Skylar is in PA school now, and he's clear about what actually got him in.
We go through the moments that pointed him toward PA, the changes he made to strengthen his application, and then the part everyone underestimates. The sheer amount of information thrown at you in the first few months.
What we talk about:
Resources:
Free application timeline: https://www.thepaplatform.com/services/free-application-timeline
Free resume download: https://www.thepaplatform.com/services/free-resume-download
CASPA GPA calculator: https://www.thepaplatform.com/pa-school-caspa-gpa-calculator
One-on-one pre-PA counseling: https://www.thepaplatform.com/services/pre-pa-counseling
Welcome to episode 30.
Speaker A:Get ready for an interview with Skylar, a current PA student.
Speaker A:Welcome to the Pre PA Club podcast.
Speaker A:If you want to learn how to become a physician assistant, you're in the right place.
Speaker A:I'm your host, Savannah Perry.
Speaker A:Let's get to it.
Speaker A:Hey, guys.
Speaker A:Welcome to episode 30.
Speaker A:I cannot believe it's been 30 episodes since I've been doing this podcast, but if you're new here, I'm Savannah.
Speaker A:I am the creator of the podcast.
Speaker A:I'm also the creator of the PA platform, and I'm really excited that you're here.
Speaker A:I'm also a derm pa, so I know a little bit about PA stuff, but I'm really excited for our interview today with PA Schuyler.
Speaker A:That's what he's known as on Instagram.
Speaker A:But Skylar is a PA stud student, and I don't really remember exactly how we connected, probably Instagram.
Speaker A:But it turns out he is also from Georgia, so he's got a great accent, even better than mine, and it was really great to talk to him and kind of hear his story about how he became interested in the PA profession, found his way to PA school, and now he's doing great.
Speaker A:So I'm really excited for you to kind of hear all about that.
Speaker A:And yeah, it'll be awesome.
Speaker A:So, as far as just, I guess, updates, if you are applying this cycle, I know I say this every episode, but CASPA is opening soon, so make sure you're getting your stuff in order.
Speaker A:In a couple weeks, I'm going to do an episode on everything you need to have in order for caspa just to kind of help you get your ducks in a row.
Speaker A:And so I think that will be helpful.
Speaker A:And also next week there's going to be.
Speaker A:It's gonna be exciting because we'll have the live mock interview with me and Jamie when the Physician Assistant School Interview Guide book comes out on Amazon.
Speaker A:So I'm really excited about that and I think it'll be really helpful.
Speaker A:Make sure you're following along on Instagram on the email list to get the best deal possible for the book and I want to make sure it's affordable.
Speaker A:I want it to be something that everyone can get if need it, because that's really important to me.
Speaker A:So, anyway, we can jump into our interview and I know I've said it before, but if you are working on your personal statement and you need some help, check out myparesource.com they have a really great free workshop and I've been getting a lot of questions on Instagram about personal statements.
Speaker A:So if you're struggling with how to get started, there are free worksheets on my website, the PA Platform, to help you, kind of guide you.
Speaker A:But there is a video kind of workshop.
Speaker A:It's about 30 minutes of videos on MyPA resource.
Speaker A:And you can use the Code Prepa Club to get a discount on any editing services through MyPA resource if you decide to go that route.
Speaker A:So let's jump into our interview, and I think you're gonna enjoy it.
Speaker B:Are we starting or are we going?
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:So I'm Skylar.
Speaker B:I'm from a small town in middle Georgia.
Speaker B:Didn't realize I had the accent that comes with South Georgia until I got to everybody called me out about it, but so I went to undergraduate at Georgia Southern.
Speaker B:It's in Statesboro, so another small town that's kind of just made up by the college community.
Speaker B:So I guess I could back up a little bit in high school.
Speaker B:So I'm a PA Student first and foremost.
Speaker B:I'm a PA student about to start my clinical rotations.
Speaker B:I'm in Savannah as of now, so backing up.
Speaker B:I didn't always know that I wanted to be a Paul in high school.
Speaker B:I was sold on physical therapist.
Speaker B:I was treated by physical therapists after a football injury and just knew that that's what I wanted to do.
Speaker B:So I started shadowing one.
Speaker B:And my mom, who's a nurse, encouraged me to check out this profession.
