a stethoscope or otoscope but hopefully soon!!! The NHSC is a great way to go but a small % are chosen to participate and yes I am at a general program but not sure I am interested in General practice and think I am going to do a fellowship, I like the idea of ER or general surg as well. Seems like a fellowship will give you a couple years experience in one year. Of course I can talk about that now, as soon as school starts I will focus on getting through the day... Right! I am so scared!!!
ReplyDeleteI am a hygienist right now. Do you think we will make more as a PA?
DeleteI am a hygienist right now. Do you think we will make more as a PA?
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