Pre-Physician Assistant Timeline

Fall Semester

Pre-Health Advisor Activities

• Meet with a pre-health advisor to add the Pre-PA track to your MyBama
• Look at the Pre-Physician Assistant Track page on the pre-health website
• Introduce yourself and get to know them; they will serve as a good resource for you throughout your undergraduate career
• Discuss how to sequence your classes moving forward 

Campus Activities

• Attend Get on Board Day in the Fall and spring or head to The Source’s website to find an organization that supports your interests and to learn more about campus resources and the organizations at UA
• If you are interested, look into joining the Pre-Physician Assistant Society or other pre-health organizations and look through their requirements to become a member
• Attend meetings for their organizations, subscribe to their emails, and follow along for social media updates
• Develop relationships with faculty, advisors, and mentors on campus. Finding people who can help push you towards volunteer, shadowing, and research opportunities is a valuable relationship to have

Spring Semester

Work and Activity Experiences

• Visit the Career Services office on campus to learn about healthcare-related internships or employment opportunities
• Look for medically related work or volunteer experiences for during the school year and summer. The University of Alabama has the platform of BamaPulse where you can easily search for these opportunities
• Search for opportunities to shadow a physician assistant or other healthcare professionals; often times it is easiest to shadow PAs at home since there is not a huge amount in the Tuscaloosa area 
• Keep a record of memorable experiences while shadowing/ volunteering

Fall Semester

Pre-Health Advisor Activities

• Check in with your pre-health advising office; attend pre-health meetings, and make sure you are receiving information and updates, especially on your Crimson email
• Begin to layout your classes for your remaining 3 years at the University of Alabama using the DegreeWorks planner tool to ensure you will be able to take all required prerequisites for programs you are interested in

Work and Activity Experiences

• Pursue or continue meaningful medically related activities, including volunteer roles, paid work, research positions, and/or leadership opportunities in health organizations 
• Remember to keep updating your log of hours earned/ memorable experiences/ responsibilities as this will become important on your application

Spring Semester

Campus Activities

• Continue to develop relationships with faculty, advisors, and mentors
• Consider running for an executive position with the Pre-PA Society or other organizations may be involved in
• Continue to look for shadowing/volunteer experience

Work and Activity Experiences

• Consider returning to your previous summer position or applying for a new summer volunteer or paid in a health care-related environment to continue to earn direct patient contact hours

Fall Semester

Pre-Health Advisor Activities

• Meet with your pre-health advisor to strategize about your application timeline; determine if you’ll apply to enroll immediately following graduation or after one or more gap years
• Attend your mandatory advising meeting through OHPA, this is typically around end of October and beginning of November
• If you are considering a gap year, investigate a meaningful job or volunteer medically related experience to complete during that time
• Discuss your schedule for completing remaining premedical coursework and other school-specific degree requirements
• Consider when it’s best for you to take the PA-CAT or GRE exam if you have not already; visit their websites (PA-CAT or GRE) to find test dates and locations. 
• Discuss possible professors, employers, mentors, etc. that would be willing to write you a letter of recommendation 
• Review the list of PA programs you are interested in and make sure you have/will have completed all necessary prerequisites needed to apply

Application Activities

• Review the list of PA programs you are interested in and make sure you have/will have completed all necessary prerequisites needed to apply
• If needed, decide when to register to retake the GRE or PA-CAT

Spring Semester

Work and Activity Experiences

• Continue participating in meaningful clinical experiences, other medically related activities, volunteer work, research, and/or leadership roles on campus; if possible, take on a more substantial role
• Continue to research PA programs and keep updated with your favorites. Most schools allow you to subscribe for the email list. Look into attending an open house either in-person or virtually to get to know the program even further

Campus Activities

• Identify, pursue, or continue leadership opportunities within your pre-health organizations on your campus
• Consider running for an executive position with the Pre-PA Society or other organizations you are involved in
• Think about which faculty, advisors, and mentors you’ll approach to write letters of evaluation for your applications. Begin reaching out to these individuals to give them at least a month to prepare before the deadline of when you are wanting your Letter of Recommendation submitted by
• Begin to think about and write your personal statement. Use advisors, faculty, other students, etc. to read over your personal statement. The more eyes the better
• Attend a mock interview either conducted by the Career Center or by a visiting PA program

Fall Semester

Pre-Health Advisor Activities

• Meet with your pre-health advisor to discuss letters of evaluation, your education options such as a gap year, the status of your applications, and the admission process for schools to which you’ve applied
• Continue interview preparation

Campus Activities

• Continue your involvement with on and off campus organizations
• Continue to volunteer/shadow. While your application may already be submitted, these experiences could offer things to speak on in interviews

Application Activities

• Many schools host interviews in the Fall semester – prepare to travel for these interviews and campus visits

Spring Semester

Application Activities

• Attend interviews if they are held in the Spring semester. 
• Many schools will start offering admissions in the late Fall or Spring semesters

Work and Activity Experiences

• Continue working or volunteering on and off campus 
• Continue being a member in off and on campus organizations to graduate in good standing