Speaker B:Pa and so senior year of high school, shadowed one, really enjoyed it.
Speaker B:So I started college knowing that I wanted to be a pa that or medical school.
Speaker B:So got a degree in biology with a minor in chemistry.
Speaker B:I kind of got involved in several things, did the typical come in and make bad grades and then catch up.
Speaker B:So freshman, sophomore year, played catch up from there, which led me to where I am now.
Speaker B:And so I didn't get in my first cycle.
Speaker B:I got in my second cycle.
Speaker A:Okay, so looking back on when you went to apply to PA school, what kind of.
Speaker A:What do you feel like the weak parts of your application were?
Speaker A:And what do you feel like the strengths were?
Speaker B:Sure.
Speaker B:So my first time around applying, I had a great mentor who was a pa his first pa I shadowed and kind of showed me the ins and outs.
Speaker B:So I tried to go to PA school straight out of college.
Speaker B:You know, obviously you can't.
Speaker B:Except for the extraordinary student, it's very difficult to accumulate hours.
Speaker B:So I thought that was the weakest part of my application the first time around, which I did.
Speaker B:Ask the programs afterwards.
Speaker B:And so with zero healthcare experience.
Speaker B:Several volunteer clinics that I would get involved with, but no paid healthcare experience.
Speaker B:They said go back, do that and then apply again.
Speaker B:But my GPA wasn't phenomenal either.
Speaker B:So it's 3.4.
Speaker B:And then my GRE was okay.
Speaker B:Now, as far as the second time around, I decided I wasn't going to go through the CASPA application again.
Speaker B:That was just so daunting and hovers over you for a while and just takes so much time.
Speaker B:So I figured this was going to be it.
Speaker B:This is going to be the cycle that I got in.
Speaker B:I'm going to get on the grind and do whatever I can.
Speaker B:So I took up a full time position as a medical assistant and then I also picked up a full time position as a medical scribe in the ER at night.
Speaker B: second time around with over: Speaker B:So.
Speaker B:And so I think that that's what got me in.
Speaker A:Okay, how many schools did you apply to?
Speaker A:I guess each cycle.
Speaker B:Okay.
Speaker B:So the first time around I applied to all the schools in Georgia.
Speaker B:So I applied to Emory, Mercer.
Speaker B:I don't think pcom, they were like a name, but they weren't settled yet.
Speaker B:And then south and Georgia Regents at the time, so now it's Augusta University.
Speaker B:They can't figure out who they are.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:So the funny thing is, so I interviewed at Georgia Regents and I was waitlisted and then I interviewed at another school and was waitlisted.
Speaker B:And with those two wait list, I actually rejected South's interview, which is where I am now.
Speaker B:And because I rejected that because these schools were going to start sooner, which was what I wanted the most.
Speaker B:That's what I look for first and foremost in a program is when does this program start?
Speaker B:Plus they wanted to interview me on my graduation date.
Speaker B:So I'd already had family coming into town and that sort of thing.
Speaker B:The second time around, I applied to the surrounding states as well.
Speaker B:So to the Georgia schools and then Florida schools, South Carolina schools, and then, you know, interviewed at South.
Speaker B:It was my first choice and just kind of rejected the rest, so.
Speaker A:Cool.
Speaker A:Okay, so as far as the application process, what did you find to be the most difficult part?
Speaker A:I mean, I know you said Casper was daunting, which it is.
Speaker A:And that's why I always tell people it takes way longer than you think it's going to take to get all that information in, but what else did you find?
Speaker A:Kind of difficult.
Speaker B:So I think for the average person, I hear whenever I'm talking to people who are applying to PA School, it's usually the references.
Speaker B:So it's usually finding credible references that stand out, especially in the medical field, because generally the PA applicant is a young person who may or may not know a doctor or pa. And if you know more than that, then that's impressive.
Speaker B:That's not normal.
Speaker B:But as a scribe, I knew several physicians that scribed for.
Speaker B:That wasn't very difficult to come by.
Speaker B:I had extras that actually sent in the mail, which is probably frowned upon, but I did that.
Speaker B:So as far as CASPA goes, I think that the most difficult part, like you said, it takes longer than you expect.
