What Is PA School Really Like?
Didactic vs. clinical year
PA school is often looked at primarily through the lens of didactic year. Makes sense…that is the first thing you encounter. However, clinical year make up the other half. Both are equally important. Typically didactic year is seen as more stressful. Clinical year, although commonly referred to as a reprieve, can have its own challenges (imposter syndrome, isolation, new environments). See the blog titled “The Truth of Didactic Year” and “The Truth of Clinical Year” for a closer look at each respective year.
Always learning
You will learn so much. Medically, clinically, practically, personally, interprofessionally… the list goes on. You will be taught less than everything, and retain less than you are taught. It is impossible to know all of medicine. Accept this, as you will undeniably be a life-long learner. It will be a wild educational ride, and at times feel overwhelming. It won’t last forever, and you will get through it.
Connection
You will make some of the best connections of your life. Be that with your classmates, professors, or clinical preceptors. I personally have people in all three of these areas that I will remain in contact with forever. Embrace this. Know that spending time with your classmates has it’s own value aside from the mental obligation you may feel to study.
Stress
Yes, PA school can be very stressful. It varies from person to person, but this is the general consensus. You want to embrace this learning experience, but also don’t be afraid to do other life things that make you you. You do have time for what is important to you, just figure out what those things are. With time, it will get easier to balance these things as you learn how to “PA school”.
What you make of it
The experience is what you make of it. Learn what you can. Make and keep the connections you discover. Accumulate resources to use in your future practice. Find a passion within medicine. Be the provider who the patient feels the most trust with. It seems long at the start, but I promise –it will fly by.
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