Expectations vs. Reality of PA School – Aaron H.

Hi everyone! There are a lot of misconceptions around what PA school entails, but here is Aaron Hunro, PA-S, to shed some light on a few expectations vs. realities that he encountered during his time at Marshall B. Ketchum University! – CL

Expectations vs. Realities

“You have to know everything you learn in PA school.”

Reality: Now, I’m sure we’ve all heard the analogy by now that, “PA school is like drinking water out of a fire hydrant/hose”. It’s in reference to the sheer amount of information you are expected to learn. Is it possible to know everything? Maybe! I thought it was absolutely mandatory that you know Every. Single. Detail. of every disease process, mechanism of action of medications, etc. You can’t know everything. If I were to carry myself as knowing everything, that would be extremely 1) Arrogant 2) Dangerous. This is why we have resources to look for up-to-date information. This is why we consult with our physician, PA, NP, pharmacist, specialist colleagues. This is why we work on a healthcare team. So you’re expected to know what you need to know to become a competent PA when it comes to your anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, physical exam process, as well as appropriate treatment and plans—but feel the need to know everythinggggg! In other words, be efficient and effective with your studying.

“PA school is all sunshine and rainbows.”

Reality: Scrolling through various PA students’ IG feeds, you’ll see the aesthetically pleasing layout of their study material, form-fitting scrubs, stethoscopes on their textbooks, etc. But, what you don’t see is the copious amounts of coffee we consume, the countless hours of studying we put in to prepare for tests, the stress and anxiety we have from seeing our first patients. PA school will take a toll on you physically, mentally, and emotionally. Not everyone will get along and be friends. Not every test, module, block or subject will be your best. And that’s all ok. The discomfort equates to growth. You just have to keep pushing and understand that you’re there to study, learn medicine, become great clinicians to care for your patients. If you gain some life-long friends, earn some scholarships, get some free scrubs on the way– awesome! But remember what the main objective is, you’re studying to become an amazing PA!

“On the contrary, I won’t have time for a social life or anything outside of PA school.”

Reality: Yes, the rigors of PA school, your schedule, your extra time studying, the minimal amounts of sleep are hard to adjust. But you will have some free time and it’s highly advised that you take advantage of it. You’re a PA student but you’re also a human being. You need interactions with your friends and family. You need sunlight and exercise and good nutritious foods! Don’t slack off on those essentials because it’ll be beneficial to your overall well-being. Going into PA school I had the mentality of “All Gas, No Brakes” but burnout is real and I think I wore myself out super early on. This was until I began to go back to working out, playing beach flag football on the weekends with my friends, spending time with family, etc. Not only did I feel better physically and mentally, I was a lot happier and I was doing much better academically. I had that free time to enjoy but I also made sure I was more efficient during the times that I was studying. It’s all about balance.

“Everyone else in here is smarter than me. I don’t belong. I’m the only one feeling this way.”

Reality: This my friends is called, Imposter Syndrome. It’s something I, myself dealt with, as well as plenty of other students. It’s completely warranted, normal, and ok to feel this way. It’s that feeling of, “Damn, everyone’s so smart. Why am I here?” Or “People who are more ‘qualified’ than I am got rejected and I got accepted…” plagued me for a while. I always felt like my interview invitations and acceptances were mistakes, like, did things get mixed up somewhere? Even months into school, I felt like I didn’t belong, and I felt like people thought I was a fraud and didn’t deserve to be here— and I think maybe that’s why I did/do so much to improve myself, stand out, make a difference, be involved, etc. because I felt like I needed to prove something. The million dollar question is: “To who?” I already proved to admissions committees who accepted me that I was qualified to be a PA student, I already proved to my parents that I can make them proud, I already proved to myself that I can accomplish things with the right attitude and work ethic, and I already proved to society that I can step away from the status quo, the “stereotype” of a Cambodian-male from Long Beach (whatever that meant). I now know that it’s not a question of whether or not I deserve it— rather a question of, am I going to be grateful for the opportunity and make the most of it? Or waste it? I choose the former. It’s ok to feel this way because it sometimes comes along with the shock and surprise of getting accepted into PA school. But know that you belong there, you are capable, and you will get through it to reach your goals in becoming a PA.

Thank you for taking the time to read my blog post. Remember, PA school is going to be tough, it’s going to be challenging, as was your path to PA school. But you can do it and you will do it!

Feel free to DM me any questions you’ve got on instagram at @aaronangkor. As always, “aspire to inspire before you expire.” The Marathon Continues!