Speaker B:No matter what you're expecting, it's going to take an extra month from that was getting your application in on time, with it looking good and with minimal error.
Speaker B:So I think that is one of the main factors in these programs is there's rolling admissions.
Speaker B:And when you apply later, you're not looking for 1 in 70 spots.
Speaker B:You're looking for maybe 1 in 35, because they already have 35 accepted.
Speaker B:So I think that was the most difficult part for me is I was very meticulous about my essay and just, you know, those sort of things and everything looking great and smooth.
Speaker B:And so I applied a little bit later.
Speaker B:So I think getting it.
Speaker B:Getting it in on time.
Speaker A:Yeah, just being on top of it.
Speaker A:So once you got past the application stage and you had kind of some different interviews, how was that experience for you?
Speaker A:How did you kind of handle the nerves?
Speaker A:What did you do to prepare?
Speaker B:So I'm an extrovert by heart.
Speaker B:It comes naturally just to interact with people and talk.
Speaker B:And sometimes I ramble, and so you'll have to catch me if I start rambling.
Speaker B:So at these interviews, that wasn't too difficult for me.
Speaker B:I thought that would be my strong point.
Speaker B:If I was able to get that interview, I felt okay about the program.
Speaker B:So that wasn't too bad.
Speaker B:But after a rejection, I think my first rejection was Georgia Regents.
Speaker B:That I think that was.
Speaker B:So I was wait listed and then rejected.
Speaker B:But even that wait list, it was so.
Speaker B:It was a big weight on my shoulder.
Speaker B:So when I interview from there on out, it's easy to have this idea.
Speaker B:Maybe you're not at that level that you think you are.
Speaker B:The rest of these applicants may be better than you.
Speaker B:And so I would do everything in your power when you go to interview to just keep a positive attitude, surround yourself with people at the Interview that are encouraging and not talking about their qualifications and their experiences.
Speaker B:You know, I think it's very contagious being happy and being joyful versus being stressed and high strung.
Speaker B:I see that in the students in our class.
Speaker B:You know, there's groups of people who study together very high strung.
Speaker B:And there are people who study together and.
Speaker B:And just like to have fun with it.
Speaker B:And you can see those groups.
Speaker B:I think that's my best advice for that.
Speaker A:Okay, what about just in general for reapplicants?
Speaker A:Since you've kind of been in that place where you didn't get the news you wanted, and I think it's easy to get discouraged, and it sounds like you kind of bounced back and were like, I'm going for it.
Speaker A:What would your advice be to reapplicants for just improving themselves and also continuing towards where they wanted to be.
Speaker B:So I was an ambassador.
Speaker B:I was an integral part of the interview process at south.
Speaker B:So I was able to see the kind of ins and outs.
Speaker B:And the people who are invited to interview are already qualified on paper.
Speaker B:So when you go feel great because you've already.
Speaker B:That's the most difficult part.
Speaker B:So getting to the interview, you're qualified.
Speaker B:They do not interview that many people.
Speaker B:I think generally they interview twice as many as they're going to accept, just generally speaking.
Speaker B:And so I think that's a huge feat on its own.
Speaker B:So be happy about that.
Speaker B:You had interviews last year, even if you didn't this year.
Speaker B:Make that your goal.
Speaker B:I interviewed with several people.
Speaker B:It was their third time.
Speaker B:I met a girl.
Speaker B:It was her fourth time, and now she's in PA school.
Speaker B:So be persistent every year, year after year, attack your weak points.
Speaker B:You know, my coach gave me advice whenever I was in high school.
Speaker B:And when you work out, you know, it's.
Speaker B:It's tough because you don't want to work out your weak muscles.
Speaker B:You want to show out.
Speaker B:You want to, you know, keep growing those strong muscles, but to develop fully, you want to hit those weak points.
Speaker B:And it's the same thing with applying.
Speaker B:So I think if you have a 3.2 or up with little healthcare experience, I think that could be something that you tackle.
Speaker B:Or if you have a 3.2 or lower, I think that's kind of the point for me, the cutoff point.
Speaker B:I would attack those grades, maybe get another master's or get some more classes.
Speaker B:And then the GRE and essay, I think are just kind of adjunct parts of the application.
Speaker B:I don't think they have as much weight as meat and potatoes of your application.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:You mentioned people in your class.
Speaker A:So I want to talk about PA School now that you're kind of there.
Speaker A:But y' all have a pretty big class, right?
Speaker B:We do.
Speaker B:We have 70 people.
Speaker A:Okay.
Speaker A:That's what I thought.
Speaker A:So My class was 44, and I.
Speaker B:Think that's pretty normal.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:Yeah, it was kind of.
Speaker A:And I felt like it was a good size.
Speaker A:I mean, I felt like I knew everyone, but definitely kind of had my little group that I studied with and hung out with.
Speaker A:But as a whole, like, I did know everyone.
Speaker A:How do you feel about a bigger class?
Speaker A:I mean, is that something you like, or is it tough?
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:So I think that was one of the things that I looked at my first time around, especially, was how big are the class sizes?
Speaker B:One thing about south that I looked at is we don't dissect cadavers.
Speaker B:I don't know what Augusta does with that.
Speaker B:But second time around, I was able to think a little bit more on it, and it kind of fell down.
Speaker B:The priority list on things that mattered to me was.
Speaker B:And so now being in the program, that's much larger than, say, PCOM.
Speaker B:I think they started with 20 students.
Speaker B:I mean, that's incredible.
Speaker B:I don't think I could be around the same 20 students day in and day out, but to each their own.
Speaker B:So I'm sure they develop great relationships.
Speaker B:And I've heard great things about every program in Georgia.
Speaker B:But as for 70 students, sure, there are 70 students in the class, but we have small groups.
Speaker B:We divide into small groups a lot.
Speaker B:Anywhere from six to 10 people with one mentor.
Speaker B:And we work together for the most part.
Speaker B:So a lot of your assignments and that sort of thing are group assignments in those small groups.
Speaker B:And you get to know that small group leader.
Speaker B:I think you get to develop more of a rapport with that leader, who, in the end, is usually the one to write your letter of reference and that sort of thing.
Speaker B:It may get to know you a little bit better because you get to spend more time.
Speaker B:So I think because we're so large, they've made us really small, if that makes sense.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker A:So they made it to where you feel personalized and, like, you get to know people.
Speaker A:Okay, that's good.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:What has surprised you most about PA school or what were you not expecting going in?
Speaker B:So I think just, like, probably the rest of us, just the sheer amount of knowledge that you're expected to learn.
Speaker B:So everybody says, drinking from a fire hose, and that's absolutely correct.
Speaker B:I don't know, I've heard the other programs do the same thing, but first quarter is very good at introducing you to the pace and having you develop your own study technique and that sort of thing.
Speaker B:But it's still a lot of information.
Speaker B:Come quarter two, they rev it up.
Speaker B:And if you just look at the.
Speaker B:My friend pointed this out, so he pulled up several professional programs and showed the didactic hours per semester per quarter.
Speaker B:And it's amazing how much we're expected to know per quarter.
Speaker B:So I think every semester, our lowest credit hour semester was like 20 hours or something.
Speaker B:I mean, that's insane.
Speaker B:You know, in undergrad someone told me I was going to have 20 hours of classes.
Speaker B:I probably would have dropped some, I don't know.
Speaker B:But yeah, just how much information.
Speaker B:And I think that there's a standard, especially starting PA school that that first test is released and you see this a average of the class and you hold yourself to a higher standard.
Speaker B:And so I think overcoming that is a huge part.
Speaker B:And that just comes with time.
Speaker B:But that was another part, the standard that comes with it.
Speaker A:Okay.
Speaker A:No, I agree.
Speaker A:It's a ton of information.
Speaker A:And as much as someone can tell you that you don't really, don't really know until you're there and doing it.
Speaker A:Do you think that there's anything you could have done that would have prepared you for that or prepared you for PA school?
Speaker A:That's something people always ask, what can I do?
Speaker A:Like I just got accepted.
Speaker A:What can I do to prepare?
Speaker A:I say go relax.
Speaker A:But what do you feel like you could have done differently to make yourself more prepared?
Speaker B:I could have went to the Bahamas.
Speaker B:They don't expect you to come in halfway a pa.
Speaker B:They expect you to come in new and kind of ready to learn.
Speaker B:So just don't use that time, that year or so or just months to try to prepare yourself.
Speaker B:If you have experience, that's great.
Speaker B:I've seen.
Speaker B:But I mean people that have great vast experiences, they don't do that much better than the people with no experience.
Speaker B:And it's because they teach you from ground zero from like the floor up and they have to do that.
Speaker B:So yeah, like you said, just relax and enjoy your time of not being in PA school.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:What does a typical day or week look like for you as far as time commitment?
Speaker B:So it changes.
Speaker B:It varies from semester to semester.
Speaker B:Right now I'm in class from 8 to 5:30 every day with an hour lunch break.
Speaker B:So we have tests every Tuesday and Thursday and so Those go from 8 to 10, then you start class.
Speaker B:And then Friday is something kind of hands on.
Speaker B:Like we'll go to a nursing home and see those patients, or we'll go to grand rounds and learn from doctors, or we'll, you know, like this.
Speaker B:We've been doing a lot of credentialing stuff right now since we're about to start clinicals.
Speaker B:And so we're facing that monster.
Speaker B:But then also on our calendar, the new class, the new cohort's schedule pops up as well.
Speaker B:And I see that they get out at one o' clock every day.
Speaker B:And so it just varies.
Speaker B:I think that first quarter, they try to give you plenty of time to study and learn how you study.
Speaker B:But then after that it's generally eight to five.
Speaker A:Okay, well, you're about to start clinicals.
Speaker B:That's right.
Speaker A:When does that start?
Speaker B:Less than a month.
Speaker A:Oh, wow.
Speaker A:Okay.
Speaker B:I think I have two weeks left of class.
Speaker A:You're really about to start clinicals.
Speaker B:That's right.
Speaker A:That's right.
Speaker B:Pediatrics.
Speaker A:Okay.
Speaker A:Is that your first?
Speaker B:That's right.
Speaker B:That's my first one.
Speaker B:We do eight rotations for five weeks apiece, with one elective.
Speaker A:Okay.
Speaker A:And are they pretty good about kind of getting you those where you want them, or do you have any say in that?
Speaker B:Yeah, so we do a. I don't know what they call it.
Speaker B:It's like a draft.
Speaker B:So you put your priorities on what you want.
Speaker B:You can either do it by specialty or like specific location or that sort of thing.
Speaker B:And then they kind of do a randomized thing where they try to get you what you want and your priorities, but they also have to get everybody in the classes.
Speaker B:So our school is interesting.
Speaker B:I don't know how yours is because you're.
Speaker B:You were a public school, Georgia region.
Speaker B:Public school south is private.
Speaker B:So I'd say, you know, much less than a quarter of the class is from Georgia.
Speaker B:Not many people are from Georgia at all.
Speaker A:Yeah, I interviewed at south, and I remember that was really interesting.
Speaker A:I was one of the only people interviewing there from Georgia, which was.
Speaker A:I just thought it was bizarre.
Speaker B:That's right.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:And I think Maybe we have 10 out of 70 people from Georgia, and really only two of us have the accent.
Speaker B:So, gosh, that's been pretty funny.
Speaker B:But so people are all over the nation as far as rotations go.
Speaker B:A lot of people are in Virginia.
Speaker B:I've heard of people in Texas and that sort of thing.
Speaker B:But then we also have a major trauma center here in Savannah that we are affiliated with in a major way.
Speaker B:And so we're going in and out of there.
Speaker B:That's probably our main site.
Speaker B:Probably like yours with Georgia Regents Hospital.
Speaker B:You guys probably were there a lot, so.
Speaker B:Yeah, so I think three of my eight rotations are there and then I. I sort of want my elective there.
Speaker B:And then you get the small clinics around Savannah.
Speaker B:But it's good.
Speaker B:It's good as far as selection goes.
Speaker B:And it sounds like elective wise, that works out pretty well too, for everybody.
Speaker A:Yeah, that doesn't sound bad.
Speaker A:Ours, when I was in school, we did have people going all over doing rotations, but now from what I've heard, they have switched to.
Speaker A:Since it is a public school, most of the students are from Georgia and they kind of want you to stay in Georgia and so they are moving to where your rotations basically have to be done in Georgia.
Speaker B:You may or may not have heard of it, but it's very recent.
Speaker B: This year,: Speaker B:But now students or notes can be billed by the.
Speaker A:Okay, yeah, My husband was just telling me about this because he's a resident and so they have medical students.
Speaker A:And so.
Speaker A:Yeah, I didn't realize that applied to PA students as well.
Speaker B:Our notes can be billed now.
Speaker B:And so you kind of see this laxity and sites are starting to open up because now you're practically getting a free scribe.
Speaker A:Right.
Speaker B:You know, along with a student.
Speaker B:So I think more sites are going to open up now.
Speaker B:I think that's a great thing that you're kind of augmenting patient flow a little bit better as opposed to writing a note and practically trashing it.
Speaker B:But yeah, I think more sites are going to open up for every school that's not just south, that's Georgia, maybe the nation.
Speaker B:But as far as our rotations go, most are at Memorial, and then it's usually a team of a resident, a medical student, and a PA student.
Speaker A:Cool.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:No, rotations are fun.
Speaker A:You'll.
Speaker A:You'll love them.
Speaker A:I mean, well, most of them.
Speaker A:Yeah, that was the fun part once we got there.
Speaker A:But what are you thinking?
Speaker A:Or are you thinking anything after school?
Speaker A:Do you have a dream job?
Speaker B:Yeah, I think it's changed like six times.
Speaker B:So it's not set in stone and it's a little odd.
Speaker B:So I'm one of the few.
Speaker B:My buddy kids around with me that he wants to do it too, but urology.
Speaker B:Urology fascinates me.
Speaker B:I think it's very procedural based.
Speaker B:Sort of like probably derm drew you in.
Speaker B:But then you also get to see these patients and see them improve.
Speaker B:So as a Surgical and a clinical aspect, I think that a lot of specialties don't have.
Speaker B:But as far as coming out of school, I do want a broad array of knowledge and kind of a foundation.
Speaker B:So ER would be great to start.
Speaker A:Yeah, I love my ER rotation.
Speaker A:That's funny, actually, I had already accepted at the time, but I did talk to someone about a urology position.
Speaker B:Oh, really?
Speaker A:Yeah, we have a big urology group that uses PAs and they love their jobs.
Speaker A:So, yeah, it is very procedural and a lot of options there.
Speaker B:I think all the stuff met have just been these, like, super happy, go, lucky guys.
Speaker B:And maybe it's the.
Speaker B:The ones that I've met, but I just haven't met an angry urologist.
Speaker A:Well, that's probably good.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:No, I loved all my rotations.
Speaker A:I think I could have seen.
Speaker A:Well, I've said it before on here, but the one thing I didn't like was psych, and I think it was just my experience.
Speaker A:I was on an inpatient unit for four weeks and it was just a lot.
Speaker A:So a lot like experience influences and who you're around influences your decisions a lot.
Speaker A:So how many.
Speaker A:That's interesting.
Speaker B:Applications did you put out, if you don't mind me asking?
Speaker B:I don't know if that's something first for jobs out of school.
Speaker A:Let's see.
Speaker A:So I went about my job search kind of interestingly.
Speaker A:I. I graduated in August, so I started kind of looking the January before sending in applications in February.
Speaker A:And I did it two ways.
Speaker A:I would find jobs and apply to them.
Speaker A:So I did that to a couple jobs, maybe.
Speaker A:Yeah, like two.
Speaker A:And then our program has a little Facebook group where we have job postings, so I would contact some of those people.
Speaker A:And then I also just sent out my resume.
Speaker A:So, like, I knew I wanted to do derma surgery, so.
Speaker A:So I just called some offices and asked if they were hiring or if they weren't.
Speaker A:They would say, just send your resume and then we'll keep it on file.
Speaker A:And that actually worked out really, really well for me, I guess.
Speaker A:I formally interviewed with three different places.
Speaker A:Neurosurgery, spine surgery, and Derm.
Speaker A:And.
Speaker A:But I would get calls from different places.
Speaker A:And that was what was really cool.
Speaker A:So I would.
Speaker A:I remember being on my surgery rotation and meeting another pa and she was like, oh, I saw your resume and we're not hiring.
Speaker A:But I forwarded it to this other office that is.
Speaker A:And so it's really cool.
Speaker A:If you're in a specific city, work gets out.
Speaker A:And even after I'd accepted My position.
Speaker A:I got another call about a different Durham position where they were saying, hey, like, do you have a job yet?
Speaker A:We heard you want to do derm.
Speaker A:So if you kind of put.
Speaker A:Put the word out, it spreads, which I thought was cool.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:So you kind of have to put your.
Speaker A:Put yourself out there and see what happens.
Speaker A:But I don't know.
Speaker A:I don't know how saturated Savannah is, but here, getting a job.
Speaker A:I mean, like I said, people were calling me, so.
Speaker A:Right.
Speaker A:It really wasn't that.
Speaker A:That difficult.
Speaker A:And I think I would have been happy.
Speaker A:I mean, I could have been happy doing something else, but I ended up getting the job that I definitely wanted.
Speaker B:So how long did you know derm and surgery for?
Speaker A:So I shadowed in derm a lot before school, so I knew I liked it.
Speaker A:And then in school or on rotations, I would say surgery was my favorite rotation.
Speaker A:I was with a guy who is.
Speaker A:He's a general surgeon, but basically all he does now is breast cancer surgeries.
Speaker A:And, like, just a great person, great surgeon, great teacher.
Speaker A:And so I really enjoyed, like, I just loved being in the or and even the OR stuff I got to do on my OB GYN rotation and getting to do procedures in the er.
Speaker A:I just love doing procedures.
Speaker A:So I don't know.
Speaker A:Those are my.
Speaker A:I guess what I was kind of leaning towards and my preference for where I was at at the time, I liked er.
Speaker A:I think my one issue with stuff in the ER is that I don't do broken bones at all.
Speaker A:It completely grosses me out and makes me pass out.
Speaker A:So that was the one thing that kind of kept me from wanting to do that.
Speaker A:But.
Speaker A:But other than that, I mean, I really did like everything.
Speaker A:I surprisingly loved endocrinology.
Speaker A:I went on that rotation thinking I was gonna hate it.
Speaker A:I mean, I was like, this isn't.
Speaker A:I hate endocrinology.
Speaker A:That's why I did it.
Speaker A:I was like, I don't like to study this.
Speaker A:I don't like to know this.
Speaker A:So I need to do a rotation.
Speaker B:That was your elective.
Speaker A:It was part.
Speaker A:We did eight weeks of internal medicine, and so I did four weeks of just general internal medicine and four weeks of endocrinology.
Speaker A:So you can like endocrine, cardio, pulmonology, nephrology, whatever.
Speaker A:But I actually loved it.
Speaker A:And so, I mean, at the end of that rotation, I was like, I could see myself doing endocrinology, but I already had my derm job by then.
Speaker A:So.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:I mean, it's.
Speaker A:And it's interesting I wouldn't even say I was somewhere or with a preceptor that I absolutely loved, but I just liked the topic and what I was seeing and, like, the lab part of things more than I thought I would.
Speaker A:Okay.
Speaker B:We have a chronologist that teaches us, you know, endocrinology, and he loves it.
Speaker B:He has a, you know, fiery passion for it.
Speaker B:It's a lot like, if you can really understand endocrinology, then you know you're going to be successful.
Speaker B:I think that's too.
Speaker B:That's awesome.
Speaker A:Well, so I think doing the rotation helped me to really understand it and being able to see people's.
Speaker A:I mean, they would do these, like, take home, like, I don't remember they're called now, like glucose monitors, or they would wear them for a week or so, and then they would come back and we would evaluate the results together and be able to see, like, you're eating too much at lunch or whatever you're eating for dinner isn't working for you.
Speaker A:And so it was really cool.
Speaker A:So, yeah, I loved endocrine, but, yeah, I just.
Speaker A:I feel like I just really like doing procedures.
Speaker A:So, yeah, I don't know.
Speaker A:I need to be doing something where I can use my hands.
Speaker B:All of them.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:But who knows?
Speaker A:I hope I never have to leave, but if I did, somebody asked me the other day, like, what else I would do, and I think maybe like an urgent care.
Speaker A:And I think going straight into a specialty, it's not the worst thing in the world, but you do lose a lot of that general knowledge very, very quickly when you're just not doing it.
Speaker B:So that can be a moon specialty, you know, like urgent care.
Speaker A:Yeah, yeah.
Speaker A:Just kind of staying up to date with all the general stuff.
Speaker A:But who knows where testing will be by the time you and I have to take recertify and all that.
Speaker A:All right, let's see.
Speaker A:Oh, what's your.
Speaker A:I always ask this.
Speaker A:What would be your number one piece of advice for someone who is considering PA school or just unsure about whether they want to do it or not?
Speaker B:Okay, so that was me.
Speaker B:That was me senior year into freshman year.
Speaker B:You know, everybody wants to be this doctor, and a lot of people don't know what a PA is.
Speaker B:As for me, I thought I wanted to be a physical therapist, but there was a part of it where it just.
Speaker B:It wasn't exactly what I wanted, but I saw it, and I wouldn't have known that and I would have been 100% committed if I didn't shadow a physical therapist.
Speaker B:And so I think that's what a someone in their senior year of high school, someone in their freshman year of college.
Speaker B:And it's really never too late to shadow.
Speaker B:And I would say the more people you shadow.
Speaker B:So if you were able to get an hour with four PAs versus five hours with one PA, I think that's better because you get to see them, how they work and just what they do and what the title comes with.
Speaker B:So shadow a doctor, shadow a PA, and shadow whatever you're passionate about.
Speaker B:And I think most PAs are happy to take you on.
Speaker B:So I'm excited to one day have someone follow me and kind of pay it forward because I know a lot of PAs and docs did that for me.
Speaker B:Another thing is don't feel like you necessarily have to major in biology or chemistry.
Speaker B:So we have several people in our class.
Speaker B:If I could go back, I would do something like writing, something involving writing.
Speaker B:I'm passionate about writing and reading.
Speaker B:I think that's something I would have valued a little bit more than some of my classes involving bird noises and ornithology and that sort of thing that came with biology.
Speaker B:So do what you're passionate about.
Speaker B:You know, maybe it's going to take an extra semester to do those prereqs, but yeah, don't feel like you have to commit everything to PA from the major to, you know, every little thing you do.
Speaker B:So do what you're passionate about and it reflects from your application, it reflects in the interview.
Speaker B:So I think that covers it for pre pa. Yeah.
Speaker A:Where can people follow along with you?
Speaker B:Yeah, so I haven't been able to be as active in social media as I'd like to.
Speaker B:Just because finishing didactic, you're on the grind.
Speaker B:It takes a little bit of grit for that and sometimes, you know, Savannah.
Speaker B:But yeah, on Instagram @pa Schuyler, that'd be a great place to follow me.
Speaker B:I love just giving people some insight if they have any questions and just talking with them.
Speaker B:I know we have a pre PA group.
Speaker B:I graduated from Georgia Southern at Georgia Southern and I was very involved there.
Speaker B:So just going back to that last question.
Speaker B:Get involved in a group and surround yourself with like minded people, whether you know, they want to go be PA or just that they want to pursue something more.
Speaker B:Because one of my favorite quotes is show me your five best friends and I'll tell you who you are.
Speaker B:I did something along those lines.
Speaker B:But yeah, surround yourself with positive people and with the same intentions.
Speaker B:But yeah, follow me and ask me any questions that you have.
Speaker A:All right, that's awesome.
Speaker A:Well, thank you for coming on and giving us some of your time.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:Thank you, Savannah, for having me.
Speaker A:You're welcome.
Speaker A:I love how down to earth and just real personable Skylar is.
Speaker A:I think he's going to be an awesome pa So I love that interview.
Speaker A:I hope you guys did, too.
Speaker A:Make sure you go follow Skylar on Instagram.
Speaker A:And, yeah, make sure you're following me so you can be there for all of my big, big announcements over the next few weeks.
Speaker A:And as always, if you have questions, if you have suggestions, please let me know.
Speaker A:Leave a review.
Speaker A:I'll get to some of those in a few weeks.
Speaker A:You can leave a voicemail question on the website.
Speaker A:You can only see that if you're not on your phone, if you're on the computer.
Speaker A:But that's a great option if you have a question you want answered.
Speaker A:And we may do another episode coming up with some questions from you guys.
Speaker A:But in the meantime, have a good weekend and we'll see you next week.
Speaker B:Bye.